Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-09-05
TIE B0Yd- Rarker IhEker :

adyance into the Genesee valley. They had no
idea that the Boyd party WIS behind them and
Boyd had idea that he was cut off from Sulli-
vans army by such force. Enrly in the morning
OF September 10. Boyd started to return to the
main army One OF his men, seeing some Indians
prowling about the village made the fatal mis-
take of firing upon them, thus revealing the posi-
tion of Boyds party to the sayages. For short
time tie scouting party unmolested, although
MS BOYD Travelled back along the trail through the
forest he several Indians trottlng along ahead
Of his column. He did not realize that they were
enticing him into nd ambush Finally they closed
In and the next few moments witnessed one OF
the most desperate combats In the history of the
frontier Boyd and his men fought with their
rifles until their ammunition ran out and then 1t
was struggle Mt close quarters dubbed musket
and fists against tomahawk and scaping knife
Fourteen of Buyd's purity were killed on the spot
but seyeral-among them the redoubtable Tim
Murphy--nanaged to break through the Gordon Of
death and by their heetness of foot escaped to Sui
lvans army. Boyd and Sergeant Parker were
taken prisoners.
The next morning the hot September sun looked
down upon terrible scene In the Seneca village.
Tied to the torture tree was young Tom Boyd,
brayely facing the bowling mob Of savages which
surrounded him. Mary Jamison. the famous white
captive of the Senecas. has told about the scene
of that morning as follows: poor Boyd
stripped of his clothing and then tired to sapling
where the Indians menaced his life by throwing
their tomahawks ut the tree directly over his
head, brandishing their scalping knives at him in
the most frightfui manner and accompanying their
ceremonies with the most terrific shouts of JOY"
She also described further details Of his lingering
death but they were too CHASTITY to be recorded
He was then .beheaded, his head was stuck upon
pole and his body left on the ground unburIed.'
Later In the day Sullivan captured the village and
found the bodies OF Boyd and Parker. The
o geant apparently, however, had been killed with
comparatively little torture.
The story has often been told that Colonel
Butler questioned Boyd and tried to get informa-
ton about Sulivan's army from him, but that
BOYD refused to reveal his commanders plans.
whereupon the Tory leader shouted: Take him.
Senecas!" Bad as was Buffers record as leader
OF bloody raids against the coonlsts, historians
have generally absolved him from responsibility
for Boyds horrible fate.
Terrible as had been their fate, their sacrifice
had not been in vain For the Indians, hearing the
uproar behind Them caused by the fight put up
by Boyd's party before 1t was overcome, aban-
.dened- their position and hurredly retreated west
ward. So when Sullivan advanced up that hill
he met with no resistance and 1t Is probable that
Boyd's party saved Sullivans army from severe
engagement In which large number OF men prob
ably would have lost their lives.
On September IA OF this year the granite bou-
der on which is inscribed the deathess heroism OF
Boyd and Parker Will be formally unveiled as q
purt OF the celebration OF the Sullivan-C linton
sesouIcentennla Although 1t minor Incl
dent In that campaign, no tribute that will be paiC
to the participants In that campaign will be more
deserving than the tribute there honoring the
memories Of the two young soldiers who marked
with their blood the western limit In the state o
New York OF the great struggle for American
freedom"