The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-25
Glle 2ntland Daily Glnbs.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 25, 49,
THE RED MANS REVENGE.
BY Judge Ocin L. Fay.

company. We had four pack mules to
carry our traps and provisions. The In
dams we met were peacefully inclined,
and would really have continued 30, had
all of our number, in every particular,
dealt justly with them. But one of our
company was foolish enough to indulge
sometimes in the too free use of whisky
and or one ocoa sion, he committed an out
rage, under It's influence, that brought
terrible death to himself, and sadness to
the est of our company.
We had chosen William Dawes our cap
tain. He was large, strong supple man,
and aged about &c. He had some acquain-
lance with Indian customs, and had ex-
pelienced hardships and dangers in mil
itary service. Twelve years before he had
followed Doniphan in his march through
northern Mexico.
There we're us two brothers, James and
Henry Meacham, from Massachusetts.
Their ages respectively, were 2S and 80
years. James, the older, was temperate,
steady, sensible fellow, faithful, brave, and
obedient to the orders of our commander.
Henry was selfish, obstinate, reckless, and
addicted TO the use of whisky. He had an
inveteraie hatred of Indians, and often,
under the excitement of stimulsnts, threat
ened to shoot them at sight. We free uent-
y warned him against acting rashly to-
! vvarde OIL yt,op NM all ~, littla
We were too few in number to make sue
cessful assistance against any considerable
force of hostile savages. We were igno-
rant Of the route we were pursuing, too,
while they knew every crook and turn in
it, every hill, valley and mountain fast
ness for hundreds of miles. We had with
us a quantity of ardent spirits. Several
times, when under its influence and in the
presence of Indians, Henry was seen in
the act o. levelling his rifle upon them.
In every previous case he was detected,
prevented from firing, disarmed and put
Under guard. So we progressed until we
reached ti'e valley OF the Upper Platte.
We already had had several interviews
with strolling parties of the snake Indians
They were invariably friendly They gave
US valuable information and furnished many
necessares, such as game, vegetables, etc.
| On one or two occasions Of their visits,
they observed tina, We kept Henry unarmed
aid guarded in their presence. They in
quired tie cause. We told them that when
under the ff4cts of "fre-water," he wanted
to shoot Red men.
On the morning of June 10th we ap-
preached "South Pass" The air of that
elevated region was cold, and Henry
Meachsm had been allowed more freedom
with the bottle than usual We had al
ready been an hour upon our Journey. We
were vending our way along on the south
side o. the valley tn ough which flowed
the murmuring waters of he Platte, stream
here about hundred yards over. Henry
was in advance. | saw him level his rifle
and take aim at some object over the val
ley, and supposed he had discovered an
antelope, as they were numerous in that
neighborhood. A flash and report succeed
ed Turning my eyes to the opposite hill
side, saw an Indian woman fall from her
horse. She lay to all appearance dead
upon the ground, while two or three male
attendants of hei party. also, on horse
back galloped over The hill TO the north,
and disappeared from view.
,lor Lalo
We knew but too well what we had to ex-
pee, from the friends OF the murdered
sauaw. We were supplied with trusty
rifles. Each man Of us had alsc, one O.
.wo revolvers; but we felt that these would
avail us but little against the two or three
thousand fighting men of the tribe. We
likewise knew that several hundred of their
warriors armed and on the war path against
. neighboring tribe, were in the vicinity.
We quickened our steps, but had not
proceeded more than three miles from the
I scene of the tragedy when a party of five
IT six hundred warriors, on horseback,
armed with bows and arrows, spears and
rifles, approached us. The main body
halted at some distance away while dozen
of their number, headed by their chief,
advanced bearing a peace signal and de-
manded an interview.
Two of our number went out to meet
them. The conference was brief They
requested that the murderer of the Indian
woman should be given up to them for pun
ishment They assured US of their friend
ship for the rest of us if their demand was
complied with. hut threatened to sacrifice
our last man If we refused. Hlt.
We were in a terrible situation. We
asked time to consider. The brawny,
ota a. .h,af raieipC hta rioht hand y,ntnf b.
ing to the bright sun then at an angle of
forty five degrees above the eastern hor-
zon, moving it along the are OF the heav-
ems to the zenith and holding ii there a
moment said, 81 give you SO much time,
(meaning till noon,) "my warriors are al
around you. You cannot get away"
D They then retired to their main body
when all dismounted d, reclined upon the
ground holding the reins OF their steeds and
awaited our deliberations.
For two and half hours we sat in coun-
ell. Our deliberations were of the most
serious and solemn nature. The fate of
our whole company hung IN the balance.
The guilty man sat stolidly awaiting our
decision. lie uttered not word. No
emotion was visible upon his countenance.
The brother refused to take part in
the council. He sat aside overcome with
grief. His groans of distress were agon-
izing to be heard. ioa
i At last vote was taken. Ii was unan'
imous-that Henry should not be given up.
We resolved to sell our lives as dearly al
possible and perish together, rather than
give over our comrade alone to the pitiles,
rage of sayages. 1u AHnf i li
At this announcement Henry arose &c
his feet He WAS more sober and realized
Our critical condition. He said "You have
KEEP. the pledge we all made Mt the outse
p Ito stand by each other to the last. 1t il
enough. You cannot save me. You car
save yourselves, only am at fault
alone will atone for ii. will submit tt
the severest torture and death rather thar
a hair Of your heads should fall harmed I,
the ground" 1-a ftsH r'..is s..1