, 1854-01-21
From the Plains.

ElOu tuC TldllS.
IIoRr!nLE MASSACRE We have rccei-
we'd accounts both via San Francisco and
tie Atlantic States, of the terrible massa-
ere Of Capt. J. w. Gunnison, corps topo-
graphical engineers, L. S. A., Messrs r.
II. Kern, Topogropher Creuzfeldt, Bo;a-
mist Potter, Guide; Blowers, Employee +;
and two privates of company A, Mounted
Rifemcn, which occurred about twenty
miles from Scyi9r Lake, Utah, on Tie Goth
of October last. Capt. Gunnison was chief
of the Central Pacific Railway Exploring
Expedition, and on the day of the fatal ca
tastrophe, was 10 have reached his most dis
tant point of exploration for the season, and
after which he would have gone into winter
quarters. But four of the party escaped.
The following extracts from the detailed ac-
count published in the San Francisco Dai-
ly News Of Dec. 23d, will afford some idea
Of the circumstances connected with the ter
riJe disaster.
"Capt. Gunnison and twelve of his party
were separated from the rest, and while at
breakfast party of Indians intending to
attack the mormon village close by, came
upon them. They fired with rifles, and
then used bows and arrows The shots
were returned by Gunnison's party, but
they were overpowered, and only four csca-
ped Gunnison was found pierced with 26
arrows and his arm torn off,
Immediately on hcreceipt OF tie above
intelligence, Gov. Young began active pre-
parations for the recovery Of the lost prop
eTty, and the proper disposal of the dead
bodies, in the sanguinc hope of being able
10 obtain the body of Capt. Gunnison, with
the design TO forward it to his family.
"The party sent out by President Young,
under the charge of Mr.. Huntington, were
met by Mr., Kincaid they informed him
that all the lost instruments, books and notes
of explanation had been recovered by them.
The Indians of Pauvan's Band, with whom
they had talk, said the massacre was for
revenge, on account of the murder Of one of
their tribe by Hildrcth's party.
"Mr Bridger, whom recent accounts, de-
rived from St. Louis papers, have SET down
as killed, is not dead. He has gone on 10
Washington. Messrs. Bell & Brother, who
carried the October mail, overlook him at
Crossword Creek, near Independence
Rock; and il is known at Salt Lake that
he got through safe.
Capt Morris and his command, who
went 10 the scene of the massacre, found the
bodies somewhat mulilated, but left without
interring them, as reported, because the
wagons had been robbed and there was no
means Of burying the dead. 1t is possible
that the situation OF the party was deemed
precarious, and they did not stay long. Mr..
Huntington reported that Captain Gunni-
sons body had been, with the rest, almost
entirely destroyed by the wolves. What
were found Of the remains, they got togeth-
er and gave decent interment.
"The Indians report one Of their band
killed and another wounded, but the sur
prise seems 10 have been complete, and the
approach so close--twenty or thirty yards,
under perfect shelter--that it was impossi-
bic long to maintain the little open spot on
which they had cncamped. The most Of
the horses had stampeded at the first dis
charge and only three or four men succeed
ed in reaching them and mounting, the 9TH
ers seeking safety on foot, and fell in or near
their fatal camp.
"a party Of Cheyennes surrounded the
mail for the States, and demanded nearly
all tho provisions, which were given up,