Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-06-06
SHE SLEW TEN INDIANS.

=
about sixty-fve, died at Rocky Bar,
Idaho, recently. While respected and
made much of by everybody, she was
always referred to as Indian Mary.
1t was not because she had any Indian
blood in her veins but because of the
adventure in which she, single handed
and alone, wiped out ten Indian war
rio.s in fair fight. The fertile sec
ton of Central Idaho known as Kamas
Prairie, extends from the Esmeralde
range of mountains to about thirty
miles south of the Malada River, a
total distance Of ninety miles, while
the average breadth is about seventy
five miles. One of the fist settlers on
the prairies was Col. Sexton, whose
wife Mary was, they moving up from
Nevada. The Colonel could speak
several Indian dialects, and had many
times acted as interpreter when treat
les were being made. The red men
knew him to be a fair man, and re-
spected him accordingly.
When the Colonel took up his land
on the prairie he paid the Indians
| 500 over and above what he paid
the government, and most Of them
were enthusiastic in his praise. There
was, however, a sub-chief named Red
Rock, who took a dislike to the Colo
mel for some reason or other, and hus-
band and wife had only got settled IN
their cabin when they were warned 10
look out for him. All the Indians
about were at peace with the whites
lust then, and so very little attention
was paid to the warnings. One day
in September, 1868, Red Rock called
together nine young bucks who had
regulations of being head-strong and
ugly tempered, and suggested that
they 90 and wipe out the Sexton fam
ily. 1t did not require much urging
to start them off. The ten left camp
under the pretense of going on hunt,
and then made a march of ten miles
to the Sexton claim. They expected
to find the Colonel working in the
field, but it so happened that he left
home early in the morning for ride
of twenty miles on matter of busl-
ness. When it was found that the
husband was absent, it was determined
to kill the wife and burn the cabin.
Mrs. Sexton had accidentally OBJ
served the approach of the Indians
and their demeanor aroused her sus-
picions. She was a little woman,
being scarce FIVE feet high and weigh
ing only 10 pounds, and the red
men looked upon her as hardly more
than child. The Colonel had left a
Winchester rifle and a revolver at
home, and when the Indians entered
the cabin, the woman had these weap-
ons at hand, though not in sight
There were three rooms in the cabin,
sitting-room, kitchen and bedroom
The Indians left their firearms out
doors and entered the cabin, to find
Mrs. Sexton seated in the bedroom
door with some work in her hands
She greeted the callers pleasantly
but Red Rock sulkily demanded whis-
XIV and something to eat. This was
mere pretense. The woman replied
that she could not give them whisky
under any circumstances and as game
was plentiful they must furnish their
own food. On top of this she ordered
them out of the house, and added that
the Colonel would report their lmpu'
dent conduct to the chief Her de-
fant attitude gave Red Rock the ex'
cuse he wanted, and drawing his hunt
ING knife from its sheath, he said:
eve have come here to kill you
When the Colonel returns he will find
you roasting in the ashes of the cabin
7 hate all white folks, and will never
be friends with white man
As he ceased speaking Mrs. SextOr
rose up, seized her Winchester, which
was standing just inside the door, anc
at once opened fire on the crowd. Hel
action was so quick and unlocked tol
as to produce panic. Realizing tha
her life depended on her own efforts
and that Red Rock was the leader o
the gang, she pulled down on him hrs
and shot him dead in his tracks. be
fore the others could get out OF tn
house she had dropped two more. In
seven Indians ran for their guns a