["Ruby," Letter from the State of Nevada, Alta California, June 22, 1865]

 

LETTER FROM THE STATE OF NEVADA.

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From the Resident Correspondent of the Alta California.

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RUBY VALLEY, June 13, 1865.

            Editors Alta:—Next morning after my arrival home I telegraphed you, announcing the arrival of the first train overland from the Missouri River. Also that a horrible murder had been committed near Schell Creek Station. I will now give you as near as I can, all the particulars of the murder. It appears three of the men owned, in partnership, thirty head of horses, which they were taking to Salt Lake City to sell; two other men were employed to assist driving, etc. One of the three, an old gentleman, was on big way home to the States, and had with him besides his interest in the stock, between two and three thousand dollars in coin. The two employés concocted a plan to murder the three, and take money, horses, etc., and proceed on their journey. At Schell Creek Station they executed their plans, by killing them with a hatchet, while asleep in camp at night. They then dragged the bodies about two hundred yards from the camp, hid them in some bushes, and left on their journey before daylight, with horses, money and plunder. Providentially a man belonging to the Station, having to go out early to hunt up stock, discovered a bloody blanket lying close to the camp ground, and by blood trailed the spot where, the bodies were hid. As soon as possible word was sent to Egan mines, thirteen miles distant. Two men immediately started in pursuit, overtaking the murderers at River Bed Station, nearly one hundred and fifty miles from Schell Creek. One of them was easily captured ;the other being well-mounted, started off at full run. Several shots were fired at him as he left The one captured had the money, and confessed to having killed one of the men, while the other killed two. The parties in pursuit started back with the prisoner, sending word, by stage, to citizens along the road to look out for the other; and I am happy to inform you that he was captured this morning, three miles from Fort Crittenden. He also confessed that he killed two of the men. As there is no use of a trial, both will be brought back to Schell Creek, and hang, on Friday next, over the graves of the men they so cruelly murdered. I am sorry I cannot give you the names; will not be able to ascertain before Thursday next. I will try and be there myself, and learn; further of the unfortunate men.

            Hon. S. Colfax, and party, are in Salt Lake City. They will leave there next Saturday, stopping one day at Ruby, then at Austin and Virginia.

            Ross Browne is in Austin, and will be here next week, to visit the great cave, Hot Springs, Ruby Lake, and other curiosities in this country.

            But two trains from the States have passed as yet. They report roads very dusty, and scarcity of water. Otherwise their trips have been successful.

            The farming operations in this Valley promise well. All the grain is above ground. The Overland Mail Company are the heaviest farmers, having in nearly one thousand acres. This is a good sized farm for the desert State of Nevada.

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POSTSCRIPT.

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RUBY VALLEY, June 16, 1865.

            The Schell Creek murderers were both hung yesterday morning at 10 A.M. ; both made a full confession, their names were Wab and Young, both from Alameda county, near San José. Wab was perfectly hardened and died without the slightest regret. Young was repentant and made a speech saying he was led into it by Wab, and warned all young men to avoid bad company. Both were about nineteen years old. Morgan Woolman and his brother, a man named Jim, all from Illinois, and on their way home, were the parties murdered.

RUBY.