Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-02-14
SUCCESSFUL BATTLE.
THIRTY.SIX INDIAN MURDER.
ERS SURPRISED IN TIL Err
PLACE or RETREAT
AND SLAIN BY SET
TIERS.
A short, vigorous and successful Winter
campaign In the mountains.

4
campaign In the mountains.
Knocks the Peace Policy all out Of
Joint.
From gentleman just throcgh from
the Lower Weiser, We Learn that abou,
three weeks ago. information was re-
ceived by the settlers on the Weiser,
that the band OF Indians who raided
that valley last Summer, drove off
stock, aud killed Munday, aud two
others who pursued them, killed Dan.
Crooks and his companion while sleep
ing in their camp aud made their es.
cape into the mountains bstween the
Payette and south fork of Salmon river,
we're returning to the Payette. A
company was 5000 organized, armed
aud equipped for short camraign to
intercept them. The number Of men
as near as we can learn was somewhere
between 20 and 80. They proceeded
across to the Payette and soon found
signs of the Indians. They quietly re-
connoitered aud made discovery of their
camp. Waiting favorable opportuni.
ty when all were in camp and not in
the least expecting the near presence of
white men, they suddenly surprised
and attacked them and killed thirty-six
of their number, nearly annihilating
their whole camp. Only two or three
are known to have escaped death.
Dissemination Of their bodies many
we're identified as Indians who had
been fed by the settlers at their houses
before the Bannock war, who then pro-
fessed great friendship for the whites,
but who on the first outbreak fed from
the valley and went to the Malheurs,
and were afterwards known to be with
the hostiles in Umatilla county. When
the hostiles scattered after Miles battle
on the Umatilla, this band retreated
and crossed Snake not far from the
mouth of Powder river, thence went
into the skirts of the upper Weiser set.
Elements and stole many valuable horses
belonging to Munday and otaers.
Munday, s. s. Smith and two other
settlers followed their trail into the
mountains to recover their stock and
all but Smith were killed, and he wa:
badly wounded and only escaped by
concealment in thick brush aud timber
under cover of which he, 10 about
days time, succeeded 10 reaching the
Goose Greek house, some 25 miles dis
tant, being followed by several of the
band to within short distance oil
Goose Creek. The murderers then
went up tributary Of Payette and sur.
priscd Dan. Crooks and his companion
aud shot one of them 10 his bed and
Crooks escaping only few yards fion
his bed AMI partly dressed, was perfect
ly perforated with bullets. They then
fed into the mountains towards south
fork Of Salmon. Some Of the scouts Of
the command which came from the
Weiser few days afterwards, pursued
them about rs miles, and came in sight
Of their camp fires, came back and re
ported. But the command was rol
then in condition to pursue. Since
then they have been seen about 4C
miles south of Warrens in the canyon
of the south fork Of Salmon by some
Warrens miners who we're prospecting
and we had been informed that part,
of miners had it in contemplation, 81
soon as the snow would permit, to q
and surprise them. But the Weise,
lsettlers have saved them such necessity
The band was composed of south fork
of Salmon Indians, who are Snakes, q
few Payettes, some Of the Weisers aud
one or two renegade Nez Perces and
j Umatillas. For the last 1S months nc
man was safe to go through the region
where they roam unless in company
| with several others and we'll armed
Their humiliation is God send to tn,
miners and settlers who do business i.
that region. 1t is evident chat many o
our settlers in future mean business i,
connection with all hostile and treach
crous Indians. add know who are mas
tcrs Of the country.
| Sitting KRul1.