"This is to certify that Mr. Martin Allen told me that he was
with the company who made the late attack upon the Tonkua
Indians; and that he was very much opposed to shooting, he also
stated, that when he came near the camps he saw the Indians in
great confusion; one standing up talking Spanish, and shewing
every appearance of friendship; frequently heard him say amigo—
Mr. Allen also stated that he ran forward and halloed don't shoot,
dont shoot, and did every thing in his power to prevent shooting;
but that it had no effect untill part of the men had fired.
April, 27,1826
(Signed) C. Dyer."
In consequence of reports which have been put in circulation by
Mr. Martin Allen, calculated to prejudice the public against the
late encounter with the Tonkua Indians, we do hereby certify that
the conduct of Mr. Allen on that occasion was altogether contrary to
what he has since stated it to hare been—We believe, according to
the conduct of Mr. Allen at the camp, and his subsequent declaration,
that he did his utmost to kill an Indian, and that he lost his hat in
endeavoring to get a Shot—We believe that the conduct of the
Indians was such as to induce a reasonable expectation that they
would not submit to lighter punishment than that of killing-—They
shewed no disposition either by words or signs, to give the company
a friendly reception.—Nor did they cry out Amigo as has been
stated by Mr. Allen—Mr. Allen's alleged mediation in favor of them
is without foundation It has been stated that the company entered
the Indian camps with their guns cocked and presented; this we
consider as a malicious and unfounded falsehood
April 23, 1826>
(Signed) David Hamilton Charles Henderson
William Spence Moses Windham
Joseph NewmanWilliam Luce
Nicholas Whitehead Alexander Brown
John Clark Andrew Rabb
Thos. J. Rabb John Ingram
"This is to certify that a party of Tonkua Indians came, a few
days before the late attack was made upon them, and encamped
within half a mile or three quarters of myhouse;—They remain at
that camp about two days; on the second day six of my hogs were
missing; I supposed they had been killed by the Indians, because
they slept at home every night, and none of them had been killed
by vermin for a considerable time before, and I believe nothing else
could have killed so many in one day—One of the Indians I knew
to be of the party that broke open my house upwards of twelve
months ago.
May 1, 1826
signed Gabriel Straw Sxyder "
"I do hereby certify that a party of Tonkuas came to my house a
few days before the late attack was made upon them; my wife being
alone, and not knowing what Indians they were, was very much
alarmed at the sight of them,—She immediately left the house
and endeavored to get to the field where I was at work; on her way
to the field she saw two or three Indians coming towards her, she
then started to run, one of them ran after her with a large butcher
knife in his hand, caught her by the hand and endeavored to make
her return to the house, but finding she was determined not to com-
ply, he took her shoes off her feet; She then began to halloo for me,
upon which he let her go and said amigo; not understanding him
she kept on to the field; I immediately went to the house but the
Indians were gone and had left her shoes in the yard
April 27,1826
signed C. Dyer."
" We certify that a few days previous to the late affair with the
Tonkuas, a party of them came to our camp and stole upwards
of five bushels of corn which lay at a short distance from the camp;
they also took a few pounds of meat, cut up too gunrods and two
strait edges that were used in hewing, and carried off a whet stone;
the meat might possibly have been destroyed by vermin but the
other things could have been taken by nothing but the Indians
May 2,1826
signed And. Rabb
Thos. J. Rabb."
I certify that the above certificate of And. and Thos. J. Rabb in
regard to the conduct of the Indians at their camp is correct.
May 2,1826
(Signed) John Ingram
[Endorsed by Austin:] relative to the attack on the Tonkaways
on Peach Creek.