Daily camera., 1898-01-05
PIGEON BOOST BUTCHER6
An Indiana Massacre Of Many
Years Ago.
A Recent Celebration of the Anniver-
sary of the Event Revtvea
Memories of Fright
full Deeds.

The massacre by Indians of the set
tiers of Pigeon Roost, Blocker, Ind,
is recalled by the recent celebration OF
that event, when the story of the
frightful deeds of the red men was
told anew.
In 1909 the first settlement in this
section was formed three miles south
of Vienna, known as Pigeon Roost
settlement, named from a creek that
still bears the name. This particular
point held out at least two inducements
to these who were acquainted with the
situation, and which doubtless led to
the settlement. First, the heavy tim
Der in that locality had been selected
as roosting place for the passenger pl-
gcons, and has been no doubt for. many
wears. This afforded them an abun-
dance of game to assist the pioneers IN
making living for their families. So
great was the number of pigeons that
trees were twisted, bent and broken
down by the immense weight that they
had to sustain. Thousands were killed
by the falling timber, and during BROOD
ing season the settlers fattened their
hogs from the young that fell from
the nests. Hence, this was naturally
a very desirable place to form settle
ment. And just as desirable for the
Indians as a hunting ground. This
may be given as one of the reasons for
the horrible scene that was enacted
4hnro foxy, 1ofo T.,
the settlers were locating themselves,
and for more than two years after
ward, they were on friendly terms with
the Indians who frequented the region,
and who visited the settlement. often
shooting at targets with the whites,
and in many ways showing their friend
ly disposition toward them.
The immediate cause OF the trouble
is not known. The Indians had a pet
deer which disappeared, and some
charged the whites with taking it, and
took revenge. Others thought the
British prompted them to action
through the influence of Tccumset,
the noted chieftain, who was rousing
all the Indian tribes to action against
the frontiersmen. This last is perhaps
the most plausible reason for the out
rage. On September 3. 1912, while bee
hunting three miles away, John Payne
and James Coffman we're surprised and
killed. the latter being a guest from
Kentucky of Mr.. Payne's. The saw
ages next killed Mrs. Henry Collins.
who was returning home from q visit
two miles away. Then, making their
way to the settlement, they waylaid
and killed the family of Mr. Payne.
which consisted of a wife and four chill
dren. Their bodies were dragged bacl;
to the house they had left in trying
to make their escape. and were thrown
within and the dwelling set on fire.
Richard Collins wife and seven chill
dren, John Richey and wife, who were
the near neighbors of the Paynes, had
early seen the Indians approaching
and made good their escape by way Of
cornfcld and remained away from the
settlement for several days. Soon sew
eral Indians stopped behind a corn
crib and others went to the house of
Samuel Richey. One appeared at the
door of old Mr.. Collins house and the
aged man fired at him. and he disap-
peared. leaving trail of blood. Col
lns reloaded and fired at an Indian in
Richey's door, who fell back into the
house. Night was approaching. but the
Indians still remained at Richey's
house. The inmates of the Collins
homestead thought it best to try to
effect an escape, which they did, with
Collins in the rear. A shct from the
enemy struck him and severely wound
cd him, but his family succeeded in
reaching the Charleston settlement.
The Indians never ceased from their
terrible work until every person in
tho settlement was either killed or had
ESCAPED.
When the alarm was given, party
pursued the Indians, but with no result.
The next morning when revisited by
the whites all the houses in the settle
ment were in ashes, and the ground
was almost covered with mangled bod
les of settlers. The remains were bur-
led in common grave, and the spot is
now marked by sassafras tree now al
most four feet in diameter. being per-
haps the largest tree of the kind in
southern Indiana.-Ch Chicago Chronicle.
A Legend of the Peach.
The japanese, who claim to have
first discovered or utilized the peach,