River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-23
THE INDIAN WAR.
The Terrible Massacr es.

u lew udVS ago The Wnlte River agency.
From them learn the following partic-
ulars:
Gen. Merritt advanced upon the agency
on the llth inst. On his way he found
many dead bodies. Among others he
found the body of Carl Goldstein, an Is
raellte, who left here with government
supplies for the Utess at White River
agency. He was found in a guleh six
miles this side of the agency. He was
shot twice through the shoulder, and was
about two miles from his wagon A
teamster named Julius Moore, formerly
from cambridge, Mass, who was with
him when he left here, was found about
100 yards from Goldstein, with two bull
letholes in his breast, and
HIS BODY KICKED AND MUTILATED.
with knife or Ratchet AS the com
mand advanced through the canyon,
they came to an old coal-mine, aud in
it was found the dead body ofan agency
employe named Dresser. He had evi.
Gently been wounded, and crawled in the
mine to die. His coat was folded up and
placed under his head tor pillow. Be-
side him lay Winchester rifle contain
ing eight cartridges. In one of his
pockets letter was found, which, as near
as the courier can remember, was as
follows:
"WHITE RIVER. Sept. 90 Il O'Clock p
M.-Mdj Ihornburgh: l will come with
Chief Douglas and another chief, and
meet you tomorrow. Everything quiet
here. and Douglas is flying the United
States flag. We have been on guard
three nights, and will be tonight; not
that we expect any trouble, but because
i0h no
trouble coming through the canyon?
N. G. MEEKER,
United States Indian Agent"
ON ENTERING THE AGENCY
a scene of quiet desolation presented it,
self. All the buildings but one were
burned to the gHund, and not a living
thing in sight except the command. The
Indians had taken everything except
flour, and decamped. The women and
children are missing, and nothing what
ever could be found to indicate what had
become OF them. They have
EITHER 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, lying on his back, shot through
the head. The left side of his head was
mashed in with some blunt instrument.
A piece of barrelstave was driven
into his mouth, and one of his hands and
arms badly burned.
The dead body of Mr.. w. Ii. Post,
"Father" Meekers assistant, was found
between the building and the river with
bullethole through his left ear, and
one under the ear. He, as we'll as "Fa-
ther" Meeker, was stripped entirely
naked.
Another employe named Eaton was
found dead.
lie WAS STRIPPED NAKED,
and had bundle of paper bags in his
arms. His face was badly eaten by
wolves There was bullet hole in his
left breast.
Frank Dresser, brother to the one
found in the coal mine, was found badly
burned. He had, without doubt, been
killed instantly, as 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 his
head.
In the position occupied by the Indi-
ans during Thornburg's bait e, in a
breastwork made 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 that the Indians
have gone south to join the southern
Utes, and the impression among the Off
GERS of Merritt's command is that the
Indians who fought Thornburg number
ed at least 700.
DEM Err advices of the 18th state that
the party of fifteen Utes sent by Ouray
with orders to the band of Douglas to
cease fighting, and Joseph Brady, sent
with the party by Agent Stanley to in
vestigate the condition of things at
White River, returned to day to the I'M
compahgre agency. Brady reports that
the Utes obeyed the command of Ouray
instantly, and ceased all hostile demon
STATIONS. The women and children are
safe, and will be sent to the Southern
agency as soon as it can be done with
safety All other whites at White river
are killed. This party was in
command Of Sapavanora the same
chief who is reported as
BEING ON THE WAR PATH
with 100 warriors. Brady,who is young
man and unaccustomed to any continu-
Gus exertion, stood the terrible ride no.
bly,not one halt being made between the
two agencies. 1t required great deal of
courage to start out Immediately upon
hearing the horrible news frem White
River, and go there with no other pro-
lection but band of red men who are
directly allied TO the assassins.
Brady speaks to-day in the highest
terms of Sapavanaro's kindness TO him on
the journey, and says nothing would in
duce him to believe anything but that
this chief is warm friend of the whites.
Ouray trusts Sapavanaro more than any
other Ute of his tribe.
Word comes this evening from George
Sherman, the agents clerk, that Ouray
sent word that no danger may be appre-
hended from his Utes. He holds them
with as firm hand as ever, and besides
has between eighty and 100 warriors who
idolize him, and would turn their hands
against their own brethren when ordered
to do so by their chief. Ouray has
not lost one iota of his power,
but we fear the coming of the
Southern and White River Utes. We
have $50 men constantly under arms,
and four pickets out night and day, max
ing it impossible for the town of Our2y
to be surprised.
The news that the government has for
warded to us arms and ammunition re-
lieves us greatly The lack of
sufficient ammunition has caused
US much anxiety hitherto. At
present all is quiet. No depredations of
any kind, save the forest fires, have
been committed by the Indians
within the lasE week. The reports of the
burning of any houses anywhere in the
country are all false. Barlow 81 Sander
sons stage station has not bean molested.
THE following telegram explains itself
only too we'll
Los PINos, Col, Oct. 10.
To the Commissioner Of Indian A1dus,
Washington:
All is quiet; no danger of trouble from
Indians, either near or remote, unless
precipitated by evil counsels and con-
duct of whites who seem determined to
make trouble. Newspapers and the
very atmosphere of Colorado are full
of lying rumors. The secret of all
this outcry and these false rumors
can be found in the popular text, 1.-The
Utes must GO" The White river women,
children, money and papers are safe with
Mrs. Meeker. All will be sent here as
coon oS rrao.;oobIa Some amnloVPS are