Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-12-15
The Fate of Col. James Freaner.

The Fate of Col. James Freaner.
The mysterious disappearance of this
gentleman, son of Mr.. WILLIAM FREANER
of this town. is explained in the following
article from the Shasta Republican -
at will doubtless be remembered that
Col. Freaner. no became known through
out the United States during The Mexican
war as the CORES Pnnden! Of the New Or
leans Delta, over the signature OF "Mus-
tang" left Yreka in June, 1882, accomna-
MED By party of four, intending to exam
inc route for wagon road from that
place to the Sacramento Valley. Col.
Freaner did not reach his destination and
the conviction soon became general that
he and his party had fallen victims 10 the
savages of Cloud and Pitt Rivers. The
particular circumstances attending the mas
sacre have not until recently been brought
to light.
Not long since, "Numtarman" the chief
of the Cow Greek Indians inquired Of Mr..
George Woodman, of Cow Creek, If he
ever knew anything of party of four or
five men having been killed by the lndl-
ans more than three years since, high up
on the Pitt river, indicating the place on
the river where Freaner would be likely
10 cross, and where some papers were
found wear or more ago that had evident
ly been in his possession.
This chiefs account of the affair, as
given to him by the Pitt River Indians, is,
that party with TWO Indians had started
in canoe toseross the river, and when a.
bout half way across, the Indians leaPed
INTO the water, seized hold Of the canoe
and upsetit.. The Indians then from both
banks of the river, (lhere being a large
number on either shOre,) commenced
shooting their arrows into them, aud thus
massacreed the entire party. There Is no
doubt the party thus murdered, was that
of Col. Freaner and his men. There Is
little or no doubt but The above is cor
rect account of the sad affair, and doubt
less it will be some satisfaction to the
friends of Col. Freaner to know these par
ticulars concerning his fate
Poor FREANER He is associated with
our earliest recollectlons in life. In child
hood we went 10 the same school, sal up
on the same bench, were instructed by the
same venerable SchooI-master, who to this
day continues to teach the "young ideas
how to shoot" and often received from
the same hand the necessary application
of the classical birch rod. Afterwards we
were printer Boys" at the same time,
and had many froic together. But in
later wears, the current OF our lives dlverg-
ed into widely different channels. While
we thought there was no place like the
home of our childhood, and no people like
those in whose midst we were reared, he
babe adieu 10 both, and selected as his
dwelling places the outskirts OF civlllza-
ton. For his age, he was one of the
greatest travellers and boldest pioneers in
this country. He was among the fore
most of that fearless band of adventures
who penetrated the uaexpIored wllds OF
Texas one of the first to volunteer for
the Mexican War, and afterwards one Of
the earliest settlers in California. But he
was soon crowded out of the inhabited
portions of that State by the rapid influx
of population, and was on a tour OF discov-
cry, preparing the way for others among
dIeary, desolale and lonely places, when
he lost his life as above staled.--HagerS-
tOwn HerQId.