Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-02-20

New MEXICO INDTANs-T'he St. Louis Repub
lican contains letter from Los Vegas, New Mex
leo, under date of December lsi, which furnishes
the following particulars respecting the capture and
death of Mrs. White.
Major Grier has just returned from an expedition
against the Icorillas tribe of Apache Indians. In
October, Mr.. White, merchant Of FL Paso, whl
was bringing out his family, left his train, as the
weather was becoming cold and dsagreeable fol
Mrs. White and child, and came on in advance
with party of eight persons
The Indians prepared an ambuscade some sixty
miles from Los Vegas, the first settlement, and kill
ed Mr.. White and all the men Of the party, taking
Mrs. White, child and negro servant prisoners
As soon as this was reported TO the commanding
officer of the department, Maj. Grier was ordered
with his own company, and Capt Valdez's compa-
ny of volunteers, TO proceed TO rescue Mrs. White
if possible.
Taking Kit Carson and Watkin Lereux as
guides he proceeded at once to the scene Of the out
rage, thence TO follow the trail. The Indians had
taken every precaution to avoid pursuit They trav-
elled in every direction, one day going east and The
next day going west, encamplng near where they
had been the previous night. On leaving camp,
they had moved off in small parties, diverging in
many directions, and came together after getting
elapsed the indefatigable Kit Carson and Lerieux
followed the trail with the precision and certainty
of blood hound, coming on the camps night after
night notwithstanding their precaution. Major
Grier finally came upon one of the camps, the fires
of which were still burning, and imagining that
they had got news of his approach and were flying,
he gave chase, and after running about sixteen
miles he came upon them. They had again en-.
camped, and were only apprised Of his presence by
some Of their hunters few minutes before he was
on them. They had time, however, TO mount their
feetest horses, and Major Grer's were so much ia
tigued that the Indians could readily outrun them.
Five or six were killed and three taken prisoners.
In their fight they abandoned every thing, and even
threw their children away as they ran, SO much
were they pressed. Their lodges, horses, saddles,
brides, blankets, firearms, ammunition, provisions,
dressed skins, in word, every thing except their
own denuded persons, and the horses on which they
rode, was captured. Fifty animals were packed
with the most valuable things, the rest were burnt
When Major Grler got on the ground which had
been occupied by the Indians, he found the body of
Mrs. White transfixed with an arrow-lifeless but
still warm. She had evidently been put 10 death,
and thus freed frum her sufferings at the time the
alarm was given. She still had her bible and PRAYER
book, which had been ner companions during her
captivity. They were marked at various places
where she had been reading. The child and negro
girl were not seen or heard Of and they are doubt
less with the Indians.
Major Grer had Mrs. Whits buried as decently
as circumstances would admit and that the Indians
might not discover her resting place, and that her
bones might lie undisturbed, he burned grass over
her grave and set fire to the prairie around IT.
Mr.. White was native of Sullivan county, Ten
nessee, and his lady the daughter Of Mr.. John
Dunn, of Abingdon, Virginia. t