The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-01-17
Murder Of the WigtOn Family, Near
Butler, by a Cornplanter Indian,
Sixty.six Years Ago.
Written By F. e. Allison, Nebraska, Pa

ping, fishing and hunting. In 1880 he
took up piece of land and began iarm-
ing and married squaw named Lydia
Kipps. Sam. Mohawk was so abusive
that she in that early DAY applied for and
secured a divorce. We do not know
whether the divorce was granted by In
dian customs or by the Cattaraugus
county court. About year later he
married a squaw named Sarah Silver
heels and resided on his farm tor the next
ten years. On the oath of June, A. ID.
lS43, he with full crew of Indians started
on log raft lying at the Reservation for
Pittsburgh. Four days later they landed
at Herr's Island, the Indian crew putting
up at the Allegheny House, kept by a
German named Fehl. now the Hotel
Boyer. and the following morning seven
of the Indians started home. Ed. Purse,
Sam. Mohawk and another Indian, name
unknown. remained over to see the sights
in the city. On the morning OF the Goth,
when the stage coach drove up TO the
Allegheny House for passengers, the
three Indians we're the ticst TO enter the
coach, all occupying the back seat, Sam.
Mohawk having quart flask in his out
side coat pocket. About six others got
into the stage coach and ons on the
"boot" with the driver. When about
half way to Butler Mohawk began quar-
reliDg with the unknown Indian, using
abusive and profsne language, but find
ing his Indian friend invincible, he
turned 10 white passenger named Bill
Shorts or Shuts, an old river pilot from
the vicinity of Brokenstraw. Shuts
would resent an insult as quick as a
scboolboy would remove his hand from
red hot stove. Shuts called 10 the
driver to stop and put the drunken In
dian out of the stage. The driver in q
commanding voice ,old them they had
better behave and keep still. This
aroused the dignity of SHUTS who in Ian
guage more forcible than polite swore If
he did not stop and put the Indian out,
he would whip both him and the Indian.
The driver checked his horses, came down
from his seat and was in the act of OPEN
ing the stage door, when Shuts grabbed
the drunken Indian by the shoulders,
jerked him over the seat in front and
showed him head first out OF the stage
onto the ground, where he remained in a
dsZed condition. he then ordered the
driver to get on his seat and drive Off the
order being obeyed without any hesita'
tion. The stage was fairly under head
way when the Indian arose from the
ground and picking up some stones at
up the team and was soon out OF sight.
On that evening he reached Butler aud
took the Mercer stage for the old Stone
house Tavern. He was very insolent
and in qusrrelsome mood when he left
Butler aud for reasons unknown he left
the Mercer stage and turned up at the
village of Prospect and on account OF his
drunken condition aud qusrrelsome dis
position was thrown out of the hotel.
Where he spent the balance of the night
is unknown.
THE wIGToN MURDER.
On the morning of June 30ih. James
Wigton, a farmer, and husband and
father Of the murdered family, arose early
and went to his fathers farm to borrow
a small corn plow, the distance being less
than mile from his farm. His mother
prevailed on him to remain and take
break fast with them. Wigton score OF
years later while talking with the writer
said: This was the greatest mistake OF
my whole life, remaining aud visiting a
half or three. q uarters of an hour, while
the family was preparing break fast. "
Here his voice faltered and he exclaimed,
"Oh, my God! While 1 was there visit
| ing drunken Indian was beating my
poor wife and chldren's brains out with
stone." With quivering chin and big
tears rolling down his cheeks, our con-
versation ended. The vivid recollection
OF that morning was too sad for him TO
| recall.
Samuel Mohawk's statement to Pro-
fessor Smithe, teacher: "Me come down
the river on a raft. We start home in
stage. Big white man throw me out OF
wagon. Me walk far and me come to
Butler hotel. Me hungry. White man
throw me out his bsrroom. Then me get
on another stage again and driver run of
and leave me too. Me go to tavern at
Prospect. They say Indian drunk and
white man throw me out another time.
Me very cross now, Me sleep some
place until itgets day. When light comes
go afoot. Me come to a house where a
white man lives. No white man there.
Me go in the house and ask white squaw
for an axe. She say we have none' Me
ask for knife. She give me knife and
me struck her on the arm. She ran out
of the house. Me follow her out. She
ran in the honse and shut the door. Me
took both hands and knee and push il
open and got in. She, squaw, run out an
other time. Me follow and catch her four
or six rods from house. Me catch her.
She big strong white squsw. She throw
me down and takes the knife. Me hold
her fast by the wrists and try to get up,
Me cut my head on the knife. Me push
her off and struck her with my fist, She
say You must not kill me. l will give
you all the money ia the house, Me
pick up big stick and struck her on the
head. She fell down. Ne took a stone
and struck her on the head. Me thought
she was dead. Me went into the house
with the stone. Saw child or years
old and killed it with the stone and me
killed another one. Me saw little one