The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15

the absence Of their squaws at once dis
closed the nature OF their errand. John
Richie was in a field pulling hemp when
he saw the Indians passing over a fence.
He ran TO his house. where he found his
daughter-in-law Sichey. whose husband,
DR.. John Richie. was in Harrison's army
as a surgeon at the time stationed at
Vincennes. Mr.. Richie and daughter-in-
law fed to a cornfeld. and eventually es-
capped to the woods. where they remained
during the night. To use the language of
Sichey, Daddy and 1 wandered in the
woods all night, frequently resting, seated
upon logs. startled at times by various
sounds made by wild animals, which We
imagined were Indians. and in the morning
we found ourselves several miles away,
near the home of my nephew. Zebulon
Collins. There we found body of armed
settlers collected by the alarm OF the at
tack"
The murderous band of Indians next APP
preached the home of Henry Collins, son
Of William Collins. They came unexpect-
eddy upon happy group OF settlers eating
watermelons. At the sound of barking
dogs Henry arose and approached the gate.
Here he met the Indians and was struck a
violent blow from a tomahawk. He then
fed through a meadow, attempting to
staunch the flowing blood. his tormentors
pursuing He died shortly after from eff
fects of the wound and subsequent exer-
tions.
The band then attacked the helpless
women and children, killing Catherine Col
Inns. Henry's sister, two women named
scenes were repeated at Paynes house,
where his wife and four children were
slain and their bodies burned, with the
house and contents, and also at the house
Of Richard Collins, where his wife and
children met the same untimely end. Rich
ard Collins was at the time with the army
at Vincennes. John Harris, whose wife
and three children were slain at Henry
Collins's house. was absent at the time In
the service of the government.
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS.
These two families lived near together
The next place attacked was the house Of
William Collins. Here William Collins and
Captain Norris were on their guard, hav.
ing been alarmed by the uproar and sight
of the Indians. Captain Norris had beer
tie of Tippecanoe, and was at this time or
a visit to Mr.. Collins. it is said, to war;
the settlers of their danger. Mrs. Collin:
was absent at the time in Kentucky.
The narration of the incidents connected
with the attack on this house is confusing
1t is said that William Collins rushed from
the cabin toward the forest and as ht
emerged from the house three shots were
fired at him, one bullet striking his CUR
and carrying away the flint lock. He sue
ceeded in escaping.
1t is related that William Collins. havine
given Captain Norris a rifle they prepared
for defense is best they could. They fired
several shots at the Indians hiding behind
the corn crib, and were certain they slew
one or more of the enemy, forming theil
opinion from bloodstains seen the next day
II was in this encounter that Mr.. Collins
had the lock shot off his rifle. 1t is also
related that Captain Norris on his retreat
from the Collins house escaped with two
children, and after wandering in the woods
all night reached a place of safety the fol
lowing day.
Prior to the attack upon the house, Johr
Collins, a lad twelve years of age, haC
lust taken horse and started to bring il
the cows, which, as was the custom of th'
times, fed in the range. when he saw th'
Indians and fed. hiding in a cluster of alder
bushes. pursued by three Indians. Though
coming very close to him several times h
was not seen by them. While the fight was
in progress he emerged from his hiding
place. ran to the house and was admitted
Here he was Joined by Ida Collins, four
w.~s&I
tain Norris, fed to the nearest settlement
arriving next day completely exhausted
Collins and Norris were separated on leav
ing the house, and each pursued his owl
course during the night.
Old Mr.. Collins was a good shot as wer'
most of the pioneer settlers. They were
trained marksmen with the rife Shortly
after dark Jane Biggs, in later year:
known as Aunt Jnsey, daughter of Viii
liam Collins. living a half mile distant
alarmed at the firing of guns, and seems
the light of burning buildings, started will
her three children to go to her father
house. Or drawing near, and fearing tina
| all was not right. she secreted the children
in the woods and proceeded to Investigate
the situation. Reaching the house sh
| pushed open the door and the smell o
| gunpowder alarmed her. She hastily re
| turned to her children. and guiding thei
feeble footsteps wandered for hours in tn
| darkness; torn by greenbriars, stumblin,
and slipping, at times resting on logs a
| others lying upon the damp ground, thi
brave woman at last reached Zebulon Col
| lins's place and finally Charlestown. He
| husband at this time was a soldier in tn
| Western army. During the assault fou
| dwellings and their outhouses were burned
namely. those of John Ritchie. William
| Collins, Elias Payne and Richard Collins
The day following Mrs. Collinss escape her
self and children were placed on a horse
and accompanied by an escort Of severa
rfiemen on foot they were taken to tn
blockhouse at Springville. the county seat
four miles west OF Charlestown. OF tina
county seat. or Shiretown, as then called
not a vestige remains to-day
MORE THAN TWENTY MARTYRS.
From the foregoing facts, handed dowr
| from generation TO generation, II will b.
seen that at least twenty. and some say
| twenty-five, lives were sacrificed and nov
| lie in the lonely little burial ground neal
! Underwood. where the SHOWS OF ninety
winters have fallen and melted. while tn,
great State of Indiana has gone on in pros
| perity and population, yet has never
marked by a monument or given any indi
| cation that she respected the memory o.
| this sturdy little band Of pioneers who gave