Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-12-03
Perilous Adventures Oh the Plains.


A Young Hoosier's Erperience.-
The Lafayette Journal publishes a
lengthy letter from George Winter, OF that
city addressed to his father, from Carson
Valley OH the 20 TIA September, giving an
account Of the prlvaIions he had encoun-
rered and the imminent danger he had
escaped, while on his way over the
plains for California. We make an IN
leresling extract
was captured twice by the Digger In
dlans on the Humboldt River, and once
by the Goose Creek Indians. escaped
from them once through the interference
Of a white man. who is. LIVING among
rhem-supposed to be M"rmon-buI
was rot so lucky the last time, having re-
ccived severe cut with knife, two IN
ches long in my left breast. 1t was not
a fair blow, or would most probably have
proved fatal. TIE Indian who stabbed
me almost lost his life. drew my re-
volver and shot him in The back of the
head, and prepared To shoot him again,
but discovered other Indians neal wa,
afraid of being caught again, so ran as
fast as ! could to escape them. In re-.
treating for safety ran into the bushes
amidst another band Of Indians, who we're
in the ACT of stripping the body OF white
man who had just been killed. One
bloody devil of an Indian tore oil his scalp.
The unfortunate man be onged to our
rain, hv name Thomas Harding Of Ohio.
In my surprise and alarm, gave a most
internal veil, which brought a body Of
our men from the other side Of the creek,
which saved me from horrible fate. The
Indians were surprised, and did not seem
to know how 10 act.
But a sad and bloody strife ensued.
Our party killed five Indians on the spot,
and took twenty prisoners, eleven OF
whom e. escaped during tie night The
re maulng nine were hung on the follow
ing morning. This was done by placing
he tongues Of the wagons together and
iying a rope TO the apex. TIE Indians
were made TO stand upon a horse, the
ropes were adj Rsled around their necks,
the horse was then driven from under The
gallows, and each one was launched into
eternity. 1t was sad scene, but one of
terrible necessity for sel(.preservallon.
One Of them proved to be a white man,
evidently Mormon. He was stripped,
the iron rods from behind he EN-. gates
Of I'VE wagons were used 10 whip him IN
til he was nearly dead, they were then
hea'ed red-hot and pushed into his flesh.
Oh ! it was horrible and revolving YET
| with many others, stood and saw nm
suffer. They burned him so that al last
he did not seem TO care any more fer II
than The mere prick Of pin. Arhlst he
cursed and sw0re that his friends lhe In
dian-) would have revenge for rhls.
They then hung him, and tied the knot
in such a way as 10 prolong his sulierng'.
lie WIS then cut down and taken to the
willows. lie was watched by men Sc
GREETED in the bushes IN a short line some
indians came sneaking up. to take The
wounded man away. He seemed 10 re.
viye through something that was admins
:ered to him. lie revived sufficiently ir
relate to the Indians his suiierings. l.
their effort TO run tie wounded man of,
the party sprang up from taeir ambush
and shot The miserable man dead woun,
ded another Indian. The next night the
Indians slipped into our camp and killed
Two men ty the name Of Jefferson, from
Indiana. knew them well, they We,
brothers, and once lived in Lsfayeot
One Indian was caught aud put thrHo
the loslures the next day. p,