, 1860-11-23

tON met us, "nlCu We kllltu huu hle. Dl
mixing the beef with rosebuds and pusley
we made it last us two weeks. We made
two wigwams. Mr. Vaunarman aud fami-
ly and young man, two Of Mrs Utter's
children, Miss Trimble and her brother, and
two sous Of Mr. Utter and an infant child
OF Mrs Utter were in one wigwam; Mrs
ChaSe's family aud mine were in the other.
A few days after we camped we saw In
dians camped on Snake river some three
miles from US. They were fishing They
brought US salmon, for which we exchanged
some Of our clothing and ammunition
This was the only way we could obtain it.
At first they would come thus and exchange
us salmon every three or four days. They
called themselves ShOsbones. We found
herbs, frogs aud muscles along the river
which we gathered or caught and ate
About two or three weeks after we camped,
Mr. Chase died, probably, Os we supposed,
from Over-eating salmon. Ten days after
this Elizabeth Trimblc died from starva-
tion; four or five days afterwards, Susan
Trimble her sister, died; the next day Dan
iel Chase died, and two days after him his
brother, Albert, oil from the same cause.
The living were compelled to eat the dead
to preserve their own lives. 1t was q sub
ject Of much and anxious consultation and
even Of prayer before the eating Of the
dead was finally determined upon. This
was unanimous. The flesh
Of the dead was carefully busbanded and
sparingly eaten to make it go as far as pos
sible Thus the bodies Of four children
were disposed Of Tue body Of Mr.. Chase
was exhumed and the first meal from it
cooked and about to be eaten when relief
came. ...
The Indians had come and carried away
our guns; two from Mr.. Vannorman; one
from Mr.. Chase, and one from me They
also took Mr. Vannorman's blanket from
him, and they did il somewhat roughly -
At this time we had already traded of
some of our clothing for salmon. After
the Indians left, Mr.. Vamorman said he
was going to take his family and leave;
" For" said be, il we do not, the Indians
will come to morrow and strip and kill u.s."
lie aud bis family left our camp that day
about noon. They Travelled on to Burnt
river, as it afterwards appeared. When
the command reached there they found six
Of the bodies killed by the Indians. Four
Of the children were not found. 1t is sup
posed they are now captives among the
Indians The six bodies found were those
Of Alexis Vannorman and wife,-the latter
was sculped their son Mark, Sam'l Glea-
son, aud Charles and Henry Utter. The
last was about twelve years old, the Others
we're adults. Besides Mr.. Myers family,
consisting Of himself wife and Eve children
the oldest ten years and the youngest
Que year Uld-Mrs. Chase and daughter
aud Mss Trimble we're rescued; also, be-
tween the camps, ia a very emaciaied con
dition, Chaffey aud MunsOn-twelVe in all
About six miles before reaching our final
camp, Mr.. Mansou and Christopher Trim
ble, the latter q boy Of eleven years, were
sent forward as All express to the settle
menIs They went ou to Burnt river where
they saw Jacob and Joseph Reitb, who had
taken wrong road, and were, now getting
back to tie right Que. The Reith boys
and Chdffey aud Munson went on and sent
back Christopher Trimble to inform us Of
their having gone forward for relief Chat
fey and Munson gave out and we're after-
wards rescued After getting back, Trim
BILE volunteered and went With the Indians
TO their camp on Snake river, to stay Al
ter being with them some days he came
with them to our camp, when we traded
with them Tor salmon. While he was with
US, inquired of him how far il was to their
camp lie said about three miles ask
ed INN how far it was after crossing the
river before their trail was struck He said
OuJ short distance, and the trail was
plain. He inquired why asked hiR2 l
told him If the soldiers came to our relief
we would want to come for him. The
word soldier, which the Indians seemed to
excited their curiosity aud they
soon Ieft our camp and never returned
After waiting in vain nearly two weeks,
without seeing them, Miss Trimble went to
the river aud called loudly for her'brother,
without getting any response or seeing hlm.
The next day Mrs. Chase and Mr.. Myers
went 10 the river to 6nd the Indians aud
trade for. more salmon. They could not
lind them. The next day Mr.. Myers went
again, alone, aud fired several shots across
tue river towards their camp and hallooed
loudly, but could not obtain any answer
He concluded they had goue. On return
ing TO camp, he discovered q track where
tue wolves had dragged body. SupPos-
ing it might be that Of u deer aud that he
could thus get food, he followed the track
u short distance aud found two locks Of hu-
man hair, which resemOled Christopher
Trimble's. He took 1t TO camp aud Mss
rrmble Recognized 1t as her brothers.
When the soldiers came they were shown
this track, and pursuing it, they found the
body of rrlmbIc.
From tile first attack until relief came
was loriy-fOur or lorly i've days The saved
we're not, as has been represented, entirely
without clothes, but they were but seantuy
dressed. Mr.. Myers loss is over S2OOO.-
He Is OF course entirely destitute. Mrs.
Chase and enid and Miss Trlmble are al
Walla-wHlla.