Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-03-07
TOLD IN A PUBLIC DOCUMENT
A milling Indian story of the Early Days
ON the Pacific Coast


tIons representing the hopes and fears of
thoua ands of claimants for even banded
justice or public bounty. One of The most
interesting OF these petitions has just been
reported from the House Committee on
Pensions with Recommendation that the
bill covering the case become law. The
story as told by Representative DeLano
in the report is u most thrilling one.
Christina GeiseI, now Christina Edison,
emigrated in the early years IRON the At
lantic States TO the shores of the Pacific,
and, with her husband, John Gcisel, and
their little family settled upon the shores
of the Pacific ocean, near the mouth of
the Rogue river, IN Oregon. The house
was upOp the then travelled lrall leading
from the coast of California inlo Oregon.
They were comfortably fixed when they
settled there at that time. John Gesel
mined tie fine gold dust ON the ocean
beach, aud this, together with his stock
upon the prairies and what was received
by his family from the passing travellers
for lodgings, constituted their means of
livelihood. A friendly Indian was em-
plOyed about tue premises IN occasional
services. The village of the Indian tribe
ol the " Too toot-nas was eight miles
distant up the Rogue river. Very little
apprehension existed among the settlers
as 10 any hostile intent on the part of the
Indians. Ben Wright, the Indian agent
in the vicinity and known in the Pacific
States as daring Indian fighter, gave
positive assurance that no danger XisleJ.
On the night of February % 1886, the
settlers for some miles around attended II
bail at RoIue river, in Observance OF
Wasmngton's birthday. The Indians,
expecting find the Try comp IRA
lively dcfeuceless, owing to the assem-
bage at III, bail, concluded upon gen
eral massacre Of The whites VINO remained
mt home. Owing to the illness of one of
the children, none Of the Gcscl family
attended the ball.
ABOUT Hil4lilAhl WI p'lNNl W az t'''''N-
ened by "A rap upon the door aud by herr
ing her Indian servant saying that he
desired to obtain something 10 eat. Upon
this the door was opCLed and immediate
ly several slal Nart Indians rushed In and
commenced heir attack, with long draw n
knives and tumnhawks, upon Mr.. Gcisrl.
Mrs Geisel left her three weeks oli in
fant in bed. and, though qutc feeble,
rus"ed to her husbands rescue. In the
CO lict she rccei ed severe wound
IL, husband was soon overcome, and fell
dead in her pr, sence. She was securely
bound nnl, with her infant and Il seven
year ol3 daughter, was forced without.
There she witnessed her three boys taken
frcm their litllc beds in an adjoining
room, and, while piteously begging tor
ife, they were, one by one, slaughtered
in her presence.
After rinlng the house of all such art.
cles MS they desired they applied the
torch to it and compelled their captives
to witness its destruction, with the burn.
ing of the bodies of the slam. Mrs Gcisei,
barcfooted and clad in her thin gown, and
with her two children, was then marched
to the camp of the Too-toot-nas, and
while EN- route witnessed the burning OF
many houses and the massacre OF her
neighbors. Great indignllies were inlet
ed upon the captives by the Indians in
the village of the h0stiles. They were
kept prisoners under strict watch fer two
weeks, when they were exchanged or ran
somcd by the white people who were
forted at the mouth of the Rogue river.
During her captivity Mrs. Geisel took
careful notes and sketches of wnat she oh
served. She discovered that several ALI.
ed tribes were constructing very strong
forlifications from which they proposed
making raids upon all the surrounding
country in California and Oregon anC
thus complete the destruction already be
run. Mrs. Geisel discovered a concealed
approach through the mountain gorge'
Into this fertilization aud village by whicl
if it could be assailed in that direction by
sufficient force, defence would be wlthou
avail. She also learned from conversa
ton among the Indians in their own Ian
gnage, which she interpreted, that grea
preparations were in progress for rai'
on the people of the town OF Port Oxford
thirty miles distant, where they expressed
great confidence of eXterminating tn
men and childred and making captives o
the woman. The time was fixed for thei
departure and surprise This information
she disclosed to the settlers in the for
immcdiat, ly upon her ransom and the
sent forward to Port Oxford, a swift trav
elling messenger to inform the people o
their approaching danger Port Orfor
was at once placed in condition of dc
fence, and when the Indians appeared be
fore it they were repulsed and returne
to their camp on Rogue river.
Soldiers and volunteers were soon o
the ground, and, availing themselves @
the information communicated by MIR,
Geiscl, they made a sudden assault upo