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CALHOUN COUNTY MICHIGAN CALHOUN COUNTY
Edward Baldwin and Mr. Taylor were of Mr. Mullett's surveying party, the latter in the capacity of cook. Those two Indians came to the tent in the afternoon of March 14th, 1825. Taylor being alone in the tent, called to Baldwin, who was within hailing distance, who hastened to camp, and upon entering it, found the two Indians helping themselves to flour, meat, and tobacco, filling their camp kettles, and making hostile demonstrations, being armed with tomahawk, knife, and each a loaded rifle. Baldwin and Taylor arrested them in their proceedings of plunder, and attempted to forcibly eject them, which the Indians resisted. Then the controversy commenced in earnest; white man against red-skin, the Indian firing his rifle, and then caught Mullett's from the tent, and aimed it at Baldwin, who struck the barrel aside with his
arm just as the Indian fired, cutting a heavy woolen vest in two in front with the ball and powder. The Indian then caught the other Indian's rifle. Baldwin, being a powerful, muscular man, clinched the rifle barrel near the muzzle, wrenched it from the hands of the Indian, and dealt him a blow, felling him to the ground, breaking the gun stock off at the breach.
Taylor, who had grappled with the other Indian, had thrown him, and had become nearly exhausted in holding him down, and appealed to Baldwin for help. In the first struggle, Taylor had caught the Indian's arm at the wrist, as he raised it, tomahawk in hand, with the evident purpose of braining him, and continued holding his arm with one hand, the other clinched in his hair.
Michigan
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