The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1866-05-13
LETTER FROM CANYON CITY.
CANYON Cry, May 9th, 1866,


country form the principal topic of conversa-
tion. On the Sd inst, John Wilmer, a Ger
man, residing on the Middle Fork Of John
Day, near the Elk Greek mines, was murdered
by the savages, while On bis way from Cafon
City to his home. He had two horses packed
with oats, potatoes and plow, and when
about eight miles from town was attacked by
party of Indians, (number unknown,) and
after being chased about quarter of mile,
was slain, with twenty. three arrow wounds.
His murderers dragged the corpse some Fifty
yards from the road, and stripped it of most
OF Its clothing; but were probably alarmed
by the approach of gentleman Of this place,
swto was on his way to the Middle Fork
TAis gentleman, seeing several arrows scat.
tered along the road, turned back to house,
some three miles distant. His statement in.
duced party to- 60 out in search of Wilmer,
who had left the house about two hours pro.
Siodsly. His remains being found, wagon
wss procured. aud at two O'Clock the ne4t
Inbrning were brought in. The fact that be
vas not scslped, and that the Indians had
leR their arrows scattered along the road to
the number Of about dozen, indicates that
they had no time to perform the usual bar.
barous rite of mutilating the dead, or to pick
up the missiles which they had 6red at him,
before they saw the person approaching as
aforementioned. ,t-t
Wilmer was engaged 10 farming and gar.
dening on the Middle Fork, and was worthy
aad useful man. His death adds another to
the already extended. roll of those who have
Lost their liyes BY the neglect of the Govern.
ment and tho ineficiency Of the military de.
partmout
AS TO INDIANS IN GENERAL ugREABoUT8.
The petty depredations and the attempts
upon life, by the Indians bereabou,s are ss
numerous that it is a hopeless task to try ant
eaumera,e them. Every few miles Of the road
from sixty miles this side Of the Dalles, ha
spot With o tale of blood connected with it
every camping place is marked BY q robber
Of stock, involving the hard earnings q
montbs or years.. and the ordinary converss
tiou Of men turns upon what the Indians hav
done or may do. More than at any time fG
the last three years are the roads dangerou
to travel; and while the larger settlement
are felt 10 be safe, exposed farms and sma
parties of travellers are in constant danger
attack. The Indians make their appearan,
10 the moRt unexpected places, and have
tar aiways caught the whites at disadva,
tage.
THs tsAosoUAoY OF THa MILITARY YoacR.
The military force now stationed in th
sOe,ion is entipoiy inadequate to the task
subjuga,ing the savsges; the troops a
mostly infantry, and not fitted to the spee
demands Of the country and, I am sorry
add, the public mind is imbued with the i'd
that there Is a lack of disposition among I
military to make the most Of the limited fol
now In the country. Without endorsing
pcpuls, idea or this point, the impuuity W
which She Iodiaas are allowed TO depred
aad murder gives too much color to the chat
agaiust the officers in command to be ligb
passed. over. At the same time, no nau
Intelligence can te blind to the peculiar
vantage afforded by the topography Of 1
count,y for irregs,ar and predatory waIfa
The open country, below the higher mot
ktaias, Ia whatla called a :" pap,rock forr
pop. end de perpendicular cliffs, often j
iug for s@ilas, a, ooee Impede pursuit I
The asdiaas thoroughly
Y i; sdsautsge. sad 40 force