Hide Article Text (OCR)
and the children lost their way in the darkness, and after wandering hopelessly in the woods until they were ex hausted they sat down to rest and soon fell asleep, notwithstanding the peril of their situation. When daylight came they got their bearings and found their way to the blockhouse in safety.The defense of the Collirgs’s house, although tl e active part of it lasted lees than an hour, served as a check that probably saved many lives, for evening was approaching, and the sound of the firing served as a warning to the scattered settlers. The Indians who went to the west found only one home where the people were not on their guard. This was the residence of John Morris, who was away on militia duty, and his mother, his wife and his only child all fell victims to the tomahawk. The cabin of John Biggs was found empty by the Indians. At sundown Mrs. Biggs had gone to the woods to look for her cow, accompanied by her two children, and carrying her baby in her arms. As she came near the edge of the woods, on her return, she hearder. A force was quickly started to the scene of the tragedy, under command of Major John McCoy. As they marched along they were joined by others to whom the call for aid had reached, and when they came to Pigeon Roost about 2 o’clock in the afternoon there were more than 200 men in the party. Everywhere was desolation and horror. Only one house—that defended by Collings - was standing, and about the ruins were mutilated bodies of women and children. The only person found alive was Henry Collings, who had recovered consciousness and crawled into a flaxhouse and concealed himself. He lived but a short time after he was discovered. At 3 o'clock the trail of the Indians was found and followed until dark, when the Musca-ckituck river was reached. It was too swollen to cross in the dark, so the party encamped for the night, and in the morning, having learned that the Indians started early on the preceding day, and probably could not be overtaken, the party returned to Pigeon Roost.
Newspaper Details
Jeffersonville Daily Reflector
Jeffersonville, Indiana, US
Thu, Sep 30, 1909
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Proquest T.
AF 20 May 2017
Other Publications Near Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville National Democrat
Jeffersonville News
Jeffersonville Evening News
Jeffersonville Evening Journal
Jeffersonville Clark County Republican
