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Show People, Politics & Policy ped Eyewitness account of "Battle Creek' battle cont. fe By E. MARK BEZZANT In last weeks article we began the eyewitenss account as told by John Brown (Polly Prestwiches great grandfather) of the battle between settlers and Indians which led to the naming of the area now known as Battle Creek. The article left off as thef Indians began shooting at the settlers. At this point the settlers were ordered to open fire on the Indians. In last weeks article was a typographical error which stated that John Brown was mayor for 210 years. He gave up the job after some 20 years because the government gover-nment disinfrancised him for being a polygamist. 'Roman Nose' fell dead. 'Blue Shirt,' another Indian, seized the gun and discharged it. George Boyd and Frank Woodard had one powder horn between them. When 'Blue Shirt' fired his gun, he cut the dust between these two men. The firing now became general. David Fulmer was shot by an arrow which cut his clothing to the skin. Hosea Stout was struck by an arrow which penetrated his vest. Alexander Williams, his gun refusing to fire, grabbed another man's gun and, with others, fired, when 'Blue Shirt' fell dead. Two Indians ran toward the mountain. One was killed just after he started.' The other one did not fall until he had run about 150 yards. The firing now stopped, and after the smoke had cleared away, Mr: Huntington called to the remaining Indians to come, up and they would not be harmed. After some time, an old squaw slowly came up from the bank of the creek and looked around. When she ; saw , the two young Indians whom Little Chief had sent for our guides, she gave them a severe scolding. She was told to go down and bring the other Indians up. After some time she came back leading a child. She then returned down near the edge of the creek to the camp and brought others up one by one. Mr. Huntington Hun-tington told her to go down and bring the gun. After considerable argument among the Indians, she came forward with the gun, leading a young man who looked to be about 18 years of age. He shook with fright, no doubt expecting to be killed any minute. By this time our men had built a fire and invited the Indians to come forward and get warm. As soon as this was done, we looked to the west and saw Little Chief, with his band of about 200 Indians, riding full speed toward us from their camp on Utah Lake. Colonel Scott ordered us to immediately im-mediately go to our horses and mount them. By the time we had returned to the scene of the conflict, the Indians were upon us. In the meantime, the squaws, the children, and the young man had removed the bodies of the four Indians who had been killed and hidden themselves. "Little Chief began to moan and cry. He said these men had deserved to die and it was well that they had been killed and he demanded pay. He further said, m l 'Now that you have killed these Jjbj men, you must feed these women itXortl and children.' Our commander left f$m word with him for these unfortunate jmaged victims to come to Salt Lake City Mted. and promised that they would be fed ysa Br and cared for. After some parley utility p with Little Chief and his leading mjeri men, we said farewell and started jrturnec homeward. He and his band started trenosi towards their camps at the mouth of hercar the Provo River. Accordi "We rode homeward and stopped ton, a at the American Fork Creek and m,'wa, cooked our breakfast. We were very eac'cide weary and hungry, having had no George! sleep or rest since we left Willow rtrk Creek two days before. We were eg at 3 gone two days and one night. "About one week after this tragedy, the Indian women and ( children, together with the young man whose life was spared, came to mtinued Salt Lake City and were cared for eaorej until in the spring, when they made jm t),e their departure. It has been said tunity to that this young man whose life was me 0( spared was Black Hawk. This is not nuiremen true." i m (airman. |