The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-11
MASSACRED BY INDIANS.
Graphic Account of the Killing Of "A Party
of French Tourists.

CHEYENNE, Wy, March lO.-A half
breed hunter and trapper, who arrived
here from the extreme northwestern
quarter OF the Territory to-day, brings
fidings OF the atrOciOus massacre Of q
party of five French tourists in Yellow
stone National Park. The bearer OF the
news heard the story at Canon City, "a
new mining town near the park, where
Frank Ferry, the guide, and sole sur
yivor. reported the slaughter
Ferry SAYS his charges included VI.
Leclaire and wife; ]. Vincent and wife,
and Paul Gerot father of Nine. Vincent.
He entered the service of the sightseers
at Virginia City, Mont, contracting TO
show them through the park, in viola
ton Of United States statutes.
The strangers were very wealthy, and
said they had journeyed overland from
San Francisco, for the express purpose
taking in the park during the absence of
the horde of summer eXcurslOnists. The
party enjoyed themselves hugely in the
park, afiilating with the pOachers, who
were slaughtering game for hides Their
camp was always headquarters for pro
fessional hunters, whom they supplied
with luxuries.
The guides story of the murder,
which, he says, was committed by In
dians, Is most graphic recital. Just
before dawn, on the day Of the murder,
blood-curdling yells and fusilade of
shots were heard, and reused Ferry
He realized the situation, and, crawling
through the brush, took refuge in the
mouth OF q sleeping geyser. Here he heard
piteous grosns and begging OF foreigners,
mingled with yelling Of the red skins,
The latter proceeded with the murders,
and killed old Gerot just as the sun was
rising. The slaughter was most brutal.
Wound after wound was inflicted before
the death shot was given. No body con-
tanned less than ten bullets, and the re-
mains of Vincent, who made desperate
struggle for life, were rlddled. Ihe
sayages passed the morning IN
further mulilating the bodies and pill
Laying their outfit. The women were
neatly scalped and their long tresses'
matted with blood, dangled from the
belt of the chief of the Indians. The
heads af the men were hacked and then
bodies frightfully dishgured. Tn.
Indians found store OIL
liouors, carried by the French
men, but the quantity was not
sufficient TO intoxicate them all, elst
they would doubtless have fought among
themselves. The clothes OF the victims
were donned by the iends, who, as they
ran from one wagon TO another, would
halt an instant to give one ol
the bodies kick or cash
with knife. Finally, the ma
rauders. wearied Of their bloody
feast, and packing the effects OF the dead
people on their ponies, set nre 10 tne
wagons and left. Ferry, who was nearly
dead with fright, emerged from his ma
inc place when the Indians had depart
ed and at once started for Canon Clly
the nearest settlement.
lie avoided the hunters in the parh
and must have suffered from hunger anc
eYnosure. as he was weak, emaciaIed
and seemed slightly demented when re
lating the terrible story The guide va
nlaced in the care OF physician
but he disappeared the secon'
night after his arrival, and la
not been seen since 1t is presumed tia
he Is crazy, as he started to the scene o.
the massacre. Officers at Canon Clt'
have organized posse to secure tn
hodies Of the murdered people, an'
II possible. ayenge their deaths
They will proceed with al
nossible haste, as the place is isolated an
wolves are liable TO destroy the remain
before the park police or the hunter
stumble on them. Ferry is tough char
acter but hi, story d believed, althoug
some of the miners think that the hide
hunters. who are mostly outlaws, ma
have murdered the tourists tor robbery