Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-03-29

BATTLES OF THE Fur TRADERS WITH
| THE INDIANS NEAR THE Rocky Noun
TAINs.-The Jonesborougb (Tenn.)
| Sentinel of March 8 contains an inter
esting narrative from Mr. Stephen II. l..
| Meek, now in that town, and who has
been for the last 8 or 4 years a MEM
Der of a Fur Company. The compa-
nv last summer left Rio del Norte July
20, for Montras, in California. On
Sept. 8 they were surrounded, and shot
at by a large party of the Banark and
Snake Indians, armed with arrows.
The return fire from the deadly rifles
ofthe hunters told a dismal tale, and
the Indians, astoundcd, fell back with
their rude bows and arrows, which
we're found powerless weapons. The
mules were then ~re-packed, and the
course resumed over the interminable
prairies. Five Of the hunters in this
skirmish we're wounded, and one (Mr.
VIM. Small) was shot dead by the ar
row of a chief, who soon after was
brought down. The Indian loss was
81 found dead; the wounded probably
twice the number. On the 10th, about
$50 of the same tribes hung on the
%company's TANKS, and began to seat
themselves down in rings and smoke
their pipes. At this moment, 80 of
the mountaineers rode up TO within 40
steps of the savages and discharged
upon them their rifles with deliberate
aim. The Indians scattered like par
tridges from the hawk, leaving IS
dead and 5 prisoners, which latter, at.
ter beng severely whipped, were set
at liberty. Travelled now a days
across the Salt Plains, when they struck
the Californian Mountains, crossing
which took Is days, and in ID days
more they reached the two Laries
now scarce of food, and killed 4 horse,
and subsisting on the same IL days,
come to the Spanish settlements. Here
procuring provisions, they proceeded
10 Montras, where they spent the win
ter ~agreeably in balls and parties CIV
en- by the Spanish ladies'. On April
LIST left, and in 10 days struck the snow
bank on the south side Of the Salt or
California mountain. The company
now had 100 horses, so mules, and 25
head of cattle. Before reaching the
plains on the north side of the noun.
tain, they had to leave 80 horses, 9
mules and all the cattle in the snow,
which was six feet deep. In the fore
part Of May reached st. Mary's river
ON the 4th Of July, 1886, Quepaw or
Bear river, and thence proceeded to st.
Louis. Mo-, with their furs.
PENNSYLVANIA CoNvENTIoN.-The
special election which was held on
Friday last for a delegate to the Penn
sylvania State Convention, from the
district composed of Union, Mihlin and
J%uniata counties, appears to have been
closely contested by the Wings and
Van Burenites, and the result is not
yet known. A letter from Miflin, in
the Philadelphia Inquirer Of yesterday
claims the result as in favor Of MIR.
HARRIS, the Wing candidate /; while a
paragraph in the same paper informs
that the Vanites of Union county clai-
med the victory as on their side, This
special election is of the more impor-
tance, as its result will determine the
party complexion or preponderance of
the Pennsylvania State Convention
which is to meet in May next, to alter
the Constitution, & in which body, it is
known that the party strength is now
exactly divided--being sc to GO. The