The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-09-21
THE RED MANS REVENGE,
AN ACCOUNT OF TWO MAssAcRes
IN WESTERN COLORADO.

IN WESTERN COLORADO.
Sixteen Indians Killed for Stealing Cattle.
a survivor Tells the story to the Tribe
AMI 1t Takes AN Awful Reyeure-A
frightened Census Takcr
In lS'o was appointed census enumerator
"' Dolores county, Colorado started from.
liir" about the l2th OF Jui.e for the purpose
"l "hniticratlns the settlers outside of the
town. larrivc'l ut Thompson's milk ranch.
ON Beaver creek. Climbing up a steep
mountain side. it "as late in the afternoon
when halted my weary horse at the ranch.
which found to consist of u log cabin, a milk
house. IL corral and n stable. Strange as it
seemed! lo me- the door of the cabin was nailed
UP, and pigs, dogs and chickens roamed about
aud approached me Us if glad of human COM
piinN The usual utensils and fixtures of q
ranch, such us wagons and other appliances,
si""d about, but no human being was to be
seen. The day being exceedingly hot, sat
IN the door step, wondering when my i'll
tended host would appear. | saw number
"i cattle, mile or two off, and supposed that
the inhabitants of the ranch We're there brand
ing or rounding up their stock for milking
purposes
WHAT ATTRACTED TIE BUZZARDs
While waiting | noticed some half dozen
buzZards circling slowly above some tall
trees Il couple hundred yards from the house,
d'lrting carthwarl and then reappcaring
above, only to repeat the same maneuver
again My prairie experience led me to be-
i'eNe that some carrion was the objective
point beneath those Trees so when the sun
WAS finally going down and no one had vet
appeared was led to suspect that some
catastrophe might have occurred, and, COLI
hr''lmG the blZzards with this thought,
mounted my horse and rode over to tho trees,
in'l, approaching them, found the bodies of
sixteen Indians one of which was that of a
woman. examined them, and found that
they ,;.d been Shot.
'iil not wonder ut the nailed up ranch
door, nor did expect any one to appear and
''il'';' me entertainment. The ranchmau must
I'i'Nc removed himself and family to some
place ol safety in fear of retaliatory meas
'lr"s hv the Indians. | therefore pulled down
'h" door and examined tho interior found
some dry biscuits, coffee and coffee pot and
sheet iron stove; an empty bcdstead stood in
on" corner, on which We're piled Il number of
magazines, while skins covered tine floor OF
course, my first thought was for the inner
i'ill, anu SitlItil toFll 10 the chicken house
7" look for eggs. found au abuntiant sup.
ply Returning to tho house, started a fire
and lcclnlr cook
In leaving the house to replenish the iir,
| happened To glance up to the roof of the
house and, To my di>lnay. disco .ered the
sIii"H" passing thr"ughn stnvepipe proi,v;.
ine5 from the roof, which sent the sn,oNe IN
IL straight line IL huu,ircd lect or NOR. up il,
Ill,. tlr AS such Snlillll. of
by SOME of the Plain Indians us n signal to
rendezvous, l was ap!rchcl>ive this,
,iii"kc would call to tn" ranch any hams
Indians which might he proving in
country Remember, | kuew of no lti...
Disturbances lut ell ! found So .rany Il,
lihilaIs- However, aiter supper | founu
more clear spot IN tttt sage orl.su t..' D.;
A"I'se, @t""rd my Nad'lle in l:cr pa.
ll'A r"tirrd I" tne mouse, Ml ca.r..-. L.
"%an!n"I the na"azmies | >oo:l exit!
tt!,' hight and vent to s.crp ON t.rLa
Awakened suddenly by some Slight nulse,
had some serious reflections thought of
home and friends and Of the Likelihood of my
beng scnlpel in the night had no weup
pls, and therefore could have offered bu
| Slight Resistance to ;.nv one, a,tuck r..
lighting the candle, ! Inscribed .tle toi.o;.
hS IN my note book, with my nuiic, occu
patton and date:
II am Tonight at ThompsoIs milk ranc..
Have discovered some deni Indians near
here. May i,e murdered by any live on.
who may he i'll tho vicinity Whoever finds
this Will please send it 10 given address of
brother in New York city"
THE TERRIBLE SEQUEL.
Stepping to the door threw this book far
out into tho brush, and fine time had tho
next morning. on awakening, to find it,
Holding II council Of war with myself in the
morning, changed my course and struck
out for the nearest large settlement, which
presumed to be some forty miles distant,
called the Big Bend of tho Dolores, winch is
almost Mt the head Of the famous Montezurnu
valley. There being no road, | Travelled
'v"r woods and mountains, and utter dark
arrived ut my destination. | found the
people of tho settlement in II state Of great
alarm. On tho previous night the house of
Mr.. Gentiincr had been attacked bv a band
Of Indians, himself killed, his wife shot, and
ms house burned. 1t wa, horrible story.
The man ha, discovered his house on fire
while i'll the bed, had seized a couple of pals
ana run to the well. In returning he was
shot.
HIS "iic III her night robe, hearing his
cries and seeing him fall, ran to his assist
ahr", He begged her to gather tho children
and i!ce and leave him to his fate While
handing hl!n Il drink of water, loath to leave
hiiii, slo herself was shot, receiving terrible
wound through the right shoulder Terrified,
She He'd to the house, aroused her three chill
drch and ran out into tho road, Justify
screaming for help. Running into all arroyo
"a 5tIlchj, and there hiding in the sage brush
Win her small Children about her, the poor
woman sat all night partly nude shiveriug
f,,1 ~ a. ~,
u.iphl,or. Am this hnn,onaI s7,,,o ar,,,t