The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-05-29
THE LATE INDIAN OUTRAGE IN
BUTLER COUNTY.

EDITOR EMPoRIA NEWS: Many of
your readers, and especially those hav-
ing friends in this county, have, no
doubt, heard various and perhaps ex-
aggerated accounts of the outrage COM
mitted by a band of rowing Indians,
supposed to be Osages. on our southern
frontier; and to such the following ac-
count, which has been obtained from
perfectly reliable sources, and is, so far
as known, correct in every particular,
will be acceptable:
It seems that two young men named |
Dunn settled last fall, on homestead
claim. below the mouth of the Little
Walnut, on the south line of what is
known as the twenty mile strip" that
is the Usage trust lands recently sur
veyed and opened for settlement; and
; there have been reports that they were
| in the habit of getting their timber
/ from the lands still belonging to the
Osages. However that may be, it seems
that Samuel Dunn and young man
named James Anderson, who will be
remembered by many as one of q party
of four PennsylvanianS who passed
down the Walnut on foot, within a
months tall, fair-haired and boyish-
looking young man-were out on Sun
day evening. May 18th, looking at their
farms and the land around. Birney
Dunn, man named Edwards and a
cOiored man remained about the house.
The negro first saw u band of Indians
coming toward the house in pursuit of
a couple of mules and pony belong
ing to them. They ran out with their
guns and the Indians retreated, giving
( up the pony but taking the mules with
them. No pursuit was made by Birney
Dunn and the men with him, and as the
other men did not come in, their alb
sence was accounted for by suppOsing
: that they had seen the Indians and gone
in pursuit, hoping to recover the mules.
AS they failed to come in, a search was
a begun in the morning which resulted
+, i'll finding the bodies of the unfortunate
: young men near field about half a
mile from the house. They were shock
f ingIy mutilated, the heads of both be-
: ing severed from the bodies, the scalps
i torn away, and three fingers unjointed
from Dunn's hand; his pockets were
: also turned inside out, and $3.50 which
: he was known to have with him taken
The neighbOrS were then aroused
II and the trail was followed till the party
: was convinced from articles dropped by
! the Indians that they were Osages, mum
Il bcring about fourteen-supposed to b(
who had been out to the Arkansas.
4 The citizens met as soon as possible
e at the house of David Yates, Esq, OF
h Little Walnut creek, and resolved tt
y organize a company of % men, whC
: should draw the arms belonging to TIT
county from the State arsenal, and holC
It themselves in readiness to defend tn,
IS border from any attacks, and to punisl
- outrages, and appointed Messrs. Do
II madison, Boutwell, and Carr, a commit
ir tee to procure arms and assistance from
Of the Governor i'll such protection. ID
a. Yates, d. w. Boutwell, and B. +. Cor
r. dy were appointed to raise the compa
1t ny, which was to meet as soon as prac
er ticable, at such time and place as shoulC
st be most convenient; and everything
y will be done that is possible for the set
tiers on the frontier. At the same tim
rs rash and hasty action was deprecated
n by those whose experience in such mat
30 tiers gives weight to their opinion, a
" tending to eXasperate the Osages with
II out accomplishing anyspermanent good
I'd and it is to be hoped that settlers will
ne not give them the preteXt for such out
10 RACES by tresspassing OH their land, am
ii will use all possible precautions agains
ID surprise. There are no apprehension
&c that any attacks will be made except o.
=. &c those who venture out alone unarmed
tv on the extreme frontier; but the cas-
n certainly demands help from the Gov
a. eminent, and prompt action on tn
~ border. VAYLE VERNON.
N Butler County, May 23d.