Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-01-31
LAST INDIAN War

ioiio"'ue AIouh ue ISpOIb
of Superintendent Donnelly of the
State Police is the official report
of the last Indian war which took
place in the state and let us hope
the last that will ever take place:
In January, 1911, four stockmen
operating in northern Washoe
county were reported missing
Search vas instigated for the miss
ing men and on Feb. IL, news was
received that their bodies has been
found and that the men undoubted-
~ had been murdered This de-
partment was called upon to assist
in the pursuit Of the murderers.
A posse was formed, composed of
members of department. peace
officers, and stockmen. | assumed
command of the posse. We found
the hodies. stripped of the greater
part of their clothing, concealed
from view by willows, in Little
Rock Canyon. Carcasses of cattle
and horses and a deserted Indian
camp were found near the murder
ed stGckmcn. The bodies IF the
men we're taken to Camp Deniu.
where an inquest was held over
the remains and a verdict found to
he effect that the four men had
Come to their deaths from gunshut
wounds inflicted by persons un.
known but believed to be Indians.
We picked up the trail Of the
Indians where they had left the
deserted camp. Later il developed
that t e trail was about q month
old. nder very unfavOrahle con-
d%ilions, during the coolest month
of n of the most severe winters
known TO Nevada. we followed the
trail for about $50 miles before
the Indians we're overtakan. At
several points along the trail con-
elusive eviden e was obtained that
the posse was following the same
band Of Indians that had canned
near the scene of the murder.
Fifteen days from the time the
bodies of the stOckmen were found
the Indians evincCd considerable
concern at the approach Of the
posse and they were commanded to
surrender. They Immediately fired
upon Il force. Through an in
terpreter they were again told to
submit to arrest. Their only reDIv
was another volley from their
rifles. A sharp engagement lasting
aUOut three u resulted. One
member OF the posse, Ed. Hogle,
four buck Indians, two squsws ana
two Indian buys were killed during
the engagement. "ShOshone Mike"
the leader of the band had eight
bullet wounds in his body. One
Squaw, Ole boy and two small
children were captured. None Of
the band escaped. The killing of
the boys and squaws was unavoid-
able, as the fought as f~iercely as
the bucks u,ing firearms 1 -,
and spears. Also, the squaws
realizing that we we're endeavoring
to avoid injuring them, tried to
protect the bucks from our FIRE.
The Indians proved to be a band of
outlaws Known as "ShushOne Mikes
band, who had been committing
depredatiOns in eastern and north
ern California for a period of
eighteen months. they were sus,
pected Of having committed several
murders prior to the killing OF the
stockmen. The CAPTURED squaw
confessed that the band had killed
seventeen human beings. The
%coroner's jury returned a verdict
That the Indians came to their
deaths by guRshot wounds inflicted
by Captain j. 2. Donnelley's posse f:
that their deaths were unavoidable
and further, that Captain j. p.
Donnelley and posse we're justified
in their actions"
wish to Highly commend the
individual members Of my posse
for the courage, endurance and
perseverance, Displayed during the
persnit and engagement that re-
suited in the determination of
"Shoncshone Mikes" hand. also
wish 10 thank the ranchers and
stockmen along the route Travelled.
who invaribly supplied the posse
with food, shelter, suppl cs and
fresh mouitts