[From Thompson & West's History of Nevada 1881, With Illustrations And Biographical Sketches Of Its Prominent Men And Pioneers, pp. 177-188]

HOSTILITIES IN EASTERN NEVADA.      177

CHAPTER XXIII.

1860.

The Dry Creek Fight—Gravelly Ford Massacre in 1861—Eastern Nevada Troubles in 1862—Gosh-Ute War in 1863—Attack on Cañon Station in 1863—Massacre at Cañon Station—End of the Gosh-Ute War—Eastern Nevada War Panic in 1875—Anecdotes and Incidents.

            WHILE the war between the citizens and Pah-Utes in the Pyramid Lake country, resulting in the battles of "Pyramid Lake" and "Truckee," was progressing, a band of Shoshones perpetrated a gross outrage in the eastern portion of the Territory, at a point on the overland stage line, known as Dry Creek Station.

            This occurred on the twenty-second of May of that year, and was the natural result flowing from the increased confidence imparted by the success of the Pah-Utes, in the battle where Ormsby fell, to those previously disposed to be hostile to the whites. The following account is taken from the Eureka Leader, with slight alterations to conform to evidence received warranting the changes:

THE DRY CREEK FIGHT.

            The story of the killing of Applegate and Lozier constitutes a thrilling reminiscence of old overland times. Of this sad and exciting event, Mr. R. H. Egleston, a resident of Eureka, relates the following, he having assisted in their burial, heard the first statements of the survivors and was familiar with the scenes. Four days after the attack on Dry Creek Station he was at Diamond Springs, sixty miles east from that point, on his way from Camp Floyd to Carson, in company with Thomas Smith arid Elisha Mallory, a rancher at present living near Genoa. The details of the fight were told to Mr. Egleston by a pony rider, W. L. Ball, more familiarly called "Little Baldy," who with Silas McCanless, the station-keeper, escaped from Dry Creek and made their way to Diamond. They were as follows:

            At the time of the fight there were four men at the station—Si. McCanless, the station-keeper, John Applegate, Ralph M. Lozier, and Little Baldy, the pony rider. McCanless, the station-keeper, was living with a Shoshone squaw, and it appears that the Indians were dissatisfied with this fact, and wanted the squaw to return to the tribe. Early in the morning of the fight the Indians, numbering about fifteen or twenty, who were camped near by, came to the station and demanded of McCanless to give up the squaw. Considerable wrangling and high talk was engaged in, but she was not given up, and McCanless having given the Indians a generous supply of rations and in a manner pacified them, they went off evidently satisfied. They returned, however, at about seven o'clock, and creeping up to the station, which was built of cottonwood logs, and being newly constructed, had not been "chinked" with mud, they opened fire through the crevices between the logs, and at the first volley killed Lozier and severely wounded Applegate, he being shot through the fleshy part of the thigh, the ball ranging up and coming out through the pocket in his pants. Leaving Lozier dead in the station, the three men, McCanless, Applegate and Baldy, fled from the place for dear life, with the Indians in hot pursuit. Applegate, at the out-start, had handed his revolver to Baldy. After running about a quarter of a mile, McCanless' squaw in the meanwhile running between them and the Indians, and endeavoring to keep the latter back, Applegate, who was badly wounded and was fast failing from loss of blood, knew that he could not hold out in the race, and halting he asked Baldy for the revolver, and rather than be overtaken by the red devils, who were close upon them, and dreading the torture they would inflict, placed the pistol to his ear and deliberately blew his brains out. McCanless and Baldy continued to run for their lives. In order to lighten themselves they fairly stripped to their underclothing, and after a most desperate flight of several miles managed to outstrip the Indians, who gave up the chase. The two men continued on at their utmost speed until they reached the station at Robert's Creek, thirty miles distant from Dry Creek. Here they found a Spanish cook and the pony rider, where they remained until midnight, when the four left for Diamond Springs, thirty miles further on, reaching that point at sunrise the next morning. It was here that Mr. Egleston met them, and he promised Baldy and McCanless that the two men killed by the Indians should be properly buried when he and his party reached Dry Creek. Upon arriving at Dry Creek nearly a week later, search was made for the bodies. That of Lozier had been dragged from the house and horribly mutilated. The coyotes had torn it to pieces. The scattered remains, with the exception of the lower portion of the left leg, were found, gathered up and buried on the spot where Applegate was found—near where he fell. Applegate's body had been only slightly mutilated by the coyotes, and the two men were buried together and a monument of stones piled over their grave.

            This is the history of the affair as detailed to us. McCanless, shortly after the fight, returned to Dry Creek, and taking the squaw, over whom the trouble originated, to Salt Lake, married her, and the two lived together and had several children. Applegate was a native of Michigan, and Lozier was from Iowa, the former aged twenty-two, and the latter twenty-one years at the time of their death. The statement that the station was burned is a mistake. It is standing to-day, if it has not been destroyed recently.

178      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

GRAVELLY FORD MASSACRE IN 1861.

            The account of this affair was obtained from Charles Stebbins, now of Austin.

            In the latter part of the summer of 1861, four families from the States stopped for three weeks at the trading-post of Stebbins, in Ruby Valley. There were thirteen persons in the party, among whom were four or five children, and their conveyance consisted of four wagons drawn by oxen. There was one little girl about ten years old among the number, who became strongly attached to Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins, and they tried ineffectually to persuade the parents to leave her with them. There was a squaw named Maggie about the place at the time, working for Mr. Stebbins, who also became attached to this little girl, and knew of the effort being made to get the parents to leave her behind when they left.

            The next day after the emigrants had resumed their journey, Maggie also disappeared from the station. Several days passed, when late one night some one rapped at the door of Mr. Stebbins' house, and he went to see who the intruder could be, and found a squaw standing there whose face and head were so swollen and cut that he did not recognize her. She stepped inside and sitting down on a stool in front of the fire, commenced a doleful moaning cry accompanied by a back and forward, swaying motion of the body, as though racked by mental and physical torture. It was a long time before she would utter a word, but finally the harrowing details of a fiendish outrage was drawn in broken sentences, mixed with sobs, from the sorrow stricken old Shoshone mother.

            Before the emigrants had left Ruby Station, Maggie had become suspicious that certain young warriors of the tribe intended to massacre the party before they passed beyond the Shoshone country, and she determined to follow the wagons and rescue the little girl should her suspicions prove correct. Her fears were realized; the whites were suddenly attacked in Yago Cañon which connects Pine Valley with the Humboldt River, near Palisade, a few miles southeast of Gravelly Ford. As the struggle, or massacre, was going on, the faithful Indian woman rushed in among the combatants, and, seizing the little girl, made good her escape from the scene that ended in the murder of all the whites. Throwing the child across her shoulder, she sped along the trail on her way back to the home of Mr. Stebbins, but there were many a long, weary mile lying between these fugitives and safety. Through the balance of the day and the following night she fled with her burden of innocence, and as hope of success began to dawn in the hearts of the fugitives, they were suddenly made aware of the immediate presence of two Indians in pursuit. They were overtaken, the Indian woman was beaten until she was senseless, and the child was tied to a stake driven in the ground, when a knife was used to aid the savages in committing a nameless outrage upon her, and thus the little martyr died.

            When Maggie came to her senses she found her assailants gone, and the dead body of her little charge staked to the ground as the brutish fiends had left her. Then she had staggered along, heart-stricken, the remainder of the way to bear the sad news to her white friends.

            Mr. Stebbins immediately set out with a few men to see if what he had heard could be true, and finding the little one he had loved so well, with her open, dead eyes staring, horror-stricken, heavenward, he knew that all he had been told was a terrible reality. The next year the two savages, who had thus brutally murdered the little girl, presented themselves at Fort Ruby, not being aware of the fact that it was known to the whites who had committed the deed. They were seized; one was hung and the other shot in attempting to make his escape.

EASTERN NEVADA-TROUBLES IN 1862.

            That portion of the Shoshone tribe living in Ruby Valley, in what is now Elko County, had for a chief in 1861, an Indian named Sho-kup, who was friendly to the whites. In November, or during the first days of December, of that year, he died of consumption at the house of Charles Stebbins, and the followers of the dead chief proposed, in accordance with their usual custom, to kill Sho-kup's squaw, so that she would accompany her dead lord to the happy hunting-grounds. She fled to the trading-post kept by Stebbins, at Ruby Station, on the Overland Stage road, and claimed his protection, which being given, caused such an excitement among the Indians that assistance was asked from Governor James W. Nye, who sent Colonel Wasson to that section with authority to take such action as the circumstances demanded.

            The following is Colonel Wasson's report to the Governor, made after his return. The report is given in full, because of the many interesting facts contained therein, relating to the Shoshones at that time:—

CARSON CITY, June 28, 1862.

HIS EXCELLENCY, JAMES. W. NYE, Governor and Ex Officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Nevada Territory—Sir: I have the honor to submit this report of my trip, etc., to Ruby Valley. In accordance with your instructions under date of December 16, 1861, I started by overland stage on the evening of the eighteenth of December for Ruby Valley, and arrived at Smith Creek, December 19th, eight o'clock P. M. This is the first station in the Shoshone country. The summit of the mountains west of Smith Creek being the boundary between the Pah-Utes and the Shoshones.

            On the twentieth of December, six o'clock, A. M., I arrived at Reese River where I met the chief To-to-a, and about one hundred of his band. I had a very satisfactory interview with them. The chief assured me of his friendship for our Government, and that none of his band would, under any circumstances, molest the stage or telegraph lines, or any whites that might want to visit or reside in his country. He seemed to regret that there was any disturbance between the whites and Shoshones, and volunteered to go with me and assist in bringing about a settle-

HOSTILITIES IN EASTERN NEVADA.      179

ment. I thanked him but did not avail myself of his proffered services, although I should have done so had I deemed it necessary. His band numbers between three and four hundred, are very destitute, having no manner of property except fire-arms obtained from the emigrants and traders, and the usual rude instruments used by savages in the collection of seeds, roots, fish, game, etc.

            I left Reese River on the morning of the twenty-first; passed Simpsons Park, Dry Creek, Grubs Wells and arrived at Roberts Creek five o'clock P. M. Here I found about fifty or sixty half-starved Indians, and I observed from fifteen to twenty-five at each of the last-named stations in a most deplorable condition, subsisting principally upon the indigested barley obtained by washing the manure from the overland stables in baskets after the manner of separating gold from earth with a pan.

            I may as well state here that I met Mr. Cook, Assistant Treasurer Overland Mail Company, from whom I learned that he had given orders to station keepers to issue rations of grain to the Indians at such points as it seemed necessary, and in quantities sufficient to prevent starvation. I remained only one hour at Roberts Creek, arriving at Ruby Valley on the twenty-second, at eight o'clock A. M. Here I found about 100 Indians, headed by a young chief, by the name of "Buck." They were subsisting chiefly upon the charities of the Mail Company and other settlers in the valley.

            I was informed that about half of the Indians belonging in Ruby Valley had left for the "White Knife" country, on the upper Humboldt, on account of the late difficulties consequent upon the death of their chief, Sho-kup, the circumstances of which were substantially as follows, to wit: Previous to Sho-kup's death, and after he had become satisfied of his rapidly approaching dissolution, he expressed the desire that Buck should be successor to his position as chief; that he should take his wife (a very intelligent squaw named by the whites, Julia) also his horses, arms, and other effects. Now this disposition of the estate did not accord with the old established and time-honored custom of the tribe; so immediately upon the death of Sho-kup, his friends proceeded to slay his horses, and collect his arms and other effects, and to complete the horrid rite the almost frantic widow must be added to the funeral pyre, that she might accompany her husband to the happy hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. But she shrank from the dreadful sacrifice. She fled to the mail station, asking protection of the whites, which was granted. The Indians followed demanding her surrender, threatening to burn the place and kill every white man in the valley if they would not give up the woman, which the whites refusing to do, they proceeded to place a guard around the station. The excitement increased until a young Indian of the White Knife band shot and killed an old favorite Indian doctor of Sho-kup's. Whether the doctor's death obviated the necessity of killing Sho-kup's widow or not, I cannot say, but certain it is that the excitement ceased, and upon the promise of the Indians that they would not kill her, she was given up by the whites, and Buck escorted her to the Indian camp about one-half mile distant. Buck returned to the station in the evening, and in a few moments the report of a gun was heard in the section of the Indian camp. It was rumored that Julia was killed. Buck ran to get on his horse, but was ordered by a white man to stop or he would shoot him, at the same time firing at Buck with a revolver.

            Buck reached his horse, but was prevented from mounting him by another white man who was ahead of him, and who mounted Buck's horse, and gave chase, at the same time shooting at him with a revolver. But the chief, through the fleetness of his legs and the darkness of the night, escaped unhurt. It was soon ascertained that the alarm was false and that Julia was also safe. Buck returned to the station the next day, and the difficulty was amicably settled.

            Captain McLean, with his detachment, arrived on the twenty-seventh of December.

            The dangers of interruption by Indians to the mail and telegraph lines, apprehended in the coming spring, are from a band of the Shoshones, called "White Knives," occupying the country between the upper Humboldt and the present mail road; also from the Gosh-Utes, who reside east of Ruby Valley. The former are quite numerous, and said to be very hostile. I sent for them to come and meet me at Ruby Valley, but bad weather prevented them from coming, and the same reason prevented me from visiting them. I would respectfully recommend that they receive early attention in the spring.

            The remaining provisions sent out by yon for the Indians, I placed in charge of Mr. G. W. Jacobs, the road agent, who will see that it is properly issued to the Indians from Reese River to Roberts Creek; and we estimated that it would be ample for their necessities until spring. 1n view of the vast number of wild Indians in the eastern portion of this Territory who were not included in the estimate for the expenses of this superintendency for the present year, and the increasing necessity for prompt action to keep them quiet from the fact of the rapid settlement of that portion of the Territory by the whites, and for the protection of the mail and telegraph lines, as well as the overland emigration, I would most respectfully suggest that this Congress be urged to make at least as large an appropriation for this service as for the Pah-Ute and Washoe tribes.

            I would also recommend two more Indian Reservations, one to be located near Gravelly Ford, on the Humboldt, and the other in the neighborhood of Reese River.

I have the honor to be very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

WARREN WASSON.

            The recommendations of Colonel Wasson, regarding appropriations, were not carried out, and there was considerable trouble with a portion of the Shoshone Indians along the Humboldt River that year. Fragmentary accounts have been obtained of attacks upon emigrant trains in which white men were killed and stock driven off, those bloody events, here as elsewhere, running current with all frontier history. Mr. Henry Butterfield, an interpreter of the Shoshone language, and familiar with the tribe, reports that two different emigrant parties were massacred that fall between the south fork of the Humboldt and Gravelly Ford, both at nearly the same time. One of them was attacked near the South Fork, and there was left a Chicago wagon, three ox-yokes, and some letters, to tell of the tragedy enacted there. The other emigrants, consisting of two men, their wives, and nine children, were slaughtered within ten

180      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

miles of the Ford, and no survivors from either party to tell the story of their fate.

            George L. M. Comstock, a resident of Nevada since 1860, relates that in the fall of 1862 news reached Unionville of an emigrant train that had lost, by Indians, all their stock at Gravelly Ford; and were held there besieged by the Shoshones. Thirty-two men immediately set out for their relief under Captain ____ Pool, the narrator being one of the relief party. They found the train as represented, and so great was the joy of the besieged at the appearance of assistance, that strong men broke down and wept like children. The next morning after their arrival, Captain Pool's command went on a little scout and succeeded in surprising an Indian camp of about sixty warriors, of whom thirteen were killed. The same day five of Pool's men surprised sixteen more Indians, and killed five. This was the last train through that fall, and the end of hostilities that year.

GOSH-UTE WAR IN 1863.

            The Gosh-Utes, under their war chief White Horse, began hostilities by killing the keeper of Eight-mile Station on the twenty-second of March, 1863.

            The overland stage, bound East, that day contained four passengers, Judge G. N. Mott, of Nevada, and an old man on his way home to the States from California, accompanied by his two little sons. The driver on this occasion was Henry Harper, who was better known on the overland road as "Happy Harry."

            As the stage arrived at the scene of the tragedy it was received by a volley from the savages, who were concealed in and about the house, followed by the Indian war-whoop that once heard is never forgotten. Away dashed the frightened horses guided by the unerring hand of the driver, whose life-blood was flowing from a mortal wound. The old man, struck with an arrow, sank into the bottom of the coach-boot unconscious, and the only chance of escape that remained for any of them rested in the nerve, skill and bravery of the hero outside. Clinging to the lines and fighting against the death that was creeping around his vitals, the driver urged forward those maddened animals in his struggle for the safety of those whose lives were intrusted to his charge, until a film gathering in his eyes he called to the Judge to come out and take his place. While the stage was flying at the top of the horses' speed Judge Mott made his way by clinging to the sides of the coach to the driver's assistance, and as he grasped the lines Happy Harry sank dying under the seat, whence the dark angel summoned him to a place beside the world's forgotten heroes.

            Judge Mott arrived at Deep Creek Station with the dead driver, the wounded old man, who afterwards recovered, and the two little boys. One of the horses died from the effect of wounds received in the race for life. The Indians burned Eight-mile Station, drove off the stock, and thus was commenced the Overland War of 1863 in Nevada.

            With hostilities begun, it required but a few days for the incipient spark to kindle a of [sic] flame war along the whole route, from Schell Creek to Salt Lake City, a distance of 225 miles. Three days after the death of Happy Harry, Company K, Second California Cavalry Volunteers, Captain S. P. Smith commanding, was marching from Camp Douglas, in Utah, for the scene of the disaster, but having divided the company, the main body under Captain Smith did not arrive at Fort Ruby until the last of April.

            In the meantime, Henry Butterfield, who had been recently appointed by Governor Nye as Indian Agent at Ruby Valley, sent out two friendly Indians as spies to find out what tribe had committed the act, and where the depredators could be found.

            May 5th, Company E, Third California Infantry Volunteers, left Camp Douglas to guard the Overland Stage road between Salt Lake and Austin, a few soldiers being left at each station, usually about four. As the stage arrived at a station two of the soldiers posted there accompanied it to the next stopping-place, and then guarded the next return stage back; this duty being performed by the infantry, while the cavalry was left free to scout through the country and patrol the road.

            Soon after the destruction of Eight-mile Station, where Happy Harry was killed, a stage was ambushed in the night, while passing through a cañon, a short distance east of Schell Creek. At the time there were a number of passengers on board, among whom were two women and five soldiers. The volley from the Indians was returned with a will by the latter, as the coach dashed past, and a mile farther on the only victim of the assault—a horse—fell dead in the road from its many wounds.

            As soon as the two spies sent out by Henry Butterfield returned with the desired information, preparations were made for a movement to chastise the guilty parties. In pursuance of this project, Captain S. P. Smith's Company of California Cavalry moved, May 1st, from Fort Ruby, and the next morning at daylight it had reached Schell Creek, having marched sixty miles. During the day they kept as much as possible secreted; but as soon as the shadows of night rendered concealment practicable the expedition moved south in Steptoe Valley, along the base of Schell Creek Mountains. Everything was conducted with the utmost caution to guard against their presence in the country being known to the enemy. The morning twilight found the command camped in a deep cañon, secure from observation, where they remained during the day, while their Indian allies were out searching for the Gosh-Utes. About sundown the Shoshones returned with the information that a number of them were about ten miles farther to the south in the valley, camped upon Duck Creek. As soon as the darkness was sufficient

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to conceal the operations of the cavalry they moved from their day's bivouac to effect a surprise, if possible, of the unsuspecting hostiles. One division crossed the creek, three miles below, and passed up on the south side; and aided by the other acting on the north side of the stream, encircled the slumbering band with a cordon of steel, and then awaited the approach of daylight to begin the work of death. A pistol shot was to be the signal for the onslaught, and when twilight came, and the sharp note of attack broke the stillness, the cavalry, on foot, with a ringing shout, made a wild dash upon the sleeping Indians. Let us draw the screen, and not look upon the scene that followed; it lasted but a short time, and but two escaped. That morning's sun looked down upon a dead camp, where twenty-four warriors lay sleeping their last sleep; and Happy Harry was avenged.

            Captain Smith remained until the next morning in the vicinity of the scene of the massacre, believing that more Indians belonged to this band, and that they would probably straggle into camp during the day. His camp, meantime, May 4th, was on Duck Creek, where the valley by that name opens into that of Steptoe. This place was in front of where now stands the Caldwell House. To the south is rising ground, and in that direction pickets were posted to observe the surrounding country, and about 2 P. M. they signaled the approach of Indians. Immediately some twenty cavalrymen mounted, and dashed up the hill, arriving there just as five returning Gosh-Utes reached the summit, and an immediate struggle ensued, resulting in one wounded cavalryman and five dead Indians.

            The next morning Company K moved up the stream, and crossing the divide separating Duck from Steptoe Creek, moved eastward and over the Schell Creek Mountains, reaching Spring Valley just at daylight on the morning of the sixteenth, after a march of one day and a night. Here they surprised another Indian camp in a cedar swamp, south of the present Cleveland ranch. The cavalry charged down upon the hostile band, but were brought to a halt by the swampy character of the ground. Many horses were mired, but some floundered through, and the consequent confusion, with temporary delay, enabled most of the Indians to escape. Twenty-three were found dead after the short, sharp conflict which ensued. The casualty to the whites was a soldier wounded and one horse disabled. From the scene of the last encounter the command returned to Fort Ruby, where it arrived May 10th, with the report that through its efforts fifty-two Gosh-Utes had been permanently converted to a peace policy.

            On the twentieth of the same month, when the overland stage was passing through a cañon east of Deep Creek in the day-time, it was fired upon from a cliff of rocks, and Riley Simpson, the driver fell from his seat in the stage-boot mortally wounded. Major Egan, who was sitting by his side at the time, seized the lines and dashed forward, carrying the living and the dead away from the scene of the disaster, pursued a long distance by the yelling savages. In consequence of this attack, Company K was ordered to Deep Creek, and during the remainder of the year made that place the base of its operations.

ATTACK ON CAÑON STATION IN 1863.

            Eight miles east of Deep Creek on the Overland Stage road, near the Utah line, there was in 1863 a dry station that was supplied with water by hauling it under guard with a team from Deep Creek slough. The Indians had burned this station, killed the man in charge and driven off the stock on the day succeeding the death of Happy Harry.

            At this point four soldiers of Company E, Third California Infantry, were left as that company passed the station on its way to Font Ruby from Salt Lake, in May succeeding this event. The sad fate of three of the men left there and the heroism of the other, entitles them to a place in the memories of the past. Their names were Jacob H. Elliott, Jacob Burger, Ira Abbott, and Corporal William S. Hervey, all from Columbia, Tuolumne County, California. Besides the four soldiers were two men there at the time to take care of the Overland Stage stock, one of them being called "Deaf Bill," and the other was his assistant.

            During the last days of June, Abbott and Hervey guarded the stage one day from Deep Creek to their home station. Before starting, the latter, whose courage was beyond question, remarked to a lady passenger that he dreaded the duty, as he had a presentiment of impending misfortune. The journey was made, however, without an incident occurring unusual or suspicious, and when the stage had gone they set out with the water wagon, in company with Deaf Bill as driver, to procure water, leaving Elliott and Burger with the assistant hostler to take care of the station in their absence. They procured the water, and were within 400 yards of the station, on their way back, when Hervey again recurred to his presentiment of the morning, which was growing stronger with him, and said: "I dreamed last night that I was going to be shot and killed by Indians to-day, and—." As this last word was coming from his lips a bullet pierced his brain, and he fell from his seat into the road a corpse.*

            The Indians, eighteen in number, had ambushed the little party of three, and poured a volley into them from behind the sage-brush, at short range, killing one (Hervey), giving a wound in the right shoulder to Abbott, which knocked him out of the wagon, cut off a thumb of Deaf Bill, and wounded one horse in the breast. The frightened animals

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* "I would take my oath that those were the last words of my old comrade, as he fell dead," said Ira Abbott, when narrating these events for the purpose of correcting some statements received from other parties on this subject.

182      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

sprang forward, but were stopped within a couple of hundred feet by Deaf Bill, who was not so deaf but he knew the meaning of a thumb shot off; and he opened on the Gosh-Utes with his gun, bringing down one of them with a severe wound. Abbott sprang to his feet, and seeing the blood oozing from the forehead of his dead friend, took a quick glance around and saw the savages on the side of the road, less than a hundred feet away. He ran to the wagon for his gun, and, on obtaining it, killed one Indian. He then turned back to get the body of the unfortunate Hervey. Meanwhile, the Indians were firing, and he received a wound in each leg. Regardless of this he reached the body of his friend, seized his undischarged gun, which was lying beside him, and fired upon his assailants, but did not kill any of them, the wagon having run over and bent the barrel. He then tried Hervey's revolver, but the wound in his shoulder had begun to paralyze his arm, and his fire was ineffectual. After two or three shots he ceased firing, picked up the body of his friend, and started for the wagon. The Indians still continued the fusillade, and he was wounded twice more—once in each side—but finally succeeded in getting all the weapons into the wagon, as well as the body of the dead soldier, when Deaf Bill whipped up the horses, and the half-crazed animals dashed away to the station.

            On their arrival they were met by the assistant hostler only, Elliott and Burger having gone out hunting sage bens soon after the water party had left. Looking towards a knoll in the direction taken by the absent men, Abbott saw and recognized the glistening barrel of Elliott's rifle in the possession of an Indian, and knew that the missing men were dead. A sharp but short engagement, lasting but a few minutes, ensued, when the Indians retreated and were seen no more that day.

            In about half an hour after the departure of the Indians, an emigrant train came to the station, bringing the body of Elliott, which had been found in the road a short distance from there. With the emigrants, fortunately, there was a surgeon, who dressed Abbott's five wounds; and to this opportune arrival that brave soldier and true friend owes his life. The next day, the body of Burger was found on the hill-side, evidently the first victim. The brave Elliott had evidently made a desperate running fight, struggling heroically for life. His body was badly mutilated, his whiskers having been torn from his face in place of scalping his head, which was bald; and his heart had been cut out and taken away.

MASSACRE AT CAÑON STATION.

            On the sixth of July, a few days after the preceding occurrences, another and more successful attempt was made to capture that station. At this time there were six men at the place, Wm. Riley, known as Deaf Bill, his assistant, and four soldiers of Company E, Third California Cavalry, named Tarsey Grimshaw, Michael McNamarra, Anthony Myers and Lewis Pratt.

            About sunrise Deaf Bill was currying a horse in front of the barn, when he was shot dead by a concealed foe. At the noise of the gun the helper rushed out of the barn, and at the same time one of the soldiers came from the "dug-out," and both were shot as they appeared.

            The three soldiers still in the "dug-out," or cabin built underground, decided to make a rush for the barn, which they did, and one of their number was killed on the way, leaving but two of the original six to continue the fight. The two survivors built a breastwork from the sacks of grain, and for an hour beat off their assailants; but the wily foe finally set a stack of hay on fire, close to the barn, and the result of the conflict was no longer in doubt. It was Myers and Pratt who had thus far escaped the fate of their comrades, only to be burned at last unless they rushed forth from behind their defenses to be shot down finally like wolves in a desperate struggle for life.

            They at once decided to mount horses and make a dash. As one was a favorite fleet-footed animal, they drew lots to see which should ride it. Fortune seemed to favor Lewis Pratt, as he drew the favorite horse. Shaking each other by the hand they mounted for the desperate ride for life. Out of the barn and down the road like the wind they flew, with Pratt in the lead, while from every sage-bush along the route seemed to come the leaden missiles. A hope of life was springing into the hearts of the flying men when Myers suddenly threw up his arms and rolled from the saddle. His horse went a little farther and fell, both of them struggling with their death wounds. The bullets whistled about the receding form of the gallant Pratt like hail as he was passing out of the range of the Indian rifles, until he disappeared down the road towards Willow Station, thus far the only white survivor of the conflict.

            That day a train of emigrants passed this last-named station on its way to California. As it reached a point about one mile west of that place, a dead horse was found lying in the road, and beside it lay stretched the unconscious form of a soldier mortally wounded. It was the last survivor, the gallant Pratt and his noble animal, and the two lay there together, side by side, the dying and the dead, shot through and through. He lived to be carried to Willow Station, where the sad tale of the massacre was told, and then he died.

            Company K, stationed, as before stated, at Deep Creek Station, went in pursuit of the band who had committed this last depredation, but failed to come up with them; and after a two weeks' scout returned with the report of having killed two Indians in Pleasant Valley.

END OP THE GOSH-UTE WAR.

            But few events worthy of note transpired on the line of the overland road after those given above. Among

HOSTILITIES IN EASTERN NEVADA.      183

these were the hanging of a Shoshone in July, by the military authorities at Fort Ruby, and the shooting of another—both participants in the outraging of the little twelve-year-old girl, murdered in 1861 on the trail from Ruby Valley to Gravelly Ford. In August, Company E, Third California Infantry, under Lieutenant Hosmer, attacked a camp of Indians about twenty miles north of Cherry Creek, in Steptoe Valley, and killed five of them; and in October the Gosh-Utes asked for peace, which was granted them, and they returned to the stations begging for their rations as usual.

            The loss to the Overland Stage Company in Utah and Nevada from this war, was one hundred and fifty horses, seven stations burned, and sixteen men killed. Nevertheless the stages never failed to make their regular trips, and seldom were behind their schedule time, although beset with all those dangers and calamities.

            The following is an extract from a letter from one of the agents of the Stage Company:—

            One very strange feature of this Indian trouble during the year 1863 was that very nearly all of the depredations committed were against the Stage Company, its property and employes, and why this should have been the writer is at a loss to understand, for the Indians were always treated kindly, and fed and given employment at the stations. The policy of the Company was to treat them kindly, and the only object that can be conjectured was plunder of the Company's stations that were well supplied with provisions, arms and ammunition, and their stables full of fat horses. Respectfully yours,

LEN WINES.

            Henry Butterfield's theory of the cause of the war is that it was instigated by the Mormons. In support of this position Mr. Butterfield, who was conversant with the language of the red men and had for a long time lived in their country, relates that in 1864, while he was sub-Indian Agent, he met by appointment the Gosh-Ute chief, White Horse, at Desert Station. The chief upon being asked why he had begun the war, disclaimed having had anything to do with it. He said his tribe had been told from time to time by the Mormons that the Gentiles were holding back and appropriating to their own use their Government annuities, and that the only way for them, the Indians, to "get even" would be to begin killing the whites and stealing their property. Under such advice his people had broken the bonds of restraint, and contrary to the desire of himself and other chiefs, taken the war-path. Such is the Indian excuse, however poor it is and little entitled to credence, for having committed their barbarous and brutal acts along the overland road.

EASTERN NEVADA WAR PANIC IN 1875.

            In the early part of September, 1875, two Indians of the Gosh-Ute tribe informed A. J. Leathers and James Tollard that they knew the locality of a valuable mine which they would point out for a consideration, to which the two men agreed was fifty dollars for the services, and, in pursuance of the agreement the four went to the point, and the ledge was found all as the Indians had described, except that it proved to be worthless. Because of this last fact the whites refused to pay their guides, who thinking they had been unjustly dealt with, in revenge killed Tollard, the other white man making his escape to A. C. Cleveland's ranch in Spring Valley, White Pine County. Cleveland immediately took the war-path, and captured an Indian whom he took to his ranch, intending to deliver him over to the civil authorities for trial, but the aborigine in attempting to make his escape, came to an untimely end from the effects of a bullet from the revolver of Mr. Cleveland. Another Indian was met with by some of Cleveland's herders, who ordered him to give up his gun, and upon his refusal to do so, they killed him. The Gosh-Utes were at the time assembled in considerable numbers in the nut-pine forests of the neighborhood, and were very much alarmed because of the summary killing of the members of their tribe.

            These circumstances created somewhat of a panic, or "scare," throughout Central and Eastern Nevada, and the most exaggerated and extremely sensational reports were circulated and published. Volunteer troops were raised at Eureka, Pioche, and other places, equipped and sent to "the front." Gov. L. R. Bradley, believing the danger to be imminent, issued orders to captains of volunteers to seize horses and necessary supplies for the troops; and the "military," under command of Maj. John H. Dennis, left Eureka September 6th, for Spring Valley to rescue Cleveland and those with him supposed to be besieged at his ranch. Governor Bradley also telegraphed to General Schofield as follows:—

ELKO, Nevada, September 6 1875.

To MAJOR-GENERAL SCHOFIELD, San Francisco-

            Information most authentic from Pioche, Eureka, and Spring Valley, all unite in demands for troops and arms. Am unable to furnish them. Dispatch just at band signed by all Commissioners of Lincoln County, says that 300 Indians surround Patterson and Cave Valley, and that all the Indians in eastern Nevada appear to be on the war-path, and ask for 200 guns and ammunition. Most reliable information from Cherry Creek assures me that I am not misinformed.  

L. R. BRADLEY.

            Major Dennis and his command made a hasty march to Spring Valley, appearing to the frightened Gosh-Utes an overwhelming army. Either the arrival of so formidable a force, or as the Indians asserted, no intention upon their part, to begin war with the whites, they being assembled there for the purpose of gathering pine nuts, and not for hostilities, there was no conflict. The name of the Indian who killed Tollard was To ba. He was demanded of the tribe, delivered by them to the soldiers, and from them was taken by citizens and hung. Thus ended the last Indian "war" in Nevada,

184      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

resulting in more ridicule to its instigators than glory to the military participants.

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.

            While the predatory bands were raiding in the north, the Indians in the more densely peopled part of the State were professing warm friendship for the whites, seeking and receiving aid. The movements of quite large bodies of soldiers, and the severe punishment inflicted, by some denounced as merciless, bad a most beneficial effect in overawing the great masses of savages, predisposing them to peace. They asserted that the thefts, murders, and other outrages, were committed by the Bannocks, Pit River, Modocs, and other Indians of Oregon, Idaho and California, and not by the Pah-Utes. Notwithstanding this assertion, it was well known that the Pah-Utes formed the majority of the hostile bands, although instigated and assisted by the   others. On the fifth of June, 1865, Captain George, a Pah-Ute chief, and a delegation from his tribe called at the office of Governor Blasdel, in Carson, with professions of peace, saying the Pah-Utes bad been called in from all points in the State where hostilities existed. A few days thereafter the Governor met several hundred Shoshones and Pah-Utes in convention, or pow-wow, at Jacobsville, in Lander County, as reported in the Reese River Reveille, and through the interpreter, S. H. Gilson, made a long speech, demanding their obedience to the law, and respect for the rights and property of the whites; assuring them of protection in all their rights, and of severe punishment for wrong doing, at the same time explaining to them their rights and duties. The speech was well received, and the Indians appeared satisfied. Governor Blasdel returned to Carson, arriving there on the fourteenth of June. Meantime, troops were arriving, and posted at the most advantageous localities. On the sixteenth of June, Company B, Second California Cavalry, comprising sixty-five men, under command of Lieut. R. A. Osmer, arrived at Carson, en route to Fort Churchill, where they remained several months, and were then sent into the Humboldt country. On the thirteenth of August, Lieut. Col. Ambrose Hooker, assumed command of the sub-district of Nevada, by order of General McDowell.

INDIAN DEMAND FOR SATISFACTION.

            About this time the Walker River Pah-Utes made hostile demonstrations in the vicinity of Ione, then the county seat of Nye County. Several hundred of them entered the village and demanded a certain sum of money from the whites for indignities offered one of their tribe by a bevy of hilarious sports. The situation beginning to wear a serious look, the prominent citizens contributed to the Indians' demands, and they departed without shedding blood.

TWO MEN KILLED IN THE SOUTH.

            The same fall a party of whites, among whom were Thos. Shaw, ____ McBride, ____ Broom, William Garhart, with others, started from Ione for Gold Mountain, south of Lida Valley, and at the northern extremity of Death Valley. One night, after having arrived at their destination, they were attacked by Indians. Broom and McBride were killed, and Garhart was shot with an arrow through the wrist, the remainder of the party escaping unharmed to Silver Peak.

SARAH WINNEMUCCA.

            On the eighteenth of May, 1867, Naches, the Pah-Ute chief, came into Carson City with a message from Old Winnemucca, to the effect that the latter wanted to make peace with the whites, and go upon the Pyramid Lake Reservation to live. Subsequently, through the efforts of Naches and Sarah, a daughter of Old Winnemucca, who had married Lieutenant Bartlett of the regular army, terms were made with the old chief, and he with a portion of his tribe were settled upon a reservation beyond the limits of the State. Subsequently, the Pah-Utes, who had been induced to go to the north, becoming dissatisfied with the Indian Agent, tired of their northern home, and longed to return to the scenes of their earlier life. Sarah Winnemucca, who had been educated at San Jose, California, and developed considerable oratorical talent, was ever ready to eloquently advocate the return of her people to Nevada; while on the other hand the Indian Agent was most desirous that they should remain where they were. Sarah Winnemucca since that time has delivered several lectures at San Francisco and other places upon the condition of her people, and their abuse by Indian Agents, and created much sympathy in behalf of her race.

INDIAN WAR AVERTED.

            Mrs. Ellis, then Mrs. Dietenreider, residing in Carson Valley, relates that in the spring of 1855, Numaga, a Pah-Ute chief, with about 300 warriors, came to her with a note from Asa Kenyon, to give them arms and ammunition with which to fight the Washoes. She did not comply with this request, but gave them an order on Mr. McMarlin for 100 pounds of flour. They went to Dayton where they were feasted by the miners, and persuaded to abandon their projected war.

FIRST LOTTERY IN NEVADA.

            Mr. Joseph F. Triplett, a well-known citizen of eastern Nevada, and one of the pioneer residents of Carson Valley gives the following account of the first "Gift Enterprise" occurring in the Great Basin, which indicates considerable native shrewdness of the Washoe savage:

            "In 1857, Captain Jim, chief of the Washoe tribe of Indians, went around among the white settlers in Carson Valley, and notified them that upon a certain day his tribe would give a big fandango, or dance, and invited all to attend, stating that he would give each white man a buckskin; adding, that "may-be-so white man bring one sack, two sack flour." As it was the policy of the settlers to con-

HOSTILITIES IN EASTERN NEVADA.      185

ciliate the red men we nearly all of us attended his fandango, taking along, as the chief suggested, a sack of flour. As each white man dismounted from his horse, and laid his sack of flour on the ground, an Indian led off and secured the horse. The whites were allotted seats on the ground, in a circle around the dancers. After a while the dancing ceased, and Captain Jim appeared in the circle, followed by a big Indian, laden with buckskins, and with much ceremony presented one skin to each of the visitors. Buckskins were worth about one dollar each, while a sack of flour was worth about eight dollars. The wily savage made a good thing by the first gift enterprise ever gotten up in the sage-brush country, and the whites made fast friends of the tribe."

YOUNG WINNEMUCCA.

            This redoubtable chief, who had command of the Pah-Utes in many a battle and foray, died of consumption at Wadsworth, on the fifth of November, 1871, leaving a son about twenty years of age, who bore the unromantic name of "Mike." On the eighth of December following the death of the chief a successor was elected, bearing the name of George Curry.

ATTACK ON EMIGRANTS.

            On the morning of the ninth of July, 1859, an emigrant train comprising twelve men, two women and four children, halted in a large cañon near a place called Cold Spring on the Sublette Cut-off for the purpose of doctoring a sick horse. While thus engaged and not expecting a hostile attack, a large number of Indians made their appearance upon each side of the cañon and began to fire upon the party encamped. W. F. Sheppard, Ferguson Sheppard, J. D. Wright, William Diggs, and Clayburn Rains were killed. Mrs. Wright was seriously wounded, receiving a bullet in the back. Being helpless, the Indians came to the wagon where she had been shot, dragged her out upon the ground and then beat and kicked her until she became unconscious and they supposed her to be dead. They then amused themselves by torturing her husband, who lay dying unable to move, in sight of his wife, and in tossing up their infant child of eighteen months by the heels into the air and letting it fall upon a pile of rocks. Not being prepared for defense, the men of the party who were not shot down fled and secreted themselves as best they could. One of these in running caught up an infant child of Mrs. Sheppard, and after running several miles laid it in some bushes where it remained until some passing emigrants found and rescued it the next day. Mrs. Sheppard concealed herself in a thicket not far from where the attack was made, and the savages being intent upon plunder—stripping the wagons of everything they could carry off—failed to discover her. The two remaining children, one a boy of eight and the other five years, also were effectually hidden in the brush. Upon the departure of the Indians Mrs. Sheppard started on foot, and after traveling about seven miles, overtook the train of a Mr. Pierce, who returned the next day and relieved the sufferers. On the twelfth day of September the remainder of the party, through the kindness of Major F. Dodge, the Indian Agent, were enabled to arrive at Placerville, California, Mrs. Wright still unable to sit up on account of her wound. The survivors of the massacre related the occurrence to the editor of the Placerville Observer, in which paper it was published September 14, 1859.

PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY.

            An incident which illustrates the natural cruelty of the Indian race occurred at Coyote Creek, Washoe County, in the year 1861. A squaw of the Pah-Ute tribe was charged with adultery, and being deemed guilty was sentenced to death by burning. While living her body was pierced with scores of pitch-pine splinters which were set on fire and kept burning until she died.

INDIAN MURDERER EXECUTED.

            In 1868 Mr. W. K. Johnson was killed by an Indian in Mason Valley, in Esmeralda County. The savage escaped to the north, but was pursued and captured at Peavine, in Washoe County, taken thence and hanged in Carson Valley, at the place then known as Widow Newman's Ranch, about half a mile below Cary's Station.

FATE OF A MEDICINE MAN.

            In the year 1866 there was an Indian who frequently came into Aurora, Esmeralda County, who pretended that he was a "medicine man," and practiced his art upon some of his credulous brethren, most of whom died while under treatment by him. The deaths becoming so frequent the wise men of the tribe came to the conclusion that his was "bad medicine," and he must die. A delegation of braves thereupon seized the unfortunate doctor at Aurora, on the eleventh of October, and while some of them held him, others beat out his teeth, plucked out his eyes, crushed his skull, and finally cut his throat.

INDIAN PUNISHMENT.

            In 1874-75, among the characters met with in the towns of western Nevada was a Pah-Ute Indian man, tall and finely proportioned, who dressed in squaw costume. He was not recognized by the people of his race of either sex; the 1ndian children shunned him; he was an object of ridicule for members of other tribes and of the whites, and moodily and disconsolately wandered around. Tradition said, that upon an occasion, many years before, he had shown himself a coward in battle, and that a council of his tribe had sentenced him to death therefor; but that the sentence was afterwards commuted, and he was doomed to don the dress of a woman as long as he lived. He finally disappeared, and it was reported that his dead body was found in a mountain gulch.

186      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

INDIAN RETRIBUTION.

            In November, 1867, a Pah-Ute squaw residing near Fort Churchill, impelled by past grievances, gave her liege lord and master a dose of poison, and he died. Subsequently, she was residing, with others of her tribe, in a camp near Virginia City, when, on the second of December following, a brother of the poisoned brave learning of the whereabouts of the murderess slipped into the camp at night, and after many savage gashes with a dull knife severed her jugular vein, and death quickly ensued. The act was approved by the Indians, saying it was their custom.

ARREST OF NACHES.

            Naches was a man of some importance among the Pah-Utes; was tall, and of commanding appearance, and was usually called by the whites a chief, although be appeared to have but little authority. When there was no more call for his scalping-knife on "the tented field," his many moons were wasted about the kitchen doors and waste places of the mining towns wherever he wandered, presenting but little of the beau ideal of a warrior. In January, 1874, it was represented that he was inciting the Indians on the Humboldt to commit some depredation; also, that he declined to remain on the Reservation at Pyramid Lake, preferring the vagabond life among the interior towns; consequently, on the twenty-seventh of that month he was, by order of Captain Wagner, in command of Fort McDermit, arrested, and sent to Fort Alcatraz, in the harbor of San Francisco. There he was treated with much consideration, shown the "sights," and the power of the whites, and sent home rejoicing after a short detention. The newspapers of Nevada represented Naches as a good and peaceable Indian, and attributed his arrest to the Indian Agent Bateman, who wished to compel all the Pah-Utes to reside on and swell the list of the Reservation. This was denied by Mr. Bateman; but the charge was made by Naches that the Agent wronged his people and the Government, and that he and his band did not like to live with him. In June, 1878, he resigned whatever chieftainship he possessed, and Captain Charley, of Wadsworth, reigned in his stead.

            The fate of this latter chief may be surmised from the following paragraph in the Carson Appeal of February 29, 1880: "The Pah-Utes have disposed of the slayer of Captain Charley—an execution without loss to the State."

THE PAH-RAN-A-GAT INDIANS.

            The Pah-ran-a-gat Indians are a branch of the Ute family, and derive their tribal appellation from the cultivation of the water-melon, which in their language is called Pah-ran-a-gat (pah, meaning water, and ran-a-gat, melon, or vine-growing). At the time the prospectors first entered the country occupied by them they found this band inclined to peace, and engaged after their rude manner in tilling the soil. Although they raised a small quantity of wheat and some corn, their principal crop was the squash. A diminutive species of sun-flower was also planted for the seeds it yielded, and some water-melons were also to be found in their cultivated patches. Grass seed was also largely used by them as food. To irrigate the land under tillage they bad constructed several ditches, which were creditable to these primitive engineers. Crystal Spring, which flows an estimated head of 600 inches of water, was the source of supply for the largest of these ditches, and at its head the canal was eight feet wide on top, six feet deep, and several miles in length. To dig this they had procured iron from the abandoned emigrant wagons in Death Valley, which they had patiently cut and shaped and fastened with strong twine upon wooden handles, to be used for picks and spades. As winter approached crops were carefully gathered and cached for future use, and they were thus enabled not only to live well themselves, but were also prepared to trade agricultural products to their mountain neighbors who depended for a living upon the results of the chase and pine nuts. The Ash-Utes were the more constant dealers with the Pah-ran-a-gats, and supplied the latter with much dried meat, buckskins, etc. The Indians, however, soon traded off to the whites the land they had tilled, and adopted the vagabond life common to the race.

            In the latter part of the summer of 1865 Pahranagat Mining District was for a time nearly deserted, the early locators there having sought other fields. At the time of which we write, about the only white persons remaining there were W. H. Sales, Indian Agent, C. W. Wandell, William Woodman, Ransom Brooks, S. S. Sputt, Isaac Borton and Doctor Grub. The Indian Agent Sales had sometime previously promised the Muddy tribe of Indians, who lived some distance south of the mines, that he would visit them and dispense their annuities, which promise he failed to fulfill. This, with the small number of whites in the vicinity, was a sufficient inducement to start these untutored sons of the desert upon the warpath, and every Muddy warrior capable of bearing arms became a member of an expedition of extermination against the little colony of white men at Pahranagat. The tribe occupying the valley at that time—the Pah-ran-a-gats—were divided into two bands, one of which was headed by a chief, called by the whites "Butternut," and the other by Chief Pah-vitch-ick. An Indian, who had been brought up in a Mormon family and who was known by the sobriquet of "Buck," led the hostile Muddys. Reaching the lower end of the valley Buck halted his forces near the lake, and sent a runner to the Pah-ran-a-gat camps inviting Butternut and Pahvitch-ick to a council of war. The result must have been satisfactory to Buck, for, a few days after that time, the whites became aware that something unusual was brewing, from the fact that many of the Pah-ran-a-gats had absented themselves. One of the

HOSTILITIES IN EASTERN NEVADA.      187

retinue of Agent Sales was a Meadow Valley Indian, called Jack. Sales considered this man trustworthy, and therefore imparted his suspicious that trouble might be brewing. Jack undertook to find out the truth. Leaving the white camp he absented himself three days. Upon his return he related to Sales the state of affairs as detailed above, and the prospectors were forewarned. Not being prepared for an extended fight, it was thought best to leave for some of the outlying Mormon settlements, and by ten o'clock of the next day after Jack's return, quietly and with as little bustle as possible, the white men broke camp at Logan, and at noon halted at Crystal. Thence they went to Pah-hoc, reaching there at eight o'clock. So cautiously had they moved that they did not think they were followed by the allied Muddys and Pah-ran-a-gats, and therefore sought repose in fancied security from molestation. About midnight Jack was awakened by the apparent "too-whoot, too-whoot" of an owl, to which without hesitation he returned an answering " toowhoot." A few minutes thereafter a dusky form appeared in the gloaming, and soon Pori, a Pah-rana-gat sub-chief, came stalking into camp. This Indian reported that the Muddys were upon the trail; that they were divided into three parties, one of which was detailed to cover the spring at which the party obtained water; the second to raid the camp, while the third would gather up and run off the stock. Immediately all was bustle in the camp; kegs were taken to the spring, filled with water and put in the wagons, of which there were three. A party was sent out to bring in the animals, and everything was packed and preparations made for defense. By the time defensive operations were complete Buck and his band appeared. Finding that they could not surprise the camp, a strategetic movement seemed to be in order, for Buck and three of his men walked boldly in, as though no mischief had been contemplated. Shortly after ten others followed. At this rate the eight white men would soon be overpowered, and some decisive measure must be taken. The whites immediately covered the thirteen Indians with their guns, compelled Buck to order them to lie down in a pile and to warn the Indians outside of the camp not to approach under penalty of having their prostrate companions shot dead. These vigorous measures checked the contemplated attack, and the remainder of the night was passed in guarding the prisoners and keeping off their friends. Buck in the meantime made two attempts to escape, and was once prevented by Doctor Grub and the other time by Ransom Brooks from so doing. When morning came Agent Sales gave the Indians what annuity goods he had, and by that and other means they were induced to take the trail and return homeward. After the departure of Buck and his warriors the white men started upon their journey to the settlements, and the next day arrived at Panaca without further trouble.

            One or two months after the occurrence of the incidents above related, all of these men, with the exception of Agent Sales, returned to the mines, and with them came many others, attracted by reports of mineral wealth.

            That same year, an Indian of the Pahranagat tribe, named Oh-kas, murdered a white man named George Rogers, to get possession of a fine horse which the latter owned. Another Indian informed the whites of the transaction; the murderer was caught, compelled to disclose the place where Rogers' body was secreted, and then hung.

            Early in the spring of 1866, a camp of Muddy River Indians was made near Quin's Cañon, in the Shen-nic-a-rah mountains, in the White Pine range. These Indians began to steal and run off stock from Pahranagat, and other places. Agent Sales being absent, the miners thought to adjust the matter without his assistance, which they did in a summary manner. A party of six white men was organized, and one of the number, named Hoppin, was chosen Captain. The services of two friendly Pahranagats were enlisted, and one evening, about dark, the party left their camp for the hunt on horseback. Early in the morning after the second night out, while in Quin's Cañon, they discovered "signs" of the enemy. Leaving their horses in charge of one of the party, named N. H. Carlow, the others carefully reconnoitered until they located the Indian camp. They then divided, two in one squad and three in the other. The two went directly towards the Indians, while the three others had cautiously slipped around and were approaching in the rear of the camp. The Indians seeing the two white men approaching made fierce gesticulations, and dared them to fight. The three men in the rear were not seen by them until they had come within twenty yards and delivered a well-directed volley from their rifles. There were twelve Indians in the camp. After the fight eleven of them lay dead, and the remaining one had escaped only to die, for he was mortally wounded.

            The number of Indians in Lincoln County in 1870 was estimated by the Indian Agent to be 1,235. Since then they have fallen off rapidly, and probably do not at this time number more than one-half the above figure. They are Pah-Utes with various local tribal names. Though generally peaceful, they occasionally commit depredations. In December, 1874, a party, supposed to belong to Tem-pah-Ute Bill's band of Indians, attacked and killed two white men about seven miles from Hiko. The names of the two men killed were Peter Dawson and Charles Olsen. Another man, named William Hannan, was at the same time shot and wounded in the shoulder, but escaped and told the story of the murder. The settlers of Hiko immediately gathered together, and a scouting party went out after the Indians, with fruitless results. On the sixteenth of December, the following appeared in one of the Pioche papers, over

188      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

the signature of J. S. Hoag, Under Sheriff: M. Fuller, District Judge: J. H. Cassidy and George Goldthwaite:—

            "The Indians have killed eight persons, including one woman and three children, within the last few days in this county, on the Muddy Reservation and near Hiko. We have no arms and no protection. We wish arms and that the Indians be punished."