Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-01-31
BLACK HILLSATR0cIT7ES.
MURDERS COMMITTED BY A BAND OF
CHEYENNE INDIANS,

Mihutk0 NtMMA y hANU VI
CHEYENNE INDIANS,
CUSTER Cry BLACK Ilills), Dec. 25,
1S7G.-The past week has been pro-
litc of Indian depredations, the first
since the 9th OF September last, when
four men were surprised while asleep
upon the very spot where ycar CORE.
spondent's tent now stands, murdered,
and theil bodies horribly mutilated.
Tuesday night last, a freight train,
consisting OF four iour-horso teams :. J
five mon, on their way from Cheycp
to Custer, with -four and grain, en-.
campcd on Indian Creek, little stream
noted for its dangerous surroundings,
sevcnty-fi five miles south of here The
wagons were corralled, the mules turn
cd out TO grazc, and the men, grown
reckless by the months of quietudc
that had prevailed, went asleepin their
tent without posting guard.
The night was bitter cold, and as
the last ray OF light from the young
moon disappeared, dozen Chcyenncs,
returning from their defeat at the
hands Of Gen. Mckenzie, and embit.
tered thereby, silently crawled upon
the sleepers, and when within a dis.
tance of five feet from the tent poured
a volley of pistol shots into the can
vas. Thus suddenly aroused from
slumber, the men were completely ut
the mercy of their yindictiyo foes,
Nolley after vollcy raincd upon the
tcamsters, two of whom were killed at
the first fire. The other three mirac-
nlously escaped aud by making o wide
detour, succeeded ia reaching Hot
Creek, distant six miles, at midnight.
A squad of soldiers, augmented by civ
ilans, at once FASTENED to the locality,
and found the corpses of b. G. stephens
Of Salt Lake, and German named
"Fritz," Of Colorado, lying in the tent,
their bodies literally chopped to pieces
with n butchers cleavcr which had
been taken from wagon.
The contents of the wagons lay in
piles upon the ground, having been
empticd from the sacks, which were
missing Tho wagon boxes had been
riddlcd with bullets, and a large guam.
tity OF cartridge shells were scattered
over the ground. The Indians and
six horses were not TO be found.
The following day Frank Eclastadt,
a pony rider, started from Hot Creek
for Red Cloud Agency, with a heavy
mail, and when short distance out
was attacked by probably the same
party OF Indians, as il numbered eleven
warriors with led horses. lie gallop.
cd to the top of bluff and at once as.
sumcd tho aggressive by opening a
wcll-directed fire upon the savages,
who circlcd around him, and with yell
and wboop gradually hemmed him in,
not, however, until he had unscatcd
two OF the devils. The situation be.
coming critical, he remountcd his pony
and made dash to break the line,
but his horse fell with a fatal bullet
wound ere he had mado half the dis.
tance. Quickly recovering himself,
and with u revolver in each hand, the
plucsy mail carrier continued the
charge on foot, and succeeded in break.
ing through the Gordon and escaping
to clump OF cottonwood that stood
near, strange TO relate, unbarmed. The
Indians did not pursue. The heroic
mail carrier continued his trip on foot,
and arrived in safety the following
evening.
Large numbers OF Indians were seen
on the bluffs around Indian and Hot
Greeks throughout Wednesday, and
late In tho afternoon they made u most
determinsd attempt to stampede the
stage stock, which was enclosed 10 a