The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-21
SAND CREEK MASSACRE
A Bloody Page From Colorado's Early
History

snip the most tragic event III ltS iiIo-
tory ocCL--~D-
The discovery OF gold on Cherry
creek in 1858 brought about its logical
result, and two years later Denver oc-
cupied the ground with a population of
1000 When the civil war broke out
there was a sharp but brief contest be-
tween the people from the north and
the south, resulting in favor OF t-ie
north Several expeditions were sent
out from Texas TO recover the territory
with its inexhaustible mines. num-
Der of battles took place, but by the
time a report OF them could reach
Washington, they were both out of date
and obscured by the smoke of the
greater conflict.
The plains between the river and the
mountains were covered With indians,
who had been held in tolerable sub
lection. The Utes were = powerful
mountain tribe, secure in their own
natural fortress, and were friendly to
the whites for the reason that their
presence made it possible for them to
go out and hunt buffalo with some de-
gree of safety The Indians of the
plains did not want the whites to be-
come the allies of their mountain en-
emies, hence the reason of the good be-
haVior.
With the civil war a new factor en-
by the representatives of the confed-
eracy that the great father at Wash
ington was no longer able to punish
them and that jefferson Davis was the
big medicine man. The Indians began
their work of Dillage and destruction,
though claiming to be peaceable. They
became holder with success and sw2Dt
the plains in every direction. 1t re-
quired as much time to cross from the
-ix- m,
moving OK teams as 1t now does to
half circumnavigate the globe.
The fleet-moving savageS would de-
stroy the small parties and make it
dangerous for the stragglers of the
large trains.
Finding no troops sent against them,
as formerly, to punish them for crimes
committed, they became firmly con-
WINGED that the great father at Wash
ington had lost his medicine. In 1854
matters in Colorado were becoming des-
perate Families were scalped at the
very doors of Denver and the mutilated
bodies were taken into the city for
burial The destruction of the trains
was so great that starvation stared the
people in the face before spring. Grant
was tightening the coils for final
struggle with the confederacy, and the
federal government could extend no
aid
Such was the condition of things
when Governor Evans called for
mounted volunteers for special service
under Colonel ]. NJ. Chivington. The
orders We're blank, though the object
was we'll understood. 1t was given out,
however. that the confederates were
preparing for another attack on Colo
RADIO from Texas. and the force was to
operate against the invasion.
cix Ton
and one-half inches, weighed go
pounds and was possessed of strength
and endurance in proportion. Like
Governor Evans, the colonel was
Methodist, and a sort of an unordained
preacher. In those days there were
sporting roughs in the. mining camps,
who, among other amusements, de-
lighted in breaking up religious meet
ings. The evening meetings were their
favorite time for operations. when they
would shoot out the candles-candles
being the only mode of obtaining light.
But toughs never broke up a meeting
conducted by Chivington. When he
slowly walked 70 the front and disin-
numbered himself of belt and pistols,
fianking the Bible with big six
shooter on each side, the silence was
broken by nothing save the unctuous
amens of the brethren.
II
coloneTs expedition left Denver for
Sand creek, 120 miles distant, where it
was known that a large body of
Arapahoes, with q few Cheyennes. were
in camp. They veered their direction
so as to lead any spy into the belief
that it was to Texas that they were
bound. But a few miles out they
halted within ten or a dozen miles of
the Indian camp at shutdown and
i -
II was the coolest November night
ever known in that part of the terri
tory, but they dare not build a fire. Be
fore daylight they were in the saddle
and silently but swiftly swept down on
the savages who had covered Colo
RADIO, Kansas and Nebraska with the
bones of toiling emigrants. 1t was
nearly sunrise when the expedition
sighted the Indian camp, whose deni-
zens were aroused by the barking of
dogs. The Coloradoans then swept
through and over them like q storm
cloud, and, wheeling, trampled them
under the feet of horses. holding the
brides in their teeth and firing right
and left.
NO PRISONERS WE'RE TAKEN
Two Face and Charles Bent were T.
command of the savages. The one =
called Two Face because his fathe4
was an Apache and his mother a Cney-
enne; Bent was a half-braed, with The
evils of both races and the virtues of
neither Two Face escaped, but Bent
fought his last battle. Fresh scalps,
including those of women and children,
were found in the camp; also other
evidences of atrocities too horrible for
thought. The sight made the men
wild No prisoners were taken and
few escaped. The fight did not last
long, but more than 500 Indians were
killed.
In the preceding August the Eubanks
family of II persons were nassacred
on Sne Blue river. Mrs. Eubanks was
handsome, not quite so years old and
Two Face made her his squaw- Sac
was held for a year, When Two Face
was captured and hanged. Mrs. Eu-
bank was taken 10 the house of Prof
essor o. P. Virgins now living in Den
YER Virgins was a scout VINO, With
Kit Carson, found the path that FIRE.
mont had lost in the early '4O's and
saved the expedition from starvation
Mr.. Virgins once told the Record
correspondents that the testimony of
Mrs. Eubanks was TO the effect that
she, as the captive of TWO Face, was
at Sand creek. For some time prior 10
the attack by Chivington small parties
were frequently arriving bringing
trophies of their horrible work, and
their fires were kept up by burning the
captured wagons. They knew that
body of men was being raised in Den
yer. but supposed IL was to fight the
Texas rangers and when they moved
il was with such CELEBRITY that che In
dams did not know of it.
With characteristic cunning Two
Face had his tepee some distance from
the camp. and when the attack was