Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-22
MASSACRE BY INDIANS.
The Reported Attack upon Duprez
a Benedict's MISUNDERSTANDING of
the Troupe Missing The Killed
and Wounded.

The Reported Attack upon Duprez
a Benedfct's Minstrcls-ScveraI Of
the Troupe Missing The Killed
and Wounded.
From the Philadelphia Press, August 1871
On Saturday afternoon last consider
able excitement was created in this city
by correspondence in the New York
Herald of that day from Elko, Nevada,
dated August 6, 1870, and stating that
the coaches containing Duprez Il Bene-
diets Minstrels, Of this city, had been
attacked by hostile Indians, and several
of the company killed. The letter in
question was as follows:
ELKo, NEVADA, August 6. 1870.
To the Editor of the Herald:
"Three coaches of Wells, Fargo Il Co.,
when about eight miles from Hastings
en- route for Austin, were stopped to-day
by party of Indians numbering eight
cen or twenty. Three passengers were
killed, and the driver and several others
severely wounded Among the passen-
gers were members of a troupe from the
East-Duprez 4 Benedict's-who were
to open tonight in Austin. Mr.. Charles
Reynolds was wounded in the foot, and
is now in town, and is not expected to
recover. Mr.. Duprez is lying at Pleas
ant Valley, six miles from here. Two of
the troupe are missing could not as
certain their names. The killed were a
Mr. Nicholson, miner, Mr.. Heinrich
and Mr.. Dougherty The attack is sup
posed to have been made by white men
disguised as Indians; but | doubt it, as
the Indians are quite troublesome about
here"
The agent of Messrs. Duprez d Bene-
dict, in this city, Mr.. Charles H. Jarvis,
Immediately telegraphed to Salt Lake
City, Gold Hill, Nevada, San Francisco
and other points for fuller information,
but was unable to receive a continuation
of the report. Last evening he left for
New York city, in the hope Of obtaining, it
possible, something definite from the cor
respondent of the Herald. The following
dispatch received at the Office of the
Press yesterday afternoon, proves that
he has been successful and that the
dreadful report was only too true:
NEW YORK, August IA, 1870.
"Forney's Press, Philadelphia:
News of massacre of Duprez & Ben
edict's Minstrels confirmed, but no
further details received.
c. H. JARVIS"
The company had journeyed as far as
Salt Lake on July 29, where they played
two nights, It left Salt Lake on August
2, for San FRANCISCO, and, as Austin was
not one Of the towns at which 1t was
proposed to play, it is supposed that
extra inducements must have been held
out to them to visit the place. Mr..
Nicholson, one of the killed, was not a
miner but one of the troupe, having
Joined them at Detroit. The following
persons composed the party that left
Salt Lake, Mrs. G. II. DHprez also be-
ing with them: Charles II. Duprez, +.
NJ. Duprez, Lew Benedict Hughey
Dougherty, Charley Reynolds, Gopsalvo
Bishop, Frank Dumont, Charley Gleason,
J. l.. Woolsey, Frank Kent. Justine
Robinson, J. Fox, W. Ward, James
Koehl Kilian Jordan Fred. Heinrich, j.
j. JOEL, Fred. B. Naylor, A. Bergeron,
d. s. Vernon, John McCourt Charles
Koehl and Charles II ke6sbip,
Mr.. Frank b. Cilley, the agent, loft
the company at Salt Lake, and proceed
ed TO San Francisco to take charge OF
the California TheateF, in that city. 1t
is believed that Mr. Duprez had With him
some $3O,000 funds taken for expenses
and receipts on the way.
Among the killed, according to the
correspondence we print above, were
Messrs. Dougherty, Heinrich and Mich
olson. M. DOugherty was well known
in this city, and had the reputation of
being one Of the best negro eomsdiaps
in the country. Mr., Dougherty was, we
belive, native of this city, at least he
had been on the Bbiladelphia stage
since boyhood. Many Of our readers will
recollect his formeT connection with
Sanfords Minstrels, when that gentle
man was proprietor Of the Eleventh
street Opera House. Mr.. Heinrich was,
we beliye, one of the musical accompan-
lists of the troupe. :,
II is also stated that Messrs. Reynolds /
and Duprez were seriously wounded,
and are not expected to recover. The
former was one Of the most irresistible |
end-men in the burntoork business. Mr.. |
Charles H. Duprez, VINO was also wound |
ed was one Of the proprietors of the
troupe.
IL l. ha