Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09

dead in the'yard with bullet hole through
his head. Assured that they we're at last
alone, every effort was made to alleviate the
suferinps OF the wounded man and child.
But the soldier was beyond all aid; he
fingered in great agony until near noon,
when death came to his relief. The baby
lay breathing feebly and white as marble.
The brave husband could not tarry to soothe
the grief of his wife or the terror of his
children, but hastily prepared to carry them
to place of safety, lest the savages might
return in greater numbers and massacre
them all.
A white boy at that time prisoner with
the tribe among whom the three Indians
were living after his escape told kirkpatrick
that they had expected to find him alone
with his family, and that but one Of the,
three returned to the camp. Kirkpatrick
collected as many OF his effects as could be
packed on the horse behind his wife and
children, and, taking Miller, the surviving
militia man, as a guard, hurried his family
off by acircuitOus route to the blockhouse
at Hannah stown; the mother carrying her
wounded child on pillow upon her lap.
1t was dangerous and painful ride Of
nearly 40 miles, and scarcely had they en-
tered the sheltering walls of the fort when
the baby boy breathed his last.
LAST OF THE MURDERS.
So far as there is any record, this was the
last murderous attack by Indians upon q
settlers home in Western Pennsylvania.
There have been published no less than four;
different versions of the story, including the
one in Massie Harbison's book, which Mr..
J. T. kirkpatrick, a grandson of the pioneer
James kirkpatrick, pronounces incorrect in
several particulars. 1t is believed the ac-
count here given is the true one, as it was
obtained directly from Mr.. j. 7. Kirkpat-
rick, who had it from his grandparents, who
were sctors in the scene.
There are likewise three different theories
regarding the Indians who made the attack.
Some of the border people believed them to
have been among the young children who
survived the fall of Kittanning, who, after
long years, thus sought revenge for the
death of their people and the loss of their
lands. Presley Neville and others, then at
Fort Pitt, suspected that they were SenecaS,
who, though seemingly friendly, sometimes
proved treacherous. While other men, as
capable of judging as any, were of opinion
that they were Shawnees from Beaver Dam,
who were wreaking vengeance upon the
whites in return for the feat of Captain Sam.
Brady, "The Injun Fighter" who had
killed six or seven OF their braves and taken
from them some English prisoners and
stolen horses
The scene of the tragedy is on the old
road running north from Kittanning, A
jaunting party passing through that region
some time ago, found the old cabin still
standing, for the woodmen OF those days
builded better than they knew. 1t is true
the clapboard roof, as clapboards will do,
had curled up like fur on the back of an
angry cat; the sash was gone from the small
square window, aud the door from its
hinges. but the four log walls and the chink-
ing were almost as perfect as when young
Kirkpatrick built it. A single glance
arounc the dismantled interior, however, re-
vealed to the visitors the "abomination of
desolation."