Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-15
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RAxlinA. OF. M-EaiA wSbbsr aud
geo E.hsf,. two coQaFierA jhiavs jdssk arrived
YOU y hss, wasSa fev days 40 Waite rivef
agency. From them : learned the follow
ing particulars: Gen. Merritt advanced up
the agency on the 18th inst. On his way
ne found many dead bodies, among the 9th.
ers the bodies of Carl Goldstein. an Israel.
tie, who left here with government supplies
fos the lUtes at White River agency. He
was found In q Sulch six miles this side of
the agency shot Observation-Disclosures.
He was about two miles from his wagons.
A teasaster named Julius Moore, formerly
from cambridge, Mass, Who was with him
when he left here was found about 100 yards
from. Goldstein With two bullet holss in his
breast and the body hacked and mutilated
with q knit Or hatchet As the command
advanced through the canyon they came to
IA old coal mine, and IL 1t was found the
body Of an agency, employee named Dresser.
He had evidently been wounded and crawl.
up aud placed under his head for . pillow.
ing eight cartridges In one of his pockets
q letter was found which, as near as the
courier can remember, was: .|
"White River. Sept. 20, l p. m.-Msj
Thofnbutg l will come With Chief Doug
and another chief and meet you to morrow
evening" Quiet here-and Douglas flying
the Uni,ed states dag, We have been on
guard three nights aud will be tonight.
Not that We expect any trouble, but because
there might be. Did you have any trouble
coming through the canyons?
(Signed) N. G. MEEKER,
U. s. Indian Agent"
On entering the agency q scene of quiet
desolation presented Itself. All the build
ings except one we're burned to the ground
and there was not . living thing In sight
except the command. The Indians had
taken everything except the flour and de-
camped. The women and children we're
missing and nothing whatever could be
found to indicate what became of them.
They have either been murdered and buried
or else taken away as hostages. Their
dreadful and unmentlonable fate calls forth
the most profound sympathy. The dead
body of Father Meeker was found about Q
hundred yards from his house. lying
on his back shot through the head
the left side of his head was emashed
in with some blunt instrument, Of
piece Of q barrel staye driven into his
mouth and one hand and arm badly burn
ed. The dead body Of w. H. Post, Father
Meekers assistant, was found between the
building and river with a bullet hole
through his left ear. He and Father
Meeker were stripped entirely naked.
Another employe named Norton was
found dead, stripped naked, and a bundle
Of paper bags in his arms. His face was
hole in his left breast. Frank Dresser, a
L..ak>. a. A. ~~~ fo,,-l 80 <lo oool rosro
was found badly burned. He had, without
doubt, been killed instantly, as a bullet had
passed through his heart; The bodies Of
Eaton, Thompson, Price, Eekridge and all
the other employees, not named, were also
found. Eskridge was found two miles this
side of the agency, naked, and a bullet
hole through his head.
In the position occupied by the Indians
work made Of stone was found the dead
buckskiu, sitting on his knees with his gun
shot through the forehead. From this it
their hellish work. The supposition is that
southern Utes and the impression among
SlC OA4CCA6 u AShAllL COuuuduu Is ludk
the Indians who fought Thornbureh num-
bered at least 700.
Chicago, Oct. 13.-Gen. Merritt telegraphs
military headquarters under date of October
II, substantially as follows:
This morning 1 moved down the river to
Ia point near White river agency: The
cavalry have Indians and all report that the
trails lead southerly 10 Grand river. 1
have little doubt the Indians have gone to
Uncoupahgie agency. Expect Gilbert and
Henry tomorrow and will then move to-
wards Grand river, leaving a guard behind.
1 have buried seven bodies here, including
Agent Meeker and three on the road. Am
entirely in doubt respecting the force the
hostiles can muster. 1t is clearly ascertain.
ed that all the Uinta Indians Joined the
Utes before the Thornburgh fight. If OF.
ders are to 60 to the southern agency and
fight what We meet I shall be glad to carry
them out, but hope instructions will not be
delayed. Col. Merritt regrets exceedingly
the amount Of military supplies sold these
Indians by ranchmen.