The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-14
Last Nights Dispatches.
INDIANS.


WASHINGTON, October l3.-Secretar,
Schurz Immediately upon receiving th,
dispatch stating. that the hostile Utes haC
retired through the influence of Ouray
called at the War Department and con
suited with General Sherman on the sub
lject. The latter at once sent the follow
ing telegram TO General Sheridan CHICAGO
The honorable Secretary of the Interior
has this morning called with telegram
conveying propositions for peace which
are communicated for your own informa
ton. and which should go for what they
are worth Generals Crook and Merritt
the latter on the spot, can tell if the hos
tiles have ceased lighting. If so General
Merritt should go in every event to the
agency to ascertain the actual condition of
facts. All Indians who oppose, must be
cleared out of the way if they resist. If
they surrender their arms and ponies they
should be held as prIsoners,to be disposed
of by superior orders.
| RAwLINs, Wy, Oct. 13.-Emil Webber
and George Fuhr, two couriers, have Just
arrived from what was few days ago tho
White River Agency. From them learn
the following particulars: General Merritt
advanced upon the Agency the llth inst
On his way he found mauy dead bodies,
among others the body of Carl Goldstein.
the Israeite who left here with Govern
ment supplies for the Utes ut White River
Agency. He was found in gulch six
| miles this side of the Agency, shot twice
through the shoulder. He was about two
miles from his wagon 4 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 his body hacked and mutilated
with knife or hatchet.
AS the command advanced through the
canyon they came to an old coal mine, and
in it found the dead body of an agency
employe named Dresser. He evidently had
been wounded and crawled in the mine to
die. His coat was folded up and placed
under his head for pillow; beside him
lay his Winchester rifle, containing eight
cartridges. In one of his pockets was
found letter which. as near as the courier
can rememb Der, was;
WHITE RIVER, Sept. 20, Jpn.
''NGjor ThOTnburg-I will come with
Chief Douglas and another chief and meet
you tomorrow Everything is quiet here
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 there might be. Did
you have any trouble coming through the
canyon?
(SignedD n. c. MEEKER.
u. S. Indian Agent"
On entering the Agency scene of quiet
desolation presented ITSELF All the build
ings except one were burned to the ground,
and not living thing was in sight except
the command. The Indians had taken
everything except -four and decamped
The women and children were missing,
and nothing whatever could be found to
indicate what became of them. They
either had been murdered and buried, or
else taken away as hostages. Their dread
euI and unmentionable fate calls forth the
most profound sympathy.
The dead body of Father Meeksr was
found about one hundred 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 barrel stave driven into his
mouth, and one hand and arm badly burned.
The dead body of w. H. Post, Father
Meeker's assistant, was found between the
building and tae river with a bullet hole
his lleft ear and one under the ear.
He and Father Mecker were stripped
entirely naked. Another employe named
Eaton was found dead, stripped naked and
a bundle of paper bags in his arms, His
face was badly eaten by wolves, and
bullet hole in bis left breast. Frank
Dresser, brother to the man found in the
coal mine, was found badly burned He
had without doubt been killed instantly, as
the bullet had passed through the heart. |
The bodies of Eaton, Thompson, Price, |
Eskridge, and all of the other employees |
not named, were also found. Eskridge |
was found two miles this side of the agency
naked, bullet hole through his head In |
the position occupied by the Indians dur |
ing Thornburgh s battle, in a breastwork |
made Of stone, was found the dead body |
of an unknown white maD, dressed in |
buckskiu. sitting on his knees, his gun in |
position to fire, He was shot through the |
forehead, and from this it appears the |
Indians were not alone in their heiish |
work
The sDppo>ition is the Indians have |
gone south to join the Southern Utes, and |
the impression among the officers of Mer-
ritt's command is the Indians who fought |
Thornburgh mum bered at least 100
CHICAGO, Get. I3.-Geueral Merritt |
telegraphs the military headquarters. un-
der date of October llth. substantially as
follows: This morning L moved down the |
river to point near White River Agency. |
The cavalry have been out all day in diff
ferent directions, looking for Indians and
all report that the Itrail lead southerly to
Grand River. / have but little doubt
that the Indians have gone to Uncompa-
gna Agency. Expect Gilbert and Henry
tomorrow aud then will move toward
Grand River, leaving a guard behind. /
have buried seven bodies here including
those of Agent Meeker and three others
on the road. Am entirely in doubt respect
the force the hostiles can muster. 1t is
clearly ascertained that all the Unita In
dians joined the Utes before the Thornburg
fight. IF the orders are to go to the South
ern Agency and fight what we meet, |
shall be glad to carry them out, but hope
instructions will not be delayed. General
Merritt regrets exceedingly the great
amount of military supplies sold these
Indians by rauchmen.
CRIMINAL.
ADRIAN, Mich, Oct. 13-The coroner's