Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-16

After . Lapse of Fifteen Years
Their Probable Fate fl Revealed
Through the Columns OF the
HHeraId."

After o Lapse OF Fifteen Years
Their Probable Fate f. Revealed
Through the Columns Of she
Herald"
1t will be remembered, says the Yankee
Fork Herald, that q few weeks since . num-
Der Of human skeletons were found in the
hills between Challis and the Salmon
River, and that q Herald reporter inter-
viewed the parties who visited the locality
at the time Of the discovery, and gained
from them all the particulars possible. The
article. as published in the Herald, created
o good deal Of interest, and was copied
pretty generally into the press Of the en-
tire Coast. By this means there il no
doubt that the mystery Is solved that has
for long years enshrouded the fate Of the
loved ones whose friends had grown weary
Of watching and waiting their return, and
who had at last despaired Of ever hearing
any tidings from the wanderers, or the
cause of their disappearance. ALI these
years the bones of the unfortunate ones
lay bleaching ON the Salmon River hills,
where they fell at the hands Of the demons
who sought their destruction. A few days
since we received the following letter from
q relative of parties lost fifteen years ago,
and every circumstance corroborates the
belief that they were Of the company killed
near Challis, and whose bones were recent
ly found:
CARSON CRY, Nevada,
May 23, 1880.
Editor Yankee Fork Herald:-I notice in
our local paper IN extract from the Herald
under the head of Relics Of an Indian
Massacre said relics having been discov-
cred by one George Harlan, Of Challis. l
had q nephew and his wife who started
from Humboldt county this State, in the
Spring Of 1s65-fifteen years ago now
with two men, brothers. These four were
formerly from Galesburg, Illinois. think
there were one or two others with them.
All of these were men except the wife OF
Alfred G. Ferris, my nephew. We have
never heard from any of the parties since,
although much effort has at different times
been made to obtain some relic or inform
alton that would furnish q clue to the fate
Of the party. My brothers wife (mother
Of Alfred G.. Ferris, once wrote me that
she would give q thousand dollars to know
where their bones were rather than not to
know, such was her anxiety Tor the lost
ones.
Now any information in regard to the
parties would be thankfully received. They
were going to Salt Lake, and my nephew's
father sent them money at that place to
help them on their trip home, but 1t was
not called for and was sent back. We ad-
vertised in many Of the Western papers,
but could hear nothing Of them. They
talked some of going to the mines in Mon
tana, and that may account for their being
SO far north Of q direct route from Hum
boldt county to Salt Lake. Any informa-
ton to me here will be thankfully received.
I would like to hear as much OF the partic-
ulars as can be obtained.
Respectfully, G. w. Y. FERNS.
Carson City, Nevada.
After receiving the above letter, We ad-
dressed a note to Jas. l.. Onderdonk and
Maurice McGrath, Of Challis, requesting
them to examine the guns and other relics
found with the bones, in order to ascertain
il there was anything to confirm the belief
that the murdered ones were Of theF Ferris
party. Some Of the guns had initials cut
on them. probably Of the owners, and one
OF the skulls was believed to be that Of a
female. We received q letter yesterday
from Mr.. Onderdonk, stating that in a few
DAYS they would send us all the fnforma-
| ton possible in connection with the dis
| coyery, which will doubtless throw addi-
| tionai light toward the Identification OF the
lost travellers.