Telegram-herald., 1890-03-29
PLUCKY MRS. GEISEL


Ezser Cprls2zE.
Hiidsn Esay 10 she nameroszs con
nlttee rooms ia 1ns great c4pi ~ b1lld-
ing ars sons IL to.sansnLs u 4lL 1escrip-
tloDs representing shs hopes and fears
q thousands of claimants fcr even
La--1ed .gssice ~ gaslLe bo11ty. One
1f r1s moss interesting u these petit
Gone nas iast been reported fr0m ths
fLouss es14mftlee ca pensions ~lsa
reoomnssnd2tion tass the bill covering
the case bsooue a las. The story, a-s
tad bY Representative De LaBo 10 the
report - Mpsg thEi4hng one, So -1s
Washington star.
Christina Geissi nov Christina Edson.
emigrased Ia she early years from the
A-lantlc States g. the shores ~ the Pa
cL1c, and with her husband, joan 0elsel,
and shslr itIls family settled upon the
shore " the Psoids Ocean near the
mOu-h "a " ne Rogue river, IA Oregoa-
TIER h0use 3as aDOn tAe then travelled
tral Le@ding from the coast Of Caliior-
MA into Oregon They were cOmforts-
'hly nGs.i Ehen they sestled there at HAT
time. joan Geisel mined the nne god
dast GA ghs ocean beach, snd this, 10
gesneF With his stock upon the prairtes
and Ehat wzs reosd yed by his family
from t1e passing travellers for lodgings,
constituted their means OF livelihood.
A friendly Indian was employed about
the premises ia occasional services The
village Of The Indian tribe Of the Too
toOe nas' Vas etght miles distant up the
Rogue riyer. Very little apprehension
existed among tho settlers As 10 any
hosuis intent On ths part OF the In
dams Ben Wright. the Indian agent IN
the vicinity and known Ia the Pacific
States as daring Indian nghter, gave
positive assurances bAat no danger ex-
is5ed
On the nighs OF February -, 1856. the
settlers FOR some miles around attended
a ball at Rogue river. ia observance Of
Washingson's birthday. The Indians,
exp@c ting 70 dad the country oompara-
tively defsnseless, owing TO tho Assem-
blage a. the bail. concluded upon gen
eral massacre OF the whites who re-
manned at homo Owing 20 the illness
OF one Of the children, none OF the Geisel
family attended the bali
About midnight Mc Geisel was awak-
ened by rap upOn thedoor and by hear
ing their Indian servant saying that hs
desired 10 obtain something TO eat.
Upon this the door was opened. and i'm
rnedia5ely several stalwart Indians
rushed IA and commenced their attack,
with long drawn knives and tomahawks,
upon Mr.. GeiseL Mrs. Geisel 1eft her
three weeks old infant in bed, and,
though quite feeble, rushed 20 her hus-
band rescue. IN the conflict she re-
eeived a severe wound. Her husband
was soon overcome, and fell dead in her
presence. she was securely bound and,
with her infant and q -year-old
daugh ter. was forced without There
she witnessed her three boys taken from
their little beds in an adjoining room.
and. while piteously begging for hfe,
they were, one By ono, slaughtered in
her presence.
After riding the house OF all such arti-
cies a. they desired they applied the
torch 90 it and compelled their captives
20 witness its destruction, with the burn
fng OF che bodies OF the slain Mrs
Geisei, barefooted and clad in her thin
gown, and with her two children, was
then marched 20 the camp of the Too
toot-nas. and while en- route witnessed
the burning OF many houses and the
massacre OF her neigh5o Great in
diznities wero inflicted upon the cap
tives by the Indians in the village OF
the hostiles. They were kent prisoners
under strict watch for two weeks, when
they were exchanged or ransomed by
the white people VINO were forted a. tho
mouth OF the Rogue river.
During her captivity Mrs. Geisel took
careful notes and sketches OF what she
observed. She discovered that several
allied tribes were constructing verT
strong Qualifications from which they
proposed making raids upon AL the
surrounding country in California and
Oregon and thus complete the de-
ssruction already begun. Mrs Geisel
discovered a concealed approach through
tho mountain gorTes into this fostifica-
ton and village ~ which. If ii could be
assailed in that direction by sufficient
force. defense would be without avail.
she also learned from conversations
among Indians in their own language,
which she interpreted. that great prep
arations vero In progress for raid on
the people of the town Of Port oxford,
thirty miles distant. who're they ex'
pressed great confidence OF exterminat-
Ing the men and children and making
cautivos OF the women. The time vas
r red for their departure and surprise
This information she disclosed to the
settlers in the for. Immediately upon
her ransom ani treY sent forward q
Port Oxford a t-travehng messen.
ger to inform tte people OF their ap
proachinz danger Port Orford was ai
once placed Ira condition Of defense
and when the indians appeared before
r. they we're ropg sod and returned C
their camp on Rogue river.
Soldiers and va .n 5ee~s were soon on
the ground. and a~aling themselves oi
the information cousmvnicsted BY Mrs
Geisel. they male Sudden assault upon
the Indian fortifcs ions b. way Of ths
approaches discovered by The csptive
women. snd after closely tested
battle they completely routed and
killed many Of the Indian warriors
This defeat 40 dispirited them that shes
never rallied again. snd were af-errvsrc
the most neaceahis Indians on the "a
eifc coast The Rorue river var
which extended over a large portion o'
southern Oregon. vas Substantially