New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-13

| country ana the cause OF humanity, TO
come the day will. when his strong arm, an,
possibly the sword in it. will be needed il
this country. B.
The Captive Gold Hunters.
The following interesting narrative i
embodied in special dispatch to tn
Chicago Inter Ocean. from Sioux City, Iowa
June 8:
One hundred and twenty-five of tn
Gordon party. whose wagons and persona
effects were recently burned by Majo
Walker. Of Fort Randall, will arrive her,
tomorrow. These men asked of the com
mander at Randall permission to go back tt
Gordon City from there, but he would no
permit it: he said this was Walkers funeral
and he would have no hand in it except to
have the men rationed and set across the
| river. The majority of them will procure
new outfits here and start at once for the
scene of the late outrage. There are be
tween 300 and 400 men here now, and twics
| that number ON the road, who will go &c
Gordon City and remain for the opening OF
the hills. Specimens of gold quartz exceed
ing in richness anything ever seen in this
country were brought in here by the pony
| express last week. and created great excite
! ment here, especially among those waiting
the slow motions OF the government. An
other party has arrived since Saturday with
more of the quartz. and it will certainly
| average over one quarter pure gold, and
! there IS not the slightest doubt that it came
here direct from the Black Hills.
! Major j. w. Brockett, one Of the leaders
| of the Black Hills party recently captured
| 10 Nebraska, arrived in YanktOn last Fri
/ day. and made statement to the Press of
| that city. in effect as follows: On the four
tenth of May the Gordon party was cap
tured by Major Walker, of the First H.
! fantry, in the State of Nebraska, and de-
| prived of its arms and ordered to accom-
pany the command to Fort Randall as pris-
Oners. Major Brockett protested in a gen
| tlemanly but decided manner against being
| taken upon the Dakota reservation, where
his men would be completely in the power
of their captors. Major Walker told him
| that they must come along, and the order
was obeyed until the NlObrara crossing was
reached, when Major BrOckett told Major
Walker that they would not voluntarily
cross-if he wanted them he must load
them into wagons and carry them upon the
Dakota reservation. They would not re-
| sist. but they declined to go. After dis
| cussing the subject Major Walker con-
Guided to release the party and let them go
TO the mouth of Antelope creek, just south
of the Nebraska line, the proposed site of
Gordon City, there to remain until the
treaty for the Black Hills was perfected.
A written agreement to this effect was
drawn up and signed by the respective
parties to the transaction. The Gordon
party then proceeded on its way, and
reached the mouth of Antelope creek on
the nineteenth, and there encamped. Three
days afterward party Of military was
noticed encamping on the opposite side of
the river, halt mile off, consisting of cav
airy and infantry, with one piece of artil-
Iery. Without communicating with the
leaders of the Gordon party, about daylight
on the morning Of the second day after
their appearance, the men discovered them.
selves surrounded by two companies of in
tautry, under command of Brevet Major
Walker, and one company OF cavalry, all
under command OF Captain Mills of the
cavalry, the ranking officer. The piece of
artillery had also been brought to bear upon
the camp. Major Brnckett was ordered to
draw up his men in line, and after comply
ing with the order as completely as was
possible, it was discovered that some Of the
men were missing.
Captain Mills sent his men with fixed
bayonets to hunt through the wagons and
tents and bring every member of the Cor
don party into line. They were not given
time to dress, and no explanation of the
cause Of this perelnptory action was made
After the men were brought into line, sur
rounded by the troops, Major Brockett was
ordered to take twelve days rations from
his supplies for his men-enOugh to last
them to Randall. He replied that it was
no part OF his business to provide the sup
ples-they did not belong to him, and If
the military wanted to take them into the
post they must furnish food for the trip.
He was told to either select his ratiOns, or
his men would be compelled to make the
march without them. Deeming the welfare
of his men of first Importance. he complied
with the order, and after the ratiOns were
set aside the balance Of the stores were
burned and stolen by the troops.
Revolvers, boots, stores aud clothing be-
longing to the men were taken by the SOL
diers, while the officers sat with their backs
to the scene of their operations and said.
when demonstrated with. that they guessed
it was all right-nothing would DO stolen.
One wagon was occupied by Major Brock
ett's wife, and when the soldiers approached
it to secure its contents she brandished Il
revolver and Ratchet and beat them Oft.
Several times they essayed to approach her
but were on each occasion
thwarted by her bravery. Major BrOckett
protested against this useless destruction of
property. and the answer was given that it
was IN accordance with orders from superior
officers. After burning or otherwise de.
stroying everything the members of the
Gordon party were hurried, by forced
deprived of adequate clothing. TO
the post at Fort Randall. where Colonel
Lugenbeel instituted an investigation of
the affair, but with what result We have not
been advised.