Part II -The Massacre of Yellow Hair and His People by the Shawnee
" As a result, after a terrible encounter, during which both were covered with wounds, Yellow Hair sank exhausted and hawk Wing’s battle ax was buried in his brain."
But
Hawk Wing had faith in the Great Spirit, that he and his tribe
worshiped, and he collected his warriors and set out for the home of
Yellow Hair. In some way, the scouts of Yellow learned of there near
approach, and he and his people leaped into their canoes and went to
Corn Island. The dangerous whirlpools and the treacherous eddies,
with which they were familiar, they thought would protect
them from the less skilled Shawnees. But they did not know Hawk Wing.
He and his braves had been accustomed to the water from infancy and
they were almost as much at home in the torrent as Yellow Hair and
his people. So that night while Yellow Hair was peacefully sleeping
in fancied security. Hawk Wing and his braves were making canoes and
getting ready for battle. Just as the sun was breaking through the
murky sky of the east the canoes of Hawk Wing reached the shores of
the island. Yellow Hair and his people were awakening from sleep and
were falling on their knees in prayer to their sun god. They were in
this position when the yells of my people burst upon them. Many were
slain as they knelt, but Yellow Hair was a warrior, and though taken
by surprise, he seized his battle-ax and valiantly defended his
subjects. With his single-hand he slew more than a score of our
people. Then when he was weary from fighting Hawk Wing confronted
him. Behind Yellow Hair were his wives and children
kneeling in prayer and in front of him were Hawk Wing and his
warriors. The two chieftains sprang at each other with their
battle-axes. My ancestor was used to war and familiar with
all the tricks. As a result, after a terrible encounter, during which
both were covered with wounds, Yellow Hair sank exhausted and hawk
Wing’s battle ax was buried in his brain.
“Maddened
by the conflict, Hawk Wing turned upon the kneeling women and
children and slew them. He and his men kept up the slaughter until
not one of the white race remained. Every single one of them had been
killed and the scalp lock of Yellow Hair dangled at the belt of Hawk
Wing. Till his death he kept it and it was buried with him.
“Then
the Shawnees took possession of the houses and lands of the
vanquished people and the Kelly’s are the last of the victims, for
the Shawnees have all gone to the happy hunting grounds, and they
have but a remnant of the original blood in them.
