The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-06
WHEN
AWFUL DEEDS BY INDIANS.
A Week of Unexampled Terror and Sus-
pense in and About Silver City.
Men. Women and Children Butchered and
Horribly Mutilated-Truth Concealed
for fear immigration Would Cease.

SILVER City, N. VI, June 5.-The past week
has been one of unexamped suspense and terror
here Never have the Indians on their bloody
raids, come near the city. The newspaper
accounts sent east are very meager, because of
the fear that it would prevent emigration to
this section. The first news of the proximity
of the Indians was received on Wednesday of
last week, when boy riding horse white with
foam, dashed into town from Welty's ranch,
Bear Creek. He brought word that hostile
Indians were in the hills; that an attack on the
ranch, in which were gathered many women and
children, was expected, and that help was
needed volunteer company of thirty-fve
men was organized and went to the rescue. At
730 o'clock the ranch was reached. All the
families within a radius of seven miles were
collected there except one. A party set off to
bring them in, while two other parties started
for water hole in the hills where they expected
to find the Indians, who, however, had fled. Re-
turning to the ranch, a larger party was organ
ized to 20 to Juniper Springs, but the Indians
had fed 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 we're witnessed Dead bodies, fright
fully mutilated and naked. were found at
short intervals. The houses were pillaged, and
clothing and household articles were scattered
everywhere. At William Ogden's FIVE dead
bodies, all scalped lay in pool of blood. The
two women had been outraged and their breasts
cut off. A fve-year- old girl had both hands cut
off. Following the trail over the hills Gomez
ranch was reached. A number of children were
gathered there. They had escaped death by hid
ing. The parents, living in the vicinity, had all
been killed Six miles farther on, at the house
of Felix Marquese, FIVE dead bodies were found
Mrs. Mafduese and her seven-year- old daughter
had both suffered at the hands of the Indians
before being killed The ladies were slashed
with knives and presented sickenng spectacle.
From this point tho party proceeded 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 telegram was dispatched to General
Bradley asking for fresh horses, but he replied
that he had none. Troops were then sen. ont to
take up the trail where the citizens had left it.
The citizens who followed the Indians must
have been very close on them, as eight dead and
three live horses and one mule were left by the
Indians along the trail. All the living animals
showed signs of being completely 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 Americans were cared for. but
the bodies of the Mexcans lay for hours before
anything was done to them Finally Josie"
and Jennie" two wellknown women of the
town, with the aid of a Mexican woman washed
the bodies, clothed the women with their own
clothes went about and procured clothing for
the children from others, and laid flowers about
the dead.
One of the heroic deeds that occur on such
ocasions was performed by little Willie Carpen-
ter. The parents were some distance from the
house when the Indians appeared. Willie and
his one year old sister were playing in the yard.
The boy caught up his little sister and slipped
into the weeds. He crawled long distance,
and finally reached this city, having carried his
a. Ia h.rl IL @1
wild with JOY to find their children, whom they
supposed the Indians had carried off
The boy who brought the news to town had
narrow escape. At one time he found himself
within few hundred yards of the Indians. He
dismounted and hid in pond of water among
the weeds for nearly an hour until they had
passed Then he again mounted and rode in.
miner named Clark was working Wednesday on
lust set off blast and rushed up the hill to
avoid the falling rock. On reaching the top he
saw the Indians between him and his camp He
started for Little Walnut Creek and warned all
the ranchmen, who moved their families up to
Stewards ranch. If it had not been for this man
every man. woman and child in the vicinity
would have been murdered
The authorities claim that there are only l35
Indians off the reservation, but 1T is believed
that there are good many more than this. Up
to this time the only fight between the troops
and the Indians was brought on by Indians
attacking Captain Smiths command while the
men were bathing in Devil creek.
Two Of the men, trooper and an Indian scout.
were wounded and two horses were killed. The
wounded scout is said to be a son of Chief Soco.
The Indians were beaten back but managed to
carry OH everything with them except guam
nty OF jerked beef. After this fight the Indians
went on TO Stalworth ranch, on which they made
an attack but were driven off, after having
wounoeo stalworth. The story is that bull
dog heard the Indians and began to bark Stall
wortn came out with his revolvers to see what
lowing is partial list of the dead:
II. S. Smith, prospector; the Lutler brothers.
two stock men, Peter Anderson, prospector:
Robert Benton, ranehman; Nate Luse miner
Calvin Ccrwig. +. r. Lyon, j. Fl. Baxter: Thomas
Mckinney, John Woods and family, and twenty
one more.
The general public is greatly incensed at the
conduct of the troops and the press of the city
boldly charges General Crook with shameless
disregard of his duty and the appeals Of the
ritFsns