Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-17
GREAT BEND MASSACRE.
THE REMARKABLE CASE OF
ROBERT MCGEE.
a Missouri Coy Who Was Tortured Be
yond Description aud Il Vet AiiVe-A
Cruel Episode OF the Kansas BORDER
A Terrible Ordeal.

their corral on the bank OF tine Ar
kansas river about 10 miles from the
present site of Great Bend, Kan, and
took up the line OF march toward
their destination, Fort Union, ~ NJ
The train consisted OF 80 freight
wagons aud S5 men Elmore Grow.
/ lean. wiry old speculator, native
Of Illinois. was proprietor or con
tractor; james Riggs was wagonmas-
ter or captain. and John Hyle was as
sistant wagonmaster The rest OF
the party was made up of teamsters
employed by Crow, The tr1fn~was
engaged in hauling government
stores from Fort Leavenworth, Kan
to Fort Union, n NJ. distance Of
900 miles. and half the distance had
been accomplished
Before the party left Fort leayen-
worth Riggs asked the commandment
TO furnish arms Tor the teamsters,
but the latter replied that treaties
had been made with all OF the hostile
tribes and no danger was TO be ap-
pretended. says the st, Louis Re
f public. The government should
have furnished guard, aud at all
events guns. but as it was-the train
pulled out OF Fort Leayenworth with
only one firearm a double barrelled
shotgun. which belonged TO team.
ster named A. NJ Gentry
Not far from the present site Of
Great Bend, on the opposite side Of
the river. and at the mouth OF a
stream known as Walnut creek. was
a military outpost known Is Fort
Zarah 1t was thlrty-fye miles from
Fort Larned, and was in reality only
a stage station garrisoned by about
forty soldiers. A thick clamp %
walnut trees grew at the mouth Of
the creek from which its name was
derived. Scattering plum bushes
and grapevincs skirted it. bank on
either side.
About half past 5 o'clock on this
eventful morning. when the advance
Of the long train came in sight Of
Fort Zarah. one OF the amsters de-
tected body OF Indians emerging
from thicket OF plum bushes about
FIVE miles distant up the creek. The
train was then about two or three
miles from Fort Zarah. which was
directly on their line Of travel The
Indians rode in a gallOp across the
plains and made for the head OF the
train. They rode in unbroken order
in double file and when at distance
OF mile or 30 the teamsters dlscov-
cred them TO be kiowas aud Brule
Sioux warriors. about 100 in number,
dressed out In all the toggery Of tho
warpath
Still maintaining the order Of their
march in double column, the red
warriors galloped up TO the head of
the train. where a division was made,
and one-half OF their number rode
down each side Of the long line Ct
wagons.
The signal for general attack
was made BY the mead chief. Little
Turtle. but owing to some DELAY III
giving il the Indians in the rear left
the head Of the train free before the
firing commenced The bloody work
began at the rear Of the long train
where the principal braves had rid
den, and at whoop from Little
. 4 ttA bAt kNat AAtaGNtEbNN NdFEAQEH
poured in a storm Of leadcn bullets.
arrows and spears The attack was
so sudden and unexpected that the
white men could offer no resistance
Those Of the train who were not
killed at the first fire sought safety
in flight.
man named Redding was shot
~ pp,t,rb tho had v.sftb r,......t.- a
fell just in advance Of him was
Brockman, who was shot across the
abdomen with rifle ball He started
to run, when the Indians surrounde ed
him Brockman raised his cattle
whip and offered such desperate
resistance and laid about him
so iiercely with This novel
weapon that he beat the sayages OF
just at this juncture a great commo-
ton drew the Indians further down
the train, aud IL was 10 this excite.
ment that many Of the trainmen at.
tributed their escape At this criti.
cal moment a. NJ Gentry. the only
man in tho train with "a gun. had
done deadly execution with the sim
gle load II contained An Indian
shot him in the leg with rifle ball.
but Gentry jumped into his wagon.
seized his gun and paid return
compliment, shooting at the Indian.
who was riding toward him with a
tomahawk, killing both horse and
rider instantly. He then sprang out
OF the wagon and made his escape.
Gentry's shot seemed to discomfort
the redskins, and four Of their num-
Der leaped from their horses, seized
the fallen Indian. wrapped him up in
a blanket and borc him swiftly away
over the prairie. This was the only
Indian killed and the trainmen be-
lieved that he was brave in high
authority.
The survivors reached the fort.
many Of them in an exhausted con.
dition, and number OF them we're
badly wounded. Riggs and Crow
had made their escape on horseback
and, Of course, reached the fort first