The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-03-13
SHOCKING MURDERS.


On Thursday morning last our community
was thrown into a state Off intense excitement,
occasioned by report hat William d. Shaw
and Archibald e. Green, citizens Of this place,
who left this vicinity for the buffalo regions on
hunting expedition, some time during The month
OF November last, had been murdered by COM
pany of Usage Indians. Our citizens were OBJ
served assembled together in various squads
discussing the details Of the heart sickening al.
fail, and it was in one of these collections that
we obtained an interview with Mr. Nicholas
Hitchcock the bearer of the unpleasant tdings.
from whom we CLEANED the following spartcu.
lars:
Several hunting companies, consisting on an
avera, OF about six men TO each company,
were encamped on the buffalo grounds, about
one Kindred miles southwest of Eldorado, and
sixty miles west of the Arkansas river where
they had been for some time hunting wolves
These companies were quartered at different
points, the distance between each point being
about six miles. Several of these companies
were from Coffee county.
On Friday, January, 4th, band Of about
thirty Usage Indians approached one of the
companies of which Mr.. Hitchcock was mem
Der, and professed warm friendship for the hun
ters, which feeling the latter recprocated, ad :
hitting the red skins within their circle, and
accepting their proffered hands. Presently
each man was seizeb and held by two Indians,
while others robbed their arms and every thing
else of value on their pei sons. The Indians
then seized all the company's provisions blank
cts and peltries, and afterwards threatened TO
shoot the hunters but this plan was thwarted
through the efforts OF the chief.
Other companies were visited by these same
Indians and subjected to treatment similar to
that experienced by Mr.. Hitohcock's company
The Indians stripped them OF every thing
horses, ponies, wagons camp equipments, pro
visions, arms, ammunition, &C., leaving them
on the plains, seventy miles from the nearest
settlement, (Mosely's Ranche.) As fast as
these robberies were completed the hunters
Immediately set out for Mosely's Rancho and
many OF them accomplished the journey with
out partaking of any food or having any extra
covering for their persons while resting at
night, and all had to travel on foot. Some
were fortunate enough to be in possession of
some 'jerked,' buffalo meat which the Innians
had failed to secure.
On Tuesday, January, 9Th, the camp in
WEIGH were William d. Shaw, Archibald f.
Green, Augustine Holland, Austin Higley, Isaac
Yingling, and Andrew Franklin, jr.,-all of
this neighborhood- was is,ed by the Indians.
Their numbers had been augmented, the band
now comprising abont one hundred blood
thirsty redskins They seized the company's
provisions and stores and attempted to drive
off their ponies and horses Mr.. Shaw followed
them and tried to rescue bis pony which was
great hvorite of bis. He was fired upon by
the Indians and shot u the breast. lie shout
ed to Mr.. Green to bring him some water, and
as Mr.. Green was endeavoring to comply with
the request and had stopped over to admins
ter the water to his wounded FRIEND he too, ,
was shot MIR. Shaw partially arose and level
ed his revolver on the Indians and scattered
five shots among them some of which done
good work-killing it is believed some of the
band.
During the affray the rest Of them ran and
effected an escape, AS Mr.. Higley was depart.
ing he halted and gave the Indians parting
salute, which they will doubtless remember
for some time, He drew hia rifle on the
chief and fired, and he had the satisfaction of
seeing his mark bite the dust. The Indians
did not see proper to pursue the fleeing hunters,
They continued their flight until they reach
ed Mr.. Orson Peck's camp--six miles distant
Providentally, this camp had not been found
by the Indians. On the following morning
they all started for Mosely's rancho.
In the course of their journey they passed
by the scene of the late murders. A shocking
sight was there presented to their gaze. In
one place they found the body Of Shaw, his
head lying several feet distant which had been
severed from his body and scaped. Scattered
about the place, where the fire had been made,
were several bones, which the wanderers sup
posed to have been those of Mr.. Green.
For several days struggling bands ofcom-
panies from the hunting grounds which had
been robbed were pouring into Mosely's rancho.
Some sixty or seventy hunters soon collected
there, After day or two's recuberation,
most OF those from this county and some from
counties north of here, set out for home
They started for home, but had only accom-.
pished part of their journey when they were
compelled to halt and quarter themselves in
some OF the settlements on accouCt OF the snow.
Mr.. Hitchcock, however, pushed on alone, and
reached here on Wednesday evening last. Last
evening his companions arrived in town, and
they confirm MIR. Hitchcock's statements as
given above.
Up to the time of the departure Of our ci,i-
zens from Mosely's rancho, there were about
dozen hunters missing, 1t is feared thew
have met with foul play.
Messers Shaw and Green were unmarried
men, without any relatives in the Territory.
They both possessed considerable pronertv
and held respectable positions in society. Mr..