Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-13
veral Chiefs. and the party conducted by them

VeIdl OhleISs uuu tue pdrty COnoucteu Oy tnem
10 the Soldiers lodge, where they feasted on
the choicest buffalo mest--Dr White exchan.
ged horse with Chief at the Indians request,
and left, after tarrying two hours the party be.
ing as much pleased with their reception as the
Indians appeared to be in entertaining them.
They encamped three miles below the village,
horses unmolested and nothing missed. Next
day met Smoke, notable Chief, and 200 lnd-
ans with him, moving up to the large village
which they had passed-exchanged the usual
salutaions Of the day, and all went off most a.
greeasly. On the 18th, reached Fort Laramie,
where the party were Hospitality entertained, as
at Fort Hall, by Mr.. Papin Left on the 18th,
having purchased sufficient supply ofdried
buffalo meat and flour, with groceries to last to
Independence. intending to toaccomplish the jour
ney with all possible expedition. and not to stop
to kill game. On the 17th, met eight or nine
OK teams, heavily loaded with goods for trading
with the Indians, in charge Of Captain Finch,
who had trading post seven miles below Fort
Laramie. on the Platte. On the 18th, met Mr..
Spane-had also several teams loaded with
goods for trading with the Sioux he had buried
his partner the day previous, having died of
nervous fever On the 29th, met two men on
an express 10 Fort Laramie from the American
Fur Company at St Louis They told the Doc.
tor he would probably meet the Pawnee Indi-
ans before leaving the Platte, and if he did they
would rob him and his party.
On the 3lst, at stout IL o'clock, the Doctor,
riding in front Of the party to keep look out
for the Pawnees, discovered large smoke a.
head halted, adjusted the pack animals, and
then went cautiously on again; proceeded
few miles, when horse was discovered three
or four miles ahead, tied, anG apparently unea.
| sy. The party were now convinced that the
Pawnees were not far off halted again, and
each man examined his firearms. The Doc
tor proposed to leave the road und 60 into the
hills, and to keep on travelling all night to avoid
coming in contact with Indians whose charac.
ter was that Of highway robbers. They did so.
and proceeded four or five miles in the direc.
ton of the hills, when three Indians were seen
in front Of them, advancing; the party went
on short distance, and twelve or fifteen came
up to them. The Doctor made signs 10 them
to keep awav, and that he was in great haste to
90 on, but they all came up; when the Doctor
stopped, requested Saxton to get off his horse
and open a pack, get some tobacco and give
them lie did so, and gave them all there was
mounted his horse again. when one Of the pack
horses took fright at the Indians, and ran with
great violence, but was at last caught BY Chap
man and Saxton, and the pack adjusted by them
ready TO 60 on again. But an Indian. who had
been very mpudent and saucy, now came te
Chapman and asked him tor powder; he reiu
, sed to give any, when the rascslly Indian cock
, ed his gun. At the suggestion Of the Doctor
: Chapman gave him some powder, and he wen
! of; but while the Doctor was talking to Chap
I man six or seven had surrounded him, and tw,
s had his horse by the bride. when he asket
: Brown to come TO him. Brown did So presen
] ted his. pisto, at one Of them and the Doctor mo
/; toned 10 them at the same time, with his sir
: shooter in his hand 10 be off, they left, and tn,
!. purity collected their animals and started on a
d gain towards the hills, when large Pawne'
y village, Of some three hundred lodges, appearet
}. in sight several miles from the road
b AS the Indians left the party. they fired thre,
IS Vines at them, and the shot fell thickly aroun,
1t Bro~n-lhe Indians going towards the village
II and the party from it, over the hills Whel
e out OF sight of the Indians and the village, th
a party again halted filled their powder horn.
It and took good quantity of balls in their pouch
= es, and went on again but they had scarce
g. started, when two Indians were seen cominl
e from the village over the hills soon another
y and another appeared in sight each coming
"a from different directions, and in ten minute
n party were completely surrounded BY two @
" three hundred men armed with rifles musket,
g bow and arrows. tomshawks and war-club
II. while the air resounded with the awful wal
re whoop, as they still continued to dash upo
ct them on their flee, horses Seeing that fou
'e could 90 nothing by firing on such numbers, tn
'g Doctor told the party not to fire, while the Ir
dams were in great confusion smong then
st selves. The first who came, talked loud an
o. boisterous, and began to catch the pack horse
e. when it was proposed to 60 with them to tn
Ii. village.
,s- In the mean time, oil was confusion, som
H. snstching rife from ones while another caugl
il, a blanket from another. and ran of. Saxtc
*, first got under way, following his packed bors