CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1904-11-24

STORM OF BuLLBTs CAM U1on us.
the Indians that our peaceful commu-
nifty has been the scene Of one Of those
massacres 20 greatly dreaded BY our
people ever since the settlement OF this
great country was FIRST attempted. Not
content to meet NJ In open battle, their
agents have been busy among the In
dams, paying them heavy bribes to re-
tain their friendship and, worse than
all. Offering them 30 many dollars
apiece for the scalp Of the Americans.
men. women and children. It has
been observed that the leading chiefs
around us have been very sullen, and
we have feared an outbreak, and the
killing and scalping at Lees place. q
few miles above here. in April this
year by some Winnebagoes have In
creased the sense Of constant danger
in which we live. but never once have
we expected so fearful a massacre a.
that which occurred today.
After the AFFAIR at Lees all Of our
people moved into the agency house,
near Fort Dearborn, and fortified them
lowered around, but for the past
month we have had no cause for fear.
Last week Catfish, friendly Potta-
wottomi chief, arrived with q message
from General Hull to Captain Heald,
commandant Of the fort, announcing
his arrival at Detroit with an army,
the declaration of war with Great Brit
ain, the invasion of Canada and the
loss Of Mackinac. 1t also conveyed an
order to Captain Head to evacuate
the fort II practicable and to distribute
the government property In the fort
and agency among the Indians In the
neighborhood.
The officers and friendly Indians
urged Captain Heald not to leave the
fort, as 1t would be dangerous to do 30.
The hostile Indians, having received in
formation from Tecumseh of the dis
aster to the American arms in Canada.
were daily becoming more restless
and insolent, but Captain Heald re-
solved to carry out the instructions Of
his superior officer. He called a coun-
ell of the Indians and told them Of his
intention to leave the fort and give
them the stores. They received his Of
fer with many protestations Of friend
ship, and 1t was agreed that the distri-
button of goods, arms and provisions
should take place day before yestsr-
day. A guard Of 600 Pottawottomies
offered to escort us through the wilder
ness to Fort Wayne.
We began the distribution of the
stores as agreed, the Indians having
come in great numbers to receive them,
but during the day Black Partridge,
friendly chief. warned us to be very
careful on the march to Fort Wayne.
and the distribution was stopped for
that day. After consultation It was
decided not to give the guns and am
munition to the Indiana, so that night
the muskets not needed by the garr1-
son were broken up and, with powder.
shot, hints and everything pertaining
to firearms, were thrown into wsil
near the sally port. A large quantity
Of liquor and some powder were
thrown into the Illinois river, and BY
morning the destruction was comb5ete,
but the savages had crept close to the
fort and had seen us destroy that
which they had begun to consider theiFs.
Ali day yesterday complaints aD4
threatenings were loud because q this
bssach Of faith. and We wore inproased
with sense Of impending doom.
When lids morning arrived ~ ~.
49, wsrs IN such svsrwhsiming -