The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-04-02
Murder Of Lieut.. Edward Russell by the
Indiana.


Indians.
We are panied to announce the death Of this
accomplished officer and gentleman, by the
hands Of party of Coast Range Indians. 1t
will be recollected that Lieuts. Russell and
Moore were sent out upon the head waters of
Thom's creek, with a command to punish the
Indians for their numerous depredarions upon
the Ranch owners of Colusa county 1t was
while in the performance of this service that
this young officer met his horrible and lamenta-
BILE fate.
1t seems, according to our accounts. that
Lieut.. Russell, on his way to a rancherie in the
mountains, Friday the 18th of March, met
with and captured band of ten Indians, whom
he at once disarmed, placing their bows and
arrows in the hands of his interpreter, an
Indian boy. Then continuing his course, he,
in company with the prisoners, guide and inter-
prefer, by some means got separated from his
men in going round hill-each party pursuing
different direction around the hill. While
thus separated, each party being out of sight of
the other, the Indians obtained their arms, ell
Their by force or through the treachery of the in
terpreier, and fell upon Lieut.. R., shooting seven
arrows into his body as quick as thought SO
prompt was the assault, that before the guide,
an old mountaineer, could reach the ground, al
though not more than hundred yards in the
rear at the time of the attack, the Indians had
endorsed Lieut.. R., and beaten his braas out
with clubs.
Lieut.. Russell killed one Indian and wounded
another and the guide killed two or three more.
The remainder made their escape. The corpse
OF the unfortunate officer was taken to Fort
Reading on Saturday last,
The news of this unfortunate a4Sair excited
the utmost indignation among the acquaintance
of Lieut.. Russell and the citizens generally.
at the hands of the savages are occurring in this
section of the State every day, is at all strange
that our people are exasperated to an extraordi-
nary degreel and that's they are determined, uu-
less this great evil be speedily removed, to
wage of determination against the In
dams? We repeat remark in our last num-
Der, ''what are the lives of hundred or a thou
sand OF these savages, to the life of single
American citizen?"-to the life of Lieut.. Russell?
Our citizens below should not censure us and
call us inhuman, if we fight the Indians in their
own mode of warfare. The man-away from
all danger living securely in a comfortable
home, surrounded by all the safeguards of a
well organized city, is but lily capable of telling
the miner, the packer and the traveler-who
are nightly exposed to the attacks Of these bru-
tai devils-what course they should pursue in
defending themselves.
Our people, like all right thinking men, desire
the esteem and appreciation of their fellow citi-
zens throughout the State; but if they have to
buy it with their lives, then they prefer doing
without it. If the Indians cannot be made to
live on terms of amity with them, they are de-
termined they shall not live at ALL We say
shoot them down wherever you find them Stay
them you would many panthers or bears
Show them no mercy until they give satisfactory
evidence of sincere wish for peace-and there
by protect the lives of your own and your fellow
citizens.