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Rh mountain gorges. One-half of the number turned back by retracing their course and reached Port Orford, while the others determined to work their way to the first large stream, and thence to some settlement or to the coast and back to Port Orford. Their situation became distressing from want of food, although in a game country, and from days of exposure and prostration. Their horses were all abandoned in the mountains, and they at last emerged upon the upper South Coquille River, descending which, friendly Indians were met who conveyed them in canoes down the stream, until when within two miles of the ocean on September 14, 1851, they were attacked by hostile Indians who were awaiting their approach. At once they were overcome by largely superior numbers and the massacre began. Five men were soon dead; two—Williams and Hedden—after killing several Indians, themselves escaped, with Williams almost fatally wounded and carried for four terrible days on Hedden's tired back, although praying for death and stoppage along the impassable mountain defiles and over the chilling streams, but Hedden refused and held on until the Umpqua settlements were reached.

T'Vault and Brush, the other two, leaped in the river, and both reached the banks, although Brush had been partly scalped by an Indian knife. For two days they traveled down the coast, at one point meeting Indians who robbed them of their clothes and their weapons, but allowed them to reach the fortifications at Port Orford in safety.

The military was now again called for. Troops from California with some from the local post, and Lieutenant Kautz with twenty U. S. Riflemen from Astoria, were soon in motion to the Indian country on the Coquille.

Under Colonel Silas Casey portions of three companies on October 31, 1851, were soon in pursuit of the enemy,