176 FORT YUMA 
tunity, rushed upon them with their clubs, and massa 
cred every soul at the ferry, embracing some twelve 
or fifteen persons. ,Three men were at some distance 
in the wood cutting timber; these, seeing from the 
actions of the Indians that something was wrong, suc- 
ceededin concealing themselves, and made their escape 
by joining a party of Mexicans who soon after came 
along. A large sum of money, all that had been saved 
by Langdon and Gallantin (estimated at from fifteen 
to thirty thousand dollars), fell into the hands of the 
Indians ; and this was freely used by them in supply- 
ing their wants from the emigrants who afterwards 
passed. They knew little of the value of gold, and 
would sometimes give four or five doubloons for a0 , 
old worn-out blanket, or a, gold eagle for a tattered 
shirt. 
No sympathy was felt for the men who had thus 
lost their lives; but the event tended to encourage the 
Yumas in acts of violence, in.which many innocent and 
unoffending parties perished. I heard of one occa 
sion on which a party of emigrants crossed while the 
Yumas retained the ferry. The Indians showed friend- 
ship for them, and assisted in making their fires and 
in taking charge of their animals. The party cooked 
their meal, and sat down quietly to eat; for although 
numbers of the Yumas were about their fires and the 
camp, their presence caused no uneasiness, as they 
were unprovided with arms. But on a sudden, at® 
given signal, they each seized a billet of wood from 
the fire, and knocked out the brains of the Amer 
cans. 
The ferry is at present well conducted, and though 
