The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-12

Msrdss Of RstuTsi.g Pks's Peak Enigrslu BY
CaDarshs In6isls-DsfbsTikn and Highway
Rsbbsyy-U 0 Nail Aiiaoksd-
SANTA TE ROAD, 80 miles west of

| cANrA II ROAD, 80 miles west of
Pawnse Fork, Oct. 4. 1859.
| Mr.. BBowE IL deem it my duty, hav-
ling been requested to do so by my trav-
cling companions, to report the horrible
state of affairs that now exists on the plains,
particularly on this portion of the Santa
Fe road, all along the Arkansas river. The
following is from my own personal OBJ
servation:
About the 11th of September last, in
company with several others, I started
from the head of Cherry creek gold re-
gion) to return to the States. When we
got as far as Fountain City, on the Arkan-
sss river, our train consisted of six wagons,
and on arriving at Bent's Fort, on the
21st, the number increased to eight, ac-
companied by nineteen persons, whose
names were, as near as 1 could learn, as
follows: W. T. Barnes, NJ. L. Barnes,
Rockwell, Caufman Co., Texas John
Truitt, Carrolton, Green Co., Ill. +; Roland
Boyd, Carrolton, Carroll Co., Arkansas !;
Adam Hewitt and Harrison Berry, Leav-
enworth City. K. t.; Geo. c. King, Man
chester, St. Louis Co., Mo-; Thos. J.
Wise, Thos. j. Wise, Jr., and Charles
Wise, St. Louis, Mo-; VIM. l. Massie,
Palmyra, Mo-; Daniel Shepard, Miles
Martin and John ]. Black, Neosho Falls,
Woodson Co., K. t.; Mr.. Stanschwits, ].
Haase and wife, (Germans,) from Buffalo,
N. Y; Jas. Gilchriest, and myself, ITO
creek, Shawnee Co., Z. T., formerly of
Louisville, Ky.
Having travelled together unmolested
for some forty or fifty miles, we consider
ed it advisable to lay up for day or two,
III order to recruit our cattle, as many of
them were foot sore, to make preparations
for a journey of about $50 miles, over a
region of country entirely destitute of
timber, by taking in a necessary supply
of wood for cooking, and to organize our
selves as company, by electing a con-
ductor or captain, whose duty it would be
to select suitable camping places and reg
ulate the mode of travelling &c, to which
Office W. 7. Barnes was elected.
The latter arrangements not being sat-
lisfactory to our Buffalo friends, they
thought proper to go on in advance of
the main train, remarking as they left that
they did not apprehend any danger from
the Indians. On the second morning af-
terwards, we resumed our journey, and as
it was customary, particularly in coming
into the Buffalo range, one of our party,
M. L. Barnes, on the third evening, sep
arated short distance from the train, on
mule back, to kill game, and about sun
down we arrived at and camped about
half mile below where the Santa Fe
road crosses the Arkansas river. While
engaged in making the necessary prepara-
tions for camping, we observed riding
hurriedly down towards us some four or
five Indians, the movements of whom we
paid but little attention to, as We sup
posed them to DO the same Camanche In
dians whom we met with on the road
during the day. and who seemed to ex-
hibit an unusual degree of friendship
towards US. However, the report of a
gun was distinctly heard from that quar-
ter, and Immediately succeeded by loud
cry, as by some person in distress, when
some Of our company, fearing all was not
right, and knowing that Mr.. Barnes was
still absent, rushed up to see what was
the matter, when the Indians decamped
and on arriving at the place, they found
the dead body of our friend, II. L. Barnes
horribly mutilated, with one lance wound
; in his back, four arrow wounds about his
abdomen and left breast, and one gun
shot wound, the ball entering the side
and passing through, lodged inside the
skin on the opposite side, and scalped
the Indians taking from him the mule on
which he rode, rife and revolver, and
about 800 in money.
All this took place not more than foul
or FIVE hundred yards from our camp
You may well imagine the state of oul
feelings on this occasion, and particularly
that of his own brother, who was present
and one of the company. The deceased
was of a gay and generous disposi ton
and had the good will and esteem of all
his travelling companions, some of whom
proposed to follow up the murderers and
have blood for blood. But moments
reflection dictated to us that prudence
was the better part of valor. Very well
aware that our company was weak, and
entirely ignorant Of the strength of the
enemy at this place, we considered it more
advisable to prepare against general at
tack. We formed q corrall by claiming
our wagons together in close proximity
in circular manner, and secured our cat.
tie around outside, keeping one-half ol
our company on guard at time. You
, may well imagine the amount of sleeE
we enjoyed during the night, as we every
moment expected general attack. Hap
PLY, however, the mornings sun made
its appearance, and we still found our
selves in the land Of the living, when w
started again, and about 10 o'clock we
recognized, standing about q hundred
yards from the road, :he wagon belonging
, to the three Germans who had deserted
our train, and on examination we found
, the dead bodies of Stanschwits, Haass and
wife, lying near the wagon, evidently
murdered and scalped. and stripped Of
II Al