The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-30
BLACK HILLS.
Fortv-seven Men Killed Before They Are
Awake.
From ne Burlington Gdsette.

IRON ne burlington Cdsck
on the Sth of last August "A party OF
PENNSYLVANIA miners. under the command u
Capt. DIN ~ oil city started out from 81.
Louis for the Black Hllls. There were nfty-two
men In the party including our informant, who
went with them in the capacity OF steward.
They arrived In the hills about six weeks after
some time finding no traces Of gold, they 1nally
came across spot In the western portion OF
stream supplied from nve constantly flowing
springs. and traces Of the precious metal. There
they decided TO halt. The Captain Of the party
They went TO work. built large log house OF
two rooms, capable Of accommodating the en-
search Tor gold They met with good success,
and soon made shipment to the East.
There occasionally appeared at the settlement
silent hunter" who acted in friendly man
ner. From what escaped him at different times
tce, and had been rowing about for years. No
signs Of Indians were seen until the Eth Of last
& 3 Seh tns t sSen muse 90 ,n d pne1
when suddenly from some unseen hand an
arrow was discharged, which struck him IN the
side at the place previously mentioned He ran
into the house, and the arrow was Withdrawn
by one Of the men. lie related what had hap
started out and secured the surrounding coun-
try for two miles about, but no traces oi friends
Or foes could be found. ,hort dis'ahce rem hla
been used IA n habitaton during the building
~ thar rough ediiice. The wounded man said
but a thorough search failed to reveal anything
that would corroborate his suspicion. The
party repaired 10 rest as usual the wounded
man climbing to the roof, to escape the mosqui-
toes he said. He soon fell asleep.
During tho night he was awakened by the
noise OF a scufe in the room below He glanced
down through the cracks In the roof, which was
made Of logs, and scene OF horror mot his gaze
The room was filled with Indians engaged In
Strengthening his companions lie became so
frightened that he was pOwerless TO move. and
so remained until long after the hends had de-
parted During the frghtful slaughter he no.
tced four white men among ne asSailants VINO
numbered between forty and nifty, one Of whom
the stranger who had freqnented the house
often under the guise Of friendship The
nends. when they had completed their work 81
destruction, gathered up the clothing Of their
victims, their arms, fourteen head OF horses, ana
three wagons and carried them on. They made
no effort to destroy tho building, and did not
even enter the st0rerOOm Of the place, which
wa, A small room at the back Of the main por-
ton. Some two hours after the departure OF the
destroyers, two mon crawled out OF the bushes
In tho vicinity and approached the house. They
called To Jenkins, who descended To the ground
and Joined them. They related tho story Of
Jumped ont u a back window and had hidden
themselves, the Indians not following, either
because they did not see the night, or because
they were satisfied with the work within. The
three men entered the house and surveyed the
scene.
Forty men lay dead upon the Moor some
| Of them horribly muulatcd. Two were miss rg,
and they proceeded 10 search for them. They
entered the stureroonh where they found the
objects OF their search one of them unframed,
the other slightly wounded. only one Of these
two lad been in tine storeroom during tho nj -
tack the other had sought refuge there during
the slaughter. We remarked To- the narrator at
this point that IL seemed rather singular That
forty or nifty Indians could ever ovorrowcr fifty
two white mon and not receive any injury them
selves. lie said that the attack was complete
surprise The Indians had broken In on them
while they were asleep, and killed mos of them
before they were awake. Aftef dellberaiiug Tor
some time the survivors decided what to do.
The Indians had overlooked three horses and a
wagon. These they would make use OF and start
for home. Travelling in the wagon until their
horses we're nearly played out they abandoned
II, and proceeded, after day or two Of rest, on
horseback. After enduring great hardshlps,
they finally reached Council nuns, win the as-
sistanee Of some returning pilgrims like them,
selves, who overlook them. The parry reacheu
the Missouri river on the 3D. OF july. On the
route they met no hostile Inlhans, and but Few
friendly ones Al Council Ilurs the party To-
mained together for some time, but finally d.
vlded, Jenkins and his companionS keepinE
together They had "A quantity OF gold, which
they disposed Of, and started on their journey
homeward.