The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-17
BATTLE OF SEATTLE.
Attack of Indians on Settlers
Fort, in January, 1856.
A SURVIVORS, "REMINISCENCES.
The Massacre in the White River Valley
A Little Boy Sees His Mother
and stepfather Butchered.

BUa5H HILL, Ohio. Sept Especial Core
spondenee. II notice occasionally a pioneer
sketch in the PosT-lSTELLI6 ESCZg relating some
incident in the Indian war OF 1855 / have a
vivid recollection OF this, being member of one
OF the families concerned therein. remember
distinctly the attack upon the fort at Seattle in
January, 1876. Though child the numbering
OF my mother and step-father by the Indians a
few weeks before made such an impression up
on my mind thst was terror-stricken at the
thought OF another massacre, and the details
are indetibly and most wildly fixed IN my
mind. When read OF the marvellous growth
Of seattle can hardly realize that it IS possible
add my mite to the pioneer history OF seattle
and vicinity:
] was born in Harrison township, Grant
county, Wisconsin. November IS. 1913 When
was i've months old my father started Tor the
gold diggiugs in California, but died shortly
alter reaching that state. In the early part OF
lo5l my mother married Harvey Jones. In the
spring OF ia we started for Washington terri
tory overland, reaching our destination on
White river IN the fall. having been six months
and five days in making thstrip. Our route lay
through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Ore
gon and Washington territory To speak in de-
tail OF oil my recOIectons OF this journey
would make this article too lengthy.
Ny step-father took up land on White river
some twenty miles up the stream from Seattle.
At that time there were only five or six families
in the settlement the nearest neighbor 10 US be-
ing about one-iourth mile distant. During the
summer OF $3.50 / went some two and half
miles to school along path through the dense
woods in danger both from wild animals and
Indians. Some OF the settlers became alarmed
at reports OF hostile intentions by the Indians
upon our settlement and LETT some two weeks
before the outbreak. Among those who thought
their fears groundless aud remained was our
family
On Sunday morning, October Is, 1876, while
at breakfast We were surprised, and the house
surrounded BY band OF hostile Indicns who
came running from the grass and bushes,
whooping and discharging firearms They
seemed 10 rise from the ground, so sudden and
stealthy had been the attack. Our family con-
sisted of my step-lather (sick at the tine), my
mother half-sister. not quite years old, a
half brother. not quite 2, a hired man, Cooper
b. name, and myself.
As soon as the Indians began firing into the
house my mother covered Us children over
with a feather bed in the corner OF one OF the
rooms faFthest from the side attacked. In
short time 1t became evident we were entirely
at the mercy OF the savages, and after hurri d
consultation between my mother and the hired
man, he concluded TO attenp5 to escape by
flight; accordingly he came into the room
where was, and with ak pried off the cas-
ing OF the window and removed the lower sash,
and then jumped out, but as was afterwards
learned he shot when only few rods from
the house.
Ny step-father was shot about the same time
inside the house while passing from his room to
the one in which my mother was. In a short
time there appeared to be cessation of the
firing, and upon looking out from under the bed
over us saw an Indian in the next room carry
ing something out. soon we were taken out by
them. did not see my mother. We were placed
in the charge OF the leader OF the baud who d.
rected them in their actions. They put bed
clothes and other combustibIe articles under the
house and set fire to them, and in this way
burned the house. When it was well nigh
burned to the ground, we were led away by one
OF the tri be, who in short time allowed us to
go@hare we pleased | first went to the nearest
neighbours, but all was confusion and no one
about ] then came back to the burned
house.
! found my mother a short distance from the
house or where it had stood, still alive. She
warned me 20 leave speedily and soon / begged
10 stay with her but she urged me to flee. We
made dinner OF some potatoes which had been
baked by the fire. ! carried my little half
brother and led my half-sister along the path TO
where had gone to school during the summer,
but there was no one there l went still further
on, but they. too had gone. / came back to the
schoolhouse not knowing what 10 do. 1t was
getting late. | was tired, my sister. Ny
little brother was fretful, and cried to see his
mother / had carried him some three and
hall or four miles altogether.
While trying 10 quiet them | saw an Indian
coming toward us. He had not seen US hid
the children III the bushes and moved toward
him TO meet him. / soon had the relief to rec
ognlze in him an acquaintance / had often seen
while attending school, We knew him as Dave
He told me TO bring the children TO his wig
wan. His squaw very kind but my sister
and brother were afraid of her. In the night he
took Us III a canoe down the river to Seattle I
was taken on board the man-oi-war Decatur
ana they were placed i'll charge of some one in
the fort. An uncle, John Smale, had crossed
the plains when we did, but went to California
lie was written to about the massacre, and
reached us IN June, 1876. We went to san Fran
cisco aud then to the lsthmus, and from there
we went TO New YORK city, From there we
were taken TO Wisconsin, where my sister and
brother remained. was brought back to Ohio
In September. 1856 They both died in October,
lo6i, OF diphtheria, in Wisconsin
JOHN LIKING, II. d.
State University Notes.
The Glasses OF the State university are rapidly
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