The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-04-05
living After Being ecalped.


During the Seminole Indian War o:
1887 there were times when the In
lians would leave off hostilites in order
% make their crope and to prepare
anew Cor the warpath. All the settlers
had to live in forts, and in planting
crops and cultivating them some OF
them would work while others stood
guard. During these cessations OF
hostilities some would return to their
homes only to be driven back to the
tort and sometimes killed and scalp
ed.
Fleming Johns and his wife returned
to their home, at what is now Bald
win, as the Indians had not been seen
for some time. Early in the morning
Johns got up, opened the door and
looked around. He saw no signs OF
Indians, and went out to cut some
tirewood. While cutting, the Indians
fred at and wounded him. He ran
into the house and shut the door.
His gun was on g. rack. He reached
for it., but tell from loss of blood.
knocking off the hammer.
Johns had no other weapon, and was
at the mercy of the Indians, who adj
vanced to the door and began, with
the ak, to knock it down. Johns
offered them his home and all he had
If they would spare his life. The In
dians only aughed, and cursed him.
They broke the door down and shot
him, and began to take what they
wanted, ripping open the feather bed,
pillows and holsters, and packing up
all they wanted.
Johns wife looked on, every minute
expecting to DO killed and sceIped.
She told me they packed all they
wanted before they molested her. An
old Indian motioned her to leave, but
she was afraid to move. He took her
by the hand and led her toward the
door. She looked back and an In.
dian was raising his gun to shoot. She
threw her arm over her eyes and he
shot, the ball striking her arm and 90.
ing through her neck. She fell forward,
stunned, with her arm under her head.
Before they got through scalping her
she came to her senses, but feigned
being dead. The Indians then set fire
to the house and left quietly.
After they had been gone a short
sime, and the house was we'll on fire,
she got up and tried to pull her dead
husband from the burning house, and
pulled him as far rs the door, when
she tainted. In falling,a pail OF water
was upset upon her, which brought
back O consciousness. She took
a towel, folded it, and covered her
head, and left, taking the road.
Wanting water, and feeling faint, she
went to a pond of water where she
wet the towel and put it ON her head.
She saw horsen:en coming and recog'
nized her father.in.law. He also dis,
covered her. The men leveled their
guns to shoot her and she was power.
less to speak. Her father IN law cried
out to tho men not TO shoot, as it
was Jane. She told what had hap.
pened. Some of them carried her to
the station and some went to the
house, but too late to get out the re.
mains Of her husband.
III Alter she was we'll an Engliehmau
persuaded her to 20 to Washington
and get pension, and she was exhib'
tied. Her likeness was taken and
hung in the Capitol. The Englishman
ran off with all the money. She re-
turned to Savannah, where she had q
sister, and afterward married g. man
named Mathes. who was stabbed
years afterward by q crazy man and
died III Savannah. Mrs. Mathes Their
returned to Florida, where she had one
brother and two sisters living, one O.
whom is my wife.
The Indians frequently came to my
house. and she said she recognized one
OF them, the chief, Tonaman, as beinl
the one that led her toward the door
She never would have anything to say
to them, and said it made her.sick tc
look at them. The Indians woulG
talk and point to her as though they
recognized her. Mrs. Jane Mathes dice
in 1874, and is buried in the cemete
ry OF Fort misunderstanding Ella.
Times.