Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-25
THE NATIVES OF EASTERN Me-
vADA.

Battle of Bear River.
A writer in the Cherry Creek Indepen-
dent contributes some "reminiscences of
early life in Eastern Nevada. The story is
an interesting one, and as such we give it
TO the readers Of the SENTINEL. Says the
writer:
There is something melancholy, yet in
teresting, in looking in Nevada at the sta
ton houses once used for the rest and ac-
commodation OF passengers, and the relay
OF horses on the overland stage route across
the continent-now deserted and in ruins.
Over alkali flats and dry and level plains,
with no vegetation save sage brush cat in
tervals some wild flowers in summer)
through the mountain gorge and canyon,
and sometimes over the mountains them
selves, the journey was not without its
pleasing features, while it presented many
hardships.
These road stations that once welcomed
the weary traveller, now only in ruins, re-
| mind the chance visitor of the inimitable
nature of worldly things. They were com
posed Of two buildings, one story high, Of
rough stone or adobe, andlog roof covered
with clay. There was a space or way be-
tween the buildings for the passage of the
inmates and the horses. This entrance
was furnished with a gate which, while
closed, made the buildings a walled
enclosure 75x100 feet. There were
cooking, eating and sleeping rooms and a
stable for horses. Home stations, as they
were called, at a greater distance apart
than the ordinary distance Of 10 miles,
were Of larger dimensions. and contained
wheelwright and blacksmith shops, and
such essentials of material as were neces-
sary for the repair OF the running stock.
The stations were regarded with jealousy
by the Indians, who found them to be
camps and Notifications for the protection
of the travellers across the plains. Since
the construction OF the great railway, sell
dom would the white man disturb the mo-
notonous life of the Indian, were it noc>for
the explorations for, and discoveries OF sill
yer and other mines. The Indians blame
the white man for he destruction Of the
deer, game and even the pine tree upon
which he depends FOR subsistence. He has
not as yet become versed in the agricultu-
raj and Industrial pursuits Of the whites,
who increase SO rapidly around, thrusting
him off from the grounds he had always
been taught to regard as his own. He has
been caught between two extremes-his
own simple way OF life on the one hand,
depending on hunting game and pine nuts,
dlid uBOn tiO "a ph NV
other. He has not been able, as yet, to
throw off the old life and embrace the new.
His habits are like his personal costume
half Indian, half white man, exhibit
ing in their want Of uniformity their re-
markable contrast. The races in Nevada
are chiefly the Washoes, Paw-wahs, or Pr
utes, Paranas, Shoshones and Goshutes.
There is a separate distinction OF land
among them-each tribe combining itself to
its particular district, or dwelling grounds.
During the existence of our civil war the
Indians became q formidable obstacle to
the safe transmission of passengers and
the mail. They had, doubtless, been in
stigated by the Mormons, and had organ
lied in large bodies, well supplied with fire.
arms to bid defiance to the whites. They
made war on the paper wagons" as they
called the coaches carrying the mail. The
Government was required TO place in Ne
vada troops which were raised in Cali
fornia for eastern war service, to check
alike the Indians and the Mormons. These
volunteer troops left California in the fall
of 1862. They marched overland to Fort
Ruby. Here two companies were left.
The remainder Of the regiment, under the
command Of p. Edward Conner, went on
to Fort Crittenden, accompanied by a bat
TALON of cavalary, under the command of
Major McDermit. On account OF disturb
ances apprehended from the Mormons,
Common directed his march to Salt Lake.
When the forces arrived near to TIE Jor-
dan river, a special messenger from Brig
ham Young forbade Connor passing
over the river, as sure t. pro-
woke hostilities, and be followed by
consequences of an alarming nature.
But Connor, without the least hesitation.
in defiance Of the notification he had re-
ceived, pushed across the river and en-
camped a mile east of Salt Lake City. The
fertilization which he erected there was
called Camp Douglas. The bluster Of the
Mormons passed away in peace, but the
Indians becoming troublesome, the troops
under Connor's command were employed
to subdue them. In January, 1868, q bat
tie was fought at Bear river. The Indians,
about 500 strong, were resolute and def
ant, and had planted themselves on the
bank Of this river at a place which natu-
rally afforded military defense in the way
Of Notifications and breastwork. They
were well supplied with provisions, arms
and ammunition, and challenged Conner
to attack them. He did not fail to accept
the challenge and marched towards them
with 200 men and two howitzers, The
depth OF the snow prevented the cannon
from going forward. The cavalry, in ad-
vance of the infantry, first reached the
Indian entertainments. Impatient in wait
ing for the coming of the infantry, rather
than wait in the cold, the men asked per-
mission from the officer in command of
their little force to give the order of at
tack. He consented, but the attack was
repealed with a loss of fourteen
killed and several wounded. They were
obliged to fall back and wait for
the coming up Of the infantry. A COM
bined attack Of infantry and cavalry caused
the Indians, after hard fighting, to give
way. Their loss was computed at $50,
while many had taken to flight, and, being
wounded, persisted from exposure to the
severity Of the weather and rant of care.
The loss on the side Of the troops was
twenty-five killed and seventy wounded.
The wounded we're taken to Fort Douglas
and properly cared for. The Indians after
this defeat did not get together again in
such large numbers, but confined them
selves to predatory attacks in small bands.
The troops were then detailed for service
in squads to garrison the overland station
houses. A guard Of two or more rode on
the coaches from station to station, some
fifteen miles apart, to protect the passen'
gers.
About the month Of May, 1868, at Can
yon station, while two men and a hostlel
were engaged in procuring water for the
use Of the station, they were attacked by
the Indians. They were Corporal Harvey,
Josiah Abbott and the hostler, who was
called " Deaf Bill" from a defect in his
hearing. Harvey was shot through the
head and instantly killed Abbot was shot
through the shoulder, but with the help Of
Deaf BILL successfully escaped. Not
long after this, Jacob Berger and Jacol
Elliot, while hunting on the mountains
about q mile from the station, were fired
upon by Indians in ambush. Berger was
at once killed. and Elliot, though severely
wounded, sustained himself and got away
TO within three or four hundred yards Of
the station, where he fell dead.
This was an Inflated station. 1t was