, 1860-11-23
From the Portland Christian Advocate. Nov. IS.
The Late Salmon Falls NasSasrs- Statement Of
M. Joseph Myers, one Of the Survivors.

MT' SOstpu MltIhi OhO VI tno OuINiNOIhs
At our request. Mr.. Joseph Myers gave
US an account of the late shockng Snake
river massacre and Of the subsequent traV-
els and rescue Of the survivors, which we
took down as follows:
There were ifty-four persons in the com
pany Col Howe sent an escort OF twenty
two dragons with our company from Port
neuf river, seven miles this side of Fort
Hall. The escort we're furnished with only
twelve days ralions and were to escort US
six days and return, which they did. We
desired Col. Howe 10 give Us an escort far
ther, but be said there would be no trouble !;
that the immigrants were In no danger il
they would keep the Indians away from
their camp and not allow them to come too
near. This seems TO US almost like irony
-ED. He said there were troops on the
roads beyond Salmon Falls. Col Howe
bad furnished an escort for the California
train; but for what distance do not know
Col. Howe was generally disliked by the
immigrants.
Aher the escort left the company, two
weeks transpired before the attack. The
attack was made between pine aud ten
o'clock A. n, on the Sth Of September
There were about one hundred Indians
most Of them on foot. They first came
around the train, whOoping and yelling,
probably to stampede the cattle. We theu
corralled aRd defended ourselves. The In
dians then desisted and madssigns Of friend
ship, signiiying that they wished something
10 eat. As many as came were fed. They
made signs to Us that we might pass on to
the river. In doing this, when we reached
an eminenee which exposed US and furnished
the Indians the covert Of sage brush, they
commenced general firing upon US with
arrows and rifles We again corralled as
soon as we could. Before We had fully
done this and got our oxen secure, three OF
our men we're shot down, viz: Lewis Law
son, William Utley, and - Kisbnnl,
German. We defended ourselves as well
as we could; the fighting continuing
through the day. During the day we saw
several OF the Indians fall Itwas believed
that twenty or more Of them were killed
the FIRST day. The Indians kept shooting
at the train through the night, mostly with
arrows; occasionally with rifles Their ran
dom shots did not do much harm, except
70 wound and irritate the cattle aud horses,
which were without grass aud water all the
day aud night. The 6ght was renewed in
the morning and continued nearly through
the entire day, as on the previous; one sf
our men, Judson Cressey, being killed
A bout nn hour before sundowR, the train
agreed TO leave four wagons aud contents
rs booty for the Indians aud start on, hop
ing this would satisfy them, and Mat while
they were rAvagiug these etbe company
night escape with The fpmainder. This
plan was attempted without success. The
lndiahs paid no attention to the deserted
prey, but swarmed about the train like
bees, attacking it with renewed activity,
The company drove on us fast rs they could
but the cattle were so ravenO0s after sage
brush that they could not be got along,
and in the meantime, the firing Of arrows
and rife balls by the Indians was actively
continued. Before we started the last time
from the corral, four young men were de-
tailed, mounted aud armed, TO 20 in the
van Of the train and open the way for the
wagons. They were discharged soldiers
from the post at Portneuf They were
we'll armed with rifles aud reVolvers, which,
with tho horses, belonged to the train. ln-'
stead Of assisting the immigrants, they im-
mediately fed. Their numes were Snyder,
Murdoch, Chambourg aud Chafey. Sny-
der, il is said, reported two as killed by
the Indians. He and Chulfey are living.
With these horsrmen two left on foot, VIZ:
Jacob and Joseph Reitb. These we're the
two men who brought word into the settle
meuts Of the condition OF the immigrants,
and jacob Reith returned with Captain
Dents command for their relief.
At about dusk we left our cattle and
wagons, as We found that we could do
nothing with the Indians. After driving
out Of the corral, my brother was shot
down by my side Tho Indian who shot
him was not more than ten rods of, in the
sage brush. ! saw him as he was drawing
upon US and shot him, bat not until he had
fatally wounded my brother l saw the
Indian roll over dead. When we were
6nplly leaving the wagons, helped Miss
Utter out Of The wagon and was setting
her down, when a rife ball passed through
my coat and tive shirts, grazed my body
aud killed her. She spoke some after be-
ing shot: said that she had got her death
blow; that she was killed, &c.
Mr. Utter made signs of surrendering 10
the Indians: proposing a treaty, and while
doing so he was killed. Mrs. Utter refused
to leave her husband, and three Of her chill
dren remained with her. Que of them, ii
boy OF Eve years. Was immediately seen to
fall, shot, upon the dead body of his father,
aud then Mrs. Utter aud the two girls were
seen to fall. Mr.. Vannorman aud his fau-
ily, Mr.. Chuse und his family, and myself
aud mine left the wagons aud cattle aud
hasIened on on foot. After we had left
our wagons the Indians fell back and we
travelled on all night until about daylight
All the provisions saved from the Wagons
was loaf OF bread, secured by Mr.. Chase
At morning we camped uuder the bank ol