St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-01

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The Goodman family enigrated /
Washington territory when ii was il
habited only by Indians and a few dal
ing settlers, who principally engage
in trapping and hunting. E#
Land being plentiful, they had moth
ing to do but select the place mos
suited to their tastes and settle on il
end this theYadid in the course OF s
month, choosing charming site O
the banks of the sound, which CAV
them view Of the placid waters of tina
inland sea, many a snowy peak and tn
vast forests which extended in ever
direction.
The motive for selecting this spot wa
that they could always obtain plenty o
fish; that it enabled them to trave
by canoe, without making long jour
neys afoot; that they could trade will
the Indians, if necessary, and that the,
could draw supplies of fresh meat from
the forests surrounding them
hefamily consisted of two little girl,
and our hero, who was only nine year.
OF age when his parents settled in thai
wild region; but, young as he was, he
proved to be useful, as American boys
generally are. and helped his father as
much as he could to build the log cabin
which gave them permanent shelter.
As he grew up Walter accompanied
his father hunting trips to provide
yenison for food or on fishing excur-
sions on Puget sound so that when he
was IA years of age he could handle a
Y rifle or bow and arrow veryswell, and he
! was as dexterous as any Indian in the
use of the paddle.
The Goodman family pIodded on
their way in quietude for some years.
flliing their land and reaping their
wheat in the ordinary fashion of pio-
neers; but they had many an hour of
happiness when they heard that other
white people were coming into the
country and occupying homesteads
near them.
The fame of the place spread after
awhile and families from other states
Hooked there in such numbers that the
Indians became alarmed, thinking they
would be driven out of the country bv
this unexpected immigration, and to
prevent this all the tribes, both on the
coast and in the interior. united to ex-
pei or externainate the ewhitesettlers..
The latter had not the most remote
idea of the threatening storm, and.it
was only when they heard of the mas
sacring OF men, women and ehildrenin
several places and the simultaneous ris-
ing of all the tribes throughout the
country. that they became alarmed
enough to unite for defense.
The Goodman family was informed
OF the approaching danger. by a friend
ly squaw, and the father took imnedi
ate steps to protect those under his care
by sending his wife and girls toea little
hamlet few miles away. whila Se and
his son remained to guard the house. if
possible, or to learn the movements of
the foe
Mr.. Goodman's caution had not been
exercised too soon, for thatSvery same
night party of painted warriors ap-
preached the place, but their presence
was detected before they came too close
ny the barking of dog; and thus
warned, both father and sonsran from
the house amid a shower of arrows, and,
fleeing toward their canoe, launched 1t
in hot haste and were soon beyond the
reach of their dusky foes. @
They fastened as fast as they could
toward the little hamlet where the re-
mainder of the family had been sent, |
and informed the residents of the COM |
ing danger. Then commenced a hur-
rYlng to and fro, and men, women and
children were soon engaged in throw
ing up fort of clay. and SO well did
they work that they. had by the next
day constructed "a fertilization large
enough to afford shelter tosal1.
AfterSit was proTisioned, all persons
capable of handling 4 rifle Or shotgun, Il
whether men or boys, or even women.
were called upon to aid in the. defense,
as they, could expect nothing else than T
. cruel death # the place was cap
tured. i
About noon alarge fleet of war canoes
was seen approaching from the north.
and when they got within rifle range,
the battle commenced with all the fury
that characterizes savage warfare.
The besieged were attacked at every
point, but though there were twenty
70 one against them, they held out
oravely, and when night came on the
,ssailants were compelled to retire, dis
,oInfited, if not defeated.
They had no idea sof relinquishinr
he contest however, because they knew
Tery well how weak the garrison was,
% they only retreated to neck of land .
lalf d 'Ihiie away, and, beaching their
anoes there. lit their ca1npfires and
commenced their horrifying war dance. ,
Walter Goodman, who had fought as I.
tarbbcrnty as any man during the day,
n seeing the position the sasagss had 4.
aiken up, formed the daring plan of |
estroYing their feet, knowing we'll
hat # this were once gone they we're
FOR further mischief. B.
Ii caught he knew II meant III horri- i i
le death to him. He resolved to try :
J, nevertheless; and knowing that ifhesI !
aformed any person of his project he l.,
iould not be allowed to undertake ii. !
c kept his intention to himself. 4
Ieafing the fort after dark, unos,s 1 /, Il
srsedb by any one. he marched through j.s
le dense and gloomy woods, and, on1
the Indian encampnient j
Q saw thai the Warriors were SO inter- q
tied Ia their war dance that they did
1t even post seDtinels. In fact, sn8 en- u
aged were they in the bafbarie .ssre- q