Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-06-13
AMERICAN cANNiRAlIsm..


Charles Adams, an Indian Agent,
sends the following shocking report
from Colorado to the Commission at
Washington:
Sir; have the honor TO report here
with briefly to the Department the cir
cumstances by which FIVE men lost
their lives lately while on the Ute ln
dian reservation.
In my report for the month Of Febru-
ary, under date of March 5, 1874, l
made mention of the fact that a party
of twenty-one miners had endeavored
to reach here from Utah, crossing the
reservation in mid-winter, for the San
Juan mines that happily they had ar
rived at Ourays Camp, on the Nucom-
pagee, and had been well treated. and
fed by him that FIVE Of this party had,
against the advice of Ouray, endeavored
10 reach the agency in February, and
had been found in starving condition
10y my herders near the Gunnlson cattle
camp.
have now to report that soon after
the first party left Ourays camp anoth.
err party, consisting Of six persons, left
in the same manner, against the advice
of Ouray. with the intention of reaching
this agency.
They left camp about the first Of
February, and on the 10th day of April
one of the party, A. G. Packer, after be
ing out two and half months, arrived
at this agency evidently in good health
and condition.
Upon being questioned what had be
come of his companions, he said that
shortly after leaving Ourays camp be
had frozen his feet, that his companions
had left him some provisions aud rifle,
and that after getting well he had man
aged to Get through here by himself,
and that his companions had probably
died from hunger and cold since they
left him to his fate.
This story at first | believed, and
made arrangements 10 send out aud find
the bodies, bnt, after closer investiga-
ton and taking into consideration such
suspicious circumstances rs the posses
sion of money and articles which were
recognised rs belonging TO his compan-
ions, Mr. Packer finally confessed, un
der oath. that one after another of these
five persons had been killed by tho re.
mainder to be used rs food by the rest.
aud that he himself had killed the last
remaining man within only about TWEEN
ty miles OF the agency. He excepts
only the two first victims, of whom he
speaks rs having died from starvation,
and that they had eaten tho dead bodies
first before commencing TO kill each
other.
| believe this TO be in the main cor.
rect rs Mr.. Packer looked quite fat
when he arrived here and has since
shown traces Of mental alteration,
which is said to be the consequences of
eating human flesh.
have turned over Mr.. Packer TO tho
civil magistrate who will investigate
the affair by regular inquest, aud lie
will be proceeded with, in accordance
with law. OF course | shall extend all
the assistance in my power TO have the
affair cleared up, as il happened upon
the reservation.
The remainder Of the original parry,
ten men, who took the advice Of Quay,
have since also come in, being guided
by the Indians, and speak in highest
terms of Ouray and his Indians.
These men remained qrictly at the
Indian camp on the Nucompagce until
the road was clear aud SO have suffered
comparatively very little.