The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-11-14

to fifty miles apart and consisted of @
single fortified rude log house and 8
sort of military stockade for the pro
lection of stock. This was the condi.
ton of affairs in 1864. In this month
occurred the well known Indian mas
sacre, reaching from Julesburg along the
whole line of the principal travelled
route to the Big Sandy, the scenes and
incidents of which are never to be
forgotten by those who witnessed or
experienced its horrors. The attack
was made on Sunday simultaneously
along 290 miles of the road. Oak Grove
rancho was then the home of Laura
Roper, as well as of Kelly, her promised
husband. On the day of the massacre
she was returning in stage from
Spring Ranch, which was point on the
Little Blue some distance above Oak
Grove rancho. The stage was attacked
by the Indians and the driver and all
the passengers except Laura Roper
were killed. She was made prisoner.
A portion of the same band attacked
| Oak Grove rancho, first making a
peaceful demonstration and decOylng
young Kelly and Butler into the yard,
when, upon given signal, they were
shot dead while conversing with the
chief. The remainder of the inmates of
the rancho fought desperately and re-
PEELED the attack and afterwards escaped
with well guarded train which was
coming east under the escort
of soldiers. The Indians attacked
the Ubanks family at their rancho four
miles below Oak Grove, and killed ten
persons, carrying off into captivity
young girl, member of the family.
All this bloody business occupied less
than an hours time. Miss Ubanks and
Miss Roper were together in their cap
tivity. Every effort was made by the
friends of Miss Roper aided by the gov
ernment, for her release. Nothing
could be heard of their whereabouts ex-
cept through vague rumors. Now and
then some scout or trapper would report
having seen two white women held as
slaves or wives of certain members of a
rowing band of Indians.
In the winter of 1866, more than two |
years after their captivity, the govern
ment obtained definite information re-
garding the whereabouts of the two un-
fortunate women and Immediately |
opened negotiations for their release.
This was effected in February or March,
1866. The condition of the two, how
ever, was enough to excite the pity of
the most hardened. At the hands of their
merciless captors they had suffered
every indignity that savage brutality
could infiict. Miss Urbanks, when de-
livered to the United States troops on
the Arkansas river, in southern Colo
RADIO, was helpless mental wreck and
in very precarious physical condition..
The government took charge of her,
but the infuriated soldiers shot down
on the spot the savage who was the
cause of the suffering and who claimed
her as his wife. Laura Roper was re-
turned to her friends at Beatrice. The
story she told of her sufferings was cir
culated far and wide and enlisted for {
her the sympathy of the whole country. !
In 1867 she married at her fathers
house in this county, Eli Soper. They t
have since resided in the county at vari- |
)us places. For some time past they {
lave been living near Wymore. Other /
domestic life since her marriage little is i
Known, and that little would lead to the I
that the union was an un- v
lappy one. What has caused her to q
axe the unfortunate step indicated by 4
lie paragraph quoted must remain at [
natter of conjecture. Here has been a v
unfortunate and eventful life. il
Whatever her faults, she is entitled to
he pity and commisseration rather n
han the censure of mankind