The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-10-30
all but four of them started off down

all DuC 10ur OF tFcm started OIL dOWn
the road. Their impatience was too
great to permit them to terry longer.
There were hundreds of other settlers
vino had received no warning and made
no preparation, and were waiting, as it
were. to be plundercd and murdered.
The four who remained stood just out Of
riflcshot to watch the door, and we did
net sec another Indian until nearly sun
down. Then q band of about seventy
five came along. Some were on stolen
horses, some on foot, and about thirty Of
them were packed into two wagons which
they had taken from white men.
From the yelling, shouting and shoot
ing indulgcd in one would have thought
cur chances very slim. A part of the
force occupied the barn, so as to COM
mand the rear windows, while the rest
made sort of rifle pit to command the
front. The two who had been killed in
the morning still lag where they had
fallen, and as darkness came on we made
ready to receive anyone coming after the
bodies. 1t was starlight night, and
about o'clock 1 caught sight of two
warriors creeping up to the spot. l
| called Mrs. WcbstcC's attention, and by
the time they were up we were ready for
them. AS they were moving the scant-
ling off the body We fired upon them,
and neither one moved yard after being
| hit.
Now came full hour during which
not shot was fred or shout uttered.
Then the Indians began firing blazing
arrows at the roof, and I have no doubt
that twenty or more alightcd thereon.
That danger had been provided for, how
ever, and when they found they could
not burn us out they fell back on another
plan. From one of the back windows I
saw them carrying long pole to the
front of the house. There were several
of these lying near the barn, ard it was
now plain that they were going to try
the power of battoring rams. 1saw one
make ready at the back of the house rs
we'll, and when I told Mrs. Wabster, she
posted Mamie and me at the back win
dows, while she stood at the front. The
Indians had planned real attack from the
rear, with only feint at the front.
With five men at each pole, they made a
rush for both windows at once, while
the front of the house was only mcnaced.
Mrs. Webster saw through the plan in
time, and came running back just in time
to secure loophole. She and Mamie
had the shotguns, while I had the revol.
yer, and the Indians did not get within
five feet of the house. Our volley was
followed by screams and yells on their
part, and those who had not been dis
abled beat hasty retreat. From that
time until morning we were left undis-
turbed, bnt they succeeded in carrying off
their dead. We could not tell then what
damage we had done, but several weeks
later, at the trial of the chief conspira-
tors and leaders, it was stated by an In
dian that We killed seven and wounded
six redskins in our defence.
When morning came not an Indian
was in sight, but before noon we had
half dozen men and women with us
who were fleeing for their lives, and be-
fore night we numbered twenty. 1t was
a week before we were relieved, and dur.
ing that time bands of Indians turned
aside at intervals to attack US and be
beaten off, with loss only to themselves.
1t was one of the two farmhouse forts in
that great area of country which made
successful resistance, and but for our sue
cess the number of murders would have
been added to by at least two dozen.-
Neu York Sun.