Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-15

The Crees living in the region, numbering HoVo'
arn nenry all destroyed The great nation calico plaeH
feet who wander and live by the chuse, ranging ~
all The region of the Rocky Mountains, oiVloeu ,to
bandsptgans venF es booG CO. @ have deeply
suffered One thousand lodges or families nave oen
DESTROYED and the disease rapidly spreading uo"s
the different bands. The average number IN looge
from 6 10 persons -, ,o,h,l.ss he
communicated 10 all The tribes the Columbia sei'
and in all probability, to all the tribes South OF he
souri, 10 the Mexican settlements These uh'Gliu"a.
beings have been ust disappearing before our
and Providence has at last threatened 10 sweep
tho eorh lea wing nothing but their graves, ementos
or their former existence. Our country abouhuS WIN
evidences oshavng been once occupied oy nho'"e'
and may they las these, have fallen VICTIMS " SUM-
such scourpe? The ways Of Heaven are just ye' mys
erous and nations must bow before its WILL as le leeu
before The Storm i
The following letter. from gentleman now IN Tue IN
dim country gives las have every reason 10 oeeve
true but startling account Of the ravages colht'eu
bv The small pox We know the writer well, aud what
ever he saws may be relied on All will read his mar
ralvc with interest, and can but sympa'hst oVs. 'e
msfor,uues of those who have severely suffered:
FoRr UsloH, Nov. u, 1857.
Dear Sir-Knowing that you feel deeply interested IN
every thing relative to Indian affairs on the upper MIS-
souri, feel that il is my duty to make Known 10 you
the miqh,y changes which few short months nave
brought about
You will probably recoect hnI the small pox was on
board of the boat at the lime she came up last SUMMER
and a, we had all attered ourselves that the indahs
would escape The cunlagion. IL appears mat iae nau
dccrcpd il otherwise In spite of all The precautions
that were used the disease broke out Mt Tie andahs
about the 18th July and from thence as II borne on Tue
wings of the wind spread throughout the whole c"un!ry
in an incredibly short space OF time There IS not H'oe
above the Sioux except the Crows, but are literally an
initiated. The disease appears to be the most 'fueht
thut ever vas heard of-et few facts suffice 10 show
lis character:
-probabIy 1000 souls AZ the lime passed there list
Oct1 there were thirty only remaining. The eros
Yenires and Rees (Arckarees) were about on hunhng
excursion took The disease near monlh Intercourse
ouentIy not mare than half Of the two tribes had pc
rsled a, the time saw them-but the small Pox was
still raging in the camps, and great numbers were dying
every day.
Some few, probably in fifty recovered from severe
attacks but finding their relations were oil dead, and
seeinp The dreadful rayagcs which the disease had
wrong in their once handsome features, life became
burden them and the greater part put an end 10 their
own lives-some by throwing themselves from The hgh
rocky prec pce, which, you recoiect, STANDS near inc
village by shooting, subblng, &c. The whole
of The surrounding prairie has been converted into one
gren graveyard and hundreds Of carcusses which had
never received The rites Of seputute lay scattered around
in various stages Of dssoution emitting tet'd cxhala
tons which pusoned the atmosphere and made guile
sckening, even al the distance Of several miles.
The fate of The Assinabons Crees, Blackieet and
Others are, if possible, still more deporaOIe. ! nave
not heard OF single instance in which an AssnaooIn
recovered They are now flying in every direction,
yanIy hoping TO ourun or eude this ruthless destroyer
All feelings of sympathy or kindred affections seem lost
amongst Them; women and children may be seen wan
derng through the prares IN search OF iood or hoWng
round the graves oil their husbands or fathers
NV last intelligence from the Blackfeet no less dis
tressnr II appears that upwards u one thousand lods
es had already persisted, and the disease still raging with
undated fury. Poor fellows! could moi help feeling
deeply affected when heard of their me lancholy iae
know they friends of yours and you will Proba
bly, feel but little sympathy for them but know them
well, and admire them above all other Indians; they
come nearer my beau ideal OF what an Indian should be-
than any others have ever seen They were proud,
warlike race; who felt confident against the world IN
arms and looked dow all other tribes with sovereign
contempt know they have always been considered as
cruel teacheruus, and vindctive-but it was only TO-
wards their enemies Amongst their own tribes and al.
lies they were faithful friends oectionnte tihers hug
bands and brothers, and surely deserved better fate.
For some time after my arrival at Fort Union | Sc
riousy apprehended some great outbreak amongst the
Indians and that all their dying energies would have
been directed against the whIies every DAY brought
fresh intelligence of warlke councils, and threats Of
deep and dire revenge Blu, the small Pox continued 10
knock them down. and death, who has no feelings of
honour never failed 10 strike them while they were
down.
1t is said that several parties who started with the
ayowed intention Of attacking the Fort, all persisted on
the wuy-no single returning 10 tell the nourn!ul
news Thus in the Of few weeks their strength
and spirits were completely broken, and nothing but
the sad requiem of the dead heard in the camp,
which so lately resounded with all the spirit.srng din
of warlke preparations; all feelings of hostility have
now ceased and the few wreched survivors hum
BILE as their starving dogs that are wandering wild and
masteress through the prarles.
Language however forcible, can convey but faint
idea otle scene Of desolation which this country
presents In whatever direction you turn, nothing but
sad wrecks Of mortality meet the eye-odges standing
Hill h,,fn mt DIR n
rising from lhel-no sound be heard 10 break the
awful Stiffness the omlnous croak OF ravens and
the mournul howl OF wolves, baltenng on the human
carcasses that lie srewed around IT seems as II The
very genius of desoaton had salked through the pai
res, and wrcnked his vengeance on every thing bearing
the shape OF humanity.
You may possibly think that finding all our prospects
of trade so completely Frustrated, may have been by.
pochondric.l aud coloed every thing with the sombre
hues of nv own mnd--would 10 God twas so. lit
tie medicine might The disease and restore my
mind 10 its usual tone, but neither medicine or time can
restore the Indians.
hone 10 see YOU on board of the steamboat, and will
have the pleasure of accompanying you 10 ST. Louis.
Respectfully, your trend,
Extract fran lelter from the Superintendent Of tie Che
rusee emigraiion, dated Feb. IA, 1885.
q" have Just been informed, that letters have lately
been received here from Mr. Ross and others OF the de-
legation al Washington, advising the Cherokees not 10
receive their money under the treat but to hold on that
none would be forced to remove West, but those who
receive money from the IT, States This is another in
It is but few days since we animadverted on The bad
faith manifested by Ross, and those who direct inu
ence his movements in the adyices constantly transmit
led by him 10 his counrymen. Here we have another
spnn instance of the character. And what To be
The issue. Does he suppose the Government will be
sweryed from lis purpose faithfully fulfil the treaty
in all its provisions and extent by devices so msy and
weak as that above quncd Dues he believe that he can
foster this spirit of dsaectiun until the moment ap
nointcd for the emigration and then prevent lis out
breaking into actual hostiIi,ies' Is he willing TO entail
upon his people the caames of bloody and Proract-
ed war; for M other purpose Than that he may appear
consistent 10 The last in his opposition 10 treaty, the
slipua,ions Of which, when executed will place the Che