The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-08
ThillipE Indian Adventure.
From the Trinity (Cal Journal.1

| Ctfeiat years ago LlltIt ufCu All L ii'1f
county man named Ross. He was q great
hunter, his favorite hunting ground being
over the hills and valleys on the head OF
the Eel river. 1t was his ambition to kill
an elk, and never having come across any
in his rounds, he one day asked an Indian,
whom he supposed to be friendly, if he
could show him one. The red-skin said he
could, but would have to 60 home first, and
would return at the end OF five days, and
lead him where he would find the coveted
! game.
At the end of the appointed time the elk
finder returned, and the pair set out on
| their hunting expedition. On they travelled,
till nearly nightfall, but not even track
did they see. The day was foggy, and our
hero was therefore unable to tell in what
direction he was going, but as night drew
near lie told his guide they had better
return home and come again some other
| time.
! Accordingly, as Ross supposed, they be-
| gan to retrace their steps. Before great
while he found himself in very steep,
| rocky, unfamiliar country. Later still, and
some time after dark, they came to q ridge
overlooking rocky mountain torrent,
| foaming along at a great distance below.
| Here they began to descend. The side OF
! the ridge down which they were making
| their way was thickly covered with loose
rocks and exceedingly steep. The ahori-
gines, however, had rolled the rocks aside,
and made narrow trail, which could be
travelled in single file. but not otherwise.
| When some way down, the hunter saw at
a distance, through the fog, nupbcr OF
blazing camp fires.
! Like a flash he realized that he was be-
trayed. Well he knew that If he ever
reached the foot of the hill he never would
return. But what to do was the question.
He dared not shoot, because it would alarm
! the comrades Of the treacherous villain
| betrayer in that way, but his own life
would pay the penalty. The scoundrel,
who thought he was leading an unsuspect-
ing victim to the slaughter, must be put
out of the way, but silently.
| 1t was case of life and death with both
of them, and white mans intellect against
an Indians. Laying his left hand upon the
coppeE-colored rascal's left shoulder, Ross
; insisted upon going slow, saying that he
was afraid Of falling down the hill. Keep
ing hold of his guide, he managed to slip
his gun under his suspenders, so that he
could carry it that way. Then drawing his
knife IA very large one), he dropped his left
hand down the Indians back to feel where
: Ills ucalI OuSul w De, anu upOu hldih3 tnC
spot struck for dear life. His aim was true,
! and being a powerful man, the knife went
from one side to the other, through the
body, cutting the heart in twain. Mr.. Bad
! Indian never groaned or kicked, but giving
! one short, almost inarticulatc gulp, fell for.
ward with his lifc-blood flowing in torrents
Our hero was not yet safe. Dark as ii
was, he dare not attempt to find his way
up the hill. Besides, in the morning the
red fiends would discover what had taken
place, and track him wherever he might
be.
Sitting down in his footsteps, he waited
for daylight. At the first glimpse of daWr
he was on the alert, and tumblcd the corpse
out of the path down the hill. Then, finding
his way to it, he covered the dead man Will
stones, hiding him completely. With water
carried from the brook in his hat, he washed
away the blood that appeared along the
trail; then, with the first beams OF the
morning sun, he asccnded the hill and hast
ened home.
Telling the adventure to his neighbors,
they organized and made Il raid upon the
camp he had discovered. The Indians
were surprised. many of them killed, and
, the contents of their wigWams captured.
| About year and a-half before the occur.
rences we have detailed, dentist started
; from Weaverville to 90 to Humboldt, but
never reached there, and was never heard
from. Among the plumber obtained by the
avenging expedition of which we speak
were gunlocks, mainsprings, files, etc.; in
fact, everything necessary for the repair OF
firearms, and full set of dentists tools.
! This left but little doubt that the unfOrtll-
nate Professor of Dentistry had been MUIR
dered by these ticnds in human shape.