Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-24
ora REASONS.


In . brief article in Wednesdays
SENTINEL we expressed u belief that,
Notwithstanding the almost ludicrous
aspect given the late Indian troubles
In the eastern portion Of the State by
tho exaggerated and highly sensational
reports sent BY telegraph throughout
the country from Phoebe and Cherry
Creek, the people Of Spring and
Snake valleys had cause for alarm, and
that the Indians in that section were
preparing for the war-path and .
only prevented from attempting the
contamination of their bloody pur-
pose by the premature killing Of To-
land and the escape of feathers, who
gave the alarm and aroused the settlers
TO . sense of their danger by causing
them to give proper consideration,
weight and Significance to certain acts
and warnings, which, until that time,
they bad not regarded as ominous Of
approaching danger.
During the Summer, In q number Of
instances, Indians who were employed
upon ranches in Spring valley in
formed their employers that bands in
tho mountains, the members Of which
had been baptized in the Mormon
faith, were preparing for an outbreak,
and when everything was ready would
commence war upon the settlers, whom
they intended to drive from the val
ley, which they had been assured by
the Mormon leaders belonged to them,
and which they could regain by acting
under their directions. Brigham oung
himself, during his last o u through
Southern Utah, made speeches in
which he said that 'the Indians were
the Lords battle-ax, aud the time was
fast approaching when the weapon
would need sharpening" The Nor
mon Bishop at Deep Creek had been
busily engaged for months baptizing
the members of the bands upon the
borders Of the Territory aud State; i'm.
posing upon their superstition by the
assurance that the ceremony conferred
= charm which rendered their bodies
impervious to the bullets of their enc
mics, thereby enabling them to engage
with safety in battles and rendering
them invincible In war. For six weeks
previous to the murder of Toland, In
dians employed upon ranches in
Spring valley had received messages
from Gunister, their chief, who Wa in
the mountains, 70 join him there.
Sometimes these messages would be
repeated several times before they
obeyed, and generally ct last
accompanied by threats which
invariably had the effect Of enforcing
obedience to the order, so that IT the
time Of the killing there was scarcely
an Indian in tbs valley. In some in
stances they left with considerable
sums Of money due them without de-
manding payment; an anomalous In
dian proceeding, which in itself proved
that something unusual was in pro-
gress. Gunister, contrary to his usual
custom, had for . long time remained
away from the valley, and had been
frequently in consultation with "Pea-
num-" Chief Of the Warm Creek band,
and "Canswsh," Chief Of the
Corn Creek tribe, all Of whom
with the members Of their bands, are
In full fellowship with the Mormons,
having been baptized In that faith by
tie bishop at Deep Greek. All OF these
chiefs had been busy gathering in their
warriors, and for several months had
been extraordinarily active in procur.
ing arms ard ammunition. 1t il folly
to assert that all those things ~porteuded
no danger to the settlers, or, at least,
that they were not sufficiently signii.
cant to justify them in taking precau.
tions for their safety. Gunister, when
captured, admitted that he had heard
that the other bands were preparing
for an outbreak, and that they were
acting under the instructions Of the
Mormon leaders, but, OF course, do.
niod that he OF his band had any con-
nsction with h. adenial which loses con-
siderable Of its force when considered
with the fact that . few days before the
murder OF Toiand . number Of his In
dianss In . most peremptory and
threatening manner, notified . num-
Der Of settlers to leave Snake valley in
two days, an order which would prob
ably have been enforced had not the
notifed persons taken such measures
for their mutual protection ~ con-
WINGED the redskins that an attempt to
disIodge them at that time would he At.
tended with considerable danger. Our
information was received from reliable
sources, and we are firmly convinced
that 1t tho time of the murder of To-
land the Indians were preparing for
the war path but were not at that time
uuSfa randv. that svroha - the murdor.