Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-15

afternoon on the houses of the Baker fac-
ton, and five rifles were secured. Each
man in the colony had a rife and more or
less ammunition. and the capture of these
five guns practically disabled FIVE of the fac
ton. The men were out In the field when
the raid was made, and, of course, their
wives could make no defense.
| That evening Marks sent word to the
Barkerites that they must come IN and
sign paper repudiating their leader, Or he
would kill them as malcontents and danger
Gus persons They refused to a man, and
that night | heard Marks planning with
some of the men to commit murder. The
situation is one which has many times ex
listed. A lot of people go away by them
selves to escape avar1ce and oppression,
and are invariably the victims of some of
their own number Marks wanted the
| other half of the money back and he want
ed the other faction to humble itself. |
heard them planning that next day they
would ambush Baker and shoot him down
without warning and it was hoped the
rest of the party would then come in.
While Marks had made dog of me,
and beat me on the slightest excuse, was
not watched O. nights. The chain aud
clog had also been removed. At midnight
on this night | crept out Of my brush but
and went and warned Baker of what was
in the store for him. He warned all his
adherents, and the result was murder, just
the same as if had let Marks carry out
his plans. Next forenoon, as one of our
party, named Bedford, was skulking in
the woods to get shot at Baker, some
one put bullet into him, and a child was
sent with note to say that our side could
bring On the body.
OF the thirty men, seventeen had gone
with Baker. but five of these we're without
firearms. Marks had lost man, but the
extra guns made up for it. After the kill
ing both sides declared war, and both
were anxious for further bloodshed. The
women and children kept to the houses,
while the men scattered over the island
and hunted for each other. In the course
Of week Marks lost four men and two
badly wounded, and the Baker side lost
one killed and two wounded. While |
lived with Marks, it was because | was
obliged to, and therefore treated as non
combatant. Any message between the
leaders was carried by me.
About ten days after the first killing
Marks called me into his house and told
me to get the ytGwl ready for trip. The
boat was lying in creek half mile
away, and before the rupture had been
free to all, though had always been
taken along to manage her. Marks was
not married man. He now praised and
battered ne in the highest terms, and said
he proposed tc go off in the yawl to some
other island, taking me along. No one
else was 20 go, and | was not to breathe
word. That evening as soon as dark,
| was to carry all mis- bundles to the
boat, supply her with water and pro-
visions, and then bring word to him when
all was ready. When night came he got
the men out into the woods to watch, and
[ took from his house six rifles, all the
money, the bedding, clock, clothing, etc.
supplied the boat with forty gallons of
water and lot of cooked and fresh pro-
visions, and by midnight had her ready.
| had had plan of my own ever since
Marks opened his mouth. 1t was very
doubtful if he meant to take me with him
at ALL but if he did it was more than
likely that he would throw me overheard
when he had sighted other land.
1t was 2 O clock in the morning before
the tide turned, and then got into the
yawl and let her drift to the west. | was
not yet out of hearing distance when
MdiNs Cdtue uoWn 10 Tile creek anu called
me.
When daylight came and got a breeze
was only three miles off shore, anG was
no doubt seen by all our party. | held to
the northwest, having a compass in the
boat, and after three days and nights of
fair progress | reached another of the
Australian group, called the Kings Park,
and there found trader, to whom | re-
lated all. After a short delay he set sail
for the island had left, taking me with
him, but owing to contrary winds we did
not reach it for a week. War had been
rife meanwhile. Marks, Baker and three
others had been killed, two women and
two children had been wounded, and the
entire parry now prayed to be taken off the
island. Arrangements were made with
the trader, and all were loaded up and
carried to one of the Navigator Islands,
where some of them are still living.