The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-27
Thirtysix Indian Murderers Surprised
in their Place Of Retreat and Slain
by Settlers.

j
From gentleman just through from
the Lower Weiser we learn that about
three weeks ago information was re-
csived by the settlers on the Weiser
that band of Indians who raided that
valley last summer drove off stock,
and killed Munday and two others
who pursued them, killed Dan. Crooks
and his companion while sleeping in
their camp, and made their escape into
the mountains between the Payette
and south fork of Salmon river, were
returning to the Payette A company
was organized, armed and equipped
for short campaign to intercept them.
The number of men, as near as we can
learn, was somewhere between 20 and
80. They proceeded across to the Pay
cite and soon found signs of the In
dians. They quietly reconnoitered and
made discovery of their camp. Wait
ing a favorable opportunity when all
were in camp and not in the least ex-
pecting the near presence of white men,
they suddenly surprised and attacked
them, and killed sc of their number
nearly annihilating their whole camp.
Only two or three are known to have
escaped death.
Many were identified as Indians who
had been fed by the settlers at their
houses before the Bannack war, who
then professed great friendship for the
whites, but who, on the first outbreak,
fled 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 reiterated and crossed Snake
river not far from the mouth of Pow
der river, thence went into the skirts
of the upper Weiser settlements and
stole many valuable horses belonging
to Munday and others. Munday, S.
S. Smith and two other settlers fol-
lowed their trail into the mountains to
recover their stock, and all but Smith
were killed. The murderers then
went up tributary of Payette and
surprised Dan. Crooks and his COM
panion, and shot one of them in his
bed, and Crooks escaping only few
yards from his bed and partly dressed,
was perfectly perforated with bullets.
They then fled into the mountains to-
wards the south fork of Salmon. Since
then they have been seen about 40
miles south of Warrens in the canyon
of the south fork of Salmon by some
Warrens miners who were prospecting,
and had been informed that party of
miners had it in contemplation, as soon
as the snow would permit, to go and
surprise them. But the Weiser settlers
have saved them of such necessity.
The band was composed of south fork
of Salmon Indians, who are Snakes, a
few Payettes, some of the Weisers and
one or two renegade Nez Perces and
Umatillas. For the last eighteen
months no man was safe to 60 through
the region where they roam unless in
company with several others and all
we'll armed. The anihilation is god
send to the miners and settlers who do
business in that region. 1t is evident
that many of our settlers in future
mean business in connection with all
hostile and treacherous Indians, and
know who are masters of the country.
Indian Murders I'm the Middle.West.
DEADwoOD, d. T., Feb. PA
courier arrived from Fort Meade
yesterday bringing news that two
freight trains were attacked by In
dams a few miles from Rapid City.
He stated that the Indians fred sew
eral volleys into the town to prevent
citizens from going to the rescue of
the teamsters. Another band of In
dams attacked Sulphur Springs sta
ton on the Bsmark road killing one
man and running off four horses,
Two companies OF the seventh cav
airy, under command ofCapt. French
started yesterday from Fort Meade
in pursuit of the marauding savages.
The general opinion is that Little
VOLTS band OF Cheyennes are max
ing their way to Sitting Bulls camp.