The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-09-06
FROM THE FRONTIER.
Indian Horse Thieves -Sooutssand Soldiers
in Pursuit-oamping on the Trail-0ap-
ture of the Thieves and Recovery Of tho
Horsea

! IN Pur5uit-Uamping on the Trall-Uap-
ture of the Thieves and Recovery Of the
| Horses.
/ JUNCTION RANCH. CROOKED RIvER,l
\ August .. lB72. 4
Editor State Right. DemoeroG
On the night OF the 2sth of June the Piute In
| dians began their ncfarous deprcdations by
stealing y horse ut Warner Springs, - miles
southwest of Camp lfnrBey.A on the night OF
July llth they stole one from Reuben Kyscr at
| Upper Beaver Valley on the night OF July iS.
two from Luther Elkins, Mt Lower Beaver Val
| ley, and on tho next. Ave from A. Unckleman.
Mt junction Ranch. On the 10Th OF July start
cd for Camp Harncy 10 secure mid from the mill
itary arrived Mt Camp fiarncy on the 18th and
found tho Post Commander. MajorTrmble. ab-
sent In search of u dssertcr. who. In his flight
had carried Off some money belonging to a
comrndc Tho Major returned Ia tho evening.
received mo very kindly. and the same evening
forwarded our dispatches to Gen. Weedcn. Dis.
trlet Commander. at W,nip Warner Major
Trmblc detailed Sergeant Lnnsberg and q pri.
| vatcs-with MIR. Frank Mclean M suidc-to ac-
company me on the expedition. and on the 10Th
we stated Tor this ranch to take trail Of the In
dians; arrived on the 2srd, and started on trail
same evening. We trnilod In south course some
$ miles and cncampcd for the night on Camp
Creek. started early next morning and trailed
8omiies, over u brolscrs country wIthinn abiint-
ance OF rocks and Juniper saw large lode OF
eopper.bcnring quartz during the days march,
also u fine herd OF antelope. Encampcd for the
night In deep ravine In the Desert Mountains.
Next morning were carly on trail. which bore
southwest nj first and anon more eastGriy at
about o'clock we passed the first camp made
by the Indians after stealing the horses from
our ranch Here they had killed and dried some
mountain sheep for food At O'Clock passed
the Mountain Springs on the frcka and Canyon
cay Road. During thert-t OF the days march
the country was very barren. After travelling
81 miles cnca,npcd Mt Ginss Byttcs. the head
of south fork OF Crooked River. Tho country
around these buttcs Is thickiy strcwn with na-
tive glass OF every color. Hero we found the
trail bearing southwark and the trail of Elkina'
! horses ntersecting the one We wcre following.
| which cnllvcned IN greatly. Here / killed IA
large fnt buck.
Next morning (,GthI. carly on the trail: dircc'
ton southwest 10 Darroush's Creek. u miles.
where the Indians had encampcd for the night
In n cave. We followed their trail up the nar-
row rocky deiile through which IL makes its
way from the mountains To the desert. Lost the
trail. but found IL again after diligept search.
following what appeared to be an old cmi.rant
road leading northeast. In the direction Of Iiar-
ney Valley. through low pass In the noun
tnins to east side of Wagon Fire Mountains .''
Here We saw II sqnaw and two Indian children
digging cnmas. They hid In the grass. but wc
: hunted them out. She said she was Wccwn's
Sguaw and that piutes with American horses
were gone to Camp Hgrney. She evidently
much alarmed. and wanted To send oi the
children OF with message OF SOME kind. We
put iiicn under strict guard nd started To- scout
the country In search of the Indians with the
stolen horses. Found their trail bearing south
. ward toward Camp Warner. Saw some more
squaws who were much alarmed. Travelled
J south few miles and cncanpcd nj large
spring branch. Distance Travelled. 3j miles.
saw at Darrough's creek plenty of cattle tracks.
which we sapposrd ths indians had stolen. ON
the 9Th sAr1ed early on trail. seFs hard to fol
los. bearing south. About \. Z. found nnuth.
cr camp made by the Piutcs. AT secluded
spring in The center of "a cluster oE battles. Her"
they had :.i1led some antelope. roasted cric!seia
and had feast aud dancr. Their numbers
seemed To hars greatly Increased this place
, froin here ;hey Travelled south. soon corniis:
. upon IA divide connecting those buitca with Ihe
Juniper Mountains. came To IA large spring
Siicr. they had made another camp. We aIsu
cicanPc': att,ifs spring. usA;auce Travelled. 81
miles. In scouting. alter supper. IoHnd that
the trail led 10 the souihward over spur q: The
[ Juniper Mountains. Al spring near Ly 80
r found another camp made by tn. Piutes. al
4, which they had killed antelope. Ne found al
these camps horse shoes which they had pulled
or To make the trail difficult 10 follow ~ 10th
c OF these CAMPS were the Loues cf antelope. r
: mains OF cFic.tcts and evidences OF dancing
A showing taa; these lords Of the de4rrt were en-
ioying themselvcs hilar.ously.
On tine Zssh ssc Travelled south over ano;hc
Juniper Mountains with those 10 the north %
: Camp Warner. During the day saw warnc
q and Albert I.aises-onc to the right and the 9th
{ or to the left OF our line OF travel. Encnmrce
= at night NJ o spring In the midst OF a laid
rocky range. Days travel. - miles. In .hiI
: vicinity we found three other caInps made b,
> piutcs. at all oi which the usual evidences
i OF f.asiins and dancing.
The next morning was very eooi and frosty
out OF Hour and coffee. Traicd or 10 miles q
= the hay ranch OF Messrs Jones and Snyder
. where we learned that the Indians had beef
! Icariurcd by detachment o. troops under Col
. Perry. We marched 10 Camp Warner and wcr
:. very kindly received by.Gen. wcedcn Col. Per
Y ~. and the remainder OF the officers and NJ.
!. dicrs tina. post. for which take this oppos
r tun!ty to return them my sipccrc thanks: ais
the thanks Of many citizens ofECrooked River
ochoco and the surrounding country. Gu
thanks arc Iso due To Major Trimbc and TN
" officers and "Hoys I'm Blue" at Camp Harnc.
It for their kind reception and prompt assistance
. In time OF need. NHkN
;, Icannot close this without making honorable
- mention OF the services OF Mr. Frank Mclean
Sergeant Lansberg and the detachment O
troops who were with me on the trail OF the In
u dams. They were faithful and true To me a
], brothers. / would also Intention the name G
# Mr. Geo. Cooler. the wagon and forage maste
at Camp Warner. who first discovered the stoi
e en- horses and rendered efficient aid in their re
n covery and the capture OF the thieves.
Yours very truly. JOHN +. MOORE.
DIED.