The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14
Bodies Of Agent Meeker and the
Employees Found
WOMEN And CHILDREN REPORTED SAFE
Entire Disappearance OF the
Hostile Redskins.
AN EFFORT In THE INTEREST OF PEACE
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WHITE RIVER AGENCY, Oct. II,

WHITE RIVER AGENCY, Oct. IL,
Via RAwI1Ns, Wy. T., Oct. 13, 1879.
At last the goal is gained about which SO
much mystery had gathered, and the worst is
known. Soon after General Merritt relieved
Captain Payne his command was strengthened
by o company of the Third cavalry, and Com
pany II, of the Fifth cavalry numbering
eghty-three men besides officers. These COM
panies arrived OH the 7th, and Companies +,
X, II and I, of the Fourteenth infantry,
reached the command yesterday morning.
MERRITT's COMMAND.
After sending back Dodge's and the other dis
mounted cavalry, Merritt found himself with the
following troops
Flrst-A cavalry battalion, Colonel Compton
commanding, consisting of the following COM
panies Company l., Third cavalry, Captain
vroom; Company b, Fifth cavalry, Captain
Montgomery; Company A, Fifth cavalry, Cap
tain Auquria; Company M, Fifth cavalry, Cap
tain Babcock; Company /, Fifth cavalry, Cap
tain Kellogg and Company II, Fifth cavalry,
First Lieutenant Parkhurst. :.
Second-An infantry battalion, Major Bryant
commanding, consisting of Company I, Fourth
infantry, Captain Ferris Company b, Fourth
infantry, Captain Gum; Company c, Fourth
infantry, First Lieutenant Webster; Company
E. Fourth infantry; Company f, Fourth in
fantry, First Lieutenant Price; Company Z,
Fourteenth infantry, Captain Carpenter: Com
pany H, Fourteenth infantry, Captain Nc
Connie, and Company l, Fourteenth infantry,
First Lieutenant Taylor.
These troops comprised cavalrymen and in
fantrymen, exclusive of their officers and were
accompanied by about one hundred civilian
employees, all armed. Consequently General
Merritt had 700 men with whom to begin his
advance to-day on the White River Agency.
DISPOSITION OF THE TROOPS.
The movement was organized and began in
admirable style, with the Fourth infantry,
under Ferry, on the right the Fourteenth in
fantry. under Bryant, on the left; the cavalry,
under Compton, in the centre, and the trans
portation train with infantry guards bringing
up the rear. BY this disposition the infantry
took possession Of the hills and ridges too rough
for the passage of cavalry on both
sides Of the route. Thus, even with the Utes
in force on our front, as they were when
Thornburgh' advanced, they would have been
met at every point by companies to whose as
distance reinforcements could be directed mt
any moment. Scouts felt the way in advance
of the troops, but the least said Of most of the
scouts the better. Ascending a tributary of
Milk Creek to the crest of the divide between
the Bear and White rivers, the command
found itself near the entrance of the mar
row and dangerous canyon through which
flows Coal Creek, where it was thought the
Utes might make desperate attempt to repel
our advance to the agency The canyon, narrow
and precipitous is hemmcd in by mountains on
either side and would ordinarily prove strong
vantage ground for Defence but the Utes, if
they were near, had a wholesome respect for
General Merritts precautionary disposition.
Outgeneralled and probably outnumbered they
offered mot even a show of resistance. This
skttish canyon passed, the command advanced
into country where an Indian ambuscade be-
came impracticablc in face of ordinary military
precautions. Therefore the troops, excepting
the advance and rear guards, continued the
march in column, with the cavalry, OF course, in
front. Having reached ut dark q point from
eight to ten miles north OF the agency, General
Merritt ordered IA halt for the night. There
were indications along the way that the Indians
had retreated in great haste.
VICTIMS OF SAVAGE CRUELTY.
The bodies of four victims of savage cruelty
were discovered, and their names ascertained as
follows:-
CARL GOLDSTEIN, freight train driver.
JAMES MOORE, young man from Balm
bridge, Mass.
j. NJ CLARK, whose name is surinised from
its inscription on gem which he wore.
A soldier, name unknown, who had probably
fallen in Thornbnrgh's fight.
AT THE AGENCY.
This morning the command pushed on to the
White River agency, recently presided over by
Mr.. N. &. Mcckcr and found il reduced to still
smouldering ruins. All the buildings except
one, al unfinished storehouse. had been de-
stroyed by fire. The stockade surrounding the
place was blaclSened line of upright charcoal,
and the whole vicinity was deserted, save by
the bodies of the faithful old agent, his en-
ployes and his friends. What spec
tacle! Encountering it the eyes of
our troops, Injured Mt Paynes Camp to sights
and odors the most horrible, fell and turned
away. hundred yards or SO from his late resi-
dence lay Mr.. Mceker's body, having on it every
cvidenbe of having been beaten and dragged
about the grounds by chains for some time be-
fore his death. A blow had been given him on
the head and he was stripped of clothing. The
corpscs were almost unacceptable. The other
bodies discovered, partially burned or disfgured
by Indian barbarites, were gradually identified
MS those of the following persons:--
Mr. PRICE, formerly of Greeley, Coll whose
wife and two children were at the agency.
WILLIAM II. POST, also from Greeley.
whose wife and three children are said To be i'm
Yonkcrs, N Y.
+. w. ESKRlDGE, whose wife resides ut
Marshalltown Iowa. his former home.
FRANK BUSTER, from Greeley, employed
ut tho Agency.
Mr.. SHEPARD, first name unknown, from
Greeley.
MIR. THOMPSON initials unknown, also from