Crime and reconciliation - The Herald Bulletin

PENDLETON — The slaughter of nine Native Americans in southern Madison County 193 years ago was just a small part of the genocide of native peoples in 19th century America.

Four of the seven white men who participated in what’s now known as “The Fall Creek Massacre” were captured and charged with murder.

Three of the four were convicted and hanged, the first documented instance of justice being served on white men for the murder of Native Americans.

In that sense, the dedication Wednesday of a new historical marker examining the 1824 murders can be seen as an act of reconciliation, said Anderson University history professor David Murphy, author of the 2010 book, “Murder in Their Hearts: The Fall Creek Massacre.”

“An event like this, the memorialization of this, really does call us to remember what our ideals of justice are supposed to be like, even though we can’t always live up to them,” Murphy said.

“It’s also true, I think, that preserving memory that does justice to all the parties involved is an important part of reconciliation,” he added.

Among the people who attended in the spirit of reconciliation was Fishers resident David Bridge, who has a direct, personal connection to the incident.

His great-great-great grandfather, John Townsend Bridge, was one of the three hanged for the crime. Bridge didn’t know that, however, until he began researching his ancestry.

“I live nine miles from here, and I had no clue of any of this. I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I look at it as a piece of history. People ought to know about this.”

“We’ve been (oppressing) the Indians since we landed on Plymouth Rock, and it’s time we stopped,” Bridge added. “It is a crime and it was terrible.”

Approximately 50 people attended the late-afternoon unveiling of the marker, including Chippewa LeRoy Malaterre, who consecrated the ground with a traditional blessing and song.

The man many credit as a hero in making sure justice was served is U.S. Indian Agent John Johnston, the government representative responsible for handling Native American affairs.

He provided supplies for the victims’ families and built a log jail near nearby to secure the accused.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of War John C. Calhoun, Johnston wrote: “The affair for cold-blooded cruelty baffles a description, and in point of atrocity surpasses anything that has ever disgraced the settlement of this country.”

Far worse was to come.

Pendleton residents Bob Post and Brad Ballentine were among the many supporters of the project and actually handled putting the documentation together for the Indiana Historical Marker Program.

Donated money paid the $2,200 cost of the sign, and Pendleton town officials supplied manpower and materials for a sturdy concrete pad for the memorial.

Like Stu Hirsch on Facebook and follow him @stuhirsch on Twitter, or call 640-4861.

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