Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-07-13


| l01a O'Clock a. m.
CoOgre GatiOMal Church.. Rev M. TING
ley, Pastor, at 1917 a. M. and "a p. m.
HORRIBLE ArFAIRl-Two OF our CIrI.
zESs MURDERED BY INDlANs.-On Wednes-
day morning our city was thrown into tho
widest state Of excitement by the report
that two of our citizens had been muir.
dercd by Indians on the day previous
On Tuesday morning, THOMAS ROBERTS
and HENRY CoRDUA left Sioux City to
plough patch Of potatoes within three
miles of the city. Not returning in the
evening, fears arose that some accident
had bsfallen them, aud at about IL o clock
at night several of our citizens started to
ascertain the cause Of their non appear.
ance. Upon arriving at the place where
the men had been at work, they found
their wagon overturned, tho harness lying
upon the ground, and the horses gone
Being satisfied it was the work of Indians,
they dispatched one of their number to
Sioux City with the news, while the re.
nainder took the trail of the Indians and
started in pursuit. immediately upon the
arrival Of the messenger in Sioux City,
Capt. TRIP, with about twenty Of his
mounted rihemen, started for the spot,
and after short search, found tho dead
bodies Of Messrs. RoBERrs aud CoRpUA
witbing = short distance of the place
where they had been working. Nappears
that the murdered men had quit work
about noon to eat dinner and feed their
horses. After .ieiug their horses to the
wagon and feeding them they repaired to
| a small stream in a Iavine close at hand,
to procure some water. Upon returning,
and when within a short distance Of tn.
ploughed ground they were fired upon by
some Indians in ambush. Mr.. RoBERTs
was shot in the back, the ball coming out
Of his breast, and lodging in his right
hand, which was resting upon his breast
with the thumb in the arm hole of hi.
vest-from which it is evident that he was
entirely unconscious Of danger when the
shot was fired. From his appearance
when found, it was apparent tn c. the shot
produced instant death, As there were
no indications that he had moved limb
after falling. The pail with which he had
! procured the water, remained in his hand
with about quart OF water in it, and his
thumb in the arm hole Of his vest The
gun must have been within few feet of
| his body when fired. as his clothing and
flesh were badly burned by the powder,
and the gun wadding was sticking in the
wound The ball fired at Mr.. CoRDUA
took effect in his left side, and came out
of his right breast Although passing
through the most vital part of the bod it did
not produce instant death, as it was evident
that the unfortunate man had struggled
considerably after falling.
The bodies of the murdered men were
Immediately brongh. to Sioux City, and
deposited in Casady's Hall, from which
they were buried--Mr RonERTs on
| Wednesday evening, and Hr. CoRDUA on
Thursday morning. They were followed
to the grave by large concourse of our
| citizens
Mr. RoBERTs leaves wife and three
children Mr.. CoRDUA wife and two or
three children.
This terrible affair cast deep gloom
over our city. Both the murdered mel
were among our most highly respected
and useful citizens, and tho news Of their
untmely death created feeling of inten
sest sorrow, mingled with cool determ.
nationon the part of their ncighbors aud
friends to avenge them.
Capt TRIP and his men followed the
trail Of the Indians some SO miles, when,
owing to their having left in great haste,
without taking time to prepare rstions.
they were compelled from exhaustion to
abandon the chase and return home. Capt
MoRToN, with adetachment Of mounted
Rangers, being provided with provisions
continued the pursuit, but as we 60 to
press we learn that he has returned to
Melbourne without having succeeded in
overtaking the Indians. We are also in.
formed that another detachment Of Capt.
TRlrP's company are making arrange
ments TO start IN pursuit Of the Indians,
aud that they will not return until they
will have chastised the Indians, or e1-
hausted all hope Of finding them. Osr
prayer is that they may succeed. ROBERTS
and CoRDUA must be avenged.
Tho steamer Florence, from st. Louis,
arrived here on Sunday morning last, with
large amount OF freight for our mer-
chants. We believe she encountered no
trouble in passing the secession towns in
| Missouri.