The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-24

relied shotgun, walked to KniEht'aWagon
who had the wounded men, and was
about twenty feet in the rear, and MS he
raised his piece he said Lord, my God,
receive their spirits for il is for the King.
dom Of Heaven sake that we do this, when
he fired and killed two men, Samuel
knight had muzzle loading rifle, and he
shot and killed the three men, then
struck the wounded boy on the head who
fell dead. in the meantime drew five
shooter from my belt, which accidently
went oil, cutting across McMurdy's
buckskin pants in front, below the crotch.
McMurdy said Brother Lee you are
excited, take things cool you was near
killing me. Look where the ball cut
pointing TO the place in his pants. Al
this moment heard scream Of child.
looked up and say an Indian have
little boy by the hair dragging him out OF
the hind end OF a wagon, with knife in
hand, getting ready to cut his throat.
sprang for the Indian with my revolver
in my hand, and shouted ut the top OF
my voice, "nrick coma cot too sooet."
stop you fool. The child was terror
stricken and his chin was bleeding; ]
supposed it was cutwitha kniic, but ai-
terwards learned that 1t was done BY the
wagon box IA the Indian yanked the boy
down by the hair OF the head. had no
sooner rescued this child than another In
dian seized little girl by the hair; res
cued her assoon as ! could speak, told
the lndiansthat they must not hurt the
children, that / would die before they
should be hurt; that we would buy the
children Of them. Before this time the In
dian1 had reached up around the wagon
inquest OF blood, and dispatched the two
runaway wounded men. In Justice to my
statement, / would say that il my shooter
had not prematurely exploded, | would
have had hand in dispatChing the five
wounded. had lost all control OF N.Y.
self and scarce knew what ! was
about, ! saw au Indian pursue a littl
girl who was fleeing. He caught her
about one hundred feet from the wagon
and plunged his knife through her. | |
said to McMurdy that he had better drive
the children to Hamblin's rancho and
give them some nourishment while |
would go down and get my horse at camp. |
Passing along the road saw the dead |
strung along, distance Of about half |
mile; women and children were killed |
by the Indians. | saw Shurtz with the
Indians and no other white man with
him. When came to the men they lay |
about rod apart. Here ! came up
with Higbee, Bishop smith and the rest
OF the company. As came up Higbee
said lie, us search these pris-
oners for valuables,' and asked me to
help him. He gave me hat to
hold. Several men were already engaged |
in searching bodies. replied was un.
we'll and wanted to get upon my horse
and go to the rancho and nurse myseli. |
My request was granted. Reaching |
Hambiin's ranche, being heartsick and |
worn ont, ] lay down on my saddle
blanket and slept, and knew hut little of |
what transpired during the night. About
daybreak in the morning | heard the
voices oil Col. Dame and Isaac c. Hairht. |
| heard some very angry words pass be-
tween them, which drew my attention
Dame said he would have 10 report the
destruction OF the emigrant camp and
company, Haight said, allow, AS an In.
dian massacre Dame said she did not
know so well about that. This reply
seemed to irritate Haight, who
spoke quite loudly, saving GLOW
the hell can you report it any other way
without duplicating yoursell2' At this
Dame lowered his voice almost to 4
whisper; could not hear what he said,
and the conversation ceased. got up
and saw u crowd, among others the boy
who was pulled Ivy the hair OF his head |
out OF \ wagon by an Indian and saved
by me; that boy ! took home and kept
him until Dr.. Forney, the government
agent, came to gather up the children
and take them East; he took the boy with
the others; that boys name was William
Fancher; his father was Captain OF the
train; he was taken East and adopted BY
man in Nebraska named Richard
Sloan; he remained East several years
and then returned to Utah, and is now
convict in the Utah penitentiary, having
been convicted during the past year OF
highway robbery; he is now known by the
name OF Idaho Bill, but his true
name is William Fancher. His little
sister was also taken East and
is now the wife OF man working for the
u. p. Railroad, near Green River. The
boy, now man, has got scar on his
chin, caused by cut on the wagon.box.
Those who are curious enough to examine
will lind scar on the ball OF his left foot,
caused by Il deep cut made by nm axe
while he was with me. ! got breakfast
that morning, then all hands returned to
the scene OF slaughter to bury the dead.
The bodies were all in nude state; the
indians through the night had stripped
them oil every vestige OF clothing. Many
oil the parties were laughing and talking
as they carried the bodies TO the ravine
for burial. TheyTere just covered over
u little, but did not long remain so
for the wolves dug them up, and after
eating the flesh from them the bones laid
on the ground until buried, some time
after, by Government military officer.
AT the time Of the burying OF the bodies
Dame and Haight got into another quar-
rel. Dame seemed to be terror.stricken,
and again said he would have to publish
it. They were about twopaces from me.
Dame spoke low, as il careful to avoid
being heard. Knight spoke loud, and
said, "You know you Counseled and or
dered me TO have them used up" Dame
said, al did not think there were 10 many
women and children. thought they
were nearly all killed by the Indians"
Haight said, at is too late In the day
ior you to back water. You know YOU
ordered and counseled it, and now YOU
want to back out" Dame said, "Have
you the papers for that?7 or 'show the
papers for that" This enraged Haight,
and Dame walked of. daight said,
''you throw the blame on me and will
be revenged upon youif have to meet
you in hell to get it" From this place
we rode to the wagons. We found them
stripped ot their covers and every par.
ticle OF clothing; even the feather beds
had been ripped open and their contents
turned out on the ground in looking Tor
plunder, lcrOssed the mountains byth
Indian trail, taking my little Indian boy
with me on my horse. The gathering mp
OF the property and cattle was left in
charge Of Bishop p. X. Smith. The les.
timony Of Smith in regard to the proper.
ty and the disposition OF it was very
nearly correct. must not forget TO saw