The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-11
PILOT & TRANSCRIPT.
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPT. II.
THE TRAGEDY IN the WILDERNESS

FRIDAY MOsiNENSS. '7E4t e L
THE TRAGEDY IN THE WILDERNESS.
We presume that no doubt remains, in any
quarter, of the melancholy catastrophe that
ended the mortal career of Mr.. Simpson, Of the
IEudson's Bay Company, ON his return from his
Arctic Journey Of discovery. Should any such
doubt exist however, ii must b. entirely dispalI-
ed by the subIoined statement, which re
ceyed yesterday by the pre,idcct Of the Ameri-
can Fur Company, in letter from one Of The
agents of that company at ST. Louis, and which
may be considered Off ,ial.
"Accorlmg to your request beg to state the
information received at ST. Peters before / left,
and confirmed NOW by Mcssrs. William and Ro-
bert Logan, of Red River, who are here with
me-, regarding the unfortunate and melancholy
affair referred to IN your letter. A party OF en-
igrants left Red River on the 2nd June last, and
were followed in two days afterwards by anp-
Their party, consisting Of Mr.. Thomas Simpson,
the nephew of Gov. Simpson, Mr. John Bird
and old lie Gros, the guide. This party over
took the other and remained with them two
days. During this time the Messgs. Logan re
marked that Mr. Simpson did not appear right;
She could moi have rest bat after they rnramp-
al kept walking almost continually. On the
third day, 10Th June, Mr. Simpsons party scpa-
rated, taking with them MI James Bruce and
lie CROSS son, boy about Is, and went ano-
Their road
On Monday morning James Bruce and Ic
Gross son came riding to their cntampm mt,
about sunrise, AMI related to them that from the
time they had separated MIR. Simpson had kept
them moving, sometimes forward and sometimes
backward, ON the return toward Red River, I'm
til the evening Of Sunday; that on that evening,
when they were IN company, Bird, Bruce and
lie Gross son being busy in putting up the tent,
and old lac Gros occupied at the cart, Mr.. Simp-
son took up double barrclled gun, and after
standing while looking at them, presented the
gun at Birds back and shot him down; he imme-
diately fired the other barrel at old lie Gross
body, and Shot him down. MIR. Bird was killed
ON The moment, but lie Gros rcmaiaed alive
James Brucethcn ran across the brook, and lie
Gross boy moved on one side, and Bruce heard
Mr. Simpson say he had shot thlm because they
had intended 10 kill him the day before. He
walked up to lie Gros, and, finding him alive,
asked him whether he had not intended to Kill
him, and lie Gros answered, yes. Bruce told
Mr. Simpson he was sure lie Ciros was not in his
senses, and did not know what he was saying.
Upon which Mr.. Simpson repeated the question,
and lie Gros answered, no.
MFR. Simpson then proposed TO Bruce to return
TO Red River, and told h'm he would give him
$500 TO go back with him and say nothing about
it. Bruce, being frightened and wanting 20 get
away, asscntcd TO his proposal, and getting an
opportunity to speak 10 lie Gross boy in Indian,
they got hold of two brides, caught horses, and
set of Immediately in search of the other camp.
After riding the greater part of the night they
reached the other cncampment, as before stated,
about sunrise
A party of six Immediately took their gums and
mounted to return to the encampment of MIR.
Simpson OF this party Mr. Robert Logan, jr.
who is by my side, was one. They proceeded in
the greatest haste, and after o'clock in the
morning arrived at their destination
They pulled up about 200 yards from the en-
campmcnt, and called out-no auswerwas given.
They then called on Mr.. Simpson by name, and
still no answer. They then moved round to the
other side, keeping the same distance, and call
ed again.
They could not see MIR. Simpson but saw dor
move, and Immediately afterwards heard the re-
port of gun, and saw the smoke near the cart
They then moved round to where the horses
We're, caught them and approached little near
er the cart. They then fired OF their guns, in
tending to alarm Mr. Simpson but seeing moth
ing of him, approached gradually until at last
Sinclair, one of the party, got near enough TO
the cart to see Mr.. Simpson, and called out that
he was dead.
They then all advanced, and Mr.. Robert Lo-
gan saw him lying ON his gun, with his face
downward. He had wound the forehead,
and all the upper part of his head was blown oil.
His cap, a white one, partially burnt, was found
about 80 yards of; he had no other wound. The
body of Mr.. Bird was found covered over with
the tent, and two sticks 10 Keep 1T down. lie
eros was dead, and covered with blankets, and
there was a path between the two bodies, if
Mr.. Simpson had kept walking TO and fro all
night.
They buried all the three bodies as they were,
without taking off their clothes, and covered
them with the tent. Mr. Simpsons portmanteau
and little trunk We're not opened, but taken to
Lac q,si Pa'Ie, and there deposited in the care
of Or Williamson, the Presbyterian missionary,
until the fall, when James Plat, who viii be
then returning TO Red River, has agreed TO take
them back 10 the II. b. Company's agent there.
/ have thus detailed all the information | can
obtain, as carefully and infinitely as possible
There can remain doubt on the suhjcct as
Mr.. Logan, whom you have also seen and con
Yersed with, was an eye witness to the facts.
a. ROBERTSON.