The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
GRAND TOWER MASSACRE
AN OLD-TIME INDIAN ATROCITY ON
THE MISSISSIPPI RECALLED.
A Pioneer Woman, Once Resident of
Vincennes, Whose Career Was
Succession of Tragedies.

ScHluly inert llNeu III NllCeIllcS, llu., d
woman whose whole life had been spent on
the frontier. She had been widowed four
times by Indians; her last husband, named
Moredock, had been murdered by them
few years before the time of which l speak.
She was a true representative of the pio-
neer mothers of the Northwest, intelligent,
courageous and self-reliant, notwithStand-
ing her lonely, dependent position, not hav-
ing a relative on earth that she knew of.
Her family-all father, mother, sisters and
brothers, in fact every relative she had
were at one fell swooD wiped out Of ex-
istence in an Indian massacre near Bry-
ants Station, KY, when she was a small
child. Taken as a captive, she escaped
death. and few years afterward an In
dian trader named Boquette purchased
her from the Indian who had rescued her.
The history of her early life as she had
often related ii was as follows: 81 do not
remember my family name, L was so young
when / was captured but 1 we'll remem-
her seeing Indian tomahawk my father
and brother during the massacre. The i'm
preston made upon my infant mind on
beholding that cruel act has never been
effaced from my memory. ] had become
separated from my friends, and while call
ing piteously for my mother an Indian car
ried me away in his arms and L became
a member of his family. They were always
very kind to me. L was treated by my foster
parents with as much affection were
their own three children, the youngest of
whom was aged ten years. L was only
about four years old, the baby of the fam
lily; this no doubt was why they all be-
arne nsaff hol to, lou fov fI,av,
was deep seated. 1 fairly idolized my
foster mother, and when the bargain was
closed for my transfer and / was told that
the lady-the wife of the trader-who then
held my hand was now my mother, 1 cried
and begged to go along with my parents.
who tried in every way to reconcile me
to the change: but 1 refused to be consoled.
They finally broke away from me, and 1
was tenderly cared for and led to my
future home, where I cried myself to sleep.
I never saw my old friends again; they
were then on their way to Join the tribe
(the Miamis) on the Missssinnewa. This
was perhaps the reason they were willing
to part with me.
1 remember that the price agreed upon
for my transfer was paid in goods-several
handkerchief, some blue calico and lot
of beads and Indian trinkets; also a jug
of whisky and some tobacco, my foster
fathers portion. L was then about nine
years old, and could speak only the Miami
tongue.
1t was not long thereafter until realized
that the change was fortunate one for me
in every way. My new parents, who had
no children of their own, soon became
wrapped up in me. They instilled into my
youthful mind lessons of religion and NOR
atty, and in due time gave me limited
education, the best that could be obtained
then. 1t was their intention to take me
to Detroit to finish my education, but L
defeated this project by getting married
at the age of sixteen years. Two years
after my husband was killed by Indians
while In the woods searching for his horse.
ALL KILLED BY INDIANS.
During the following fifteen years she
was married three times, and each of her
husbands met his death at the hands of
the Indians. She was left with large fam
lily Of children, whom she managed To bring
up in respectable manner. Now that her
sons were fast approaching manhood she
resolved to better their condition by NOV
ing west" many of the settlers were
then doing She joined a company Of en-
igrants. consisting of five families, who
were about to emigrate to Kaskaskia on
the Mississippi. Flatboats were provided,
and the emigrants, forty in number. with
light hearts started on their hopeful jour-
ney to the new country. They descended
the Wabash to the Ohio river, then de-
scending the Ohio to the Mississippi, in
tending to ascend that stream to the mouth
of the Kaskaskia.
The water route, while it was a circuitous
the safest from Indian depredations, and
less arduous for the emigrants. The main
danger was from a decoy, which ruse the
Indians were continually employing, and
frequently with fearful results; then there
were several points on the Mississippi
where at times it was necessary to land
and draw the boats around certain obstruc-
tons in the channel. Such places had to
be approached with great precaution.
All went we'll with the expedition until
they reached the rock known as the Grand
Tower" on the Mississippi, almost il. sight
of their destination. Now, thinking that all
danger was past the men carelessly leaped
on shore to drag the boats up against the
current, which here rushed violently against
the base of the great cliff. The women and
children. tired of being confined in the little
cabins of the boats for three or four weeks,
th0ughtlessly followed the men. The entire
party were slowly and merriy making their
way along the space between the perpendic-
ular precipice and the swift flowing stream,
singing and chasing each other in great gee
when suddenly, like clap of thunder in a
clear sky, terrible savage yells saluted their
ears. followed by volley of rifles from the
crags above. which dropped a half dozen of
the amazed emigrants dead in their tracks.
AT the same moment number of hideously
painted savages appeared at each end of
the fated pass. All We're now doomed, as all
chance for escape was cut off, but the brave
emigrants fought with desperation, causing
many of the red devils to bite the dust. This
conflict was but the repetition of scenes
which the rivers and woods Of the North
west had witnessed many times before in
which all the boasted strength and intelli-
gence of the whites had been baffied by the
superior cunning of the red man.
A FIENDISH MASSACRE.
The history of Indian warfare contains no
passage more fearful than is to be found in
the nara tive of the massacre at the Grand
Tower, on the Mississippi With but few
arms, surprised, encountered with their
women and children. and under such great
disadvantage. being all huddled together on