The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-11
A BLOOD-CURDLING TALE
FIVE TOURISTS MAssACRED IN
YELLOWSTONE PARK.


The Story Brought to Cheyenne by q
Half-Breed Hunter, Who Acted as
the Party's Guide-He Represents
the Horror as the Work of Indians
Doubts as to His sanity-He Myste-
riously Disappears.
CHEYENNE, WYo., March 10.-A half
breed hunter and trapper who arrived here
to-day from the extreme northwestern part
of the territory reports the atrocious mas
sacre Of party of five French tourists in
Yellowstone national park. The bearer Of
the news heard the story at Canyon City, a
new mining town near the park, where
Hank Ferry, the guide and sole survivor,
reported the slaughter Ferry said his
charges included M. LIE Claire and wife, j.
Vincent and wife, and Paul Gerst, father
of Nine. Vincent.
LUXURY AND PLEASURE.
He entered the service of the sight-seers
at Virginia City, Mont, contracting TO
show them through the park, in violation
of the United States statutes. The strang-
ers were very wealthy, and said that they
had journeyed overland from San Francisco
for the express purpose of going through
the park during the absence Cf the horde Of
summer excursonists. The party enjoyed
themselves hugely in the park, affiliating
with the poachers, who were slaughtering
game for hides. Their camp was always
the headquarters for professional hunters,
whom they supplied with luxuries.
A GRAPHIC RECITAL.
The guides story of the murder, which,
he says, was committed by Indians, is
most graphic recital Just before dawn on
hn ~ ha lav. IT,,
cries and q fusilade of shots were
heard, and reused Ferry. He real
lied the situation, and, crawling through
the brush, took refuge in the mouth OF a
sleeping geyser. Here he heard the piteous
groans and the begging of the foreigners,
mingled with the yels Of the redskins TIE
latter proceeded with the murders and
killed old Gerst first as the sun was rising
The slaughter was most brutal, wound after
wound being inflicted before the death shot
was given.
VINCENT'S BRAVE FIGHT.
Nobody contained less than ten bullets,
and the body of Mr.. Vincent, VINO made
desperate struggle for life. was completely
riddled. The savages passed the morning
in further mutilating the bodies and pillag-
ing their outfit. Tue women were neatly
scalped, and their long tresses, matted with
blood, dangled from the belt of the chief of
the Indians. The heads of the men were
hacked and their bodies frightfuliy dis
figured.
DRANK UP THE LIQUORS.
The Indians found store of liquors car
ried by the Frenchmen, but the quantity
was not sufficient TO intoxIcate them all,
else they would doubtless have fought
among themselves. The clothes of the vic
Tins were donned by the fiends, who, as
they ran from one wagon to the other,
would halt an instant TO give one of the
bodies kick or cash with a knife. FL
nally the marauders, weary of their bloody
feast and packing the effects of the dead
people on their ponies, set fire to the
wagons ana left
FERRY'S FLIGHT.
Ferry, who was nearly dead with fright,
emerged from his hiding place when
the Indians had departed and at once
started for Canyon City, the nearest settle.
ment. He avoided the hunters in the park,
and must have suffered from hun
ger and exposure, as he was
weak, emaciated and seemed slightly
demented when relating the terrible story.
The guide was placed in care of physi-
after his arrival and has not been seen
since.
FERRY'S SANITY DOUBTED.
It is presumed that he is crazy, as he
started 60 the scene of the massacre. Off
GERS at Canyon City have organized
posse to secure the bodies OF
the murdered people, and If possible to
avenge their deaths. They viii proceed with
all possible haste, as the place is isolated
and wolves are liable to devour the remains
before the park police or hu1ters stumble
on them. Ferry is tough charac cter, but
his story is believed, although some of the
miners think that hide hunters, who are
mostly outlaws, may have murdered the
tourists for the purpose Of robbery.