Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-25
The Indian Troubles.
The SaFages EmbOldened by
Their Success.
Destruction Of Property and Life---The
Citizens Arming for Defence.
Massacre near Beaver Creek.

A correspondent of the n. Y. Times thus
writes from Fort Rile, Kansas.
Citizens who have just arrived at this
most from the counties northwest of us,
bring intelligence ofan alarming charac-
ter. The Indians have destroyed the three
best ranches on the Platte Route, East of
Fort Kearney. By this movement they
have penetrated the settlements further
than before. These ranches we're situated
uron the road from the Little Blue River
in Washington county, Kansas, to some
point northwest in Nebraska. All three
Of the ranch buildings have been burned,
and the stock run Of 1t is believed that
the Inhabitants were killed as bones be-
lieved to be human, were found partly
calcined among the ruins.
The settlers throughout that country are,
of course, greatly alarmed. Ali along the
Republican, and from the counties o1
Washington and Clay, they have aban-
doned their farms, end are now congrega-
ted at Clay Center, point thirty-tve miles
north Of here on the Republican River
| They are entirely unarmed, though organ
| lied under the State law as militia. Gen.
! Blunt has determined, though they are not
in his district, to arm this company, and at
the same time detach a'small body OF cav
aIrv under Lieutenant ,Bee2th- rs ,nneles for
GnBm 10 rally under. de has advised the
settlers TO build block-house and stockade
at the point selected by them, and then
/ scout to the front as far as possible, thus
keeping the Indians moving and prevent
ing the molesting of their families, until
such time as the arrival of troops in this
district will enable Gen Blunt to take the
field himself
The counties of Clay, Republic, Sherry and
Ottawa are unOrganized. The settlements
are mostly along the valley Of the Repub-
lican, which runs through them i'll south
east course. This vally is very wide and
heavily timbered This is true also of it:
branches. On the upper Republican is 8
large marsh or lagoon, called Lake Sibley
Beyond this is what is known as the
"Bunch Timbers" At both these posts
should be established. The Indians range
in here. A large body are known to OF
at Lake Silby with a quantity Of stock
supposed to be stolen. Heading in this
direction, narrow watershed only divi
ing these streams, are the waters of Solo
mon and Saline Rivers, and of Pike anC
Beaver Creeks, streams having valleys sew
eral miles wide, well timbered, watereC
and with an abundance of grass The
Solomon is especially an Indian haunt
The buffalo frequent this region, and il
all probability hereabOut will b,
found thelodges of the hostile bands
We have reports ofthe successful stamped
ing of the horses belonging to a company
of Colorado Cavalry stationed at CimarooI
crossing oft Arkansas, half way be
tween Forts Larnard and Lyon 1t i.
probable that the precaution directed by
Gen. Curtis of placing pickets on the out
side ofthe herd at sufficient distance to SCI
and alarm the herders, was not observed
and the Indians consequently stole up anC
then dashed on yelling through the hert
and succeeded in stampeding them
a body Of Indians will pass unobserveJ
through the nearest timber, and then dash
ing out suddenly, each man, except the
leader lying extended on the off side o
his horse, with only leg and an arm
thrown over and exposed to fire, ride furi
ously toward the herd yelling only al
Indians can. The leader, well mounted
sits upright at the head of the band, anc
makes his way through the herd, yelling
and firing if he has revolver. The an.
iIhals become frightened and follow the
leading horse which will be the Chiel S
The other Indians close on the rear of the
herd, and away all go like the wind.