Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-08-07

as II nothing could ensure peace but
their total extinction. The knowledge
of their hostile designs were made pub
/ lie by their massacre of Kirk rs family.
In the month of May 1888, Kirk lived
with his family on the south west side
of Little River, twelve miles south of
Knoxville: whilst he was absent from
home an Indian by the name of Slim
Tom, known to the family, came to
them and requested to be supplied with
provisions, which they gave him, and
he withdrew; having seen who were
there, and the situation they were in
with regard to defence, he soon after
wards returned from the woods with u
party of Indians, fell upon the family,
massacred the whole of them, eleven
in number, and left them dead in the
yard. Not long afterwards Kirk coming
home, saw his dead family lying on the
ground; he gave the alarm to the
neighborhood, and the militia assem-
bled under the command of Col Sewer,
to the number of several hundred; they
met at Hunters Station, on Nine Mile
Creek, which runs into Holston on the
south side; thence they marched under
the command of Col. Sewer to the Hi.
wassee River, and early in the morning
came upon town which had been
burnt in 1779; the Indians who were in
1T, fled, and took to the river; many
were killed in the town; some were
fired upon and killed on the river: they
burt the town, and returned to Hun
ter's Station. On the next day they
went up the Tennessee, to the towns on
that river, killed several Indians, burnt
the towns and returned to the station.
Tallassee, upon the upper part of the
Tennessee, was one of these towns. The
Indians fled from their different towns
into the mountains, were pursued by
the troops and many of them killed.
Abraham, friendly Indian, with his
son, who lived on the north side of the
Tennessee, had delared publicly, that
If the Indians went to war, he would
remain at his own house, and would
never quit it. When the troops came
to the south side, Hubbard sent for
Abraham and his son to came over the
river to the troops; they came accord.
ingly; he directed them to return and
bring with them the Tassel and another
Indian, that he might hold talk with
them; they held up a flag inviting
those Indians to come to them; they
did so, and were put into house. Se-
vier was absent for some time on the
business of his command; in the time
of absence, those who were left behind.
permitted young Kirk, the son of him
whose family was killed, to 60 with a
tomahawk into the house where the In
dians were enclosed, Hubbard being
with him; there Kirk stuck his toma-
hawk into the head of one of them w no
fell dead at his feet, the white people
on the outside of the house looking in
upon them. The other Indians, five or
six in mum Der, seeing this, Immediately
understood the fate intended for them {:
each man cast his countenance and
eyes to the ground, and one after the
other, received from the hands of Kirk,
upon the upper part of the head, the
fatal stroke Of the tomahawk, and were
killed. Sewer returning, saw the
tragical effects of this rash act, and on
demonstrating against it, was answered
by Kirk, who was supported by some
of the troops, that if he had suffered
from the murderous hands of the In
dians, as he Kirk had that he (Sevier
would have acted in the same way.
Sewer, unable to punish him, was
obliged to overlook the flagitious deed,
and acquiesced in the reply.
1t is much to be regretted, that his
tory, in the pursuit of truth, is obliged
to record, to the shame and confusion
of ourselves, deed of such superlative
atrocity, perfdy, cowardice and inhu-
manity. Surely something is due to
wounded feeling, and some allowance
is to be made for the conduct of men
acting under the smart of great and
recent suffiring. But never should it
be forgotten by an American soldier,
that his honor must be unspotted, that
a noble generosity must be the regula-
tor of his actions; that inviolable fideli-
ty, in all that is promised an enemy, is
a duty of sacred obligation, and that
beneficent and delicate behavior to
his captive, is the brightest ornament
of his character.
COntinued npxt week |