The Nevada journal., 1853-12-30
From Salt Lake.

From Salt Lake.
The Transcript has received, through Mr.
klncaid, who brought the Salt Lake Mail, q
proof sheet of the Deseret Meas of Nov. 18th
which contains the shocking intelligence Of th
slaughter of Capt. Gunnison of the corps O
Typographical Engineers, with seven of his
party, including Mr.. r. Fl. Kern, Topographer
Mr.. Creutefeldt, Botanist VIM. Potter, Guide
Messrs. Reptrott, Caulfeld and Mehnteens, pri
Yates of company A mounted rilemen, and Johr
Fellows, employee
Slaughter Of Capt. Gunnison and Seven @
-ue his Company.
On the 21st Oct. ult. at o'clock p. ". an
express arrived from Fillmore City, for wardeG
by president Call, bearing dispatches from
Washington city, from the Pacific railroad par
ty now in this territory, and a letter from Bre-
vet Capt. r. NJ. Morris, to Gov Young, brief
ly detailing the unexpected, and lamentable In.
dian massacre of Capt. John W. Gunnison,
and seven of his party, near the swamps of the
hevler river, and as near as we can learn, about
20 miles from the Sewer lake. This event hap
pened about O'Clock A. NJ Of the Goth October
;as the party were sitting down to breakfast
Only four escaped, leaving instruments, notes,
animals, and all the baggage, in possession OF
the lndians-Deseret Neus
Immediately upon the receipt of the above
intelligence, Gov. Young began active prepara-
tions for the recovery of the lost property, and
the proper disposal of the dead bodies, in the
sanguine. hope of being able to obtain the body
of Capt. Gunnison, with the design to forward
it to his family.
Rv half Docf p;nn o,o1oo1- ~, +bo ,,,or,;,r. ~
Ist November, d. 3. Huntington, Interpreter,
with sufficient party, number of indian pres
ents, q letter Of instructions, and letter to
Brevet Captain Morris, was on his way to the
main camp of the party, reported to be near
Fillmore City, with instructions from Governor
Young to proceed with all possible speed and
diligence, using the necessary relays, and report
himself ready to aid in carrying out the wishes
of Capt Morris
Mr.. Huntington was instructed to hire ka-
no-shc, and other friendly Pauvans on the Sc
vier, and to try all possible methods to recover
the lost property, and particularly the instru-
sncnts and notes. This was deemed far bet
ter policy to accomplish the object in view,
than to furnish additional taoops to pursue an
enemy they would probably never fnd.
Since the departure of Mr.. Huntington, Bre-
VT Captain Morris and all the party have ar
rived in the city. We learn they met Mr.. Hum
tington, of Naphi. ninety three miles south of
this city, on the I'd November, and that he pro-
cectied on from there without being accompa-
MED by any Of the government party. We
have also learned from Capt. Morris, that he
reached the camp ground, where the massacre
occurred, early on the following morning, and
returned to the main camp, leaving all the dead
bodies OH the top of the ground. The wolves
had 10 tbah hofn ho h
ed the main scene of disaster.
Lieutenant Beckwith. of the Typographical
engineers gives the following report of this
melancholy disaster:
The greatest vigilance of night guards was
maintained by Capt Gunnison when he en-
camped--each of the party in turn performing
that duty. At the break of day the whole
camp was aroused and at once engaged in the
morning duties of the camp, preparatory to an
carly start; for the party was that day to reach
its most distant point of exploration for this
season--and between day break and sun rise
the most of the men were engaged in eating
their breaksast, when, from the fatal willow
shelters, q numerous discharge of rifles and
flight of arrows crossed that devoted camp in
all directions, and the hideous war-whoop of a
large band of savages rung out on that hitherto
silent plaiu. at this fire one man only fell
mortally wounded and Capt. Gunnison step
ping from his tent, raised his hands and called
to his murderers that he was their friend but
this call was of no avail; the deadly fire still
continued. Upon the first discharge there was
a general call to arms, and few return shots
were fired the indians report one of their
band killed and another wounded, bnt the sur
prise seems to have been complete, and the APP
proach so close--twenty or toirty yards, under
perfect shelter-that it was impossible long to
maintain the little open spot on which they
had eaeamped. The most of the horses had
stampeded at the first discharge, and only three
or four men succeeded in reaching them and
mounting; the others seeking safety on foot,
land fell in or near their fatal camp.
The corporal of the escort succeeded IN es-
Gaping on his horse-and, hotly pursued, rode
him at the top of his speed to the point where
the party had separated. Here his horse failed
but the indians had given over the chase, and
he ran on foot the remainder of the distance
IA miles--to the other camp of the party, and
at IL o'clock and 80 minutes, came exhausted
into camp. barely able, by q few broken SEN
fences. to communicate the frightful intelli
gcnce. Thirty minutes subsequently,, Capt
Morris and Lieut.. Baker, accompanied Dy Mr
Potter brother of the slain, led towards the To-
tai spot the escort OF mounted rifemen --all tne
men who could be armed and mounted, accom-
panied by the surgeon, DIR. Schell, band scarce
fy larger than that already slain-with the nope
of rendering aid to the survivors, should any
remain Of furnishing the savage band, ana o
rendering the last sad duties OF humanity te
those who were known to have fallen. Anoth
or of the party had arrived on his horse, just a
thew we're leaving, and returned with Captain
1Fnyrr;s, command and two others were me,