The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-16
THE UTE WAR.

Gen. Merritt Arrives Mt the Desolated Axep-
cy and recovers the dead bodies of Agent
heeker and Employees.
Emil Webber and Geo. Fiehr, two couriers
arrived at Rawlins, Wyoming, October 18th,
from what was few days White River
agency. From them learn the following
particulars: Gen. Merritt advanced upon
the agency the 11th inst. On his way he
found many dead bodies, among others the
body of
CARL ao1DsTE1N,
Israelte, who left hero with government
supplies for the Utes at White River agency
He was found in gulch six miles this side.
Of the agency shot twice through the shou!-
der. He was about two miles from his
wagon. A teamster named
JULIUS MOORE,
formerly from Bainbridge, Mass, who was
with him when he left here, was found
about 100 yards from Goldstein with two
bullet holes in his breast and body. and
hacked and mutilated with knife or hatoh-
ct. As the command adv anoed through the
canyon they came to an old coal mine
aud in it vas found the dead body of an
agency employe
NAMED DRESSER.
He had evidently been wounded and cravled
into the mine to die. His coat was folded
up and placed under his head for q pillow,
Beside him lay q Winchester rifle containing
eight cartridges. In one OF his pocket q
letter was found which, az near as the cour-
Ter can remember, read:
AGENT MEEKER's LAST LITTER.
WHITE RIVER, Sept. 20, l P. M.-Major
Thornburgh: I will come with Chief Doug
las and another chief and meet you to NOR
row. Everything quiet here and Douglas js
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?
(Signs0 N. G. MEEKER,
United States Indian Agent.
QUIET DEsoLAT1oN.
On entering the agency a scene of quiet
desolation presented itself. All the build
ings except enc were burned to the ground,
and not living thing in sight except the
command. The Indians had taken every
thing except flour, and decamped. The wo-
men and children we're missing, and nothing
whatever could be found to indicate what
had become of them. They either have been
killed and buried or taken away as hostages
Their dreadful and unmentionable fate calls
forth the most profound sympathy. The
DEAD BODY OF FATHER MEEKER
was found about 100 yards from his house
lying on his back shot through the head, the
left side Of his head mashed in with some
blunt instrument, q piece of barrel stave
driven into his mouth and ono Of his hands
and aims badly burned. The
DEAD BODY OF ". H. FosT,
Father Meeker's assistant, was found be-
tween the building and the river, = bullet
hole throug h the left ear and one under the
ear. He and Father 4eeker were stripped
entirely naked. Another
kMPLoYRs NAMED EATON!
was found dead, stripped naked, with bun.
die of paper bags in his arms. His face was
badly eaten by wolves, bullet hole in the
left breast.
FRANK DRESSER,
brother to the man found in the coal mine,
was found badly burned. he had without
doubt been killed instantly, q tho bullet had
passed through his heart.
OTHER DEAD.
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 q
bullet hole through his head. In the posi-
ton occupied by the Indians
during Thornburgh's battle in breast
work ma9e of stone, was found the dead
body of an unknown white man dressed in
buckskin. He was sitting on his knees and
had his gun in position to fire. He was
shot through the forehead. From this it
appears the Indians are not alone in
THEIR HELLIsH WORK.
The supposition is the Indians have gone
South to join the Southern Utes, and the
impression among officers of Merritt's COM
mand is the Indians who fought Thornbureh
numbered at least 7OO