The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-10-08
BENDER FAMILY FATE
old Indi an Scout Tells OF the KILN.
All the Murderer.


All the Murderer
Il. II. Pierce. more Familiarity known
as bod" Pierce, one OF the Oldest
and most reliable Indian scouts of the
Black Hills, has given out story
about the Bender family, of Kansas.
which seems to show that there is no
further need OF the authorities search
Ing for the family. =
Pierce is u reliable man, and for the
hrst time he tells what he knows OF
the case. He had n friend in the T0s.
who was also well known In the Black
Hills. and before the friend died h.
related to Pierce the incidents relative
TO thc killing of all the members Of
tie Bender family.
When the York family was killed
and the tragedy was traced to the
home of the Bendcrs. Pierce's friend
was among those from the city OF
Cherryvale who went out to investf-
gate the condition of things at the
Bender roadhouse. There were TWEEN
ty-tour men in the party. one of the5
men being an old buffalo hunter. Thief
found the house deserted and IN
searching the house the bedstead Up
the west room. about which so muSh
has been said. was found to be full "
bullet holes. and dried blood was onN
the mattress. They found the trap
door behind the curtain. 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 looked for the
spot where the bodies had been buried
A wagon rod was used to probe the
ground for Il soft place and finally
Il spot was found that was soft. After
digging down Il short way the body
of one OF the York children was found
and the contOrtions OF the face and
body made It look as though the
child had been buried alive. Fifteen
bodies Were found. including that of
n Texas cattleman who was supposed
TO have been shot in the west room
The old Buffalo hunter had been
looking around for the trail OF the
family. The trail of n wagon was
found and the buffalo hunter followed
it mp all day. About nlghtfall he ca me
upon the family, camped near creek.
The scout returned to the party OF
Cherryvale men and reported his find
They agreed upon going back with
the scout and DISCRIMINATING the entire
family. The posse was divided into
three parts. and the Bender family
was surrounded. One of the posse
accidentally discharged his rifle before
the proper time. which gave the warn
ing of danger to the Bender people.
They Immediately prepared for de
fence. The buffalo hunter fired 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 q heap
and burned them. adding to the fire
wagon, harness and the camp outfit
Everything that would not burn was
taken to the creel. 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 twenty years
ago. The story that Kate Bender
came to the Black Hills several years
ago and made her residence in Dead
wood. South Dakota. is not credited
there. a woman did 90 there about
fifteen years ago that had some re-
semblance TO the famous Kate, so
some OF the oldtimers say.-New
York Sun.