The Republican journal., 1877-09-13
a Terrible Tale.

and brother, who had just been released
by the Indians. Further particulars,
given by a Tribune correspondent, are Of
thrilling interest:
Mrs. Cowan and sister, Miss Carpenter,
We're mounted upon Indian ponies, while
the man, Mr.. Carpenter (all of Raiders
burg. NJ. T.), came atoot. They had been
members of Il pleasure party to the Gey-
ser region which had been captured by
the Tetreating NeZ Perces on the Oath,
and had had miraculous escape. They
were just making their camps when a
small party of Indians came in, soon to
be followed by a second, who told the
whites they must 90 to Joseph's camp.
This done, the savages moved on after
a while, mounting themselves upon the
horses of the excursionists, to whom they
gave the use of their ponies. The second
day, when III ravine, a body Of some 60
Indians suddenly surrounded the devoted
party Of ten whites, who were, with one
exception, close together. and began
firing upon them-one Oldham being
killed and the three | have mentioned
and Mr.. CoWan escaping unhurt, and
the remainder either getting into the
timber or being killed which is not yet
known. But for the escaping four an eX-
perlence was reserved not often recorded,
except as an episode of Indian warfare,
and may be briefly narrated as follows:
After the sllilmish the two men and two
women were carried along with the IN
dians, the monotony Of the day being final
ly relieved by the shooting of Mr. Cowan.
He fell from his pony and being caught
in Mrs. COWan'S arms. was again shot
and his brains beaten out as she held
him in her arms. He was a LAWYER at
Radcrsburg, and received his first shot
from a Nez Perez who had been wounded
in the head in the Gibbon fight. The
second shot was administered with re-
volver by another wounded savage, and
a third completed the work by dashng
out bis brains with a rock, as his Shrek
ing wife was pulled off by a crowd of IN
dams, who thirsted for her blood. The
poor woman, hardly year married, beg
ged the savage brutes to kill her outright
not surprising she would be spared a mo-
ment, hut no mmderOuS attempt was
made upon her or her Young sister. The
brother, +. Carpenter, was next singled
out, and being taken off 4 short distance
and ordered to kncel, Il burly savage
raised his gun to fire, when the intended
victim, bethinking him of the Roman
Catholicism Of the Nez Perez. crossed
himself. As the magic symbol was traced
before the Indian who was to shoot him
he hesitated, dropped his gun, rose to
his feet, told Carpenter to go, as after
that 81 can no kill YOU he said.
a council of five was then held, to dc
eide the fate of the three trembling pl.is-
oners, at which young Carpenter was
present, his sisters being sheltered. for
the time, in the camp of the chief White
Bird. The action Of this chief forms q
part Of the romance Of this episode. From
the beginning he appears to have object
ed to dealing violently With the prison
crs, and advocated the release of the en-
tire party. He continued his kindly Off
ces even after the attack upon the un1or-
tunate company, and the murder of Cow
an During the council the demand for
the blood OF the three prisoners was loud
and determined, one Indian detailing.
with savage earnestness, the fact that
the whites had killed his squaw, his ia
ther and his son, and, appealing for the
chance Tor revenge, he could not be APP
peased. The white young Carpenter sat
by, his life and that of his two sisters
hanging IN the balance, and the argll-
ments OF the savage council proving Of
deadly interest to him, who but an hour
before had knelt down to die, leaving his
sisters to the mercy of the Indians.
While the council was sitting Young
Carpenter, dcspalring OF escape, and fear
ing for the lives and honor Of his sisters.
appealed to it to sacrifice him and spare
them, asking if he were to be killed that
they be sent in safety to the settlement.
TO this Il warrior named Joseph (not the
chiet), who had shown friendly intentions
from the beginning, responded that if
possible the wish should be granted and
that he himself would perform the ser
vice. The council Of five voted three to
two in favor of release and life. and White
Bird bore the news OF their escape to the
camp, where the trembling women await
ed their fate. And then White Bird, late
~ so cool and deliberate, became nervous
and excited, fearing reconsideration by
the council, or defiance Of its conclusion
by the bloods and squaWs. "lou 90
quick 90 by this trail-don't stop to
camp or eat, OF water your ponies-dont
go up the river-hulTy to the Hot Springs
and JON your people there get away
hurry.' And mounting the almost naked
women upon broken-doWn ponies. and
giving each a small piece Of bread and
some matches, Carpenter himself going
afoot White Bird guided them Il mile out
of camp, and then left them to wend
their way to where they met Lieutenant
Schofied. The women were hatless.
shawlless; the man had been robbed of
everything except his shirt, trousers and
boots, and, as the trail was rough and the
nights were very cold, the trip to the SOL |
dicrs' camp almost without food, with no
protection tor the women but an old quilt |
presented by White Bird, and made in |
momentary dread OF recapturc, must have |
been one to which the term horrible NAV |
be APPLY applied. This is the story as
obtained direct from the escaping party ; |
and While late news from the Yellow |
stone indicates the escape of all but per
haps three OF the eNcursionists, it is vet |
impossible to conclude positively as to |
the number killed. OF the Helena party |
mentioned by Lieutenant Schoteld, one |
is known to have escaped, and others will |
probably soon be heard FROM or Of This |
latter party WAS attacked while in camp,
and has perhaps scattered to the hills, or
been captured, if not killed. One of the
Helena party was shot, and, attempting
to escape, fell and his assalant rushing
upon him, he begged for his life '.Have
you got any money ?" asked the Indian.
"les, 500 in my pocket" Give it to
me and CO. replied the Indian, and Sc
curing the funds he moved off with his
price OF blood, while the wounded man
escaped to the timber AS write. the
rescued party is between here and Boze-
man, where the citizens are raising a
party to go to the scene of the attack to
search for the missing men.
Heavy Storm.
New YORK, Sept. s. The heavy storm
OF yesterday sent Il tremendous tide roll
ing in upon the coast, and much damage
was done at Long Branch and Coney
Island. The waves swept over the rail
road ut HIGHLANDS