THE CASE OF GEORGE FISHER. ill 



fields were destroyed. The new generation of Fisher heirs then came forward and 

 put in a bill for damages. The Second Auditor awarded them $8,873, being half 

 the damage sustained by Fisher. The Auditor said the testimony showed that at 

 least half the destruction was done by the Indians "bt/ore the troops started in pur- 

 suit," and of course the Government was not responsible for that half. 



2. That was in April, 1848. In December 1848, the heirs of George Fisher, 

 deceased, came forward and pleaded for a " revision " of their bill of damages. 

 The revision was made, but nothing new could be found in their favor except an 

 error of $100 in the former calculation. However, in order to keep up the spirits 

 of the Fisher family, the Auditor concluded to go back and allow interest from the 

 date of the first petition (1832) to the date when the bill of damages was awarded. 

 This sent the Fishers home happy with sixteen years' interest on $8,873 — '^^ same 

 amounting to $8,997.94. Total, $17,870.94. 



3. For an entire year the suffering Fisher family remained quiet — even satisfied, 

 after a fashion. Then they swooped down upon Government with their wrongs 

 oncd more. That old patriot, Attorney-General Toucey, burrowed through the 

 musty papers of the Fisliers and discovered one more chance for the desolate 

 orphans — interest on that original award of $8,873 from date of destruction of the 

 propierty (1813) up to 1832 ! Result, $10,004.89 for the indigent Fishers. So 

 now we have: — First, $8,873 damages; second, interest on it from 1832 to 1848, 

 $8,997.94; third, interest on it dated back to 1813, $10,004.89. Total, $27,875.83 ! 

 What better investment for a great-grandchild than to get the Indians to burn a 

 cornfield for him sixty or seventy years before his birth, and plausibly lay it on 

 lunatic United States troops .' 



4. Strange as it may seem, the Fishers let Congress alone for five years — or, 

 what is perhaps more likely, failed to make themselves heard by Congress for that 

 length of time. But at last in 1854, they got a hearing. Th^ y persuaded Congress 

 to pass an act requiring the Auditor to re-examine their case. But this time , they 

 stumbled upon the misfortune of an honest Secretary of the Treasury (Mr. James 

 Guthrie), and he spoiled everything. He said in very plain language that the 

 Fishers were not only not entitled to another cent, but that those children of many 

 sorrows and acquainted with grief had been paid too much already. 



