20209. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, July 24th, 1869. Another Outrage by Indians. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory July 24th, 1869 Another Outrage by Indians. They Attack a U.S. Mail Party, Kill two Soldiers, Wound the Mail Rider, and Capture the Mail. On the afternoon of Saturday, July 17th, 80 or 100 Indians, who lay concealed on both sides of the road, near Willow Springs, between Kirkland Valley and Camp Date Creek, made an attack upon the mail party- consisting of P. Conner, the mail rider, three soldiers, and P. McAteer, a citizen of Kirkland Valley. At the time the attack was made, Mr. Conner, and two of the soldiers— privates Mudgett and Stouffer, of Company I, 14th Infantry, were in advance of the mail, and at the first fire, the two soldiers named, were shot, dead, from their animals. The mail rider was badly wounded, had to abandon his animals and the mail, and fight his way to Camp Date Creek, where he arrived next morning. McAteer and the soldier, who were behind, were also fired upon, but escaped unhurt to Kirkland Valley, followed by the Indians who came very near cutting them off and capturing them. They say the pack mule that carried the mail, followed them some dist ance. After the news reached Kirkland Valley, a party of men hastened to the scene of the attack and were preparing to take in the bodies of the soldiers, for interment, when Captain Somerby and a party of soldiers arrived from Camp Date Creek, and sent the bodies of the murdered men to Camp Date Creek, where they were buried on the morning of the 19th inst. Captain Somerby, his men, and some of the citizens, then made search for the mule and mail, but did not succeed in finding either. The Captain and party then came on to Prescott. He started back yesterday morning, with the greater part of his company and some expert guides and trailers, for the purpose of following the trail of the Indians, and, if possible, finding the mail, or a portion of it. Upon news of the disaster reaching Prescott, Postmaster Barnard procured an escort of soldiers from General Devin, and hastened to Skull Valley, in order to take charge of the mail, should it be found. The mail was a very large one, and contained many valuable letters, in which were some $18,000 or $20,000 in greenbacks, Government vouchers and checks, and checks of the Sterling Mining Company. The Postmaster has furnished us with the numbers of the registered letters sent by this mail, rec eipts for which are now held by our citizens. The numbers are as follows: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.