The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-27
THE REDSKINS.
Fuller and Later Particulars or the
Attack upon white Emigrants
by Indians ~ Bass Canyon.
Corresrondenc, of,he Herald.

Correat ondenc, of,he Herald.
EAGLE SPRINGS Elpaso county, May Is
Thinking that perhaps some ofyour read
ers would like to hear something from the
far out West, take pleasure in penciling
youa few lines.
| left Archer City, in Archer county, in
company with my brother and two other
young men, whose names are M. Q. Long
mre and c. II. Trumps, on the morning of
April 18th, all bound west for Ell paso. We
travelled along without anything of interest
transpiring until we reached this
vicinity. Between Fort Stockton and
this place we joined several parties of emf
grants from various places. AT Elmerto
station, thirty five miles west from Fort Da-
Wis, We stopped over about three days TO rest
up our teams preparatory to making sixty
mile drive without water to this place. By
difference in driving, the train became sep
arated, and on the morning of May 18th the
four front wagons, of which ours was one,
passed Vanhorn Wells which is dry place
and affords no water whatever. About II
o'clock we stopped for noon, and calculated
to reach Eagle Spring about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. Two Germans were
driving in the lead and our wagon
was next and next to us was II young mar
ried man named Harry Graham, with his
wife and brother, whose name was Sam, for
merly ranger. The next and last was II
man named Murphy with his family, from
Cook c"pr v, accompanied by an old gentle
man named Grant.
Az nDUut = o'clock we reached place
called Bass canyon. Most ofour party were
very careless and apprehended no danger
whatever. But after travelling about halt u
mile up the canyon we were fired upon by Il
band of about twenty-five Indians. Harry
Graham fell severely wounded in tho hin
James Grant was killed, and Murphy
wounded. In the first voley the two Ger.
mans fled, leaving five of us to defend
the women and children as best We
could. Mr.. Murphy was in q ravino ty thi,
time, and though wounded in several places
proved himself to be noble soldier by re
turning to his wagon, which was some dis
lance in the rear, and, assisting his wife and
children to get out, made them go in front
of him, while he fought the Indians and sue.
ceeded in rcscuing them unhurt Mrs. Muir
ply tried to prevail on Mrs. Graham to &c
with her, but she would not. Young San
Graham was about two hundred yards il
advance of the wagons at the time of thu
attack, but quickly returned. His gun swung
in holster across the front gate of tn,
Me- no nal
get his gun, and leaping upol
the hounds drew the gun and brought it tt
him. In getting tho gun she was exposed IL
the whole fire. The five of us remained be
hind the wagon several minutes, but coult
see nothing at all, The Indians, who wer
in ambush only fifty yards distant, were sool
surrounded, and to remain was madness u
We were only targets without being able +
see anything at which to return the fire
One by one we left the wagon and ran abou
fifty yards to hole the water had washe
out by the road side, where we took shelte
fora very short time, as the Indians wer
firing from above us on both sides. w
next beat q retreat up q ravine, fighting on
way out at close quarters.
was the last man to leave the wagon an
begged Mrs. Graham to run and keep wit
us and we could save her, but the bray
woman saw her husband lying helpless an
preferred to die rather than leave him an
was shot through the head while irving t
take her husbands gun to him. Mr.. Grs
ham crawled OIL and hid himself After W
assembled the hillside, a short distance, tn
Indians began TO show themselves, when w,
made strong fight and held them in chez
until Murphy could get his family out of tn
way.
Strange to say, none of the FIVE men wer
hurt until we reached, as we thought plac
of safety, when received slight wound o
the knee al distance of eight hundred yard
The Indians plundcred the wagons of ever,
thing, destroying what they could not TAX
While they were busy at this we built roc
fort on top of mound where we RENAME
until dark, when we made our way to th
station. distance of eleven miles. The Ii
dams rode out and took view of our for
held a pow-wow, and concluded to let Y
alone.
On Friday l4th, we returned to the canyo
accompanied by two young men from Dalla
who passed through the same canyon only a
hour before we were attacked, and burie
james Grant. Mrs. Graham was taken |
Van Horn and buried. Her person was gu
ragged. Strange to say neither of them wa
scalped.
Therelare quite dumber of parties hel
now. The Indians have been seen nearl
every day since, and it is likely they will a
tack us again.
Harry Graham is at Fort Davis and said |
be doing well, though his wound is dangerou
No troops have been sent out yet. Murphy
wounds are not serious. Robert Johnso
and Frank Beaumont are the parties referre
TO from Dallas. We are preparing to lea,
here this evening. VIII write you again
anything Of interest occurs.
Very truly and respectfully,
I. q. GILMORE.