The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-22
MASSACRED BY INDIANS.
French Tourists Murdered in
Yellowstone Park.
Two Women Scalped and Three
Men Brutally Mutilated.

A half-brecd hunter and trapper who ar
rived at Cheyenne, Wyoming, q few days
ago, from the exc.,rae l.nsrth.;>sterr
quarter Of the Territory brings tidings
of the atrocious massacre OF a
party Of five French tourists In
Yellowstone National Park. The bearer Of
the news heard the story at Canyon City,
new mining town, near the park, where Hank
Ferry, the guide and sole survivor, reported
tho slaughter.
Ferry says his charges include NJ. Le
Claire and wife; j. Vincent and wife, and
Paul Gerot father of Madame Vincent.
He snteroi vrsn. the s'rSss sS %on,ans % sae
contracting to show them through the
park, in violation Of United States statutes.
The strangers wore very wealthy and said
they had iourneyod overland from San Fran.
cisco for tho express purpose OF going through
the park during the absence OF the horde OF
summer oxcursionists. The party enjoJod
themselves hugely in the park, afiiliating
game S for Ridsa Tbsir 1S Samp ers was Always the
hssd!nars,s;rs !r,;I for Professional hunters whom
and roIt fgSiiade Of shots ho7tssiansl Wiz Is z mese
brush. b0h tool, aud crawling throtss ths tSe
Co., s10s (Sft 6aa3ge in Che RopS lnaS4e sne
lS Is ysclss ngio ne neafd the5 plteous
ssis sas "ss ssSsssSf sSsss Ss q =; sna
Inc intter proceeded with the murdS and
Killed old Gerot just as the sun was rising
.,,a me slaughter was most brutal. Wound
eiter wound was inflicted before the death
shog was given. No body contained less than
ten bullets. and tho remains of Vincent. who
made made desperate fight for his life were com.
pletely riddled.
The savages passed the morning in further
mut,.ating the bodies and pillaginC their out
IT. Tho women were scalped md tbcir long
sresses matted with blood, dangled from the
Deie Oh tho chief of the Indians. The heads of
the men were hacked and their bodies fright.
fully dsfigured
The Indians found q store of liquors car
ried M by the Frenchmen, but the quantity
else S thoy WoS to doIboss 1Ptoxicate tbom all
among ann themselves. The clothes Of
nnn nenus, n who as they ran from
slant to give one Of the bodies a kick or
sash with knife. Finally, the fiends
WearLed OF their bloody feast and, packing
ene Objects of the dead people on their ponies,
seG IRE 10 the wagons and left.
Ferry, who was nearly dead with fright
emerged from his hidingplace when the In
dians had departed and at once started for
SanYon City, the nearest settlement. He
nVolued the hunters in the park and must
havo suffered from hunger and exposure, as
ne was weak, emaciated, and seemed slightly
demented when relating the terrible story
,hraio;eg InG guide ,s was PLACED in tho care Of a
night after his arrival aud has not
been seen since 1t is presumed thai
he is crazy, as he started to the scene
OF tho massacre. Officers at Canyon CITY
have organized a posse to secure the
bodies or the murdered people and if possible
avonge their deaths. They will proceed with
all possible haste, as the place is isolated AMI
wolves are liable to devour the remains be-
fore tho park police or the hunters stumble
OF them.
Ferry is n tough character, but his story
Is believed, although some of tho miner,
think that the hide hunters, who are mostly
outlaws, may have murdered the tourists for
the purpose of robbery.