Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-26
APACHE ATROCITIES.

The indians Make a Raid Upon Wclfy's
Ranch on hear Creek, Arixona-A Num-
bct of Men, Women and Children Massa-
cred and Scalped-The Troops in Pur-
suit.
SILVER CRY, A. T.. June 6.-The past
week has been one of uneNceeded suspense
.nd terror in Silver City. Never have the
Indians on their bloody raids come so near
the city. The newspaper accounts sent
east are very meagre. because of the fear
that it will prevent emigration to this sec
ton.
The first news of the proximity of the
Indians was received on Wednesday of last
week. when a boy, riding a horse white
with foam, dashed into tow from Wclfy's
ranch. on Bear Creek. He brought word
hat hostile Indians were in the hills, and
hat an attack Oh the ranch. in which there
we're gathered many women and children.
vas expected, and help was needed. A
volunteer company of thirty-four men was
soon organized and went to the rescue.
At 1880 o'clock the ranch was reached.
All the families within a radius of seven
miles We're collected there except one. A
party set off to bring them in, While two
utIlcl PARTIES StulltU lOl q NNlSl OIS III WIZ
hills where they expected to find the 1ndi-
ans, but the latter had fed. Returning to
the ranch a larger party was organized to
90 to Juniper Springs. but the Indians had
fled from that spot also. Scouts spent two
hours in searching for the trail. which led to
Little Walnut Creek.
Along this stream the most horrible
sights were witnessed. Dead bodies, fright
fully mutilated and naked, were found at
frequent intervals. The houses were
pillaged and clothing and household articles
were scattered everywhere. At William
iOgden's five dead bodies, all scalped. lay in
a pool OF blood. The two women had been
assaulted and their breasts cut off. a five
year-Old girl had both hands cut off. Fol-
lowing the trail OH the hills Gomez ranch
was reached.
a number of children were gathered here,
who had escaped death by hiding. Their
parents, living in the vicinity, had all been
killed. Six miles further, in the house of
Felix Marquee, five dead bodies were found.
Mrs. Marquee and her s~even-ycar-old daugh-
ter had both suffered at the hands of the
Indians before being killed. The bodies
were slashed with knives and presented a
sickening spectacle. From here, the party
proceeded on a fifteen hours ride eastward,
into the Pinos Mountains, without food or
sleep, but without overtaking the redskins.
BY this time all but six or seven of the
posse were exhausted and the horses dis
abled. A telegram was sent to General Brad
ley, asking for fresh horses, but lie had none.
Three troops We're sent out to take up the
trail where the citizens had left it. The cit
liens who followed the Indians must have
been very close on them, and eight dead and
three live horses and one mule were left by
the Indians along the trail, all showing signs
of being worn out. The troops proceeded
on the trail, but the enemy was. by this time,
too far in advance and the chase was given
up.
On the return trail the dead were brought
in in wagons. The authorities claim there
are only 1875 Indians off the reservation. but
it is believed there are a good many moro
than this.
Up to this time the only fight between
the troops and the Indians was brought OF
by the Indians attacking Captain Smiths
command while at Devil Creek.
Two Of the men, a trooper and an Indian
scout, were wounded and two horses killed.
The wounded scout is said to be a son OF
Chief 5000. The Indians were beaten back
butthey managed to carry off everything
with them except a quantity of Buffalo meat
After the fight the Indians went on to Stall
wortl's ranch, on which they made an at
tack. but were driven off after woundins
StalwOrth.
The following is a partial list of tn
dead: II. Smith, prospector; Luther Ora
Their; w o stOckmen, names not known
Peter Anderson, p%rospector: Robert Benton
ranchman; Nate Luz, miner: Calvin Orwig
+. +. Lyon. J. III. Baxter, Thomas Mckin
ney, John Woods and family of four; Fell.
Marquee and family. and twenty-one more
/! The general public is greatly incensed at tin
conduct of the troops.