Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-21
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

DEN VER, april ZV.-An olu man, WHOSE
hair had been whitened with the SHOWS of
nearly 80 winters, died recently near Santa
Fe, N. NJ. The man was Joe Lamon, one
of the early pioneers of Colorado, and who
enjoyed the distinction OF having killed the
last Indian in the great Land Creek battle,
in Southeastern Colorado, in 1864, when 400
or 500 Arapahoes and Apaches were killed
by the Colorado troops.
Many old-timers in the West will recall
Lamon.
Just before the war he removed from
Illinois and settled down in the Arkansas
valley.
He had large family and they took up
several claims adjacent to the homestead.
In those days but little attention was paid
to farming, as cattle raising was then very
profitable. When the band of Indians went
on'the warpath they terrorized the settlers
along the Platte and Arkansas rivers for
months, and finally In the fall they began
their fendish massacre.
A TRAIL OF BLOOD.
They would sweep down on the settlements
murder all the inhabitants, whose scalps dan
gled at the belts of some of the reds when they
left the scene of their butchery. after burning
all their houses and barns. The horrible depre-
dations were continued for months, and hun
dSeds of whites were cruelty murdered. The
savages managed to outwit the troops all
through the year, and, as winter approached.
they became suddenly very peaceable and
started for Fort Lyons. intending to go into
winter quarters near that place.
Their proffers tor peace were made for no
other purpose than to secure blankets and pro-
visions from the fort. Before they reached
their destination Colonel Chivington, who was
in command of the Colorado troops, learned of
the whereabouts of the blood-t thirsty band. In
II hours the First and Second Regiments were
in the saddle and several hundred men, under
brave leader, all armed to the teeth, were
soon on their way to the Arkansas Valley to
avenge the wholesale slaughter of the whites.
Chivington knew every foot of country
where the depredations had been committed,
and knew the course the Indians would follow
on their march. In order to intercept Them he
took the troops across the divide and headed
right tor that section of country in which the
town of ChivingtOn is now located. The troops
marched day and night, The settlers along the
trail furnishing them with fresh horses and
provisions.
PURSUERS AND PURSUED.
The willy redskins hadlearned by some means
that they were being pursued, and Kept scouts
in the rear on the trail in order TO warn them
of the approach of The soldiers hoping to
reach Fort Lyons before being overtaken, and
once there they would make treaty of peace.
For once the red butchers were caught in their
own trap. Colonel Chivington made no at
tempt to follow the trgil of the Indians. but
cut directly across the valley, and consequently
while the scouts were keeping sharp lookout
the troops swept down to Laird creek, where
the Indians were camping
The Indians were discovered just after night
fall on a clear winter evening. and preparations
were at once made for the battle. The Indians
IVa hair hay
had murdered two families Just few days be-
fore, and the fresh scalps of their victims hung
before the tepee of one of the chiefs. The
wretches little dreamed that the troops were
intently watching their performance and be-
fore another sun arose they would all be sent
to the happy hunting grounds.
One Of the families that had last been butch
cred was that of Joe Lamon, and he had Joined
the troops only the day before the battle. swear
ing he would never rest until the last Indian
was dead. Lamon kept his word.
A DEATH TRAP.
The Indians could not have selected more
propitious spot for camping SO far as the
soldiers were concerned Their tepees were
pitched in a basin in the bed of the creek and
on all sides of them were high banks. Just be-
fore daylight the soldiers surrounded the camp
and quietly waited. Just as dawn was break
ing and the Indians began to stir about, the
critical moment had arrived. They had given
no warning to the settlers and shown no mercy,
and why should the soldiers give them the
slightest advantage?
At signal from Colonel Chivington hun
dreds of muskets belched forth a volley of
leaden missiles right into the tepees of the
Indians. The frightened savages who were
not killed by the first fire endeavored to
escape, but each succeeding volley moved
them down, and finally all were still. The rest
Is known. The braves, their squaws and chill
dren had been killed, and the murder of the
innocent whites IN the Arkansas and Platte
alleys had been avenged with vengeance.
Now comes the story of how old Joe Lamon
kept his word. In searching through the
.epees the soldiers found two young Indian
Urls who had miraculously escaped the
Tuslade. They were taken in charge by Col
)nel Chivington and that night he had them
placed in tent adj joining his own. for fear that
;ome of the enraged settlers would kill them
md make the score fully even.
ALL PRECAUTIONS USELESS.
AS an extra precaution he placed two of his |
most trusted men On guard In front of this |
emf. During the night the rear end of the tent |
where the two girls were sleeping was split |
pen, and in the twinkling of an eye the girls |
we're dead. long, Keen knife flashed in the |
r and all was over.
The following morning when Colonel Chiving-
Oh ordered the girls brought to his tent the
orrible discovery was made that they were
ead. Their heads had been severed from their
odies, Just as Joe Lamon found his wife and
fter the savages had killed five members of
Is family.
The old settler had kept his word; the last of
he Dloodthirsty band had been wiped out. He
ever returned to his former home, but soon
Dined party who were emigrating to New
fexico. He settled down near Santa Fe,
here he lived until his death.