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��HISTOKY OF KICHLAND COUNTY.
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��the trail to the Zimmer cabin. Entering it, they found the old gentleman, the old lady and Catharine, all dead upon the floor, and dread- fully mangled. The gallant Rufl'uer was lying dead in the yard. There was every evidence that he had made a desperate struggle for his life and that of the Zimmers. His gun was bent nearly double, and several of his fingers had been cut off by blows from a tomahawk. The struggle had finall}' ended by his being shot twice through the body. The details of this butchery could never be certainly known, as the prominent actors were all killed ; all had also been scalped. It appeared that the table had been set with refreshments for the savages, and most of the food remained. Whether any of the Indians were killed, is not known ; they would have taken their dead away with them, and destro3^ed all evidences, if such a catas- trophe had happened to them. It is supposed that eight or ten Indians were engaged in this tragedy.
There is a tradition among the early settlers, that an Indian by the name of Kanotchy was taken prisoner some years afterward, and re- lated the story of this massacre. It appears from this statement that the Indians entered the cabin and seated themselves very sullenl}-, while the terrified Kate was setting refresh- ments for them, as was usual. The heroic Dutchman was the only guard of consequence, as Mr. Zimmer was too old to make much re- sistance. The Indians made the attack very suddenly. Ruffiier, not having time to fire, clubbed his rifle, broke the stock in pieces and bent the barrel double in the terrilile fight. The odds were too much for him, and he soon went down before superior numbers. As soon as he was out of the way, they killed and scalped the old people. At the commencement of the aflray, Kate fainted and fell to the floor, and, until aroused from this state of syncope, was unaware of the murder of her parents. When she came to her senses, she looked about
��upon a scene of blood and horror, and burst into a paroxysm of weeping. She begged the savages to spare her life, but all to no purpose. They first ascertained from her where her father's money was concealed, and then buried the tomahawk in her brain. While she was in a senseless condition, a consultation had been held over her, to decide whether they should kill her or take her prisoner. It was decided that her life should be taken, but still they hesi- tated, as no one wished to do the deed. At length it was decided that the one who should perform the deed, should be considered as pos- sessing the gi'eatest heart, whereupon this same Phillip Kanotchy stepped forward, exclaiming, " Me kill white squaw, me got big heart." When Kate saw the tomahawk descending, she raised a beautiful white arm to ward ofl' the blow, which, falling upon the arm, nearly severed it in twain ; a second blow did the work — one quiver, and the lovely life went out.
She was engaged to be married to Mr. Henry Smith, who was at that time in the East, attend- ing to some business ; they were to be married upon his return.
Martin Ruffner and the Zimmers were buried on a little knoll near the cabin, in one gi'ave, where the remains still lie. The farm is now owned by a Mr. Culler. After performing the last sad ceremonies over the remains of the murdered pioneers, the}^ returned to the block- house at Beam's, and Michael Ruff'ner, his mother, and Hughes and family returned to Fairfield County, where they remained.
The settlers were thoroughly aroused by the tragedy, and all fled to the block-house for safety.
When Mr. James Copus and family had remained about five days at the block-house, they became tired of staying, and, hearing nothing of the Indians, determined to retiu'n. Having always enjoyed their respect and confi- dence, and having always been their firmest friend, he felt that they could harbor no ill will
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