The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-12-08

did, and e0rrelled our wagons, hung up our
blankets and tents around them tied, up our
cattle and made the best preparation for defence
we could. We had no sooner completed our
arrangements than the Indians had the grass on
rather beat them. They then concealed them
selves around us, in the Toly Swamp on one
side and behind the rocks ON the other. Being
now cessation Of firing, we took the opportu-
nifty 10 examine Freeman's wound, and found
he was bleeding profusely. We had no hopes
Of his recovery. The res. of US escaped with
out injury-none hit excepting Thompson, who
was struck with an arrow on the boot leg. The
Indians had killed and got one of my cows,
was the only damage we had received. We %
not know whether we killed more than five OF
them or not, but suppose we must have killed q
number more.
Twill here say for the men that they all acted
brayely and nobly-determined never to yield
while one was alive; and Mrs. Donnellan, the
only female in the company, unpacked carpet
Bag and dealt out our ammunition, which had
been put away for an occasion of this kind, say
ing with chris ian courage that, Providence
would provide for us.
We remained in this position until the next
morning, when we found ourselves and cattle
nearly furnished for water, and we determined it
Whiting train did not come up by IL o'clock,
to make our way to grass and water at all risks.
We could see the Indians all around Us. Absut
| en- o'clock they began to collect on tho read
short distance below US, where they held con-
sultation, and soon hurried down to Bloody
Point, (as we named the Point where they at
tackled us.) We supposed the train was coming,
and they would attack them, and consequently
we formed ourselves, fired off and reloaded our
guns and started down towards them but for-
tunately for the train they took up around Black
Ridge and crossed it this side Of Bloody Point
where the Savages were waiting for them, and
drove up to US without having an arrow shot at
them, the Indians being formed too far down to
reach them AS we proceeded back to our po-
sition in company with the train, the Indians
followed us a SHIRT distance and then stopped in
the Tulyes. We then drove over as near to the
Lake as we could, dug holes, watered our cattle
and turned them out to grass. We could not
get to the water in the lake, the ground around
it was very miry. While we were digging
holes for water and getting something to eat,
1--WE had eaten nothing but hard bread since the
previous morning) an alarm was given that there
was company of Indians coming from the
other direction on horseback, upon which we
coA In xvar
and driving our stock up. Every man instantly
seized his gun, pistol, knife, or whatever weap-
on he had to fight with, and walked out in front
of the wagons, cooked his gun and was ready
for battle. l will not attempt to describe our
feelings. When they came near enough We
discovered them to be company Of thirty two
mounted rlflemen, including eight Shasta In
dian volunteers, from Ureka, under the com
mend of the celebrated Indian fighter, Capt.
Ben Wright. who had come to protect the emf
grants through this dangerous part of the route.
We related to them the sad news that their
much esteemed friends from Ureka, with the
packer, had been murdered, and the manner in
which the Indians had attacked US. They I'M
packed their animals, got bite to eat, mounted
their horses and hurried down to the Tuly
Swamp TO attack the Indians. One OF their
company was sick and mounted his horse and
went down with them.
We surrounded them as much as possible to
prevent them from escaping to the mountain,
and as we we're closing in on them they boldly
came out, and about one hundred Of them FORM
cd line along the edge ofthe Tulyes, as though
they were going to give us battle. As we APP
preached almost near enough to shoot, the Cap
tain gave orders to charge on them, when we in
simultaneously put spurs to our horses and rushed
on to them as fast as the animals could carry US,
and the Indians were compelled to take to the
Swamp to save their Scalps. The Tulyes grew
crete themselves amongst them, and walk cut
into the water until it came to their chins, and
being thus hid by the fags it was impossible to
rout them in body. The Captain, however,
with about fifteen of his men, dismounted and
allowed them into the water, and succeeded in
killing twenty or thirty. The Captain said he
would never leave there while there was one
with his scalp on. We returned to camp lit
tie after dark, cold, wet and hungry, and found
that we were out of meat, and there was none
in the train. We had that day used the last
we had. had, however, a fat OK that got at
Salt Lake, which killed next morning, and
gave the relief company half of it, and divided
the balance out in the train The Captain let
me have so lbs. OF -four, which supplied us un
til we got in. That morning the company Of
mounted rif1emen went to meet the Missouri
train, and to see if they could discover any ira.
ces of the four missing men. They found the
bodies Of Messrs Coots and Owensby, mang.
led IN the most horrid manner, and the bodies
or remains of three other men, that had, from
appearances, been killed about week. We
went down and buried the remains of the three
latter, as well as we could, and dug the graves
for the other two. Ia the evening, as the vol
unteers were returning, they found the body of
Mr. Long. Capt. M.Dermitt came up with
them, and directed in performing the last sad
Office 10 his associates, who had come out with
him. He shrouded them with blankets, and CO.
vered them with sprigs of evergreens. They
buried MIR. Long the next day. He, I under
stand, is a nephew Of Gen. Lewis The un-
known bodies were supposed to be a part of
company Of nine packers, who had been attack
ed at this place, and all killed, excepting one,
who escaped, and overlook train one day be-
fore they arrived at Uyreka. The train had
been attacked, and the two men Capt. NJ der
mitt had left to guide them in, were wounded.
That is what raised the company that came out
to our relet.
It is impossible for me to give description of
the sad and sorrowful scene around Indian Lake
We could see the Buzzards sailing around the
remains Of human beings by day, and hear the
wolves bowling around them at night. We
would find occasionally hand, scull, jaw bone
or other parts Of the human frame, for twenty
miles. 1t is unknown how many have been the
unfortunate victims Of the merciless savages.-
Sixteen are known of, and from the quantity Of