The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-14
TFrom the Denver News. ]


Harry Mills, who is well known to al
most every one in and about Denver,
writes to Mr.. Tewksbury, of this city,
under date of August %, at Custer City,
as follows: On Wednesday, August %,
shortly after noon, William E. Thomp-
son, Samuel Il. Wallace, James Kidd
and German named Jacob Wiley start
ed from Custer 10 go out to hay camp
about four or five miles distant, and
near the road leading to Red Cloud.
About 4 O'Clock shots were heard in
that direction by myself and several
other persons, who were from mile
and half to two miles from town in
that direction, but no one could surmlse
the cause. On Thursday morning an
other party started out on the same
road, and, when about three miles from
town. they found the dead bodies of
Kidd and Thompson lying in the road
near together and perforated with bull
les. Kidd's head was also smashed in
by some blunt instrument. Both were
scalped, and Thompson's body was
stripped of clothing. The bodies had
evidently been dragged some distance
after they were killed and left in the
road. Near by was found the broken
butt of carbine and also a scalp, (which
atterward proved to be that of Wallace.
The two bodies were Immediately taken
to town, and another party, well armed,
started out. They soon found the bodies
of Wallace and Wiley, about $50 yards
from where the others were found, both
riddled with bullets, scalped and
stripped of clothing. Near by was
picked up the barrel of broken car
bine; also, an Indian pipe and tobacco
pouch.
James Kidd was Virginian, but re-
sided for several years past in Colora-
do, and was well known to many in
Denver. w. f. Thompson was an ear
sly settler in Colorado, aud member
of the 1st Colorado regiment. He left
Denver in 1865, and has since resided
in Kansas until early in the present
year, when he came to the Black Hills.
1t is believed that he leaves no family,
bat that he has mother and sister llv-
inc in Maine. Wallace was an English
man, and formerly lived in Canada,
where he leaves wife and one child.
The German, Wiley, was young man
whose parents are still in the old coun-
TRY.
Judging from the pony tracks, there
must have been at least twenty-five In
diaus. After the murders they started
in direct course for Red Cloud Agency
probably to receive the congratulations
of their comrades and the fostering
care of our noble and generous Gov
ernment; to be fed and clothed, anc
{ furnished with fresh supply of ammu
| milton before starting out again. They
took two horses, one rifle, carbln'
and two or three revolvers from the
murdered men, and stripped the cloth
ing from their bodies.
News from Deadwood is to the etfec
that three or four days ago Indian
rGided Spear-fish Valley, short dis
ice from Deadwood, killed four o
five men and run off over 100 head o
stock. One of the killed was clergy
man, but | learned none of their names
The Indians went north, taking tn
stock with them.
: Harry says the news from the Mort
+ is not encouraging. Water is failing /
9 the streams, checking mining opers
d tions, and in some places stopping ther
p entirely. At Custer times were zeal
J, ally dull, and the Indian murder
d threw an additional gloom over the eI
e tire community. Joe Ludwig was sh(
e few davs ago al Deadwood, and Helm
, the brewer at Gayville, both by bein
d too near where others were quarrelln
Is with pistols. Harry concludes: g r
?. CARDS to all inquiring friends, and te
them for me to stay where they ar
n rather than come here this year, unle
,e they have interests that need attentic
here"