The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-15
Indian Deprsdahons on the Piains.-Massacre
Of one Mail Party. and Apprehsnsions for
the Safety Of Another.

the Safety Of Another
Intelligence of most painful character
has Just reached US, which has thrown
our community into more than usual ex-
citement. Messengers reached here yes-
terday, confirming previous rumors of an
attack by the Indians upon Santa Fe
mail train, and the murder of at least two
persons accompanying it! Mr. Patterson,
from Walnut Creek, "a reliable gentleman
brought US the first intelligence, and Mr.
Cole, of this county-who was with the
train when attacked-arrived few hours
later with fuller details. From these gen.
tlemen we gather the following facts
Some weeks ago the desperate Canaan
che Chief, Buffalo Hump, with some of
his braves, appeared among the Kiowas,
and was observed TO be in frequent con-
sultation with them. The Kiowas have
been dissatisfied and threatening toward
the whites during all the summer, and it
was supposed that the mission of Buffalo
Hump was to stir up their anger to vio-
lence. No overt act Of hostility occurred,
however, until the Goth ult., when a
squabble took place at Rickman's Ranch,
between some Kiowas and whites, about a
horse swap, resulting in a skirmish and
the death of an Indian. The other In
dians went off swearing vengeance, and
soon collected a war party.
Three days after, (on the 23d of Sep
tember,) a mail train going out-the one
which left here on Monday, the 10Th of
September-was surrounded by band of
Kiowa warriors, near the crossing of Paw
nee Fork, some 25 miles beyond Cow
Creek, and about 250 miles from West
port. The Indians demanded "toll," and
the Conductor dealt out to them sugar,
coffee, and portion of such other articles
as he had, but without satisfying them.
They took all that was given them, and
then, raising a whoop, they fired into the
stage, perfectly riddling it with bullets
and arrows, instantly killing the two
Smiths - driver and conductor - and
wounding the only other occupant, Mr..
Cole. The Smiths were killed before
they had a chance to fire-but Cole leap
ed from the stage when wounded, fred
his pistol, saw an Indian fall and the 9TH
ers gather around him, and in the confu-
sion that ensued escaped some distance
and hid in the grass. The Indians find.
ing their companion dead, mounted theil
horses and proceeded in search of theil
missing enemy. One of the horseme1
passed within few feet of where Cole
lay, but failed to discover him. He saw
them return to the scene of conflict, abuse
the bodies of his fellow friends, striI
them of their clothing, and rip open and
scatter the contents of the newspape
mail. bag. Fortunately they missed thu
letter mailbag, which was afterwards re
covered and taken to Rickman's Ranch.
When the mail train arrived at Rick
mans Ranch, and the conductor heard 0
the killing of the Indian some days be
fore, and the exasperated feeling of th'
tribe, he engaged an escort, which accom-
panied the mail some twenty odd miles
\ and then returned-supposing they hat
passed beyond danger. But it seems tina
the Indians had kept along in sight, anc
waited for chance of attack, for the es
cort had not departed more than an hou
and half when the mail coach was sur
| IOunQeQ duu Tue IneU uuTueTeu.
Cole lay all night concealed in tn
grass, and next morning wandered !abou
until he came up to camp of Pike
Peakers, from whom he received an es
cort to trading post, and from ther
proceeded homeward. He passed throug
here-some hours since, on his way to hi
family in Independence.
The Santa Fe mail train that was du
here on Tuesday last, has not yet arrived
and no intelligence of its whereabouts
1t is believed by Mr.. Cole and Others tn;
it has shared the same fate of the ou
going train. 1t is feared that the Indian
knowing it to be about due, proceeded O
to intercept and attack it. This appr,
hension carries poignant grief to many I
; our citizens, as it is known that sever
passengers were to have come out wit
that train. From letters received here
is thought that Judge Watts, with his sc
and sons wife, and Mr.. Crenshaw, of Ii
dependence, were passengers with tn
! train. 1t may be that they were we
: armed and in the neighborhood of son
: government troops who are reported to
on the road, in transit from Fort Union
Fort Riley, which may be their prote
ton. At least we will hope for the be
until we hear the worst.-Border Star.