White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-26
LAST STAND OF THE
SHOSHOME INDIANS
(By ID. {.

1t was during the last years of TIN
civil war that the noble red man o
eastern Nevada, at that time princi-
pally Shoshones. with a few renegade
Flutes and Utes from Utah amonf
them, made their last stand and final
ly realized that to the scalp
ing knife and the torch would not be
tolerated by the FREDERICKSBURG horde
of ranchers and miners hat were set
ling the country.
When the pony express was estab-
lisIhed its brave riders swept across
the country from station to station,
daring the lurking ava in his
treacherous ambush. carrying the dis
patches which told of the struggles
o. the civil war to the eagerly wait
ing thousands on the Pacific coast.
Notwithstanding the many dangers of
this service the Indians only succeed
ed in killing two OF them.
Afterward the Ben Holiday stage
coaches followed, giving the willy In
dian his opportunity for many we'll
planned ambushes. although the gov
eminent had erected a chain of forts
aud posts across the state. which were
guarded by soldiers, principally vol
~bnteers from California and the west
ern states and territories. Even then
The crafty red men watched their OPP
portunity and attacked the stations
and killing the occupants. and when
The next through stage arrived. ac-
companied by its cavalry escort. they
eften found only the smoking ruins
and the mutilated remains of the oc-
eupants.
At Sehell Creek, as 1t was then
known, o the Burke ranch. a com
rany of cavalry was stationed. whose
duty consisted of guarding the stage
line and the few scattered ranchers
Who had taken up homes in the val
Ievs. The Indians. although not ac-
tually on the %warpath at this time,
did not hesitate to steal horses. and
IL the opportunity presented itself to
Kill prospectors and take their outfits
and animals. They ran off a bunch
OF horses and mules belonging to the
government from the vicinity OF
Sche1lbourne and tool them to Duck
creek, where they kept them hidden
in a side canyon. Government scouts
tracked them to their hiding place,
where they found them guarded By
Indians. They also located their
main camp, just south of the Gala
cher ranch, about six miles north OF
What is now McGill. They returned
TO Schell Greek and reported to the
officer in command, who Immediately
decided to recover the animals and
punish the thieving Indians.
At shutdown boots and saddles was
sounded and a company of forty
picked men. fully armed and equip
ped and accompanied by the scouts
under the command of a lieutenant,
made a night ride to the camp on
Duck creek. which they attacked al
daylight the mex morning. The In
dams. taken by surprise. offered d
stubborn resistance. Owing to the
nature of the ground they were able
to retreat up the mountain under
of the brush and trees and {
number of them made their escape 4
Duck creek. but not without losinl
many OF their bravcst warriors on TIL,
field OF battle.
1t has beer reported hat the or
Gers were to exterminate the band
and although there were a few
sqJaws killed in the fight | have i
from n of the troopers that the OF
ders were to get the braves who wer,
supposed to be guilty of the man.
outrages committed; so that IL
squaw got In the way OF q soldier
aim at II brave it was her misfortune