Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-11-18
INDIAN MASSACRE On TIE PLANS.

A Howard County (MlSSour1 paper
publishes letter from Mrs. Bette Shep
herd, who was one Of party OF emi-
grants who suffered severely from an al
tack by the Indians, while en- route for
California. /, gives a very unpleasant
picture Of an overland journey 10 the
land Of gold. The party were momeni-
arily haltjng in a canon, on the 27th of
July, when they we're suddenly fired
upon by Indians, ard their captain, Fer
guson Shepherd, killed;
+" The war-whoop was then given, fol-
lowed by slo,s from each side OF the
rocky, bushy canon, killing VIM. She
pherd, Wm. Diggs, Claborn Rain, and
wounding two men, one woman and
child. Mr.. Wright was mortally wound
/ ed he lived nine days ]. NJ. Smith,
slightly wounded through the shoulder;
Mrs. Wright was wounded, but not fa-
tally her baby's thigh was broken by
being whirled agsins, a rock by a savage
monster. After the six men aud one
woman were shot. George Avery and
James Ward fed saying that they
would be killed if they remained there
another moment. In a few moments
George Parsons and Mcclure left. The
Indians were still firing upon us, stand
ing in the road with my baby in my arms,
exposed TO the bullets that came wbirl-
ing around me.
/ looked round and ] saw Mr. She
pherd called for him ] told him
thought we had better try and make our
escape he said we'll We started; my
self. /. M. smith, Mrs. Annie Shepherds
little babe was also with US. The next
= that followed was Mr.. Shepherd. The
+ Indians shot at Us a good many times as
. we were going off. After we had gone
i a very short distance, Mrs. Annie She
S pherd, being a very delicate woman, be-
d came weak, and could proceed no further,
r so she secreted herself in some bushes
S by the way side ]. Nj. Smith, one OF
y the wounded men, had her babe; but he
d became so weak from the loss Of blood,
y that he was compelled to hide him in
, some brush. We then jnurueyed on.-
z After we had gone two aud a half miles,
@ Townsend Wright overlook US, riding
e one Of our mules he said he was IN the
Il wagon attending TO the wounded brother,
IS and he cut the mule from the wagon and
T. made his escape When be reached US,
was almost exhausted. ] walked be-
y tween ten and twelve miles, bare-headed,
is bare-armed and bare-necked, and carried
'e my baby part Of the way. However,
is we reached the camp about four o'clock
" quite exhausted.
st About night, Mrs. Annie Shepherd
r came in camp. She was almost ike an
s. insane woman. When she came in sight
We she was fired upon for an Indian but
be soon she was recognized TO be a white
be woman her baby laid ont all night (;
to five of the men went back, but did not
as get to the place Of slaughter. They re-
d, ported that they saw a good many In
% dans, and did not think it right 10 pro-
er ceed any further. Next morning we
er started on our journey again. There
ed we're about 60 wagons and 250 men
we sent "a guard on each side Of the
canon: one before and one behind the
do wagons. We tray cled on without being
". disturbed arrived at tho place where
lor the massacre wa- committed near noon
n Mr.. Wright, Mrs. Wright, her son Joe
ias aud her babe were found to be still
Did living"
he The wagons had been plundered o
zt' everything except a trunk containing
he money. and a lot Of cattle driven off,
so Tie fight lasted about ihree-ioorths o
-he an hour, thc whites fighting bragely, bu
their balls fell harmless among the rock
and brush. There were about fifty In
'he dians.