Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-06-03
LITTLE ROCK, TUESDAY MORNING,

bles Of the beautiful Sanjoaquin, everything upon which weeoaid castonr eyes seemed to have put on for season, a face of love joy and beauty but aias how subject 10 mutation are the brightest prospects of lives. and how frail are the hopes of us poor uormsof the dust-in the midst of all these joys, these hopes-thoSe charming lovely beauties those bright and fattcftng prospects; in the twinkling of an eye, we were surrounded by one hundred and fifty Indians, all armed with bows and arrows, they approached us in the garb of friendship, and intemixed with our party, when they made tn attack. Mir. J. w. Anderson, and young man by the name of Wilson from Wisconsin, and myself were out doors standing by fire when they came up, they were so numer- ous, and go we'll armed that had concluded to walk into the tent and ask the proprietor of what tribe they were, and what their intention was in coming down in such large body; had not been in minute, before heard the Indians raise the hideous yell; instantly Jack ran in with an arrow in his arm between the shoulders and elbow, and one sticking in his back, he drew them out as he entered the tent, and snatched up his gun; nnme- diaely behind him Wilson rushed i'll with SIX ar rows pierced through his body and exclaimed, they have killed me, and dropped dead upon the floor. WeNhad but three guns including my own and one of ouflnen n the hurry to get his gua, knocked mine down. and broke off the lock and left us but two with which to defend our lives there we were shut up in little cloth tent, surrounded by han- dred and fifty Indians, who were pouring in their arrows thick as hail on every side, indeed they shot through little tent till it became perfectl, light with holes, and the floor at our feet was literally covered with spent arrows. For the space of fifteen or twenty minutes not one of us thought for moment of ever seeing home again, we looked each other in the face as the last minute of time had come with us all, we felt two awful and sol emn to speak but every countenance loudly told that each breast was filled with despair; indeed when one would speak he could scarcely be heard, for the ravenous savages kept up such a continual yelling. that every hill from top to top filled with wild and hdeous reverberations, the Indians grew fercer and iereer, until they began to tear our tent. At that moment we saw that 1t would not do to stand still any longer that the scene must now be brought to a close some way or other. We resolved therefore to rush out into their midst with our guns, crow bars and saberS and show dispo- son to sell them our lives as dear as possible,
 
 ton, tighten them off, till we could cross the river and make our escape. To our great qualification when we rushed out they scattered in every direc- ton, but they showed no disposition to give up the fight they only ran of to get behind the rocks and trees to protect themselves from our shots, they continued shooting their arrows at us, but were too far off to do any damage, made out at last to cross the river, and while they robbing the tent we retreated in quick order. Only one of the party was killed, three were wounded; Jack was bad off for ten or fifteen days, but is now entirely we'll We left that river in few days after the fight and come to this place about twenty men who had claims in the mines, still remained on the SanioaQum, we heard from them two weeks ago, they had another fight with the indians, and got two of their men killed, and several others badly wounded; they were compelled finally to do as we did take to their heels to their scalps. This IS all painful news, but the worst IS yet untold, when Mr. Anderson and myself started from Los Angeles Dr. Balfour and his mess told me they would be in eight or ten days; last Sunday we received intelligence from them for the first time ''aey were attacked in camp at place called four Creeks, about the middle of last month, by 250 or 5bU lnuiaIS- cooper, onlitn ana heAanuer Neal, were killed. Frank Imboden had one of his arms so shattered that it had to be amputated near the shoulder. The man who brought this news went to Four Creeks in company with scouting party and helped 10 bury the dead, he became acquainted with Smith and Neal at Los Angeles, and recog- nzed their bodies, some others were killed but they were strangers 10 our informant, he saw Im- boden and Balfour at a ranch, on the SanjoaQum, they told him the names of the others that were killed, but he does not now remember them; we we are in painful anxiety to know if any other of Balfours party is killed. will write again as soon as learn the full account of the terrible affair.
 The Indians have declared open war against all NAe whites they say they intend to fight as long as our faces are white, that these mountains rightfully belong to them, and they will never give them up.
 PS-Nathanel McCarroI was also killed at Four Creeks. forgot to tell you that Jack and myself lost all our animals. baggage and blankets except the clothes we carried or on our backs.
 R W. ELLIS