The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15
PIGEON ROOST MASSACRE
DETAILS OF AN INDIANA TRAGEDY
OF NINETY YEARS AGO.
The Victims Lie In a Lonely Grave
yard with No Memorial stone
Origin of the Name.
o. the Indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence q the Indianapolis Journal.
MEMPHIS. Ind. June 14.-During the
past year renewed interest in the Pigeon
Roost massacre has been awakened in
southern Indiana by the effort Of State
Senator James W. Fortune, OF Clark coun-
". TO get bill passed by the last Legisla-
ture appropriating the sum OF $500 for the
erection Of monument over the graves of
the victims OF that horrible butchery. The
bill passed one branch Of the legislative
body, and sufficient patriotic interest was
manifested to warrant the belief that
other attempt will prove successful.
Pigeon Roost burial ground is situated
one mile north Of what is now the village
of Underwood and about ten miles north of
this place. The spot during the winter
months, when foliage does not intercept the
view, is plainly visible from the Pennsyl-
vania Railway, several gigantic trees hav-
ing grown directly over these lonely graves.
Nature thus tenderly marks the spot where
sleep these victims OF savage cruelty. man
having failed 10 perform his manifest duty
IN this regard. These graves are in Scott
county very near the Clark county line.
Scott county, which was largely taken
from Clark county. was not organized until
1870. leaving the boundary line in much
doubt and uncertainty. Even after the or
ganization OF Scott county it was thought
that the scene OF the massacre, a noted
event in the early history Of Indiana, had
taken place in Clark county, but when the
county line was settled by actual survey
the neghborhood where the massacre took
place was found to be in Scott county. The
history Of that massacre is most horrible
IN detail. Men, women and children who
had no thought of danger were cut down
and their bodies thrown into their cabins
and burned with them. This occurred on
the Sd of September. 1872. the year after the
battle of TippecanOe.
Learning that many unpublished facts
could be gained by visit to Pigeon Roost
neighborhood and interviewing descendants
OF the pioneers familiar with the details
visited the spot last week The scene of
the events herein described received its
name from the fact OF being the curious
roostipg place nightly of the passenger, or
wild. pigeon Audubon one of the most
noted crnithologists, says of them: 1.-THE
most important fact connected with the
wild pigeon relates to it's migrations, which
are entirely owing to the necessity Of pro-
curing food regardless Of climate. A bounti-
these birds in that locality constantly for
several years when they are not to be
found anywhere else. This has been no.
ticed in several States in times past 1t is
noted fact that the wild pigeon usually
selects some heavily wooded or elevated To-
cality for its roosting bordering on the
feeding grounds which may be several hun
dred miles in extent"
ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The pigeons usually commence to arrive
before sunset and continue to arrive i'm in
creasing numbers until after midnight The
passenger or wild pigeon has great power of
fight well Ss of vision. They have been
killed in - cnty OF New York with
their crops filled with rice. likely obtained
in the rice fields Of South Carolina or Geor-
gia The like has been observed i'm clark
county. All the evidence up TO within
forty years indicates that the number Of
pigeons resOrting to these roosting places
In Indiana and other States must have
teen immense beyond computation. At day.
break the birds would begin TO leave their
roosts. and on swift wings depart for their
feeding grounds, miles away, returning at
night as stated. in large fiocks, TO the To-
calty. several miles in extent. called the
Pigeon Roost. 1t may safely be said that
these birds ranged the forests from the
Wabash TO the Ohio river and extending
for into Kentucky in search of their favor
ite food, the beechnut. So large and noted
were these roosts that such places became
localities OF great interest None were
more famous than the in Finley town
ship. Scott county; hence the name of
Pigeon Roost creek and settlement.
Some time prior to the year 1872 the first
settlers. consisting of the families of VIII
liam Collins Ella Payne the Bridgewaters
and others, settled on Pigeon Roost creek
and began an infant settlement The sur
rounding country was a wilderness of great
extent and JeffersOnville Charlestown and
perhaps Springville, the first county seat. or
GAINESVILLE. on the Ohio. were the only set
Elements OF Importance within the circuit
OF many miles Many OF the pioneer set
tiers were from Kentucky
Many detached bodies OF Indians of the
Shawnee and Potowatomie tribes lurked in
the forests and committed numberIess out
RACES on the defenseless settlers The battle
of Tippecanoe had been fought. and these
Indians. thirsting for revenge passed TO
the rear OF Harrison's forces and attacked
people dwelling there. At this time a vague
suspicion OF impending danger was ripe in
rnat section, but no means of defense was
taken. and many settlers were away from
home. many. in fact. in Harrison's brigade.
That sultry day. Sept. g. 1872. was draw
ing 10 a close when a detached party of
Indians came Unexpectedly upon Elias
Payne and a friend named Coffman. a Ken
tuekian. who was his guest They had
been bee hunting and were unarmed when
Unexpectedly attacked. Bee hunting at this
time was a favOrite and somewhat profit
able pursuit and amusement OF the early
settlers. and many persons were famous
for their ability 10 line the wild bees. which
abounded in the woods. 70 their home in
some hollow tree. Each hunter had his
own secret process for making his so-called
bait" an alluring mixture OF various
sweets Of which the bees were supposed 10
be very fond The little insect being sur
feited With the bait. would wing its way in
Z direct line TO its hive. and the keen eve
OF the hunter followed its fight and OBJ
tanned the required course
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
These unfortunate men. surprised in the
midst Of their axcfffr~