History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

130

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

he was making the best speed he could with his streaming wounds
to his own wigwam, when he was struck in the back by a cowardly Indian, inflicting a severe stab, but, as it is appears, like the other
blows, not fatal. He was yet enabled to reach his own wigwam,
some distance off, where his young wife was waiting, not expecting ever to see him alive again. She received him and bound up
his wounds. He was restored after fearful suffering.
"After this event he removed to Kawkawlin, where he remained
until his wounds were nearly healed. When he came up to Saginaw in a canoe with his wife, to do some trading at the Indian trading post of the American Fur Company, which was then operated
by G. D. and E. S. Williams, he was not yet able to get out of his
canoe and go to the trading post, which was but a few rods from the
river, without the aid of his paddle to lean upon. B. 0. Williams,
who was there at the time, describes him as a walking skeleton.
"Some Indians were there at the time. They sent word to
O-sow-wah-bon's band at Green Point, some two miles distant, that
Neh-way-go had arrived at the American Fur Company's trading
post. the Messrs. Williams were well aware that if they met
there would be a dreadful tragedy. They therefore placed persons to watch whether any Indians came from that direction. It
was not long before O-sow-wah-bon and two Indians were seen approaching, while Neh-way-go was still by his canoe, standing
on the bank of the river leaning on his paddle. He was told by
the Messrs. Williams to get into the canoe with his family and go
down the river. This he refused to do, saying he was no coward,
but like a brave man patiently awaited the attack. E. S. Williams
went and met O-sow-wah-bon and told him he must go into the
store, as he wanted to see him. After he was inside, the door was
closed and he was told that they knew his business, and that he
must now give up his knives. Ite reluctantly drew his knife from
his sheath and handed it to B. O. Williams. They asked him if
he had any more, and if so, to give them up or they would search
him. He finally pulled out another which he had concealed down
his back. They then asked him if he had any more; he said I No,"
when E. S. Williams said he would have to search him, which he
refused to submit to. Mr. Williams clinched him, and with the
assistance of B. O. Williams, now of Owosso, and some others,
after a severe struggle, as O-sow-wah-bon was avery powerful man,
they threw him on the floor. While B. O. Williams and some
others were holding him, E. S. Williams commenced the search,
and inside the legging they found a large knife, a very formidable
weapon and as sharp as a razor. When Mr. Williams drew it
from his legging he caught it by the blade and refused to give it up;
the result was, before they could wrench it from his grasp, it had
nearly severed his hand in two. They then let him up and dressed
his wound. While this proceeding was going on, B. 0. Williams
and another person slipped out of the back door and found Nehway-go still standing on the shore leaning on his paddle, awaiting
thle attack, while his wife was sitting in the canoe crying. They