Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-12-25
THE ORMsBY MASSACRE.
a Just and Modest Claim for RE.
fmbursemeut.

mDurSe1nent.
Tho following communication was hand
ed to the SENTINEL yesterday. 1t has been
carefully considered. There is no doubt
that the claims presented on the part of
the State against the General Government
will be paid. Our Government, as our cor
respondent suggests, is rich and can afford
to be just in the fullest sense Of the word,
not TO say generous 10 those who risked
their lives and spent their money to de-
fend the families of the settlers against
the then truly warlike Indians. 1t is known
That the gentleman whose letter is pub
llshed to-day came to Carson in 1860, and
though he had no interest in the country
spent all the money he had to aid in equp-
ping a force to repel and punish
the hostile Piutes; and further, that
he served throughout the war with
out any compensation and out OF
purely unselish motives. He is one of
those who in early times let money slip
through the fingers, according to the
spirit of the times. He is getting into
years now, and has a family to support.
1t would make him comfortable to get
back only a portion Of what he so gener-
Nusiy COhtiADuttu lOE Luc DIOttCblUu OF tL6
settlements twenty odd years ago. His
name would add interest to his commune
cation. but like all other high minded
men he is modest and spurns notoriety:
EUREKA, Dec. "a, 1881.
EDITOR SENTINEL: / see by your issue Of
a very recent date that our worthy Repre-
sentative in Congress, Hen. Geo. w. Cas-
sidy, has introduced into that body a bill
or joint resolution appropriating Sl00, 900
towards reimbursing the State of Nevada
for the expense incurred in putting down
all Indian wars and outbreaks that have
occurred in the State since 1861.
The measure Is in every respect equita-
bic, but unfortunately it does not go far
enough, and thus does q great injustice to
many Of the earliest and Oldest settlers Of
Nevada. For instance, in the great Piute
Indian war Of 1860 Il refer to the Ormsby
massacre and the war thatfollowed in which
Capt. Storey, after whom Storey County
took its name, lost his life), many thou
sands OF dollars were freely and v~oIunta-
rily expended by individuals in furnishing
and equipping the men who constituted
the Hayes expedition" But for these
expenditures this expedition could not
and would not have been organized, and
the Indians punished, subdued and driven
back as they were. On the contrary the
families then settled in Carson and Washoe
valleys would have been massacred, all
the miners driven from the Comstock, and
the development OF the great mineral
wealth OF our State would have been set
back for an indefinite period Of time.
These men did not merely give their
money, in several instances with which
the writer is familiar their last dollar, but
they also volunteered and gave their SER
vices, and thus offered up their lives CO
we'll as their means in the cause.
II was a pressing emergency. An act of
necessity for the protection Of life and
property. and at the sam time never a
thought occurred Of future reward, not to
say OF reimbursement. But since that
e~yentful period in the history Of Nevada
many changes have taken place. Many
hundreds OF millions of dollars have been
taken from our mountains and sent float
ing down the channels Of commerce, build
ing up fair cities, beautiful towns aud vii
lagos, and enriching the few, while ii hss
given employment to many.
But, Alasi Many Of those who were at
that timo so prodigal Of their means and
so reckless Of their lives in the interest OF
humanity and the development OF our
Territory have passed away and are for.
gotten, while the few that remain have
grown old, and in most cases needy aud
with families to support.
Would it not therefore be an act. not OF
charity, but Of simple justice and gratitude
on the part Of either the State or General
Government to reimburse mot reward
these deserving and brave menf Is not
the State or General Government better
able 10 reimburse these men than they are
10 lose 1t, now that both the State and
General Government are rich, and especial
ly the latter, with an overlooking treasury
containing millions Of unappropriated
money! Again, is it not, Mr.. Editor, the
duty, or, rather, would it not be a grace
full and meritorious act OF the combined
public press OF our State to agitste, and
thus bring this matter forcibly to the at.
tention Of our Senators and Representative
in Congress7 Through the delicacy, and
in a manner the inability OF those most
deeply interested to set this matter prop
erly before the country, and, above all, by
and through the Indifference OF our local
Legislatures. II has lain dormant for many
years. but now that q step in the right
direction has been taken by Congressman
Cassidy, let him not, for the honor Of his
namc and record, overlook these, in the
aggregate, the most meritorious claims OF
them all.
Including legitimate legal interest upon
the expenditures above referred to, an ap.
preparation OF from S35, 900 to $4,000
would liquidate all the claims OF this class
that could be presented and properly veri-
fed. Your correspondent knows person
ally OF about 81. 500. One gentleman, for
merly Of this State, and, ! believe, still a
resident, and who is both well and favora-
bly, known throughout the Pacific Coast.
expended upon that occasion all OF $4,000
10 fitting out the company, OF which the
writer was q member aud an officer. Re
specially, PIONEER