The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-05-01
Indian Massacre on the Overland Route.
From the Rocky Mountain News April g.

We pre under obligations to Hon. Gordon
N. Mott, Federal Judge, and newly elected
delegate to Congress from Nevada Territory,
for the particulars Of horrible Indian nlassa-
ere and remarkable escape on the route west Of
Salt Lake. Judge Mott left Carson City On
the coach that arrived here on Tuesday evening
last, and was the only passenger to Reese r.ver,
where an old gentleman, named LeyertsoE, and
his two Sons, aged respectively twelve
and fourteen years, got in, bound for thor homes
in Iowa. On Sunday the 22d ut, when APP
preaching a station eight miles west of Deep
creek, which is one hundred and sixty miles BE-
yond Salt Lake City, it was discovered that the
house was filled and surrounded by Indians
The driver whose name was Hank Harper for
merly of this city, we believe, reined his team
in towards its usual stopping place until quite
near, when something seemed to have excited
his suspicion, and he turned hnck into the road,
at the same time giving his horses the whip, and
starting them in keen run.
At the same moment the Indians opened fire
upon the coach, discharsing some six or eight
ritie-sho and aperect shower Of arrows Judge
Mott and the two boys were at the time in the
coach, with the curtains close buttoned down.
neither of the three were hurt. The other
passenger was on the box beside the driver
After going about half q mile, the driver called
to Judge Mott to come to his assistance, which
he did, opening the curtains and climbing around
on the box. There a horrible sight met his
view Tho passenger was shot through the
head. and had fallen down into the boot, while
blood and brains were bespattered over the
front part of the coach, The driver was shot
through the body in the region of the heart,
but still manfully retained his post and perform
ed his duty. Judge Mott took the reins and
assis ted the driver down into the boot under the
seat, where he continued to assist and advise
the management the team until he died, which
was less than half an hour.
The race now became one of life and death
The Indians were in pursuit, some afoot md
some on horseback, firing as long and as fai MS
they had any hope of hitting the coach, butthe
team was good ono and seemed to appreciate
the emergency of the OCCASION, and at the end
of half dozen miles the impromptu driver
had the satisfaction of seeing the last one Jade
from sight in the distance. At the end of
eight miles is Deep Greek Station but when
it came in sight new alarm presented itelf
herd of animals were or the plain near by,
which the Judge took to be Indian ponies, and
naturally enough supposed that their ownershad
possession of and were lying in wait at the
station also. ffe sobered his team down b a
walk and studied what best to do. Finally he
determined to cut three of the horses out Of the
traces, pat the boys on two oil them anil n<unt
the third himself, when be was satisfied that
they could Uutrun any Indians.
Having got all in readiness, opened his knife
and communicated h,s plan 10 the boys, he bid
them to halloo as loud as they could--the Judge
was suffering with hoarseness and unable 20
speak above his breath thinking thereby TO
mako the occupants Of the house, whoe yer hey
might be, show themselves Tho gase was sue
cesstul and the result gratifying, "a dtzen
white men made their appearance, and the each
was driven up and delivered into their are.
The driver was found to to dead but the
other man Tag FIJI alive up 70 toe time Juye
Mott la;', pAlch wGs nsarly twentv tuu- hta-s