The Union Democrat Sonora, Tuolumne Co., CA Saturday, 16 Sept 1854 LETTER FROM OREGON -- The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's steamer Columbia, Capt. DALL, arrived at San Francisco on the 11th inst., from Portland and intermediate ports. We extract from the papers received the following intelligence: *INDIAN ATTACK UPON EMIGRANTS -- The Portland Standard learns, by express from Fort Boise, the particulars of a horrible massacre by the Indians. They are as follows: On the 25th of August, about daylight, as an emigrant train of 4 wagons were passing along, some 15 miles on the east side of Fort Boise, a force of about 60 Indians attacked them. The men of the party were so appalled at the attack, that, although they (the men) were armed, they made but a feeble resistance, and the whole of them, 8 in number, were shot down; a boy was also shot down and left for dead. The Indians then seized the women, 4 in number, and some children, number not known, together with the wagons and stock and made their retreat from the road. After they had departed, the boy, who was only wounded, came to himself and made his escape. John F. NOBLE, a man well known in Oregon, was in a train behind, and in coming up found the boy, and hastened on to Humason's Camp, about 15 miles this side the fort, and from there Mr. FRUIT, a brother of James H. FRUIT, came through to the Dalles as messenger, with a request from the Indian Agent, THOMPSON, for troops. Major HALLER started yesterday with his command, about 30 men, from the Dalles, to the scene of the action. Nathan OLNEY, the member elect from Wasco, is mustering a volunteer force to follow the regulars. A requisition is also made for troops from Vancouver, and the company of artillery stationed there, numbering about 70 men, will go up on the Belle tomorrow. Rumors are current at the Dalles that the attacking party are the Blackfeet and Snake Indians combined. Mr. FRUIT states that on his way from Humason's Camp, he passed about 400 emigrant wagons, on their way to the Dalles. Source: [email protected] Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser Member of Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society c/o The Dalles/Wasco County Public Library 722 Court Street The Dalles, Oregon 97058 http://community.gorge.net/genealogy [Note: new website address] Browse http://historysavers.com/orwasco/ recently updated information regarding Wasco County - Links are at the bottom of page The Dalles Chronicle http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/ http://searches.rootsweb.com/ "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson Incoming and Outgoing mail protected by Trend Micro PC-cillin program