Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-04-07
Particulars Of The death Of Gel. stem.


In letter to the New Orleans Delta We
have all the particulars Of the murder Of Col
JESSE SrEx, by the Waco or Warbita Indian.
Il makes the heart siok to read Of the afro
city Of the deed, and we pray Heaven the
murderers mar be ferretted out and receive
the bene6: of the gallows: iSandasky Reg
istsr.
Correspondence OF the True Dets-)
FoRr BrLKSAr. (TKxAs) Feb, is. 1854.
On Sunday, the 18th February last q
most barbarus murder was committed on
the Fort Worth road, within FIVE miles
Of Fort Belknap, by one the bands Of Indi-
ans inhabiing the Wichita mountains The
perpetrators are supposed to be the Wichita
or Waco Indians; they have been roaming
over this part Of Texas, more or less, during
most Of the winter, stealing horses and driving
off cattle.
In September last. Mr. JKssK STEM, the
.ex Indian Agent. for the Indians in this part
Of Texas. left this place. accompanied by bis
family to visit his relatives and friends 10
Ohio He reached his home in safety and
: health, and after n short sojourn there iu
company with several others. returned 10
this couRry. Al Shreveport, in Texas, the
company seperated. those having the charge
Of seule wagons psrsued their journey and
reached this place in safety. MIR. Stem aud
Leppelman remained behind to attend to
; some business. excepting to ovcrtake the wag'
ens before they would reach Belknap. They
!, were delayed beyond their expectation. On
leaving Shreveport they employed two
horse wagen and driver TO bring on some
articles purchased. They travelled in compa-
pany, without accident, until Sunday the 9th
e instant, and within fourteen miles Of Belknap
J. when some p,rt of the hired wagon broke
which il was necessary to repair before the
journey could be completed.
Leaving the broken wagon in charge o
the driver, Messrs. Stem and Leppelmar
: pursued their journey, expecting to reach th'
s Fort by sundown. On Monday morning. be
: fore daylight, the driver started on horseback
with the broken part Of the wagon, 10 th
1place for the purpose Of having it repaired
About daylight, the horse the driver wa
,.riding shye1 around something BY tn,
r roadside which las he says) he supposed t.
}. be two persons asleep, in their shirt sleeves
and aot wishing to disturb them or be dis
tured, he was glad TO pass on uamoles,ed
He reached ihe Fort, aud inquired for Nessrs
Stem and Leppelman, but could hear moth
ing Of them. He then related :he occurrenc,
Of the previous day. and suspicion began t.
be manifested Preparations were made t
;. start out on the Fort Worth road, with
: view Of obtaining, il possible, some informa
N ton in regard to the two expected gentlemen
'e when aperson road, into Bclknap, and report
ed that IN hunting for cattle he djscOYere
two dead bodies BY the roadside: and with
out alightng from his horse, rode into lh
For, and gave the sad intelligence.
IN Major Merrill, commanding the garrison
Il sent out wagon. accompanied by numbe
,c Of his command, and caused the dead bodle
rs to be brought into the Fort. The skull {
Mr.. Stem was broken, the jawbone broker
and wound on the side with sharp instrr
ment. Mr.. Leppelmans skull WAS broke
and shatiere d, and one Of his ms also brt
ken.
of Near the bodies was found IN old rife. Il
d, stock all shattered to pieces. and the barr
Of very much bent A pair Of moccasins an
Of bow covering were also found near the sN
e. the same as used by the Wichita's an
" Waco's. The bodies we're inferred on Tue
Is. day, 18th February, in the burial ground a
es tsched to the post Nothing,it appears. vi
ia taken from she bodies. after the preparation
y. of the deed, except the two coats and ha,
OF Their watches brest-pins and money wei
fy left apparently untouched. The two null
ia attached 20 the carriage, and horse The
or had with them, were taken by the Indian
ly D. w. E.