The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-27
SIXTEEN FAMILIES SLAIN
The Massacre fastened by the
Approach of the Regu-
lar Troops.
BRAVES LIGHT SIGNAL FIRES.
Great the Slaughter, for There We're
Onlv SIxty-Five Men to Fight
Hundreds of Indians.

POCATELLO, IDAHO, July 26.-The re-
port was brought to Market Lake, sixty-five
miles north of here, tonight that sixteen
families in Jacksons Hole had been mas
sacred by the Indians. James Peterson,
ranchman, brought the news after hard
ride of over fifty miles.
Superintendent Hopkins of the St. An
thony Ditch Line told Peterson that he got
the startling information direct from Mr.
Ross of the banking firm of Gray. Ross &
Wyatt of st. Anthony, who started on a
fishing trip last Wednesday with Thomas
Hammer, County Attorney of st. An
thony; General Hammer, State Senator of
Illinois, and L. NJ. Earl of Salt Lake.
The party intended to go to Jacksons
Lake, but were barred out by the hostile
Indians, and they heard the report that
number of white settlers had been killed.
Riley Howard, a ranchman of Wilford,
Idaho, who arrived at Market Lake to-day,
says he heard the report at both Rexburg,
on the direct trail to Jacksons Park, and
St. Anthony that sixteen entire families in
Jacksons Hole had been killed. Brigadier-
General Sitter sent messenger to the be-
sieged district early yesterday morning.
The general says he should be back here
early Saturday morning to give more de-
tailed and direct information.
Courier Sargent arrived in Market Lake
this morning from the vicinity of Jacksons
Hole. He left companion in the coun-
try who remained to get into the hole if
possible and return with all the news. He
is expected at Market Lake tonight.
Sargent reports all the passes guarded,
and is afraid his companion will not be
able to get in. He believes the settlers
who went to hunt Indians in the Hoback
Basin have been ambushed and mas
sacred. Adjutant General Sitter of
Wyoming, who is at Market Lake to-day,
is very anxious for two of his messengers
dispatched to JaeksoHs Hole several days
ago who have not returned, although over
due. Grave fears are now entertained that
they have been ambushed by the Indians.
The two special trains bearing the four
troops of colored cavalry from Fort Robin
son, Nebr., have not been able to keep up
with the time scheduled for them yester-
day, and instead of arriving here this even
ing it will be daylight tomorrow morning
before they get in. 1t will be well along
toward noon tomorrow before the troops
reach Market Lake.
Considerable time will necessarily be
consumed in getting started on the jour
ney overland and then there are before
them 120 miles of travel, the last of the
journey being over the Teton Mountains
This means that it will, at least, be Mon
day night before the settlers, if any remain
in the Jacksons Hole Valley, receive any
assistance.
According to the official report made by
n iT7ta 20 ~ Il a.
were in .Jacksons Hole 65 men who are
able to bear arms, 35 women and 40 chill
dren. Opposed to them were the $50 to 300
Bannocks and Shoshones from this reser-
walton, who were the first to become hos
tile; the 400 Lemhis, who joined the bel
Hgerents this week; the so Bannocks un-
der Jim Ballard, and possibly 200 or 800
Shoshones from the Wind River Reserva-
ton, and $50 Utes from Utah and Colo
rado. At the very least estimate the fight
ing force of whites must have been out
numbe six or eight to one.
For three days all the highest mountain
peaks in the Jacksons Hole country have
been blazing with Indian signal fires It
was sight that struck terror to the hearts
of the handful of settlers surrounded by
the relentless red men, for it meant that
more were to come. Swift riding Indian
couriers with relays of ponies, secured the
surrounding territory, and couriers and
fires resulted in probably several hundred
braves being added to the force massed at
the southern entrance to Jacksons Hole
Yesterday the Indians learned that the
troops were surely coming and realized
that they must strike at once if their re-
venge was to be secured.