The Republican journal., 1871-03-23
Thrilling Indian Adventure.

The Trinity journal says: Several
years apo there lived in Trinity county Il
man named Ross. He W.; Il great hunter
his lavorite hunting ground being over
the hills and valleys ON the head of Eel
River. 1t was his ambition to kill IN 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 rcd-skin said he
could, but would have to go home first.
and would rctur 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-linder returned, and the pair set out
on their hunting expedition. On they
travelled I'LL nearly nightfall, but not
even track did they see The day was
toggy, and our hero was therefore unable
to tell in what direction he was going,
but AS night drew near he told his guide
they lad better return home, and come
again some other time.
Accordingly, as Ross supposed, they be-
gan to retrace their steps. Before a great
while he found himself in very steep,
rocky, unfamiliar country. Later still,
and sometime after dark, they came to a
ridge overlooking a noisy mountain tor
rent toaming along at Il grea. distance
below.
Here they began to descend. The side
of the ridge down which they were max
ing their way was thickly covered with
loose rocks and exceedingly steep. The
aborigines, however, had rolled the rocks
aside and made a narrow trail which
could be travelled in single file, but not
otherwise. When some way down, the
hunter saw at q great distance, through
the tog, a number of blazing camp-fires.
Like Il 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 dare not shoot, because it
would alarm the comrades of the treacher-
Gus villain who had misled HIM. He
could Stay his betrayer in that way, but
his own life would pay the penalty. The
scoundrel, who thought he was leading an
unsuspecting victim to certain slaughter,
must be put out of the way, but silently.
1t was 4 case of life and death with
both of them and u white mans intellect
against an Indians. Laying his left hand
upon the copper-colored rascal's left
shoulder, Ross insisted upon going slow,
saying that he was afraid of falling down
the hill. Keeping hold of his guide, he
managed to Slip his gun under his sus-
penders so that he could carry it that way.
Then drawing his knife, Ga very large
one) he dropped his left hand down the
Indians back, to feel where his heart
ought to be, and upon finding the 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 inarticulate gulp.
fell forward with his lifc-bood flowing in
torrents.
Our hero was not safe. Dark as it 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 ot
dawn he was on the alert, and tumbled
the corpse out of the path down the hill
Then, finding his way to it, he covered
the dead man with stones, hiding him
completely. With water carried from
the brook in his hat, he washed away the
blood mat appeared along the trail that,
with the first beams OF the morning sun,
he assembled the hill and fastened home.
Telling the adventure to his neighbors,
they organized and made raid upon the
camp he had discovered. The Indians
were surprised, many Of them killed. and
the contents of their wigwam captured.
About a year and half before the oc-
currcnces we have detailed, a dentist
started from Wcaverville to 60 to Hum
boldt, but never reached there, and was
never heard from. Among the plumber
obtained from the ayenging expedition of
which we speak, were gunlocks, main
springs, files, etc; in fact, everything
necessary for the repair of firearms. and
Il full set of dentists tools This left but
little doubt that the unfortunate Professor
OF Dentistry had been murdered by these
tiends in human shape.