Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-14
AN INDIAN TRAGEDY.
THE WORK OF BLOODTHiRSTY M
DAMS QUICKLY AVENGED.

a Historic and Dreadful Slaughter Of n
Husband and Wife, Early Settlers of the
Great Northwest-EHect of Ffrewater on
the Redskin.
The death of John Bonser, one of the
earliest pioneers of Oregon, at Sauvie's is
land, near Portland, recalls one of the
bloOdieSt tragedies that ever occurred in
King county, and one which will 60 down
in history az the greatest example the pi-
oneers had of the evil effect of giving whis-
ky to the Indians. The event is memorable
for another reason, and that is that the
daughter of John Bonser, wtfe of William
Casio and probably the most beautiful
woman in the territory, was victim
II don't take much stock In the hand
some, charming women we read about"
said c. B. Bagley yesterday, but Mrs
Casio, If placed in Seattle today with the
face and form as when she came among us
in 1854, would be among the most hand
some women in the city, and shall never
forget the sensation created in our little
settlement when messengers arrived from
SQuak valley, where the Castos moved,
with the news that Mrs. Caste, her hus-
band and John Holstead had been killed by
Indians, and that a friendly klickitat had
slain the murdererS"
At that time there was no bfuebook, and
in fact women were scarce 1t is not sur
prising, then, that the arrival of William
Casio, n man aged 3S years and a true rep
resentatfve of the Kentucky colonel type,
with his young wife, the daughter of John
Bonser of Sauvies island, Columbia river,
near Portland, should have been a mem
orable occasion. Mrs. Casio was a natural,
not an artificial, beauty-one of those wUm-
en- to whom all apparel adapts itself and
becomes a part of the wearer. She was adj
mired by all and fairly worshiped by her
T.
ranch in the heart of Squak valley, where
the Tibbetts farm now lies. Here he built
> small house, put in a garden and COM
menced clearing. In order to create an in
come for himself and wife he opened asmall
trading post and carried on the manufac-
ture of hoop poles The valley was pecul
iariy adapted to this business owing to
dense growth of hazel bush, the very article
most desired. White labor was scarce, but
Caste, with an eye to business, employed
Indians For a wonder they applied them
selves diligently and became expert work
men.
Casio had great influence over his work
men and was looked up to by them as a
sort of white "tyee" or chief. He had one
fault, which goes hand in hand the world
over with free heart-he loved liquor and
now and then drank too much He also
got in the habit of giving it to the Indians
in his employ. On several occasions the
true Indian nature, under the influence of
stimulants, came out, and 1t required all
his authority to avoid bloodshed. His
neighf,ors, who could be numbered on the
fingers of both hands, with some to spare,
cautioned him not to give "a retskin whis-
ky and arouse the DEVIL but he laughed
at them, and when they warned him of
treachery thought they spoke nonsense.
He would not believe that the men whom
he had treated so kindly and befnended in
every conceivable manner would do him
harm under any conditions. He reasoned
that his neiehbors did not Judge the char
acter of the native correctly and underesti-
mated his influence. There was no reason
why he should not give his Indians liquor
if he so desired. He acted ON this decision
on the afternoon of Nov. {, 1884, and then
went to his home for supper
The Indians got gloriousiy drunk and
then commenced to thirst for blood. In the
crowd were two of the Snohomish tribe,
bloodthirsty brutes and still seeking re
venge for the death of their tribesmen and
chief on the Snohomish river the summer
previous. Their resolve was made. Casto's
life would atone for that Of the chief, his
wife and friend, John Holstead- for the
other two. They secretly took their guns
and went to Castos house. The curtain of
the room wherein all three were seated at
the supper table was up, and the breast of
Casio was in plain view of the assassins.
There was no hesitation ON the part of the
Indians.
The first shot crashed through the win
dow and pierced Casio in n vital spot. He
arose to his feet, staggered and fell upon a
lounge. His wife sprang to his assistance,
but the rife spoke again and she fell to the
floor. The third shot hit Holstead, but not
fatally, and the Indians, determined to
complete their bloody work, ran to the
NV
who fought like demon, but at length
fell, his body stabbed in more than 20
places. Not content with the slaughter al
ready done, the bloodthirsty wretches drove
their knives into the body of Casto's beau
tiful wife in a manner most inhUman. Hav-
ing finished their bloody work they left the
house, never for a moment thinking their
lives were in danger. In this particular
they made fatal error.
The shots fired had attracted Il Alickitat
Indian named Aleck to the scene. He WAS
Il true friend to the white man and held
Casio, his employer, in high regard. 1t
took him but II brief period to comprehend
the situation. He concealed himself, and
when the brutes came out OF the house he
crept up behind them. One shot was
Enough to end the earthly career of one of
them, but the other took to his heels.
Aleck followed him with n Ratchet he had
drawn from his belt, and being heeter OF
foot caught up. Then with one swift blow
the skull of the fleeing Indian was cleft,
and as he fell headlong to the ground again
the bloody Ratchet drank blood until the
head that but few minutes before had
human shape looked like a chopped pump
kin.
Out of the killing by Aleck of the two
Snohonish Indians grew feud which re-
suited in the death of Alexis son. The
old man was the one wanted, but he was
too quick with the rifle, and they never got
him. He died few years ago, aged nearly
90 yenrs.-Seattle Post-IntelliScncer.