The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-08
HORRIBLE INDIAN MASSACRE OF
OREGON EMIGRANTS.
Mothers eating the dead bodies of their Husbands
and Children
FORT WALLA WALLA, }
Washington Territory, Nov 8, 1860. {

NaSnlngtOn Territory, NOV o, IoOU. J
The command of Captain Dent United States
Army, has just reached this point from the scene
OF the late Indian massacre, near Fort Boise,
bringing with him twelve men, women and chill
dren, who have been rescued from this massacre,
which has been one of the saddest which has ever
occurred on the emigrant route.
These wretched creatures were found almost ma
ked, and eating the dead bodies of those that had
been massacred, and eating the head of a man that
had been buried ten days The party numbered
forty -four souls, out OF which twenty-niue were
massacred and fifteen saved They had moved
from Wisconsin up to Fort Hall where they re-
celVed an escort of dragons, who guarded them to
near Samson Falls, or Snake River, when the
dragons turned back, they were left alone for
three hundred miles, when they expected to reach
Walla Wala, W. L. Near Fort Boise they were
attacked by from one hundred and fifty to two
hundred Snake Indians. They fought for two
days, when finding their men falling, they abandon
ed every thing and fled for their lives. The next
day they by the smoke that their train had
been destroyed They moved on for several miles
on foot the mothers, many of them carrying their
infants at their breasts, until they to small
creek lined with berries, where they remained
for five weeks, until the troops found them. Two
men had made their escape and gave the informa-
tion, upon which Col Wright ordered out troops
to their relief.
The troops moved rapidly, and when they came
up with the emerants it is said the heart of every
soldier moved at the sadest spectacle that hu-
manity ever witnessed. The poor people, men,
women and children bowed themselves to the sandy
desert, where they found, and offered up a
solemn and ferven prayer to God at their most mi
raculous escape, and with one feeling the soldiers
swore vengence against the savaSes who have
duced this band Of emigrants to this condition.
But the most horrible sight was yet to be wit
messed. They were without food or clothing, and
had made shelter for themselves out Of willow and
grass and the infants that had been left after their
mothers had been massacred were eaten most
enousy, and one lady ate two of her own children
that had died of starvation, and afterwards dug up
her own husband, and the troops found his head
roasting upon the fire when they reached them.
They said it was not until starvation drove them
to it that they could allow themselves to be thus
reduced to live upon human flesh, and that, too, in
putrid state. The women had been ravished by
the hesh savages, ard their naked dead bodies
bore all he marks of horrible brutality. When
will our government take some action to guard and
protect our emigrant roads to the Pacific coast?
rumor has also reached here that the Flathead
Indians in the Bitter Root Valley had risen, and
were giving great trouble at Fort Owen. Every
thing has been done by Colonel Wright, the COM
mander of this department., that humane and no
BILE commander could do and much credit is due
the officers and troops under Captain Dent, for
their efficient aid and kindness to these emigrants.