Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-01
Indian Massacre i'm oregon.


Late San Francisco papers contain some of iii
particulars of the massacre Of party of e,nipranl
by Indians in Oregon; which We abrrid6e:
On the morning OF The 22d of August last pa,
ty of eighteen men left Fort Boise for the purpos
of rescuing three ladies and number of childre
who were supposed to be in thA hands of part
of Winnass Indians, Zone Of tho small tribes q
Snake Indians who live on Boise river. who at
tackled Mr.. Alexander Wards train from Nissan
ri. on the goth of August, twenty-five miles a
bove Fort Boise, on the south side of Boise river
This party, on arriving at the place where tn,
first attack was made; found the bodies of Alex
Wafd and his eldest son Robert, Samuel Multi
gan, Chatles Adams, VIM. Babcock. and a Ger
man name unknown. Ff1m the statement of the
surviving boy, Newton Ward; it would sppea
that no eileetual resistance was offered by any o.
the party, except Or. Adams and Mugan, who
fought bravely Following the Trail, in about
three hundred yards, the body of young Anon
was found, lad of seventeen years Of ace. He
was one of the seven who came to the rescue Oh
the day of the attack and fought with great yalur
About one hundred yards further on the body of
Miss Ward was fognd, having been shot through
the head with musket ball. Hef person was
much bruised, and her hands showed sisns Of her
having fought most desperately. Within few
rods Of this spot wagon had been burnt and the
bodies of two dogs found crisped up About fifty
yards on in the brush three more wagons wefe
burnt. The trail was followed up and in about
six hundred yards the body of Mrs. White was
found The trail was followed for half a m lie
through dense ,hicket of brush and underground
when the fifth wagon was found. In about thir-
ty yards further was the river, where the body Of
Mrs. Ward and three children were found
There were still lad and five children missing.
A diligent search was made for their bodies with
out success.
From the statement of Mr.. Masterton, who is
brother Of Mrs. Ward and Mrs. White, it appears
that the booty that the Indians carried off consis-
ted Of forty-one head of cattle five horses, and a
bout s., 900 or $4,000 in money, besides guns,
pistols, SC.
The party OF seven, finding the Indians greatly
superior in number, were obliged to abandon the
pursuit William Yantis, on returning to the
scene ofthe first attack, discovered Newton Ward,
lad of about thirteen years of age, the only sur.
vvor OF The party severely wounded, and brought
him off in safety
Major Raynes commander at Fort Dallas, } i'm
mediaiely upon the reception of the news, sentout
about thirty regulars and the same number Of vol
unteers, all mounted, and under the command Of
Major Halter.
This massacre has created great excitement in
Oregon, and the acting Governor has issued a
proclamation, calling for two companies of volun
teers, of sixty men each, to arm equip, and mount
themselves, 10 chastise The savages. The two
companies were quickly raised and ready for ac-
iion.
The oregonian learns by immigrants just in
from the plains that party of five hundred lndi-
ans. well armed and mounted, had collected near
the immigrant road and proclaimed their inieG-
ton of war against all whites who might fail in
their way. We may reasonably expect 10 learn
Of some hard fighting between Major Haller's
command and these Indians.