The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-06-28
Scattered settlements Destroyed 6y
q

A Portland, Oregon, dispatch says: The
news received at Lewiston, Salmon River, is
that the Indians of Joseph's band assembled
on Camas Prairie, June Is, and that four
whites had been killed on the Salmon River,
near the mouth of the Whitebird River. The
Indians attacked the settlersin camp on the
prairie, killed Benjamin Norton, his wife,
and two or three others, attacked all teams
on the road, and have possession of the
whole prairie except the town of Mt. Idaho,
which they threatened. Friday evening a
force of a hundred troops, two friendly
Indians, and several citizens, left the Lapwai
garrison under the command of Col. Perry
for Mt. Idaho. Soon after news was received
that Capt. Jas. Baker, Samuel Benedict,
wife, and four children, Harry Mason,
Henry Eifers, and Warren's eIpressman,
had been killed on the Salmon
River; also, that a pack train of
forty mules had been attacked
near Cold Spring, and THAT two whites,
named Davenport and Ausley, were killed.
Two half.breed Indians escaped. After the
arrival of Col. Perry, a dispatch came
thr, ugh to the effect that Col. Perry arrived
at Mt. Idaho Saturday morning, and found
the reports of those killed true, and that
the Indians had gone to Salmon River, and
the troops were in pursuit.
Messages from Kamokoi, brought by In
dian runners to the agency, state that twenty.
nine whites had been killed, and that the
whites had killed White Bird, chief of the
band, and his family. L. E. Winston has an
organization of sixty men, partly armed, for
home duty in case of a n emergency. Two
companies of Infantry are expected on the
steamer from Wallawala tonight, and
twenty-five cavalrymen from Wallawala to-
morrow. Five hundred Indians are OIL Hog.
mans Creek, but there are no hostiles there
yet.
Later intelligence, dated June 10, says:
Troops, with one hundred and fifty men from
Mt. Idaho, encountered the Indians at the
head of White Bird Canon. The troops dis.
mounted and left a few soldiers and twenty
friendly Indians to hold their horses. The
Indians opened fire npon the troops. The
fighting was continued for some time. The
friendly Indians became alarmed. The
soldiers guarding the horses could see the
Indians were getting the best of the fight
and the soldiers were retreating. The Cap
tain of the citizens and Sergeant Lytle and
one soldier are known to be killed. The
whole horse guard of Indians and
whites broke and n some for
Mt. Idaho and som for Lapwai, leaving
the horses to run loose over
the prairie. Those coming to Lapwar never
blOpptu I'LL lucy IcdCucu buO pUsbs u1duy
houses on the prairie have been burned.
Another soldier who reached the garrison at
eight o'clock on the morning of the 18th
from the fight, reported that the troops were
on foot, and surrounded by the Indians in 9
canon, and in a hand to hand fight. Col
Perry and about one-half of the command
are said to have been killed, and the re-
mainder surrounded and fighting against
odds when the soldiers left.
The Indians engaged in the fight are the
non.treaty Nezperces. They, together with
other disaffected tribes, number about two
hundred effective warriors. There is a gen
eral anxiety, and the whole country is wild
with alarm. The Indians are massacreinl
men, women and children in the Camal
Prairie, and the settlers are fleeing in al
directions for safety. General Howard j
now at Lewistown, but is powerless, owinl
to the inadequate military forces. Troop
have been ordered from a number of post
in the department, and will soon be on thei
way to the scene. General Mcdowell, com
manding the Division of the Pacific, ha
been telegraphed to, and speedy assistanc
demanded.