MASSACRE OF FRENCH TOURISTS BY INDIANS.

Waikato Times, Volume 2632, Issue 2632, 25 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

MASSACRE OF FRENCH TOURISTS BY INDIANS.

All the New York papers of lltli March contain the following story, the only authority for which is a drunken guide of doubtful reputation • —" Cheyenne, Wyoming territory, 10th March.—A halfbreed hunter and trapper, who arrived here today from the extreme north-western part of the territory, reports the massacre of a party of five French tourists in the Yellowstone National Park. The bearer of the news heard the story at Canyon City, a new mining town near the Park, where Hank Ferry, tho guide and sole survivor, reported the slaughter. Ferry said his charges included M. Leclaire and wife, J. Vincent and wife, and Paul Gersh, the father of Madame Vincent. He entered the service of the sightseers at Virginia City, contracting to show them through the park in violation of the United States statuts. The strangers were very wealthy and said they had journeyed overland from San Francisco for the express purpose of going through the park during the abseuce of summer excursionists. The party enjoyed themselves in the park, affiliating with poachers who were slaughtering game for hides. Their camp was always the head-quarters for professional hunters, whom they supplied with luxuries. The guide's story of the murder, which he says was committed by Indians, is a most graphic recital. Just before dawn on the day of the murder | blood-curdling cries and a fusillade of shots roused Ferry He realised the situation, and crawling through the bush took refuge in the mouth of a sleeping geyser. There he heard the piteous groans and begging of the foreigners, mingled with the yells of the redskins. The (.laughter was inOßt brutal, wound after wound being inflicted before the death shot was given. Not one body contained fewer than ten bullets, and the body of Vincent, who made a desperate struggle for life, was completely riddled. Ferry emerged from his hiding place when the Indians had departed, and started for Canyon City. lie avoided the hunters in tho Paik, and must have suffered from hunger and exposure, as lie was weak and emaciated, and seemed slightly demented when relating the terrible story. The guide was placed in the care of a physician, but he disappeared 011 the second night after his arrival, and ho has not been seen since. It is presumed thac he is crazy. Tho officers at Canyon City has organised a posse to secure the bodies of the murdered people, and, if possible, to avenge their death. They will procecd with all possible haste, as tho plaeo is isolated, and wolves are liable to devour the remains before the Park police or hunters stumble on thcin. Ferry is n tough character, but his story is believed. Scmo of the miners think that the hide hunters, who are mostly outlaws, may have murdered the tourists for tho purpose of robbery." Tho story has sinco been proved to bo ahn-ix.