The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-25 00:00:00

THE FIGHT WITH THE UTE INDIANS.

The following description of the fight between the lite
Indians and a detachment of United States troops, in which
biaJor Thornburgh was killed, is given by a correspondent
of the New York Times with Captain Payne's force, who
writes on October 3, while the troops were still besieged by
the Indians :
The field of battle was admirably chosen for defence
by the Indians; and had it not been for Major Thorn-
burgh's advance guard, commanded by Lieutenant
Cherry, discovering the ambuscade, the entire com-
mand would have been annihilated. He saw a small
party of Indiana disappear over a hill half a mile in
front, and at once divided his party to reconnoitre, and
only discovered them when he had flanked their posi-
tion by about 200 yards. Lieutenant Cherry rode
back at full speed with one or two men who
were with him and notified Major Thornburgh, who
had already begun the descent into the deep ravine
which was intended to engulf the command. The
Indians were dismounted, and lying down along the
crest of the high, steep ridge for a hundred yards
from the point where the deadly assault would have
commenced. The troops were withdrawn a short die-
tance, dismounted, and deployed in line of battle,
with orders to await the attack of the Indians.
Lieutenant Cherry was here ordered by Thornburgh
to take a detachment of fifteen picked men and make
reconnaissance and communicate if possible with
the Indians, as it was thought that they only
desired to oppose his approach to their agency,
and would parley or have a lo'g talk if they could be
communicated with. Cherry moved out at a gallop with
his men from the right flank, and noticed a like move-
ment of about twenty Indians from the left of the
Indian position. He approached to within a couple
of hundred yards of the Indians and took off his hat
and waved it, but the response was a shot fired at
him, wounding a man of his party and killing his
horse. This was the first shot, and was instantly fol-
lowed by a volley from the Indians. The work
had now begun in real earnest; and seeing the
advantage of the position he held, Lieutenant Cherry
dismounted his detachment and deployed along the
crest of the hills to prevent the Indians flanking
his position or to cover the retreat, if it was
found necessary to retire upon the wagon train, which
was then coming up slowly, guarded by Lieutenant
Paddock, Company D, Fifth Cavalry. Orders were
sent to park the waggons and cover them with the
company guarding them. The two companies in the
advance were Captain Payne's Company F, Fifth
Cavalry, and Captain Lawson's, Company E, Third
Cavalry, which were dismounted and deployed as
skirmishers. Captain Payne on the left and Captain
Lawson on the right. From Lieutenant Cherry's posi-
tion he could see that the Indians were trying to
cut him tff from the waggons, and at once sent
word to Major Thornburgh, who then with-
drew the line slowly, keeping the Indians in
check till opposite the point which his men
held, when, seeing that the Indians were concentrat-
ing to cut off his retreat, Captain Payne, with Com-
pany F, sth Cavalry, was ordered to charge the bill,
which he did in gallant style, his horse beiog shot
under him and several of his men wounded. The
Indians having been driven from this point, the
company was rallied on the waggon train. Major
Thornburgh then gave orders to Lieutenant Cherry to
hold his position and cover Captain Lawson's
retreat, who was ordered to fall back slowly with the
horses of his company. Cherry called for volun-
teers of twenty men, who responded promptly
and fought with desperation. Their names will
be given in a late dispatch, as nearly every
man was wounded before he reached the camp,
Two men were killed. Cherry brought every
wounded man in with him. Captain Lawson, the
brave old veteran, displayed the greatest coolness and
courage during this retreat, sending up ammunition to
Cherry's men when, once, they were nearly without
it. Major Thornburgh started back to the waggon
train after giving his final orders to Captain Payne to
charge the hill and to Captain Lawson and Lieutenant
Cherry to cover the retreat. He must have been shot
dead when barely half way there, as his body was
seen by one of Captain Lawson's men, life extinct,
lying on his face. Captain Payne, then in command, at
once set about having the wounded horses shot, to be
used for breastworks, dismantling the waggons
of boxes and bundles of bedding, corn, and flour-sacks,
which were quickly piled up for fortifications. Picks
and shovels were used vigorously for digging intrench.
mente. Meantime, a galling fire was concentrated
upon the command from all the surrounding bluffs
which commanded the position. Not an Indian could
he seen, but the incessant cracks of their Sharps and
Winchester rifles dealt fearful destruction among the
horses and men. The greens of the dying and the
agonising cries of the wounded told what fearful hay a
was being made among the determined and despe-
rate command. Every man was bound to sell his
life as dearly as possible. About this time a great
danger was approaching at a frightfully rapid pace.
The red devils at the beginning of the fight had set
fire to the dry grass and to the sage brush to the
windward of our position, and it now came sweeping
down towards us, the flakes leaping high in the air,
and immense volumes of smoke rolling on to ingulf
tug. It was a sight to make the stoutest heart
quake, and the fiends were waiting ready to give
us a volley as soon as we were driven from our shelter.
Now it reaches the flank, and blankets, blouses,
and empty sacks were freely used to extinguish
the flames. Some of the waggons were set on fire,
which required all the force possible to smother it.
No water can be obtained, and the smoke is suffoca-
ting ; but the fire passes, and we still hold our position.
In the meantime a constant volley is poured upon us,
Captain Payne being wounded for the second time, and
Sergeant Dolan, of Company F, killed instantly.
McKinatry and McKee are killed, and many others
wounded. Our greatest danger now is past, The men
have now mostly covered themselves, but the poor
horses and mules are constantly falling about us.

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending Oct. 18, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 49,1. 9d. ; barley, 40s. 10d.;
oats, Vs. 2d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last 'ear :—Wheat 393. 3d.; barley, 44e, ; oats,
22a. 2d.

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OPENING OF FIRTH COLLEGE BY
PRINCE LEOPOLD.
Prince Leopold (who was the guest ot Mr. Mark Firth,
at Oakbrook) formally opened Firth College, at Sheffield,
on Monday morning, in the presence of a large gathering
of those interested in higher education. The college, which
is really to be a local home of University education, has
been erected at a cost of £20,(100, and is the gift of It'.
Mark Firth to the town. In addition to providing the
college, he has also given £5,000 towards an endowment
fund, and this fund now reaches £,15,000. The money has
been raised without much difficulty, and so strongly has
the University scheme recommended itself that it is believed
that the endowment fund will soon amount to £25,000. The
number of students who have taken tickets for the Uni-
versity eitension eourses in Sheffield since the founda-
tion of the scheme is about 4,000. Some 650 certificates
have been granted to local students, and almost one-
half of these have been first-llass.

The college, which is built of Huddersfield stone, very
light and clear, is relieved with exceedingly graceful omit-
mental work, and between the oriel window and the main
entrance is a very fine piece of carving representing Science
and Art. The pile of buildings, of which Firth College is
the chief feature, forms throe sides of a quadrangle and cost
£42,000.

The opening ceremony was held in the lecture-hall of
the college, in the presence of the Mayor and Corpora-
tion and other local bodies, as well as many friends of educa-
tion. When Prince Leopold arrived he was received with
loud and continued cheering. At the entrance, the officials
of the college met the Prince and conducted him to a private
room, where he was introduced to the council of the college.
When his Royal Highness came upon the platform the
audience rose and welcomed him with cordial applause.

Mr. Mark Firth, on handing the trust deed to the
Prince, was received with cheers. After an appro-
priate speech, in which he explained the objects con-
templated in the erection of the College, Mr. Firth
concluded by saying—" I desire personally to thank
your Royal Highness for the honour of your presence
on this the occasion of its opening, and all the raore
because of the deep interest yonr Royal Highness is
known to take in the objects to which it is henceforth
to be devoted, and I now beg respectfully to place in
the hands of your Royal Highness the deed of gift of
this building, with the earnest prayer that it may be
the means of helping forward to some degree for ages
to come the great work of a large and ever-advancing
education in this our town of Sheffield." (Cheers.)

Prince Leopold, who was very enthusiastically
cheered on rising to open the college, said :—My Lord,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Pentlemen,—lt gives me very
great pleasure to be present here to-day on the occa-
sion of the opening of the Firth College, to greet the
a,ccomplialinsent of another benefaction from the same
hand which bestowed on the people of Sheffield the
park which the Prince of Wales had the nleasant
task of opening four years ago. (Cheers.) We mr-
all welcome this new proof of Mr. Firth's wise
munificence with pleasure, but not with surprise.
(Hear, hear.) We cannot wonder that when a man
has tasted the happiness of great and generous
actions he is eager to enjoy the high delight again,
and finds other triumphs and satisfactions insipid
as compared with the triumph and satisfaction of
conferring on his fellow-townsmen a real and lasting
good (applause) ; and, probably, the fact of his being a
Sheffield man has had no little influence in directing
Mr. Firth's mind to the idea of this institution, which
will form so important a bridge to connect your
primary with your higher education. For there is,
perhaps, no large town in England in which more care
has been bestowed on elementary education than in
Sheffield, and your central schools, the facade of which
falls in so well with the buildings of this new college,
form one of the best illustrations which England has
to show of her boast that in however low a rank of
life an Englishman may be barn his country affords
him the means of rising by education to whatever
position his talents and character fit him to fill.
(Hear, hear.) I have lately been reading a book
about Sheffield, as Sheffield was more than a generation
ago, written by a great master of style and language,
and giving a startling picture of things as they then
were. That book was " Sybil ; or, the Two Nations,"
by Benjamin Disraeli. (Applause.) And the two
nations of which the title spoke were the nation of the
rich and the nation of the poor. The wide gulf that
has existed between class and class has, I trust, been
in great measure bridged over now throughout all
England (hear, bear), thanks to the statesmen of all
parties alike and not least to the illustrious author of
the very book. ("Hear, hear," and applause.) lam
sure the many who listen to me now could testify to
the great and successful efforts that have been made
is Sheffield itself to diffuse that sound education which
has always proved to be so powerful an agent in recon-
ciling the different classes and teaching them to
understand one another. (Applause.) I trust there
will be many a Sheffield child who will take
advantage of the benefits here alluded to, who,
born in a poor and humble home, will attend
your excellent primary schools, will gain one of your
primary scholarships, will follow the course of your
Firth College, and will proceed thence to take his or
her degree with honours at one of the Universities to
which Firth College will be affiliated. (Applause.) I
say designedly "his or her degree," for your new col-
lege oilers its teaching and its certificates to young
men and young women alike. (Applause.) The Uni-
versity of London does the same thing, and Oxford and
Cambridge have taken important steps in the same
direction, and I am told the new Victoria University
will not be behindhand in recognizing the claims
of women's minds to respect and to cultivation.
(Applause.) It is greatly to be hoped that the
young men and women of Sheffield will not neglect
all these opportunities, and that they will learn to
estimate the examinations they will be invited to
pass at their true value—that is, as a means of
guiding and stimulating their studies and of showing
to others how far they are competent to fill this or that
position in life. One of the greatest gains which I
anticipate for Sheffield from the Firth College is that
its affiliation to the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge will enable many students to enter well prepared
and on easier terms on residence in one or other of
these Universities. (Applause). Such residence I
cannot but think may be made in itself an education
such as no new institution can imitate or equal, and
when I say this I am not thinking only of the un-
rivalled aids to study of a material kind which Oxford
and Cambridge offer in the *ray of museums, and
laboratories, and libraries, but rather of their time-
honoured traditions and of the nsemories which they
call up of the best and ablest spirits of bygone
days. (Applause). I remember, too, that in these
ancient seats of learning are still to be found
men who are examples of unworldliness and medi-
tation in the midst of a hurrying age, and who
teach us that it is still possible to love truth and
wisdom more than fame and fortune. Of two repre-
sentatives of our old Universities you have your-
selves known much of late. Mr. Ruskin (applause), a
world-famous man, has given to your town a museum
of beautiful things in Walkley-hill, and has written to
your townsmen words of counsel, encouragement, and
warning which they will do well to ponder. (Hear,
hear.) Another is with us here to-day, and all who
have the cause of University extension at heart must
join with the men of Sheffield in feeling how much the
cause owes to Professor Stuart's eloquence and en-
thusiasm, his practical judgment, and his zeal. The
circumstances of the movement will not permit me
to mention more names than these two, nor to
enlarge any further on the claims of our old
Universities on our love and reverence. So great,
however, are those claims that I cannot but
feel, and those who have drunk more deeply than
I of their teaching must feel it more profoundly
still, how stupendous a work the founders of an institu-
tion such as this have undertaken, and what patience
and courage will be needed to raise it. to the level of
those great foundations which have been the slow
creation of centuries, (Applause.) I may be allowed,
perhap,, to point out in the bearing of those now pre-
sent that Mr. Firth's generosity, great as it has been,
leaves abundant scope for emulation among other
wealthy men of Sheffield. Many more gifts will be
needed before the spacious buildings can be filled
with a permanent staff of teachers able to carry out
your scheme of instruction in a worthy way, and to
form in your midst a nucleus of intellectual life such
as shall exercise a sensible influence in this great
city. (Applause.) After saying that the i
.re s full room
for gifts, need I add how great is the inducement to
be a giver? And this privilege of making a marked
and visible difference in human well-being and of
seeing some great institution rise and flourish at your
bidding is one that can, perhaps, be more readily en-
joyed by the great magnates of commerce and manu-
facture than by any other class. They, with their un-
fettered fortunes i
, must seem enviable n this respect
to men who, apparently, perhaps, In possession of
large incomes, are hampered by the extensive claims
made on them by their landed estates or other heredi-
tary entice, who are compelled to restrict the aid they
give to causes such as this to small and fitful donations.
Those men who, with great wealth at their disposal,
elect to spend it in mere sumptuousness and luxury
are repaid, Indeed, by admiration from certain persons
and of a certain kind; but how far richer is the reward
of those who, after spending what is needed to main-
tain with dignity their place in society, devote the
remainder towards furthering the happiness of their
fellow-men ! (Hear, hear.) Far-off generations ehall
rise up and call such men blessed, and the names they
leave behind them shall be ranked with such names
as those of Peabody in London, of Owens or of Mason
of Manchester, of Firtb, at Sheffield. (Loud cheers.)
And now, in conclusion, I should like to say a few
words about the kind of benefits which I hope the in-
stitution of this college and all the movement that is
likely to follow will confer on Sheffield. (Applause.)
There will naturally be the intellectual benefits which
invariably attend the progress of learning, philosophy,
and general culture, of the opening out of new realms
of thought, and of pleasures which the ignorant cannot
know. But another and, as it seems to me, an equally
valuable' effect of the culture is to make us shrink
from and hate all that is vulgar and false, and to
prefer pure and simple pleasures—such as are open to
all, and can never be exhausted by any—to ostentation,
vanity, and self-indulgence. (Cheers.) Such, I venture
to think, must have been Mr. Firth's feeling when he
presented your town with a park before presenting it
with a college. (Cheers.) He must have desired above
all things to give the children who are compelled in
this busy city to pass many hours each day amid dark
and gloomy surroundings an opportunity of learning
from nature those lessons which are the rightful in.
heritance of childhood, and without which no man can
be said to have had his fair chance in the world.
(Cheers.) Let it never be said, then, that it is neces-
easy in the city for children to forego these innocent
pleasures, and least of all let it be said in Sheffield—a
city which has done so much to merit the admiration
of England (hear, hear), and which receives with such
abundant courtesy the guests whom its greatness
attracts. And now I must thank you for the patience
with which you have listened to the remarks which I
have made, and express my earnest hope that this
day's work may be an augury of fresh deeds yet to be
dune here in Sheffield (applause)—deeds that will bear
out the spirit of the Poet Laureate's verses :
" Men, my brothers, men, the workers, ever reap-
ing something new,
That which they have done but earnest of the
deeds that they shall do."
(Loud applause.) And among the things that you
shall do will be not only such as shall increase your
wealth and spread your manufactures, but such as
shall imbue you with that culture which descends from
generation to generation and that wisdom which should
make of us all a people ever more worthy of our great
country, the mother of mighty nations. (Loud ap-
plause.)
Mr. S. Roberts, inn., then announced that the nub.

malt'

-*"

MI

scriptions to the endowment fund amounted to
ward x of £15,500, or about three-fifths of the £25,1
required.

,000

Prince Leopold, on behalf of a large number of sub-
scribers, presented to Mr. Firth an address, his por-
trait in oils by Mr. Ouless, his bust by Mr. Bruce
Joy, and a cheque for £1,500, whish will be devoted to
the founding of .Firtla Soholarships in connexion with
the college.
Mr. Firth briefly acknowledged the gift, and the
proceedings closed.

Prince Leopold then proceeded to the Cutlers'-hall, where
he was presented with addresses by the Cutlers' Company
and the town trustees. The Prince was afterwards enter-
tained at luncheon in the banqueting hall of the company.
The Mayor presided, and there were present about 250
guests, among whom were Lord Whamcllffe, Mr. Mundella,
M.P., Mr. Stanhope, M.P., Mr. Starkey, M.P., and Professors
Stuart, Carpenter, Percival, and Bentley.
After the usual loyal toasts the Mayor ProPoled•the health
of Prince Leopold, which was received with enthusiaatio
cheering.
Prince Leopold said,—My Lords, Ladies, and
Gentlemen, I beg to thank you most heartily for the
kind manner in which you have received the toast of
my health, proposed in far too flattering terms by
the worshipful Mayor of this town. It is impossible
for me not to feel how small is the part which I
have been called upon to play in the work which
has received its consummation to-day, compared with
the labours of those who have fostered and watched
over its progress from the commencement. But, at the
same time, it is an undeniable pleasure to me to have been
associated even in a slight degree with this great work of
Mr. Firth's(" hear, hear," and cheers), and tohave met,
as I have done, with so sympathetic and cordial a re-
ception. An invitation of a somewhat similar kind
was sent to me not long ago by my friend Mr. Albert
Grey from Newcastle, and it was with very great re-
gret that I was compelled to decline it and thus was
unable to aid in inaugurating the series of lectures,
also connected with the University extension move-
ment. If I could hope that the words which I speak
here would reach the ears of the people of Newcastle,
I would bid them note what has already been ac-
complished here in Sheffield. and take courage from
this example in the efforts which they are
commencing to put forth ("hear, hear," and
cheers) ; and as soon as they have shown an • -
earnest of their appetite for a fuller and more com- '
plete education than any of their primary schools can
give, I cannot doubt but a second Mark Firth will
rise from amid them and will second their efforts in t.
the same munificent manner. (Loud cheers). And
this, ladies and gentlemen, leads me to the subject of '
our next toast—namely, the health of my kind hest "
and your illustrious fellow-townsman. (Cheers). I have
already to-day had occasion in another place to make
some allusion to Mr. Firth's claims on your good
wishes and affectionate sympathy, but I shall, perhaps,
best consult his feelings by not venturing in his
presence on an elaborate enlogium on his good deeds.
I have already visited this morning the alma.
houses he has built; and I look forward this
afternoon to visiting in his company the park
which he has laid out. (Rear, hear). In the for-
mer place I saw him surrounded by the aged
folk whose declining years are being soothed and made
happy by his considerate forethought—("hear, hear,"
and cheers)—and when I see- scattered throughout the
park men women, and children who by this gift of his
are enabled to escape from the close atmosphere of the
town and all the temptations of a great city to breathe
awhile purer air and to indulge in harmless recreation,
I shall more fully realize the deep inward joy which he
must experience. (Cheers.) If our good wishes can,
in however small a degree, add to this well-earned joy
of his, I beg to assure Mr. Firth, both on your part
and on my own, that we most cordially and heartily
tender them to him. (Cheers.) Ladies and gentle-
men, I call upon you to drink to the health of Mr.
Mark Firth. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Mark Firth responded, and was received with
great enthusiasm. He said.—l feel extremely and
truly grateful to his Royal Highness Prince Leopold,
who has so kindly proposed my health. I assure
you I shall always look back upon this occasion
as one of the most pleasing recollections of my
life, and this more especially when I consider
the willingness and kindness with which his Royal
Highness accepted the invitation to open the college.
(Applause.) Considering his Royal Highness's en.
gagements and many other circumstances, I feel ex-
tremely thankful that Prince Leopold has sacrificed
the time necessary for coming down among us to per-
form the obligation he has today fulfilled. I feel
more especially grateful on behalf of the town and the
people of Sheffield that so distinguished a member of
the Royal family, and a Prince so eminent for his
love of the arts and sciences, has set apart a portion
of his time to visit the town for the purpose of in-
augurating the opening of an institution which I hope
may be of great benefit to the inhabitants. lam sure,
moreover, that the people of Sheffield are similarly
gratified because of the fact to which I have referred.
(Loud cheers.) Personally, I beg to thank his Royal
Highness for his flattering observations with regard to
myself. (Loud applause.)

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Several other toasts followed, and at the conclttsion
Prince Leopold left the hall and proceeded to Firth.