The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-14
THE AWFUL TRUTH.

The White River Agency Massacre Con
IlrmatiOn OF the Worst Reports Con
corning Agent Meeker's Fate-GeneEa
MeFritt's Command at the Scene Of Des
olati0n.
RAwLlNs, Wy, October 1S.-Emll Web
Der and George Fuhr, two couriers, have
just arrived from what was a few days agt
the White River Agency. From them
learn the following particulars: Genera
Merritt advanced upon the agency on the
1lth inst. On his way he found many
dead bodies, and among others the body
Of Carl Goldsteln, an Israelite, who efthere
with Government supplies for the Utes al
White River agency. He was found In a
gulch six miles this side OF the agency
shot twice through the shoulder. He was
about two miles from his wagons. A
teamster named Julius Moore, formerly
from cambridge, Mass, who was with
him when he left here, was found about
q hundred yards from Goldstein, two bul.
let holes in his breast and badly hacked
and mutilated with knife or hatchet.
AS the command advanced through the
canyon. they came to an old coal mine. In
1t was found the dead body Of an agency
employe named Dresser. He had evi.
IDENTIFY been. wounded and crawled in the
mine to die. His coat was folded up and
placed under his head for pillow. Beside
him lay Winchester rife containing eight
cartridges. In one Of his pockets letter
was found, which, as near as the courier
could remember, was as follows:
WHITE RIVER, September 20, 1p.M
Major ThOrnbury:
! will come with Chief Douglas and an.
other chief and meet you tomorrow.
Everything Is quiet here and Douglas Is
flying the United States flag. We have
been on guard three nights and will be to.
night, not that we expect any trouble, but
because there might be. Did YOU have
any trouble coming through the canyon.
[Signed. NO. MRELER,
Indian Agent.
On entering the agency a scene OF great
desolation presented itself. All the build.
ings excepting one were burned to the
ground and not a living thing In sight ex.
cept the command. The Indians had
taken everything excepting the -four and
decamped. The women and children
were missing and nothing whatever could
be found To indicate what had become OF
them. They either have been murdered
and buried or else taken away as hostages.
Their dreadful and. uncomfortable fate
calls forth the most profound sympathy.
The dead body OF Father Meeker was
found about 100 yards from his house, IL.
ing on bis back, shot through the mead,
the left side OF the head mashed in with
some blunt instrument, piece Of barrel
stave driven into the mouth and one OF
his hands and arms badly burned. The
dead body of W. FL. Post, Father Meeker's
assistant, was found between the building
and the river, with a bullet hole
through the left ear and one
under the ear. He and Father
Meeker were stripped naked. Another
employe named Eaton was found dead,
stripped naked and bundle Of paper
bags in his arms. His face was badly
eaten by wolves and there was bullet
hole in the left breast. Frank Dresser,
brother Of the man found in coal mine,
was found badly burned. He had with.
out doubt been Killed instantly, as a bullet
had passed through his heart. The bodies
OF Eaton, Thompson, Price Eskridge and
all other employees not named were also
found. Eskridge was found two miles
this side OF the agency naked and bullet
hole through the head.
In the position occupied by the Indians
during Thornburg's battle, In a breast
work made Of stone, was found the dead
body OF an unknown white man, dressed
in buckskin suit, sitting on his knees, his
gun in position to fire. He was shot
through the forehead. From this it ap.
pears that the Indians are not alone In
their hellish work.
The supposition is that the Indians have
gone South to join the Southern Utes.
The impression among the officers OF
Merritt's command Is that the Indians who
fought Thornburg numbered at least 70O