The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-04-28
Miners Massacred En- Route for The Hills.
CAMP CANToNMENT RENO,
April II. 1877.

CAMP CANToNMENT RENO,
April II, 1877.
Editor Cheyenne Leader:
On Tuesday, April Sd, Sergeant
O'Donnell, with an escort of ten men,
left this cantonment, in charge of two
wagons loaded with logs, en- route to
Fort Fetterman. On going into camp
at Dry Fork, Powder river, Wednes-
day, April 4th, one of the escort, Fryer
by name, becoming tired of the mo-
notonous life of a soldier, and being
convinced that rich mineral deposits
awaited his labor in the Black Hills,
bid adieu to rusty bacon and old beans,
and joined his fortunes to a party of
miners journeying towards Deadwood
City, making the third of the party,
the two miners names being Smith
and Rand. This small company trav-
eled OF without interruption until the
afternoon of Thursday, April 9Th.
Prior to that time nothing denoting
the presence of Indians had been seen,
and when least apprehensive of danger
the party, on emerging from a %ravine,
were met by a murderous fire, which
killed Smith instantly, wounded Rand
mortally, and Fryer in the right Shout
der. The fire of the Indians could not
help being effective, as they fired upon
their victims from a distance of fifteen
yards. Fryer managed by great exer-
tons to crawl to another ravine, a half
a mile distant, and there the poor, I'M
fortunate fellow lay, in a recumbent
position, watching the movements Of
the savages, who were busy rifling,
scalping and mutilating the bodies of
his late companions. The Indians no.
vered around the scene until the next
morning, when they decamped, with
out trying to find the wounded man.
Fryer, by almost superhuman efforts,
succeeded in reaching u old camp on
Powder river, where he arrived Satur-
day evening, having suffered untold
privations and torments. AS luck
would have it, he met there the next
day a mail party belonging to the can
torment, on its return from Fort Fet-
terman, and he was cared for and
brought back to this post.
BURYING THE DEAD.
When the news of the massacre
reached this post, Lieut.. Price, Fourth
Infantry, with an escort of fifteen men,
was detailed to render the last sad rites
to the deceased. Your correspondent
awaited himself Of the opportunity Of
assisting in this sorrowful duty. We
left the post on Monday. April 9th, and
reached the place of conflict Tuesday,
where the scene that revealed itself
was loathsome in the extreme. There
in close proximity laid the bodies of
Smith and Rand, perforated with bull
lets and mutilated beyond recognition,
the latter's tongue being removed from
his mouth, and placed across his face.
After giving the remains decent burial,
we returned to the post.
SKETCHES OF THE DEAD.
Mr.. Rand was a thorough-going
miner, of considerable experience in
several mining countries. The gold
excitement of 80 found him with a
host of others in California, where he
reaped a golden harvest, which was lost
in great speculative enterprises. In
conversation with your correspondent
recently, he expressed hope of striking
something rich this summer in tue
Black Hills.
Mr.. Smith removed here last fall,
where he procured a situation in the
Quartermaster's Department, and by
his upright dealings and manly ways
won the respect and confidence of al
that knew him. He was young in the
''panning out" business, but like Mr..
Rand, hopeful in his a~nticipations.
What a pity that they should he cut
down by the treacherous Sioux.