Chicago Magazine, April, 1857
THE MASSACRE OF CHICAGO.1
During the period of eight years, from the erection of the United States Fort, in 1804, to 1812, when it was destroyed, there are but few incidents to attract our attention. John Kinzie kept up his trading station, and a company of United States troops continued to occupy the Fort. Indians, a few Canadians and Americans,—traders and soldiers, constituted the mass of population. The trading station made it at all times the resort of the Indians. There were but five houses outside of the fort. One of these was that belonging to Mr. Kinzie, upon. the sooth side, opposite the fort, the first house in Chicago, the view of which we have already published. On the same side of the river, west of this, was the residence of Ouilmette, a Frenchman in the employ of Mr. Kinzie. And further up the river, on the present locality of the east end of the Chicago and Galena Railroad Freight House, on Wolcott Street, was a small log cabin, the residence of Burns, a discharged soldier. On the south side of the river, in addition to the Fort, was the United States Factory, the place for conducting the business of the fort, the intercourse with the Indians, and the storage of goods, and was also called the Indian Agency House. This building is seen in the view of the old Fort of 1804, at the right of the picture and west of the fort. There was, also, a small house on the lake shore, south of the fort, occupied by Mr. Lee, the owner of the South Branch farm, called Lee’s Place, where the first massacre of the whites occurred on the 7th of April, 1812.
To understand properly the history of these times, it is necessary that we also understand the location and condition of the Indian population in this vicinity. It should be remembered that Chicago then was far removed from the American settlements. Ohio was the most western State, and contained but little over two hundred thousand inhabitants. White settlements west of Ohio, properly, there were none, other than those clustering about a fort or an Indian trading post, such as Fort Wayne, Detroit, or Chicago. Scattered over this section of the country, of which Chicago would then have represented the center, were different tribes of Indians, occupying the same territory they had occupied for ages before any white man had set his foot upon their shores, We have before given the locality of the tribes of the North West. It should be remembered that the Pottawatomies were the Chicago Indians. The Miamis were their near neighbors at the south. The Winnebagoes joined them on the north, and occupied the region of the Rock river. The Sauks and Foxes on the north and west, and the Kicka-poos at the south, were known as the Indians with whom communication was had by the trade of the station at Chicago. The villages or bands of the Pottawatomies were at the Calumet, Des Plaines, Geneva Lake (since called Big Foot Prairie) on Fox River, near Aurora; Au Sable, on the Au Sable creek west of Joliet; on the Kankakee, and in the St. Joseph country, east of the lake. At points convenient for hunting and fishing, the Indian bands congregated, and made what local habitations they had.
As the leaders or representatives of the Indian population, there have been handed down to us, the names of many prominent chiefs, and other Indian characters, associated with the names of our localities and towns, anu perpetuated in their historical sketches. While they had every characteristic of the wild native, many of whom were treacherous, and debased in every sense to the level of the savage life, and spurned all attempts at civilization; there were among them, and especially the chiefs, some of the best specimens of uncultivated men. They were men of native integrity, whose word and honor might be trusted to any extent. They were strong and unchangable in their attachments, and perhaps as implacable in their resentments. They were finely formed physically, tall, straight, muscular, good featured, and fine specimens intellectually and outwardly; keen and quick to perceive, and sound in their judgments, yet wild as the native deer. Among the distinguished Indian characters of these primitive days, were a number, who in some way were connected with the events of the massacre. They had met Mr. Kinzie in social and business relations, and their intercourse had al ways been of the most agreeable nature. Their rank and native dignity had always been respected, and their laws of integrity, hospitality and intercourse observed. Therefore, the leading Indians were strongly attached to Mr. KInziE and his family.
Perhaps at the head of these prominent Indian characters, we should place the name of Black Patridge. His Indian name was Muck-ke-tay Pe-nay. He was the head chief of the Pottawatomies, and the leader of the Au Sable band, whose village was upon the Au Sable creek. He was a cohspicuous character, naturally constituted for a leader, finely formed and dignified in his bearing. He wasa man of excellent qualities, and fully deserved the term applied to him by one who had reason to measure well his kind-ness-a ” good Indian.” He was ever the friend of the Americans, and as far as he could, influenced his tribe accordingly. From the Americans he received a medal as a token of respect and friendship. He was, of course, the friend of Mr. Kinzie, and it was through his influence, mainly, and personal vigilance, that the family of Mr. Kinzie were saved from destruction. He was the friend in disguise who, at the time of the massacre, saved the life of Mrs. Helm, Mr. Kinzie’s step daughter, rescuing her from the hands of a young savage, who was about to plunge a tomahawk into her skull. He is the chief mentioned by Captain Heald, as the negotiator at the surrender after the battle at the sand-hills.
Wou-ban-see, chief of the Fox river band, located near Aurora, was another ” good Indian,” and every way a fine specimen of the race. He assisted Black Patridge after the massacre, in restraining the hostilities of the Indians, and in preserving Mr. Kinzie’s family. An addition to the city of Chicago, in the north-western division, is named from him, Wau-ban-see.
Win-ne-meg, or Catfish, was also another distinguished Pottawatomie chief. He was the bearer of dispatches from Gen. HuLL, ordering Capt. Heald to evacuate the fort He felt great solicitude for the safety of the garrison, and the protection of Mr. Kinzie, with whom he was on the best of terms. The suggestions which he made, had they been heeded, might have saved the garrison.
To-pe-ne-be was the head chief of the St. Joseph band. Among this band there had been for a long time a trading station, and an old French trader. Mr. Kinzie had been a resident among them before his removal to Chicago. Therefore, when these friendly Indians learned of the peril of the settlement at Chicago, To-pe-ne-be, with his band hastened to the relief of his friends, and under their charge Mr. Kinzie was remored to St. Joseph.
Ke-po-tah was another of the St. Joseph chiefs, who was also here as the friend of the Americans, at the time of the massacre. He, too, was a “good Indian.” To his “friends in need,” he proved himself a “friend indeed.” He was the chief protector of Mr. Kinzie’s family, on their removal from Chicago to St. Joseph, and from there to Detroit.
After their arrival at this latter place, he continued to manifest the same friendly interest in thir welfare. He was on a visit to Mrs. Kinzie when Gen. Harrison arrived and re-occupied Detroit. Gen. Harrison and Ke-po-tal were guests of Mrs. Kinzie at the same time.
Some other Indian characters of that day should be mentioned in this connection. One was Maunk-suck, Big Foot, whose home was at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; after whom a tract of land near by, called Big Foot Prairie, was named. He was not associated with the events of the massacre. Pe-so-tum, a chief of the Calumet band, the murderer of Capt. Wells, was a hostile Indian; and of the same class were War-be-ne-mah, of the Illinois River; Wau-non-gee, a Calumet chief, and others, whose participation in the massacre. will be found fully detailed in Wau-bun. There are two others well deserving of an honorable mention here: Alexander Robinson and Billy Caldwell. They were half breeds living with Indian wives, and fully recognized as members of the Indian tribes. Robinson was not at Chicago at the time of the massacre, being employed by Mr. Burnett, the trader of St. Joseph. When Capt. Heald was in danger of being taken from St. Joseph by the Indians, he and his lady were conveyed to Mackinaw in a canoe paddled by Robinson and his wife. At Robinson’s home in St. Joseph, Mrs. Helm and her parents were kindly cared for many months. Robinson afterwards became a chief. He is well known to the citizens of Chicago, and now resides on the Des-Plaines, on a tract of land reserved for him by the government. Billy Caldwell was a noted character in the early times of Chicago. He was a chief of the Pottawatomie tribe. He it was whose tact and timely presence on the day after the massacre, saved the lives of the Kinzie fairily. He was called Sau-ga-nash, or Englishman, and through his influence, and that of Robinson, and Shau-bee-nay, it is supposed that the Pottawa-tomies and Winnebagoes were kept from another outbreak, at the close of the war, in 1816. Billy Caldwell remained in Chicago after it became a town. The Sau-ga-nash Hotel, a popular public house, for a number of years, from 1832, was named from him, A large trace of land north-west of the city, designated on the maps as Caldwell’s Reservation, is land reserved by government for him. He is described as a natural gentleman, well educated, fine looking, witty. He lived after the style of civilized life. He was also in the employment of Mr. Kinzie, as a trader. His family are now residents of Canada. Both Billy Caldwell and Robinson will require further notice in the progress of our history.
The garrison stationed here in 1812, numbered about seventy-five men, many of whom were inefficient soldiers. The officers in command were Capt. Heald, Lieut. Helm,
son-in-law of Mr. Kinzie, and Ensign Rowan, the two latter young men, and Dr. Van Voorhees, surgeon.
Between the Indians and the troops there had usually been a good understand-ing. Hostilities had been prevalent for a year or two among the western Indians. It was also known that some of the Indians near Chicago had been with Tecumthe, and been engaged in the battle of Tippecanoe, The Pottawatomie Chiefs went yearly to Malden, Canada, where they were accustomed to receive presents from the British Government, as rewards for their friendship. Both the Winnebagoes and Pottawat-omies, however, were supposed to be on the most amicable terms with the Americans, and with the trops at this station.
For a short time previous to the declaration of war with Great Britain, which was made on the 19th of June, 1812, there were signs of dissatisfaction apparent to all who were not lulled into security.
The first transaction to break the repose of years, and the first scene of bloodshed to be recorded on the pages of this history, is the murder of the family of Mr. White, on Lee’s Place. This occurred on the 7th of April, 1812, four months previous to the massacre of the soldiers. Lee’s place was a farm lying on both sides of the South Branch of the Chicago River, about four miles from its mouth, and a little above the. present outlet of the canal. It was afterward known as Hard-scrabble, and under this name described in one of Major Richardson’s, novels. The house stood unon the western bank of the river. It was occupied by Mr. WHIte and three other persons, two men and a boy, employed to cultivate the farm. In the afternoon of the 7th of April, a company of ten or twelve Indians, painted and dressed as warriors, entered the house, and, according to their custom, silently seated themselves. Their appearancearoused the suspicion of a Frenchman, one of the hired men, who declared that he “did not like their looks, that they were none of their Indians, for he knew by their paint that they were not Pottawatomies.” Another of the men, a discharged soldier, told the boy that they “had better try to get away,” and advised him to follow, and
“do what he saw him do.”
Towards night, the soldier, for the purpose of stealing away, walked leisurely to the river, where were two canoes. To one of the Indians, who inquired where he was going, he pointed towards the haystack, and made signs as if he was going to feed the cattle. The boy took one of the canoes, and he the other, and crossed the river. Making a show of gathering up the cattle and feeding them, until they gained a circuit, and were screened by the stacks, they ran for the woods, which were near by, and then hastened to the Fort as fast as possible. They had gone but a short distance, when they heard the report of two guns, discharged, as they supposed, at their two remaining companions. They hastened on through the belt of timber skirting the east side of the South Branch, until they came to the river opposite the residence of Mr. Burns. This stood on the north side, near where Wolcott street now is. Here they halted to give the alarm, and then ran to the Fort. Learning that the Burns‘ family were in peril, the gallant young Ensign, Rowan, volunteered with a party of five or six soldiers, to remove them to the Fort. They ascended the river, from the Fort to Mr. Burns’ residence in a scow, and taking Mrs. Burns and an infant child, but two days old, on a bed, they conveyed her and the other members of the family safely to the Fort.2
In the afternoon of the same day, a party of soldiers and a corporal had left the Fort for the purpose of hunting and fishing. They had gone up the South Branch, and were about two miles above Lee’s place, when the intelligence of the attack reached the Fort. The commanding officer ordered a cannon to be fired to warn them of their danger. They understood the signal-the ominous meaning of that gun booming over the prairies in the darkness of night. They put out their torches, and in their canoes passed down the river as silently as possible. At Lee’s place they stopped to warn the supposed inmates of their danger, as indicated by the signal-gun from the Fort. Truly, the
stillness of death reigned around. Groping their way toward the house, and leaping over the enclosure, the corporal accidentally placed his hands upon the dead body of a man, and though startled by the discovery, he soon ascertained by the sense of touch, that the man had been killed and scalped.
This was conclusive evidence that Indians had done the deed. A faithful dog guarded the lifeless remains of his master. Quickly and silently the corporal and his soldiers returned to their canoes and embarked, proceeding cautiously down the river. They were unmolested, and reached the Fort about eleven o’clock at night. The next morning a volunteer company of soldiers and citizens started for Lee’s place to ascertain the fate of those who remained there. The bodies of Mr. White and the Frenchman were found. Mr. W. had been shot twice, and stabbed in eleven places. The Frenchman lay, scalped and mutilated, as the corporal had discovered him, the dog still guarding his remains. The bodies were conveyed to the Fort and buried in its vicinity.
It was ascertained soon after, that the murderers belonged to a party of Winnebagoes from Rock river, who came into the neighborhood, with the savage design of “taking some white scalps.” It seems their intention had been, after killing the people at Lee’s, to proceed down the river, and coming upon the settlers unawares, murder all outside of the Fort. These consisted of a few discharged soldiers, and some families of half-breeds. The warning gun from the Fort admonished the savages that they were dis-covered, and they forthwith retreated. This enabled the soldiers to escape and pass down the river unmolested.
After this the little settlement lived in a constant state of alarm. The inhabitants
took possession of the Agency house, where they entrenched themselves. This is the building seen at the right, in the view of the Fort of 1804. It stood on the plain west of the Fort, near the present site of the light-house. It was a log building, having a hall through the middle, and a room on each side. Piazzas in front and rear, extended the whole length of the house. These were planked up for protection, port-holes cut through, and a watch kept nightly. They supposed the Indians were still lurking about On one occasion, two soldiers on patrol surprised a party of Indians in the pasture adjoining the esplanade. One of the soldiers fired upon the Indians, who threw a tomahawk which struck a wagon near by. The sentinel from the block house fired, and with effect, as appeared from the marks of blood left upon the trail.
Soon after, the Indians broke into the enclosure to steal horses but finding none, they commenced slaughtering the sheep; which being frightened, fled toward the Fort.
This alarmed the garrison, who pursued the Indians, but they succeeded in making their escape. Thus was the way prepared for the great calamity which came speedily upon them.
On the 7th of August, 1812, Win-ne-meg, or Catfish, as he was called, a distinguished Pottawatomie Chief, arrived at this port from Detroit, bringing despatches from Gen. Hull; for Capt. Heald. These despatches contained the first announcement they had received of war being declared between the United States and Great Britain; of HULL’S arrival with his army at Detroit; and the capture of the post at Mackinaw by the British. This dispatch contained unconditional orders to Capt. Heald to evacuate the fort; and in that event to distribute all the United States property in the fort and factory among the Indians in the neighborhood. Having delivered these dispatches, Win-ne-meg sought an interview with Mr. John Kinzie, who was residing at the fort. He informed Mr. KInzie that he wis acquainted with the contents of the dispatches, and wished to know if it was the intention of the commander to evacuate the fort. Win-ne-meg also counseled against such a step, believing that as the garrison was well supplied with provisions and ammunition, it would be better to remain until they could receive reinforcements. If, however, they determined to leave, he hoped they would do so immediately, before the Indians, whose hostile feelings were apparent, and through whose territory they must pass, should be aware of their design, and prepare to attack them. Capt. Heald was immediately informed of the old Indian’s advice. He replied that he intended to evacuate the fort, according to the orders received; and did not feel justified in leaving until he had collected the Indians and distributed the property as directed. Winnemeg suggested that they should march out and leave the property to be taken possession of by the Indians, and thus they would be able to make their retreat while the Indians were engaged in dividing the spoils. Mr. Kizie seconded this advice, but, unhappily, it met with no favor from the commanding officer. Thus, through the soldierly pride of the Commander, and his religiously adhering to the military rule to obey orders, was the garrison and unprotected inhabitants doomed to destruction.
Without holding a council of war, as was expected, the order for evacuation was read the next morning on parade. There had been some ill feeling between the Captain and one of his junior officers, Ensign Ronan. This officer was a young man, but high spirited and overbearing, though brave and generous. As no council of war was called, the junior officers waited upon the Captain, and remonstrated with him. They told him it was not probable the command would be permitted to pass to Fort Wayne without molestation, that the Indians were known to be hostile, manifesting their friendly feelings to one family only, that of Mr. Kinzie, who had gained their friendship in intercourse with them as a trader. That as the detachment was encumbered by women and children, their progress would necessarily be slow. That among the troops were many who were superannuated and invalids, and therefore incapable of proper defence in open field. They therefore advised that the garrison remain, and fortify themselves as strongly as possible. Capt. Heald urged in response his special orders, general instructions, want of provisions, and his confidence in the friendly professions of the Indians. The officers sullenly acquiesced in the decision of their Commander, viewing the removal as almost certain destruction. Dissatisfaction was also manifested by the soldiers, amounting to little less than insubordinatión; some of them even venturing to remonstrate with the Captain.
Among the Indians were increasing indications of hostility. Sometimes they entered the fort in defiance of the sentinels, and made their way even to the quarters of the officers. One of them fired his gun in the parlor of the Commander, as an expression of defiance. It is supposed by this that an attack upon the fort had been contemplated; for outside, the greatest agitation prevailed. Crowds of Indians were rapidly assembling, and old chiefs moved around with the utmost concern, as if striving to stay the impetuosity of the young men. The squaws and children rushed madly about, screaming and yelling, as if conscious of some impending evil. But disturbance for the time was suppressed. Yet Capt. Heald continued to have faith in the friendliness of the natives, and still believed he had gained their good will, so as to insure the safety of his command on their march to Fort Wayne. With the inhabitants clustering about the fort for protection, and with those stationed there as protectors, there were sad forebodings. Gloom was spread over every countenance. Each night they sought rest with a cloud upon their spirits darker than the shades of night-the shadow of the coming events. Each morn they rose to find that daylight only revealed more vividly the reality of their dreadful condition— a condition from which they could not be shielded by the darkness of night, nor be relieved by the cheerful light of day, nor balmy influence of a summer morn. We who know how blessed it is, in a calm August morning, to sit by the shore of our beautiful Lake, and gaze upon its waters, grand and sublime in repose, as well as when rolling in conflict with the storms, can only imagine how terribly sad was the condition and the hearts of our predecessors, when, in those calm mornings of August, 1812, weighed down by fearful forebodings of butchery and massacre from the savage foe, they could find neither hope nor consolation from the benign influences of nature.
On the 12th a council was held with the Indians who had assembled from the neighboring villages. Capt. Heald was the only person representing the military, who attended the council. The other officers declined accompanying him. Mr. Kinzie, whom all the Indians regarded with favor, participated with Capt. Heald in the council, When they had assembled with crowds of savages, upon the esplanade, the young officers in the fort having learned that the Indians intended to murder the whites in council, and then rush upon the fort-took command of the block houses, which raked the ground where the couneil was held, opened the port holes, and pointed the loaded cannon upon the assembly. This, it is supposed, saved the lives of the whites who were then assembled.
The Commander informed the Indians of his intention to distribute among them, on the following day, the goods stored in the Factory, with the ammunition and provisions of the garrison. He requested an escort of Pottawatomies, to Fort Wayne, promising them a liberal reward on arriving there, in addition to the presents they were about to receive. The savages assented to these propositions with much promptness and apparent sincerity.
Mr. Kinzie, who well understood the Indian character, informed Capt. Heald of the treacherous state of affairs, and of the dangerous ground on which he stood, and of the impolicy of furnishing arms for the enemy to use against him in a murderous attack. In the next day (the 13th) the goods, consisting of blankets, broadeloths, calicoes, &c., were distributed according to promise. At night the liquor was carried through the sally-port on the north side of the palisades. The heads of the barrels were knocked in and the liquor poured into the river. The ammunition was also destroyed, the extra muskets broken, the shot, flints and the fragments thrown into the well. The liquor and ammunition in the possession of Mr. KiNziE was deposited in the same manner. While this work of destruction was going on, the Indians, suspecting it, crept up, serpent-like, near the scene, and along the opposite shore; became aware of the deception that was being practiced upon them. So large was the quantity of liquor poured into the river, that the water tasted of it, and the atmosphere was redolent with its odor. They had reasonably supposed this distribution of property to include the arms, ammunition and liquors; the last being more highly prized by them than all the other presents they hoped to receive. This artifice very much enraged them, deepening still further the hostile state of feeling.
On the 14th Capt. WeLLs, a relative of Capt. HEALD, arrived from Fort Wayne with an escort of fifteen friendly Miami Indians. At Fort Wayne he had heard of the order for the evacuation of the fort, and realizing the danger of the command in marching through the territory of the hostile Pottawatomies, he had hastened to the relief of his relative, and to dissuade him from leaving the fort. But he arrived too late. Steps had been taken which could not be retrieved, and which rendered the future occupancy of the fort as dangerous and impracticable as their removal.
Another council with the Indians held on the day of Capt. Wells‘ arrival, left no doubt as to the determined hostility of the Indians. They were loud in their murmurs and threats. They expressed great indignation at the destruction of the liquor and ammunition. In the evening after this council, Black Patridge, a conspicuous chief, who had ever been the friend of the Americans-entered the quarters of the Commander, and delivering a medal he had received for his faithfulness, said, “I have long worn this medal as a token of mutual friendship. Our young men are resolved to imbrue their hands in the blood of the whites. I cannot restrain them, and I will not wear a token of peace, while I am compelled to act as an enemy.” Evidence was not wanting to show that the little band of whites were doomed to destruction. But there was no way for retreat. Therefore they prepared to leave the fortification which had sheltered them thus far, but which at best could protect them only a few days longer. Encumbered as they were with women and children, and sick and enfeebled soldiers, their march must necessarily be a fatiguing onc, even if unmolested. Everything not deemed an absolute recessity had been given to the Indians or destroyed. Of ammunition they had but twenty-five rounds, and a small box of cartridges in one of the baggage wagons.
The fifteenth of August was the day fixed upon for leaving the post. The day dawned with all the beauty of an August morn, and the rising sun never shone more brightly upon the placid waters of Lake Michigan.
Early in the morning, Mr. Kinzie received a dispatch from To-pe-ne-be, saying that the promised escorts were already plotting for the destruction of the troops. He advised Mr. Kinzie, who had resolved upon accompanying the detachment, to remain with his family. They were placca by To-pe-ne-be in a boat, under the charge of some friendly Indians, with a view of their thus being conveyed to St. Josephs, This party consisted of Mrs. Kinzie, four children, their nurse,3 a clerk of Mr. Kinzie’s, two servants and the boatman or voyageurs, with Indians as protectors. They were to proceed along the southern shore of the lake to St. Joseph’s. Mr. Kinzie declined accompanying them, as he hoped his presence might afford some protection to the detachment, and To-pe-ne-be assured him that the Indians would not molest his boat. But hardly had the family reached the lake before the friendly To-pe-ne-be sent another message requesting them to remain. John H. Kinzie, one of the old residents, but at that time between seven and eight years of age, was of one the four children in this boat. He recollects very distinctly every incident of the terrible massacre. He saw the troops as they left the fort in martial array, and watched their course along the sands of the beach. He witnessed the first discharge of the murderous volley from the treacherous Indians, which was poured into the ranks of the troops. It was a simultaneous discharge, the flash, like a ball of fire, and the smoke rolling up a murky cloud in the clear air. The conflict, which followed, the confusion and alarm, the prancing and flight of horses, the whooping of the Indians, and the yells of their women and children, are parts of the scene yet distinctly remem-bered, after a period of forty-five years.
At nine o’clock the troops left the fort to the solemn notes of the dead march. They were hardly without the enclosure when the Indians commenced shooting and butchering the cattle.
The troops proceeded without molestation until they came to a range of sand hills, about half a mile south of the present location of the Round House, belonging to the Illinois Central Railroad. Here the Pottawatomies defiled to the right, leaving the sand hills between them and the Americans. Suddenly, a volley from the Indian muskets behind the sandy barricades was poured upon them. The troops instantly formed and charged up the bank, an aged soldier of seventy falling just as they reached its height. The conflict soon became general. The Miamis fled at the first fire, notwithstanding the efforts of Captain WeLLs to prevent it. Their chief riding up to the Pot-tawatomies, brandished his tomahawk, charged them with treachery, and declared he would be the first to head a party to return and punish them. He then turned his horse and galloped away.
The Americans fought with desperation, but were obliged to surrender after the loss of nearly two-thirds of their number. The Indians agreed to spare their lives, and the women and children, and to deliver them up at some Britisk post, unless they were ransomed by the traders. After the capitulation, however, the Indians pretended that this arrangement did not include the sick and wounded, and a terrible scene ensued. Twelve children, belonging to the whites were tomahawked by one young savage. Capt. Wells seeing this, determined to avenge their death, and rode off rapidly for the encampment of the Indians on the Chicago river, west of the fort, where they-had left their squaws and children. He was pursued by several Indians, who killed his horse and disabled him. Win-ne-meg and Wau-ban-see, endeavored to save his life, but were unsuccessful. Pee-so-tum, stabbed him in the back. The heart of Capt. Wells was taken out and cut in pieces and distributed among the tribes.4 Mr. J. H. Kinzie remembers seeing the head of Capt. Wells carried about among the Indians, and his mutilated remains lying in a most horrible condition upon the lake shore.
Mrs. Helm, a step daughter of Mr. Kinzie, was wounded in the shoulder by a tomahawk which had been aimed at her head. While struggling with the savage, she was rescued by an unknown friend, who in disguise conveyed her to the lake as if he would drown her, and whom she then discovered to be Black Patridge. Supported by him and another Indian, who held the scalp of Captain Wells in his other hand, she was
NOTES:
1The history of the Massacre of Chicago, which makes up the main part of this chapter, was published in 1836 in the Narrative by Mrs. John H. Kinzie, and the same was transferred to her work entitled Way-bun, which was published, in 1856. Wau-bun is an interesting book of nearly five hundred pages, devoted to the Early Day in the North West-Wau-bun being the Indian term for early day. It contains many lively and graphic sketches of Western incidents and pioneer life, with minute sketches of family history connected with Mr. Kinzie’s residence in Chicago. One of the important features of this work is the full history of the Massacre and the preceding events. We are of course indebted to the narrative in Wau-bun for most of the facts which we have used as public history. Much of the contents of the book relating to these events are intensely interesting, but as they are the property of the authoress, it would be improper for us to extract from it for these pages. The Narrative, with little variation, has been transferred into Brown’s “History of Illinois, and to the Western Annals, and has also been made the ground work of the popular tales by Major Richardson, entitled Hardscrabble, and Wau-non-goe.
2Wau-bun, page 206-207
3This person’s name was Josette, who was afterwards Mrs. Jean Baptiste Beaubien, wife of Major Gen eral Beaubien, of this city.
4Brown’s Illstory of Illinois.
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