Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-08-02

INDIAN TREAcHERY AND MURDER
A San Francisco paper gives the follow
ing account of the murder of man
named Hopkins near Fort Bascom, by
the Indians, whose treacherous and cruel
natures were conspicuously exhibited on
the occasion:
cit appears that on the morning of
the 18th inst, Mr.. Hopkins and lady,
desiring to take ride, concluded to visit
the cattle herd, which was then about
eighteen miles from that place, at a point
known "a Ute Greek. They arrived
early in the afternoon. About Z o'clock
P. NJ. they discovered party OF about
nine Indians approaching the camp,
Mr.. Hopkins concealed his wife, and,
grasping Henry rifle, warned them not
to approach any nearer. Soon after, an
other party, or rather a reserve of the
former, was seen coming over bluff
near by. The Indians pretended to be
friendly, aud to convince Mr.. Hopkins
of this, they laid down their guns and
asked him to do the same. Being finally
persuaded that they meant no harm,
he gave up his rifle, but kept his side
arms (pistols) on him. As is charac-
teristic of the Lo family, their friend
ship knew no bounds; they ate plenti-
fully of the provisions furnished by Mr..
Hopkins, aud seemed to appreciate his
hospitality, but one of the number, who
spoke Spanish well, expressed his doubts
as to Mr.. Hopkins's showing genuine
friendship, from the fact that he kept
his pistols on him. He arse, took off
his pistols, placed them in corner, and
| was given a seat in the centre, ostensibly
as the post of honor. He was now en-
tirely at their mercy, but fiend-like they
must needs carry their receptions little
further. They asked him thousand
questions concerning the military camp
at Bascom, the location, the number of
troops stationed there, etc, etc. Having
thus satisfied their hunger and curiosity,
| and gained all the information required
concerning the troops, etc, they drew the
arms they had concealed under their
blankets and fired upon the unsuspecting
host, Kidding his body with ba Is and
arrows. Mrs Hopkins, who had been
concealed until this time, now made her
appearance, and was almost frenzied by
the appalling scene before her. Her
husbands body was mutilated and he
was scalped, and one side of his face was
cut away before her very eyes. She, too,
was seized, some wanting to take her
prisoner, Others to scalp her and dispatch
her at once but, from the intercession
of little Mexican herder boy, who has
been in their employ, pleading for her
and claiming her as his sister, they spar
ed her life for the time being, but cut
off her long tresses of hair as a trophy
of the hard-fought battle ON Ute Creek.
They then ordered her to stand off some
distance, and, watching an opportunity
thinking she was unobserved, she en-
deagored to conceal herself by jumping
into pool of water. She remained here
with only her head above water until
she was discovered by the Indians and
ordered to come out. Returning to the
cabin, they commenced dance around
the body in honor of the glorious victory
they had achieved. They were so en-
crossed with this that Mrs. Hopkins and
the little herder boy were enabled to get
away unnoticed, and made their way tC
Bascom, arriving there by daylight, after
walking distance Of twenty-five miles
both very much fatigued and she heart
broken"