The Shasta courier., 1854-10-07
Indian Outrage i'm Oregon.

Indian Outrage in Oregon.
The following letter, says the Oregonia', from
John F. Noble, resident Of Vancouver, who is
now en- route from a visit to the eastern States
overland is the first detailed account al the
Fort Boise Massacre we have been able to OBJ
tain:
On the morning of the o2d of August last,
party of lS men left Fort Boise for the purpose
of rescuing three ladies and number OF chill
dren who were supposed to be in the hands OF
"a party OF " Winuass" Indians Zone OF the small
tribes of Snake Indians who live on Boise NV
er,9 who attacked Mr.. Alex. Wards tram, from
Missouri, on the 2eth of August, about noon, -
miles above Fort Boise, Ola the south side oil
Boise river.
This party. a. arriving at the place where the
first attack was made, found the bodies OF Alex
Ward and his eldest son, Robert Samuel Alulla,
gin. Charles Adams, Wul. Babcock, and Ger
man, nanie unknown.
From the statement of the surviving boy, New
ton Ward, it would apRearth that no etfectual re-
sistance was made by any OF the party except
Dir. Adams and Mullagin, who fought brayely- !
Following the trail, III about three hundred
yards, the body of young Amen was iound,
lad of L. years OF age; ,(le was Que OF the seven
who came to tie rescue on the day of the attack.
with Wm santis.1 This young man fought
with great vaor, pursuing the Indians TO The
bushes, where he was killed. About oae hun
dred yards further on, the body Of Miss Ward
was fourd having been shot through the head
with musket ball. Her person much
bruised her hands showing signs OF her having
fought desperately, to resist the fe,.diM attacks
of these savages upon her youthful persou. The
marks Of teeth were plaiply Implanted upm her
left cheek, dot piece of iron had been thrust
into her person, doubtless while alive, to punish
her for her resistance, and their being unable to
accomplish their hellish end upon one young.
Within few rods of this spot a wagon had
been burned, and the bodies Of two dogs found
crisped up.
About fifty yards on, in the brush, three more
wagons were burned. The trail was followed
up, and in about six hundred yards the body of
Mrs. White, (the wife of VIM. White, who lives
in Looking Glass Prairie, Umpqua Valley.) was
found stripped of her clothing and scalped. Her
head was beaten in by clubs, and also musket
ball had passed through her head Her person
showed signS of the most brutal violence.
The trail was followed from her, and in about
half mile, through dense brush and under
growth the fifth wagon was found, having been
run uto deep ravine and left.
In about thirty yards further we came to the
river, upon the North bank of which was dis
covered where they were encamped--A con-
sisted of sixteen lodges made OF willow bushes.
Here the body of Mrs. Ward and three children
were found.
Mrs Ward was lying in the .encamprnent in
front of the fire. her person having been robbed
of all its covering. and her body much cut and
SCARED by british bruises. Her face bad deep!
wound inflicted by tomahawk, which probably
caused her death
The children were lying upon the fire in front
of her, having evidently been burned nlice, as
portion of the hair still remained upon their
heads, showing that they had been held by the
L.,r .,f IN I,a,1 until huruad tn death m front
of their mother, and she doubtless compelled to
witness this, whilst they had their war dance.
and they violated her person. She was soon to
be mother, which rendered the sight still
more shocking. Several parts of limbs were
picked up some distance from the fire, having
been dragged away by the wolves or the Indian
dogs, for several had been left in the camp by
them.
Having scarce any implements, the bodies
were inferred in the best possible manner under
the circumstances.
There were still a lad and three children
missing a dilgent search was made for their
bodies without success. From the statements
of the surviving boy, it was known that this lad
was wounded and ran to the bushes and has
probably since died: and it is more than possi-
BILE that the three children are still captives, or
reserved for some future barbarous ceremony.
From the statement of Mr. Masterson, who is
a brother of Mrs. Ward aud Mrs. White it ap-
pears that the booty that the Indians carried off
consisted Of forty-one head of cattle, five horses.
and about 81 600 or $4,000 in money, besides
guns, pistols, &c
The party of seven, finding the Indians great
ly superior in number, obliged to abandon
the pursuit. Vm. Yantis, on returning 10 the
scene of the first attack, discovered Newton
Ward, "a lad about l3 years OF age, and the only
survivor of the party, and brought him off in
safety. He was the only survivor OF the party.
JOHN F. NOBLE.
F. S. "Tababoo is the name OF the gnide that
accompanied this party of eighteen back on the
23d August. }. F. N.
The Indignation in respect to the inactivity OF
the authorities seems to be very general. The
following are the names and former places OF
residence of the murdered:
Alexander Ward, wife and seven children,
Samuel Mulagin and Mr.. Babcock, Qawyer,)
from Lexington, Missouri.
Dr. Adams and brother. from Michigan.
Mrs White and child, from Missouri. The
husband of Mrs. White is supposed to live in
Umpqua county.
Mr. Anon from Missouri.
Two Germans and Frenchman-names un.
known.
How 1T is BE DoNE.-The Grass Valley