The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-07
THEIR BONES ARE FOUND.
Ancient Remains of Early Bandits In Ohio
Are Uncovered.

Defiance, O. July SIN the early part
of the present century when the In
dams of the great Northwestern Ter
ritory We're giving the government so
much trouble. and the sturdy pioneers
who had bodily pushed their way into
the forests OF Northern Ohio and plant
ed their little log cabins along the
banks of the numerous rivers, were
compelled 10 carry their muSkets into
the fields to protect themselves from
the attacks of rowing savageS. a band
of murderous renegades from the Dele
ware, Ottawa, and Seneca tribes who
were led by the notorious Simon Girty
infested the Maumee valley and for
years they terrorized the settlers by
their bold robberies and murderous as
saults, without revealing their rendez-
vous. Shortly after, or about the time
Of the war OF 1872. Simon Girty with
his brother George was sent into north
ern Ohio from their homes in Pennsyl-
vania 10 conduct government trad
ing post on thu Maumee-
OF George Girty little IS know con-
corning his life in the northwest and IL
is only fair 10 suppose that he remain
ed true TO the trust that had been re-
posed in him, but not SO with Simon. OF
whom. though history has little 20 say,
there still lives many legends relating
numerous deeds of murder and pillage
bioodthirsty followers. Many times
Girty's band Of red devils were follow
ed TO the banks OF the Maumee river
some twelve miles below Defiance. but
here all traces OF them was lost. they
disappeared as suddenly and myster
iously as though the earth had opened
and swallowed them. II finally be-
came the belief that this band OF land
pirates had u hiding place on an island
in the river near the spot where they
so frequently had baffled their pursur-
ers. and this island was given the
names Of "Girty's Island" which name
IL still retains. This island is about
one hundred yards wide and three hun
Gred yards long, and is covered by a
heavy growth OF forest. on the west
ern end the ground is high and slopes
gradually 10 the waters edge at the
east
There is an Indian legend which says
that at one time Girty captured n
white girl from one OF the numerous
settlements along the river and carried
her 10 this island, which he had forl-
fed with a cannon secured while he
was yet IN the employ Of the govern
ment The legend also relates that the
settlers discovered the hiding place Of
the band. and with the assistance az
some troops, gave Girfy battle on the
island and forced him 70 run the can
non of the point into the river 20 pre-
vent SIS being captured Many Ok his
band were killed In this encounter. but
nothing could be told OF Girty. the
gil prisoner. or any os the survivors
who had disappeared Just as Il Vas
evident that the fight wss going
against them. and they had no means
cf escape from the Island retreat
About two years ago State Canal COM
missioner Hartnsu came 20 thls ci'y
and sold Girtys Island together with
two smaller ones 70 Mr. ". II keenan,
TIE ISLAND Is az one Of the most pie
turesque bends OF TIE river. and 81.
Herman recently decided - DgllG =
summer residence on TIE higher Dor-
ton of Girfyz Island
Last week he set number ~ nes /
% work 70 make an excavation fer a /
cellar The men had almost cornplei- /
ed their work when The ground on I
which they were standing gave way. :
and they were prectpi;stsd into isrFe 4
cavern or room sGE3e twenty feet deep
and about sfiy feet square
James Ferguzon one II the Egrkr1en. /
had RS left arm fractured BY the tali. /
hut the Others escaped uninfure1
As soon IS ;hey had recovered from /
their aatcals1nent ne men 49, about 4
q explore their peculiar abode They 4
found The walls o. re Tocra were li1ef 4
w!ta cedar iccs which were rtiH - a I
far STATE q preseTystica- u one c1--
ner ct The nom t5sy found the bo1sF 1
u a score of men TSesiSes TIE boaeF.
which we're badly eeesy~t. they found 4
countless arrowhead. for13 ~ REs ard 4
re rezullns - 2 dozen ulusEsts. There 4
vas also a badly dscavs5 sgir-izE 4
wheel ard uErneT11s pieces - broken
furniture tcge -fer =4tn S-zsT giecfs
q hrcSe- ear-hen E1re-
Beneath ? pc - fh.s srofeo r-1-s-
s~v taey foGnt n f.cx zhclt a ,r3'
soasre hsWes C2t - s1sa 1rk Ta-
cover g. ;se he1 vas fsBte1rt N1
f.1z sr-1Ehes1a II r-a TX wrs
ra.ud four ETznsfh 1cgtalrs. ap9's-
err E.ecss = Enrilsa uae=~y - fa--t
.'ris deaeu irstlcrs- * stfr sD8sf Z
sa-ss sl.feT-r1e 3at@@ flaieis. as-1 e1.
Isss t-.-sets-
TIE En5 haE c-eafs1 Cztsr se-a
t.on. an4 - - a~iEsret thz- 80 ias- fsf
- tEe s1faEge ssfleafs4
q usuz G4rty aaa lis bed 80 est
threz1z azs tstB r.earr4 ~. ~ t1fT
ur9o1ltesly focEt lasl rsstlnz raza<
81 fss cave ~sssh tad fzT7sisaef ttevz
.u-a =. secuse Al4.ng s-see eafsag Iaslr
lie