Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-12
HOW THE RENDERS DIED
Story Told For First Time by
an Indian Scout.
TRAGEDY ENACTED NEAR A CREEK

Members of the Noted Famiiy were
All Massncred by Posse Led by
nm Old Buffalo Hunter-Bodies and
Roadhouse.
r. r. Pierce, more Familiarity known
as "Doc" Pierce, one or the Oldest and
most reliable Indian scouts of the
Black Hills. has given out story about
the Bender family of Kansas, which
goes to show that there Is no further
need Of the authorities searching for
the remains OF the family, says a dis
patch from Deadwood to the ST Louis
Globe Democrat Pierce is q reliable
man, and for the first time he tells
what he knows OF the case. He had a
friend in the seventies who was also
wei. known In the Black Hills, and be-
fore the friend died he related to
Pierce the incidents relative to the kill
ing of all of the members of the Ben
der family.
When the York family was killed
and the tragedy was traced to the
home Of the Blenders, Pierce's friend
was among those from the city OF
Cherryvale who went out to investi-
gate the conditions of things at the
Bender roadhouse There were "a men
In the party one of the men being an
old buffalo hunter. They found the
house deserted, and In searching the
house the bedstead In the west room,
about which so much has been said,
was found to be full of bullet holes,
and dried blood was on the mattress.
They found the trapdoor behind cur
tain. which led into the cellar, into
which the dead bodies had been thrown
until dark, when they were taken out
into the garden and buried.
The searching party next went out
into the garden and commenced look
Ing for the spot where the bodies had
been buried. A wagon rod was used
to probe the ground for a soft place,
and finally a spot was found that was
soft. After digging down a short ways
the body of one of the York children
was found. and the contortions of the
face and body made II look as though
the child had been buried alive Eff
teen bodies were found by the party
In the garden. including the Texas cat
tleman. who was supposed to have
been shot In the west room.
The old buffalo man had been look
ing around for the trail of the family,
which had made its escape. The trail
of an old rickety wagon was found. and
the buffalo hunter followed it up all
day, and about nightfall came upon the
family camped near creek. The scout
returned 10 the party of Cherryvale
men and reported his find. They agreed
upon going back with the scout and ex-
terminating the whole family The
posse was divided into three parts and
the Bender family was surrounded
One of the posse accidentally discharg
ed his rifle before the proper time,
which gave the warning of danger to
the Bender people. They Immediately
prepared for defense. The buffalo
hunter fred at long range at old man
Bender and hit him in the back. killing
him. Another volley from the posse
and John and his mother fell dead
Kate was the last one TO be shot. The
posse then went to the scene and piled
the four dead bodies in a heap and
burned them. adding to the fire the
wagon. harness and the camp outfit.
Everything that would not burn was
taken to the creek bank and covered
over with dirt.
This is the story that DOC" Pierce
tells for the first time since his friend
confided the facts to him 20 years ago.
The story that Kate Bender came to
the Black Hills several years ago and
made her residence in Deadwood is not
credited there. a woman did come TO
Deadwood about 10 years ago that had
some resemblance 10 the famous Kate.
so some of the old timers say, but it is
not believed that it was she.