2S MASSACRE OF INDIANS. 



Just as the funeral ceremonies were about 

 to be concluded, six or seven Indians appear- 

 ed on the opposite side of the Cimarron. 

 Some of the party proposed inviting them to 

 a parley, while the rest, burning for revenge, 

 evinced a desire to iire upon them at once. 

 It is more than probable, however, that the 

 Indians were not only innocent but ignorant 

 of the outrage that had been committed, or 

 they would hardly have ventured to approach 

 the caravan. Being quick of perception, they 

 very soon saw the beUigerent attitude assum- 

 ed by some of the company, and therefore 

 wheeled round and attempted to escape. 

 One shot was fired, which Avounded a horse 

 and brought the Indian to the ground, when 

 he was instantly riddled with balls ! Almost 

 simultaneously another discharge of several 

 guns followed, by wliich all the rest were 

 either killed or mortally wounded, except one, 

 who escaped to bear to his tribe the news of 



dreadful catastroph 



! 



These wanton cruelties had a most disas- 

 trous effect upon the prospects of the trade ; 

 for the exasperated children of the desert be- 

 came more and more hostile to the 'pale faces,' 

 agamstwhom they continued to wage a cruel 

 war for many successive years. IiT fact tliis 

 same party suffered very severely a few days 

 afterwards. They were pursued bv the en- 

 ^ged comrades of the slam savages to the 

 Arkansas nver, where they were robbed of 

 nearly a thousand head of mules and Uorses. 

 ±5ut ttie Indians were not yet satisfied. Hav- 



