Year: 1872




Those who have resided in the Indian
country of the extreme West, particularly
in the vicinity of the Apaches. Piutes or
any Of the many Digger tribes, know
their treacherous nature, and how far they
fall below that standard of nobility which
some enthusiastic writers ascribe to the
Indian character. If they remember Il
kindness or IA charitable act, it is only to
demand its frequent repetition and those
who befriend them most are often their
earliest victims.


A few years ago | was q resident of a
mining camp in the Indian country called
Lone Pine Bar, and while we were nomi-
nally at peace with the Indians, we were
frequently startled by atrocious murders
which were evidently the work of our
dusky neighbors, but for a long time we
were in doubt at whose door to lay the
blame, The small tribe in our immedi-
ate vicinity loudly proclaimed their inno-
cence, and fully as loudly declared the
guilt of another small tribe, called the
Trucks, residing some eighteen miles up
the river.


This tribe consisted of two small
rancherias or ranches, as they are quite as
frequently called, situated on opposite
banks of the river. and about half a mile
distant from each other.


Several men had been killed and their
horses We're afterwards seen among
these Indians. When questioned in re-
gard to where they obtained them, they
replied that they had found them raining
loose in the mountains These stories
were not believed, but as we had no pos
tive proof of their guilt, nothing was
done to put Il stop to their depredations


Among the men best known on the
river was a packer, named Hawkins.
whose semi-monthly visits to Lone Pine
were eagerly looked for by the two score
miners who there delved for aurifprous
wealth, for he always came freghted with
flour and coffee and bacon, and other little
essentials which a mining community
knows so well how to appreciate.


This mans kindness and generosity to
the Indians was proverbiaI. No red man
on red mans squaw or papoose ever left
his camp hungry and when, rs some
times happened, he called anv one of
them to his assistance in crossing the
rapid river over which his route lay. he
never failed to see that they received as
much or more than any white man would
have demanded for like service.


One day, when Hawkins train was
| about due III the Bar. two men VINO had
been over the mountain, came into the
camp in great excitement. saying that
they believed the train had been attacked
and Hawkins and his men killed Some
half dozen of us, well armed, at once re-
paired to the place mentioned, which was
some five or six miles from the Bar.
We found ample evidences that the train
had been attacked, and thorough search
disclosed the bodies of Hawkins and one
of his men in Il deep gulch where they
had been thrown after being shot and
scalped. The third man we did not at
first find. Searching little further down
the gulch, we discovered him at the foot
of a tree, on the bark of which he had cut
with his pocket knife 'sTHE uRtKs HAVE
DONE THIS DON'T SPARE THE RED DEv-."
Here his strength had failed, and had
sunk down exhausted. The wonder was
how a man SO badly wounded as he was,
could have had .he strength to do 50 much
We found him still living, but able to
speak only in a whisper.


Of portion OF our garments we inn
| provised a stretcher and carried him to
our camp. On the way he informed US
that the Indians to whom they were in
debted for these favors were principally
those who had been treated with most
kindness by the whites. When we arrived
at the Bar, which was soon after night
| fall, we found nearly every man who
| lived within Il radius Of two Or three miles,
assembled there. The unanimous voice
was for "ceaning out' the Trucks, at the
earliest possible date. This was on
Wednesday; the time set for an attack
upon our savage neighbors was the fol-
lowing Saturday night, it being considered
| impossible to reach their vicinity by day
light without exciting their alarm, and
giving them an opportunity to escape.
| During the three days that intervened,
our arms were put in order, and sufficient
ammunition prepared for any probable
emergency. Our entire company consist
ed of thirty-tive men, divided into two
parties, the one consisting of eighteen
the other of seventeen men.


1t was necessary, in order to make a
simultaneous attack upon the two ran
cherias, to approach by different routes.
each party having to cross mountains of
considerable height, and as the only road
was the packers ''trail," we marched in
single file. The most profound silence
was observed, no talk being allowed.


The party of which | was a member
was to attack the rancheria situated
farthest up the river in the midst of a small
valley, and which was supposed to con-
tain the larger number of ''bucks," or
fighting men. Our men were generally
armed with rifles and navy revolvers
these latter We're more effective at close
quarters than rifles. The chosen leader
or, as he was termed, captain of onr party,
was an Illinoisan, named Somers, who
though still young man, had served in
several campaigns against the Indians,
and was known to possess GOODNESS, cour-
age, and thorough knowledge of Indian
warfare He was reputed the best shot in
the company He carried no rifle, but at
his belt hung two revolvers, one Il
dragoon, the other Il navy, and both Colts.


Somers led the way during the whole
of that midnight march, and seldom spoke,
except to caution us to silence, until the
border of the valley was reached, and we
were within half a mile of the Indian
village. He called us together and gave
his orders in a few low but distinct words,
We were to surround the rancho, get as
near as possible, and wait until we were
discovered by the Indians, or should be-
come aware that the other village had been
attacked.


The valley was covered with scattering 9
oak and pine timber, the Indian encamp-
ment being in quite open ground.


We succeeded in gaining positions with
in one hundred yards of the rancheria, and
were gradually narrowing the circle by
creeping from tree to tree as the morning
began to dawn. 1t was still a little dusky
| x,,hn,, .uo that Gonna nno x,,or
astir insape of the lodges. Our captain