harmon's journal. 



149 



and the few people who were in it, excepting one 

 man, who secreted himself, were killed. After 

 they had taken out of the fort all the property 

 which they could conveniently carry away with 

 them, they set fire to the fort, and proceeded to 

 the establishment of the North West Company, 

 which was two hundred rods distant from that of 

 Hudson Bay people, with the intention of treating 

 it in a similar manner. 



The fort gates had providentially, been shut, 

 previously to the approach of the Indians. There 

 were in the fort, three men, and several women 

 and children. The men took their stations in the 

 block houses and bastions ; and when the Natives 

 had come sufficiently near, fired upon them. The 

 Indians, instantly returned the fire ; and the contest 

 continued, until the night approached. The sav- 

 age assailants, having had several of their party 

 killed, and others severely wounded, while the 

 people in the fort had sustained no injury, thought 

 it best to retreat ; and after dragging their dead 

 and dying into the river, they retired. But Mr. 

 Chattellain did not think it prudent to remain 

 there any longer. Accordingly, the day fol- 

 lowing, they embarked all their property on 

 board of several canoes, and proceeded down the 

 river, about two hundred miles, where they com- 

 menced building another fort. The only object 



