Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-25
Great Excitement in San Anto-
mia, Texas..Desperate Fight
with Robbers.

Great Excitement in San AnfO.
mia, Texas..Desperate F1ghl
with Robbers.
The San Antonio (Texas) papers of tn
3Oth instant, are filed with the most excit
ing accounts of a recent desperate e%ncountel
with a band Rufians in that city, during
which five persons were killed and one
wounded. On the night of the 29th, il
seems a horrible murder was committed
but a few miles below the town. The wife
of one Mr.. CARA was killed in her own
house by ONE seven or eight .assasslns,
and the house then robbed of money and
valuables. A reward of $500 was offered
next morning for the apprehension of the
murderers, and Sheriff Henry, with a posse,
fastened TO the place of the bloody scene.
The 7sran, of the 3Oth ult., adds:
About twelve o'clock a gang of some
dozen desperadoes had collected in the city
on the west side of the river, many of them
in a darkened room, as a resort for the mo-
ment. Here the shooting commenced be-
tween the ~desperadocs, and some three or
four citizens. Fielstrop killed one of the
desperadoes, and was shot through the
head by another. u
At this awful juncture, Jim Taylor, than
whom a drawer man never lived, gave or
ders to som three of his comrades to fol-
low him-and at the same moment he
broke through the window into the dark
ened room. AS he entered, Bill Hart, a
notorious character, shot him through the
breast, and at the same time a gun was
pointed at Bill Hart by another person,
when Taylor exclaimed, .he slot me, let
me shoot him." and fired. Both fell
Citizens commenced rushing in well armed.
as well as many of the d~esparadoes, and
the shooting became general. The gang
of rowdies broke from the room by a back
door; many of them who came up after
the melee commenced, Immediately fled
finding that they were coming to close
quarters. -8 M
By this time, atleast some three hundred
citizens had collected, all well armed-for
it was well known that this gang of row-
dies could have at their camm: nd seventy
five or one hundred men within fifteen
minutes. Many of them came in sight,
but very wisely withdrew.
Five persons were killed, two citizens
and three o the desperadoes. Taylor may
recover. ~ @
At this stage of affairs, the city authori-
ties commanded the multitude to disperse,
and they Immediately obeycd the command.
Indian HOstilitics on the Plains.
The St. Louis Republican of June the
10th, has a letter from Fort Riley, contain.
ing the information that an emigrant. train
had been attacked and destroyed by the
Cheyenne Indians, about eighty miles
West of that post. -Four men were killed,
three of whom were named s. d. Weaver,
M. Lewis and Sam. Smith. The wounded
are ]. Houston, J. Smith, and a woman
name unknown. One of the survivors of
the party, Mr.. A. P. Weaver, makes the
following statement:
About eighty miles from the Post on the
Republican fork of Kansas river, my party
had just left camp on the morning of Satur-
day, the Oh of June, 1857, about 9
o'clock A. M. About $50 Indians mount
ed, cha ged on our train and surrounded
it; they commenced firing on our men;
they killed four men of our party. After
their guns were discharged, the Indians re-
tired to a creek close by and continued
their fire until we left the wagons. Before
we had got out of sight they had emptied
the wagons; a part of them pursued u.s.
Our party consisted of ten men, eight wo-
men and ten children. l left the party
coming down in this direction with two
men and woman wounded, all on foot
and out of provisions. One of the four
men killed was en~dearoring to escape, but
was ~overtaken, and tie last that was seen
of him the Indians were dragging him by
a .lariat."
Two companies of Infantry had left the
Fort to bring in the survivors. As the In
dams were well mounted, there was no
thought of pursuing them.
The Republican regards this as the COM
mencement of the Cheyenne war. The
Cheyennes it says are amongst the boldest
and most warlike Indians on our Western
prairies, and if once fairly aroused, will be
difficult to subdue. They number about
one thousand warriors, and will doubtless
be joined by many of the young Sioux
braves, with whom they are closely con-
nected. 1t adds:
1t may be recollected that Col. Sumner
left Fort Leavenworth some three or four
weeks ago, with six companies of cavalry
and two companies of Infantry, for the
purpose of making war upon the Chey-
ennes. He divided his force, sending one
up the Arkansas, under command
Of Major Sedgwick, and leading the other
himself up the Platte. 1t would appear
the Indians have slipped down be-
tween these two columns, and commenced
numbering and robbing in the rear.