History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 67

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

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It was on Tuesday morning that Wizena had disappeared; but not until Saturday evening did Mr. Jones return, and in that time it had not been suspected that the Indians had gone up the river, as they were known to be of a tribe living chiefly near the St. Croix. Messengers had been dispatched across the country at the same time Mr. Jones left for Prairie du Chien, with the hope that they would reach the tribe in advance of Wizena's supposed captors. These, of course, could not be expected back for several days. It was a source of deep chagrin to Mr. Belezer, who now blamed himself for neglect ; but Mrs. Belezer, having now become calm, and restored to her accustomed Christian resignation, and news having come that the Indians had their camp only two or three miles up the river, he determined to go himself and search for his beloved child at every risk.

Having crossed Brisbane's ferry at Arena, he proceeded on foot with his double-barreled gun and a dog, as though his object was simply to hunt game. This he did to prevent any suspicion on the part of the Indians, as he hoped thereby to watch their movements until he could ascer- tain the true situation of his daughter. IIe had previously advised his neighbors to keep quiet and not attempt any movement up the river, and had also taken the precaution to fasten a skiff by chain and lock on the north bank of the river, to serve in case of his return in the night.

It was between sunset and dark when Mr. Belezer took his lonely way up the river. The ferry road, being seldom traveled, and never kept in order, was by no means comfortable for a pedestrian at night. He therefore hastened on rapidly while he had light enough to see his way. Night, however, overtook him before he cleared the last open marsh, and there. missing his direction, he suddenly found himself sinking in a deep bog. All effort to extricate himself proved unavailing ; he sank to his waist before he found solid footing. His faithful dog barked loudly, and thus brought out Mr. Bell, whose house, in the daytime, might have been seen through

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the oak shrubbery. In a few moments, which appeared more like hours to the afflicted traveler. Mr. Bell drew near the spot with his rifle and a lantern, expecting to get a shot at a wolf or deer. At this moment they were startled with the sharp sound of a rifle, and Mr. Belezer felt the ball graze his scalp. It was evidently from the direction from which Mr. Bell had approached. and Mr. Belezer, not being able to distinguish any one in the rear of Mr. Bell, and supposing him to be an Indian, concluded that he had been shot at by him. He immediately raised his rifle and was taking aim at the breast of his neighbor, when, with another crack of a rifle, the ball struck the weapon out of his hand. Another report quickly succeeding, shattered Mr. Bell's lantern. In a moment, Banquo, the faithful dog, had throttled one of the aggressive party. who eried out in agony for assistance. It was the coarse voice and enunciation of some illiterate Jonathan, and was responded to by two others with the terrible Indian yell. All this transpired in less than two minutes ; then everything was quiet, and Mr. Belezer again found himself appar- ently with none but Banquo near him.

Mr. Bell had fled the moment his lantern was shattered, and in great alarm re-entered his house. His frightened family hastened with him to their neighbor Bentley, who resided near the river, about a half-mile off.

Two hours had passed, and Mr. Belezer was still unextricated from his unhappy eonfine- ment-even his dog had left him. No sound had reached him except the rapid notes of the whip-poor-will, and occasionally the somber whoop of the night-owl. But now he thought he heard a long-drawn breath. It may have been the echo of his own. He had carefully avoided crying out for help, from the apprehension that it might be the means of directing the hostile party to his position. Again he thought he heard a long, deep breath-then a groan. It was evidently from a human being not far from him. Deeming it prudent to continue his silence, he allowed no sound to escape him, but carefully noticed the breathings of the man near him, whom he then concluded must be the one whom the dog had attacked, and who must have been deserted by his Indian comrades. He very naturally conjectured that these were the two Indians who had been seen with the girl, supposed to be his daughter in disguise. It seemed to him that this must have been the man who had the lantern, for Mr. Bell had had no time to speak before the attack was made, and Mr. Belezer had therefore heard but three voices. He now carefully listened to discover if possible the true condition of the wounded man near him. Presently the man began to mutter something about being left alone, and soon he seemed to be so far recovered that he could speak in low but distinct tones. The first sentence Mr. Bele- zer eould distinctly make out was: "Darn them Injins, they haint got no feelin' for a white man ; blast me ef I goes huntin' vensin with the darned yaller varmints agin." This gave to Mr. Belezer the key to explain the attack made upon him. This man and the Indians had evidently, in the darkness, supposed him to be a deer, and the lantern held by Mr. Bell, whom he supposed to be that of one of the party left wounded on the ground, was broken probably in the rencon- tre with Banquo. The wounded man was evidently acquainted with these Indians, and possibly he might diselose something that would lead to the discovery of his daughter.

Recovering more strength, again the wounded man articulated : " Bell was orful seared ; barn his lantern, ef it hadn't a been in the way I wouldn't a shot at it, and then that darned dog of his'n wouldn't a jumped on me. Ilar I be a sweltering in my own blood. Consarn them Injins, to leave a fellow a-sweltering in his own blood, jist like a bruit beast-them Injins ain't humans.

" Consarn it all. I wish I hadn't a undertook that job about that gal ; here I is mongst Injins who ain't humans, when I mout a been in better business. Ef ever I can get up here agin, dog my skin ef I don't keep clear of these all-fired mean works."

Mr. Belezer had now heard enough to satisfy him that this man was an accomplice with the Indians in getting off his daughter. The objeet he supposed to be to get a large reward by pre- tending that he had delivered her from their captivity.

While he was meditating whether to speak to the man or not, he heard a light tread, and the low gutteral tones of the Indian speech. The wounded man also observed their approach, and spoke as audibly as he could to them :

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

" Darn your souls, yo've come at last. Har I be, oncapable of moving ary leg, and with my arm and neck all mangled up by the darned dog, and been good as dead ; and 'you all-fired cowards runs off and leaves me here to perish." The Indians made no reply but quietly raised him up and bore him away. Mr. Belezer could only observe the outline of their fingers, and was all the time quaking lest they might discover him again as an object for their rifles.

In the meantime, Mr. Bell and Mr. Bentley, having concealed their families in a safe place, had gone round silently to the neighbors, and roused as many as the sparse population would admit. Arming themselves as best they could, they organized themselves into a company, and, appointing a captain, they proceeded to the Indian camp, which was in the oak openings between Bentley's and where Mr. Belezer was so unhappily confined. The Indians were the same who had been encamped recently on the south side of the river, below Arena. Hearing the bay of a dog, two of them with the white man who was encamped with them, supposed it was after a deer, and hurried to the spot, reaching there directly after Bell got upon the edge of the bog. The lantern, not yielding a very good light, only served to bewilder the hunters, and the two Indians fired at the supposed deer, while the white man, vexed at Bell for having a light, and, supposing that he was also engaged in the sport, shattered the lantern. Bell, however, thinking that they had made the attack upon him, and without having yet ascertained the position of Mr. Belezer, or, indeed, knowing that any one was in the bog, fled as rapidly as he could, fearing the Indians might murder him. This was the conclusion arrived at.

On reaching the Indian camp, the party found it just broken up, and the fires not yet ex- tinguished. They traced them to the river bank, and from appearances judged that they had pro- ceeded down the river in their canoes. It was now about 2 o'clock in the morning, and thinking they might possibly overtake the Indians by a rapid march, the company hastened down the river road. The moon was risen and threw a broad light over the marsh as they reached the edge of it. Bell was about to point out the spot where the supposed attack upon him was made, when Mr. Belezer recognized his voice, and, seeing that it was a company of white men, called loudly to them to stop and help him.

All were startled and panic stricken, and scattered in every direction, except an old man named Plum, who had the fame of neither fearing God nor the devil, or, rather, believing in neither ; but was a man, nevertheless, of somewhat philanthropie disposition, and sensibly concluded that none but a human being would be likely to call for help ; and, as the form was a very low one, concluded it might possibly be a man sunk in the bog. Approaching as near as he dare, he soon saw who was there, and without waiting for explanations, or saying a word, rapidly started off, but soon returned with a long log taken from the opening near by, and, throwing it out to Mr. Belezer, bid him take hold ; but the unfortunate man was by this time so exhausted, and his lower limbs were so benumbed, that he could only lean forward upon the log, and entreat the old man to get more help to drag him out. By this time, the company had taken second thought, and one after another again came to the spot. Taking their handkerchiefs, Plum tied them together, then walked out on the log, fastened them under the shoulders of Mr. Belezer, and had him carefully hauled out. By rubbing and covering him up warmly with coats that were readily taken off for the purpose, he was soon sufficiently restored to communicate the circumstances of his daughter's disappearance and the subsequent events.

The delay had caused the loss of half an hour, but they now determined to continue the pursuit with vigor, on the north side of the river, while Mr. Belezer was to recross at the ferry and get his neighbors to hasten down on the south side with horses.

Banquo had run down to the ferry when he left his master, and, swimming the river, had reached home about the time the family were retiring to bed. He kept howling at the door until he was let in. Ilis return without his master, and the blood on him, excited considerable un- easiness, but his continued whining and running out of the door and barking, satisfied all that there had been some foul play. But it so happened that all the able men of the village had gone that night to a public meeting at Dover, four miles off, called to take into consideration the ques- tion whether the Indians ought to be suffered about the neighborhood.

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

Mr. B.'s son Julius-a high-spirited little fellow-ran over to Dr. Bruce's, and, begging the loan of a horse, galloped to Dover, and he returned with all the men who were at the meeting. On arriving at Arena, Banquo met them, and, howling piteously, ran to the river, where, standing on the bank by the schoolhouse, and looking up the stream, he howled long and piteously. As the company were all on foot, much time had passed since the dog had reached home; and it was now a question what they were to do. Cooper, the carpenter of the village, advised that all the guns in the place should be obtained and loaded by those who could use them best, while others might take axes, hatchets, and even clubs, and with these weapons cross the ferry, by which time the moon would be risen, and go up to the Indian camp. Having made these preparations, there was a general shout for Cooper to take the lead. He promptly took his place at the head of the company, but Banquo led off, and, when they reached the ferry landing, to cross over to Cedar Island, which intervenes between the north and the south shores of the river, he plunged into the water and swam across to the island. Cooper, deter- mined not to be less zealous than the dog, made no halt for the ferry-boat, but waded across, fol- lowed by the whole company. Arriving at the other side of the island to take the ferry-boat over the deeper channel, they met there the Indians, just about the time that the company with Mr Belezer had commenced their march. This was an unexpected encounter to the Indians, and for which they were entirely unprepared. The now clear light of the moon revealed the condition of both parties, the whites had twenty men, armed in every sort of way, while the Indians numbered but eight men, with their squaws and children, and had only three rifles among them-the others had bows. The white man who had been wounded by the dog was carried on a litter. Banquo whined a moment when he came up to them, and then plunged into the water and swam across. Cooper was at a loss what to do; the Indians appeared greatly alarmed, and the movements of the dog seemed to imply that he had better hasten on to relieve Mr. Belezer. But the alarm of the Indians subsided as the white men hesitated.

The two bearing the litter suddenly turned about and rolled the wounded man into a canoe. That movement satisfied Cooper that no time was to be lost., He ordered his men who had guns, and whom he had kept in the front rank, being only four thus armed, to be ready to fire, and then immediately as they fired to retire and reload, while those armed with axes, hatchets and clubs should rush on, and, after a short assault, give place for the guns again. The wounded man in the canoe cried out: " You gal, out of the way, or they will shoot you !" This appeared to be interpreted by one of the Indians, and two squaws, springing to a canoe, caught between them a young girl, whose face was covered with red paint ; but her elothing was readily recog- nized as the dress of Wizena. Cooper was about giving the word to fire, when the fear of killing the girl arrested the command. The men suddenly threw down their guns, and rushed forward to seize the child-the guns went off as they fell-but without effect. With a most wonderful agility, the girl, freeing herself from the squaws, rushed into the canoe. and, seizing the pad- dle. rowed rapidly down the stream. The Indians with rifles ran immediately, and stood right between the squaws and Cooper's company, presenting their arms ready to fire. This covered the flight of the squaws, while five arrows sped their way at the same time against the feet of the white men in the front rank. At this moment, Mr. Belezer and old Plum struck their skiff against the canoe in which the wounded man was laid. They both sprang from the skiff upon the canoe, and thence upon the landing. The frail craft was then up set, and the miserable man rolled over into the river, and was seen no more. Instantly, the Indians without rifles, sprang into the skiff, which had been detained by the twig of an overhanging tree, and made good their escape. Mr. Belezer rushed to the aid of Cooper, who had suddenly grappled the rifle of one of the Indi- ans, and with the butt of his rifle, which on account of its dampness could be used in no other way, leveled the Indian to the ground. The other men, who had been waiting for a word of command, now rushed forward, and, seizing the two Indians whose rifles had already been fired, without other effect than flesh wounds on two of the white men, held them firmly until they could be tightly bound. The company then hurried with them to the village, where they arrived about sunrise. But great was the disappointment of the exhausted father and the whole company at

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

not finding Wizena at home; they had calculated certainly that she had guided the eanoe around the island to the main land, and had made good her escape from the Indians. But now they felt assured she had again fallen into savage hands, and the pursuit must again be renewed. Still, Mr. Belezer hoped that the company on the other side of the river had hailed and saved her from being retaken.

Without thought of the Indians they had captured. they all rushed instantly down the river. On reaching what is called the " Old Fort," a mile below the village, where the stream runs very rapidly in a deep channel along the shore, they saw the canoe upset, where, pressing against the trunk of a tree which had fallen over into the river, it was held by the roots. Turning it over, the dress of the little girl floated up, and immediately the body was rushed under the log, and seen no more ; and, with heavy hearts, they returned to the village.

In the meantime, the Indians had made good their escape. In the sadness of his heart, Mr. Belezer refused to take any further measure to recapture them ; but simply begged the neighbors to drag the river for the body of his daughter. Finding, however, that all efforts proved ineffectual, the bereaved parents, taking their only remaining child, Julius, with them, returned sad and sorrowing to South Carolina, whenee they had come only the year before, to make their home in Wisconsin. They were but a short time in Arena, occupying one of Mr. Mohr's houses. That one ever since has worn the gloom of the grave, and no tenant has occu- pied it.

Mr. Belezer had left Carolina in consequence of a long-standing quarrel with one of his neighbors, a rich planter in St. Peter's Parish. The falling-out had taken place ostensibly about a line fence ; but, really because Mr. Belezer had been the successful rival of Andrew Smith for the hand of Mary Garvin. On account of which, Smith swore he would have revenge. Although more than twelve years had elapsed, Smith, who was still a bachelor, had never ceased to do everything he could do to annoy Belezer, who, wearied out, deter- mined to remove to the Northwest, to get so far from his enemy that he might be sure of escap- ing further annoyances. But, having learned that Smith had sold out everything and removed to California, he saw no reason why he might not return to his old home; and, having repur- chased his own homestead. he also paid a good price for the lands that Smith had formerly owned, to make sure, if he should return, of his not again having an opportunity to repossess himself of the same residence he liad left.

Mr. Belezer had never sold his negroes (he owned about forty); bnt, on going North, had hired them out. His purpose, in going to Arena, was not to make that point his home, Madison being the place he had selected for his residence ; but to spend some time in the asso- ciation of Dr. Bruce, formerly of South Carolina, and who, on account of slavery, had left the South, and, having emancipated his slaves, had finally settled down in Arena.

EDUCATING SLAVES.

Mr. Belezer had so frequently defended the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the political measures of the Pro-slavery party, against the attacks of Northern disputants, and had inveighed so much against the ultraism of Abolitionists, that he overlooked what he had previously confessed to be the evils of slavery, and had finally settled down in the conelu- sion, that, after all, the South had been grievously wronged. Through the loss of his precious little daughter adding grief to indignation, he returned to his old home with embittered feelings against the Free States, and with the resolution to assist in maintaining what he and his slave- holding compeers are pleased to call the " rights of the South," at all hazards.

The case, however, was very different with Mrs. Belezer and her little Julius. Frequently would Julius amuse the negroes with the adventures of runaways who succeeded in getting to Canada in safety. He told them various things about the underground railroad, and took his map and pointed out the different directions from Southern to Northern points.

Among the negroes on his father's plantation was a muscular, stalwart fellow, black as ebony, yet with a high forehead and remarkably intelligent countenance. He was quite an

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orator in the religious meetings of the negroes, and, having an unusually high moral character, he showed that the Christianity was not assumed for sinister purposes. Ile was respected by both white and black. This man, seeing Julius alone one day, asked him to teach him how to read and write.

Julius, although then only twelve years old, was unusually advanced in his studies, and could compose well and write a fair hand. Under his instructions, Ben made rapid progress, and in two years became not only a fluent but a well-informed reader, and wrote a good hand, and composed with accurate diction.

Ben loved a comely plantation wench named Sue, and all his educational efforts were planned toward effecting an early escape with Sue, who had promised to be his wife.

Spurred to rebellion by constant threats of whipping, Ben, one bright day in May, 1857. interfered to save Sue from the slave driver's lash. He sprang forward, seized the girl in his arms, threw her upon his shoulder, and ran with her rapidly toward the road at its nearest point, through a thick growth of oaks, which was within a few rods of the rows that they had been hoeing. They eluded their pursuers, and, after swimming several streams to throw the bloodhounds off the scent, gained the depths of the Coosawhatchie Swamp. Ben had long premeditated an escape. and had, therefore, at various times, taken opportunities to examine all the ground for many miles around. Ile had also given Sue to understand his intentions, but the occasion was unexpected, and found them unprepared with change of clothing. He had stowed away in the trunk of a tree a quantity of cornmeal and salt, flint and steel for striking a fire, and a good bow with eane arrows, pointed with sharpened nails, and had also a six-barreled revolver, with a good supply of powder and balls.

The next day, Ben spent several hours meditating what course to take. At length he remembered that he had seen, at Dr. Malcolin's house, where he had been a few days before on an errand, several trunks and large boxes of goods directed to Arena, for which place the Doctor and his family had already started. Hle knew that these were to be sent to Savannah, to be shipped via Philadelphia for their destination.

That night, taking their stores with them, he and Sue made their way to Lawtonville, arriving at Dr. Malcolmn's house about midnight. As no one was in the house, Ben knew he couldl safely get into it by means of a pole through the upper window, which had no shutter. Having reached the front parlor, he satisfied himself that the boxes had not yet been sent off, whereupon, turning the key, which had been left on the inside of one of the doors, he admitted Sue.

"Now, Sue," said Ben, "you must not be timid. You sit here quietly while I am gone about two hours to find out when these boxes are to be sent away. To-morrow, I remember, is the day for the steamboat to pass Parachuecola, on its way down, and I think it likely they will be off with them very early in the morning."

Sue said she would quietly wait, but hoped he would hasten as fast as he could.

The plantation of Mr. Belezer was about a mile from Lawtonville. Thither Ben briskly walked, and, cautiously entering his father's cabin, went to the bed and, gently waking the old man, whispered in his ear that he wished him to get up and come out. His mother, too, heard the words, and, recognizing Ben's speech, for he spoke in the negro dialect they were accus- tomed too, she followed Ben and the old man quietly out into a pine barren near by. Ben, in a short time, explained what had happened, and what were his plans for escaping to the North, and how he should communicate with them after he reached the land of freedom, and lay a safe scheme for them and all the children to escape from bondage.

Proenring a hatehet, some gimlet-screws, a gimlet, some provisions and a change of clothing, Ben returned to his trembling wife, on his way securing a little buckskin bag of silver. which he had carefully treasured under the clapboards of his former cabin. Tearing himself from them, he was again with Sue before the two hours had expired. She had not been disturbed by any noise or movement save that of her own throbbing heart. Ben brought in a large empty box from the yard, which he had observed while at the house a few days before, very

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 67

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958