The New York herald., 1851-12-26
Account OF T'vauIt's Exploring Erp.dt.
tiOn I'm Oregon.

A correspondent of the Hartford Times writes
from Scotts6urg; Umpqua county, Oregon, undse
date OF October 10th, and eucoses letter from Mr.
IVault, addressed to the Superintendent of Indian
Affairs. The following is the letter.
DEAR SIR IL hasten to lay before you the result
OF one Of the most fatal occurrences that has takeR
place within the limits of Oregon since its settle
nent.
proceeded to this place On board tho steamer
sea Gun, leaving Portland August Is; and on tho
2ith of August, with company of eighteen % sous
took up my line of march for the purpose Of zploc-
ing and ascertaining the practicsbility of locating
Iosd or roads from Port Oxford 70 the Uppsc
vel our route was down the coast in asouthsra dec-
tion, to near the mouth Of Rogues River W. in
formed the Indians, whom We found very aunero1J.
that you would be at Port Oxford in from 6tesa to
twenty i've days, for the purpose of making them
presents OF blankets and clothing, aud also treating
with them for their ips, (lsnds,) at the same tins
ma aAng IN ineS small presents myself When neae
tne mouth OF Rogues River, while riding soms dis-
tsnee In advance of the company, there we're soma
ma nifestatiors Of hos.ility-two Indians drawing
their bows and pIesen;ng their arrows at ms
noweser, upon raising my gym to present, they in.
From this place our course bore about northeast
until the 3lst Of August Hers nine Of ths ,ompa-
ny started on their return to Port Oxford aud th,
remEinios nine continuing with me up Roguss river,
IN northeast direction, until the 9TH of fSsptembsr;
our provisions having given out We laid by this day
ior the purpose OF curing elk meat. Our road M
this point lay over the mountain and canons dsa,ey
seS with chapparal (andesbrush), not being abls
proceed more than from three to eight miles per day
From this pace could ex anime the upper Rog1ss'
river country sufficiently well to satisfy myself that
We we're not more than from 25 70 30 nlss vest
OF the Oregon TRAIL leading TO the Shasta mined.
Hefe consultation was had, and ssa.ci,y OF pro-
VISIONS, as well as the countrys open2g out 10 tds
north, influenced By a plain Indian trail, we ~efo
induced to travel to the north, bsiieying tia. W.
could sooner obtain supplies in that iirecson Oa
tuesday nigh, the e.h, we reached the head gatcrs
OF stream flowing into the ocean at or CAps
banco. WetTav.lled down ii some distance, through
an open country, ard on Wedne sday picked up al
Indian boy who acted as our guide On Thursday
we started In northern direction, crossing som,
low hils and on Friday the 18th, fell the sousa
ern oranca OF deCoquie river, which dows tas
ocean in latitude about IS degs 10 N. In passing
down the southern branch We had several beautiful
views, from high points of the large and ex.sns'
valley Of the Coquille, which appea ed to be general
~ level bottom land, densey covered with asa, ma
Pile, birch, some oak, and rich undergro vh
Of vines nightshade, SC suoh is p.odEced in tao
Missouri and Wabash bottoms. Ga Ss.urisy
morning, l3th being entirely out of rovissns s,s
not having had one quarter alo vance for the last
several days, il was Thought advisable to &C oand0u
our animals, as We could make but little progress
with them and that too not in direction so as to
warrant the obtaining of any provisions. We.
therefore, obtsined Indian canoes And Indians to
transport us to the mouth Of the Coquiile river.
After passing few niles We came to the junction
Of the south and north forks, which form q stream
from two 20 three feet, at distance Of Hfty miles
from its mouth. From the junction of the forks
the course of the river is north of west, passing
through valley from " 70 20 miles wide:
day, up to . or 10 A. NJ, we descended with rapi-
diiy and case When within few uailes OF shs
mouth of the river, one of the party, . Mr. Heddoa.
recognized the river to be the Coquille, WHOA ms
ha9 RATED in going from Port Oxford to Oregon in
kirspatrck's company, and that the indians, whS
had been very numerous, were then hostile, ie
would be Necessary or y 70 be on our saard ~,
leave the canoes, at the Same time passing severa.
Indian lodges on the right bank, where vast num-
bers CT the naked Indians were promenading ths
bank Ooe oil our party, whose name l viii nos
here insert, insisted most strenyously that We
sh land the northern bank at the largest In
diaI lodge we had seen, and there get breakfast
10 this Mr.. Brush and myself demonstrated. We,
however, drew in 50 near the bank that the Indians
could reach the side Of the canoe with their hani
while in their canoes lying alsng side. They INNS
rusho On one occasion We succee fed in pushing
of some six or eight feet, but they jumped 10 and
pulled our caroc to .ie shore, and commenced
boarding US, and seising hold Of our arms We
made one instantaneous rush for the shore think
Mr.. Brush fired pistol, the only one recolect hear
ing In less than 6fteen seconds we're ple.ely
d'sarmed, as there wors ten Indians to one white
man in the rencounter, and not less than from ons
hundred to hundred and City standing around In
drawing my sir. shooter was knocked down. Ths
first thing | remember | was fifteen yards in t6s
river, in swimming water looked round and saw
upon the shore the awful state OF confusion-t
appeared TO be the of theusa ads-the sound
Of blows-the groans and shrieks Of the dying. At
the same time noticed my friend Brush not fac
ing in canoe, striking him on tho head with
paddle, causing the water to become bloody arouai
him, My attention was then directed to Q small
canoe, with Indian lad in IL, but short distance
from me. ! swan to u he helped mo in, put
paddle In my hand, pointed TO the south ern bank,
and Immediately ran to the other end OF the canoe.
On looking round ! think saw him helping my
friend Brush TO get into the canoe, and he immedi
stely jumped overheard. We then padded for the
southern bank Of the river. Upon landing, We sue
ceeded In getting ashore then stripped ourselves OF
bank, su,cee ied in escaping to the thicket We
then continued, in our naked condition, travelling
south, through the worst Of hommocky and dense
6iery ossPpatrsi, duri.g tie d,y at signs We sp
day light, on Monday mornir g. rea,hed Cape Blao-
co On Monday We were taken by the Indiaas
living near Cape Blanco, treated with grea. deaf
Of kindness, kept all night on Monday night, with
every accommodation they were able TO afford, ant
on Tuesday brought into Port Oxford, in the situa-
tion that you saw US. Mr.. Brush and myself ara
choly fate Of our companions-Mr Brush bsiss
severely wounded by having several inches Of thz
scalp on the top Of his head cut OF
The names OF our companions who were murder
cd, are, A. 5 Doherty, aged 30. Of Texas; Patrick
Murphy, aged 52, New ork; Thos. J. Davenport,
20, Mass.; Loren l.. Williams, %, Michigau; Jsaa
7; Z; HOLLAND. q, New Liam Pshirs jeremiah Ryan;
J. Z. Pepper, ., Albany, N. Y,
The loss Of property seven L. :. riaes, withs az.
ceutrements aud ammunition; one rife, with fixtures
SC. one musket; one double barrelled pistol ons
Sharps patent 10 shooting rihe with the inpIe
ments and am nunition; one Colts six shooter; oGs
brace holster pistols, together with a number Of
blankets.
The foregoing contains substantially the facts a,
they transpired. I, however, might say muoh
more but my feeble state Of health and the severe
pains from my wounded and bleeding limbs, forbid
my saying more at present. IL will give me plea.
sure at ali times, 10 give such information as may
possess have the honor TO be, sir, very respect
iully, your obsdicnt servant
Port Oxford, Sept ~, 1851.
Three Of the party alluded 10 as being murdered.
viz :-Haydep, Williams and Thomas j Dsveu-
port of Greenfield. Mass had arrived at Soots-
burg Williams was very badly wounded, and