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“A secret war party, numbering nine in all, had left camp unknown to [Numaga], under command of Captain Soo. They reached the Carson River about sundown, at the place where James O. Williams was keeping a station on the Overland Road, ten miles northeast of where Fort Churchill was afterwards built. There are three of that war party now living, and one of them described the scene that followed:–
Said he: ‘We get there ’bout night; sun little way up; and leave ponies back, maybe half mile. Then we all go down to cabin, and three white men come out. They look mighty scared, and talk heep to Captain Soo, and .—’
‘What did they say to them ?’ we asked.
‘Dunno ; talk heep. I no understand English then.’
‘Well, what did they do next ?’
‘Bimeby one start off and run up the road towards Buckland’s [a farm], and two Injin run after him, and bring him back. Then one, he run for the river, and me after him; he jump in, and me watch; bimeby he got half-way across maybe, then drown.’
‘Did you shoot him when he was swimming ?’
‘No; nobody shoot him in water; maybe so, somebody shoot him ‘fore that. He keep splatter water; no swim much. I know him drown purty soon; no use to shoot.’
‘While you were gone to the river what was done at the station ?’
‘I no see that. They tell me white man draw a knife, and then one Injin grab him from behind, then two, three—maybe four—Indian grab him; then one take his arm and do so (The narrator here, by motion, indicated a twisting, backward wrenching of the arm), and break it, and that make him drop the knife; and then they throw him on the ground, and kill him.’
‘How did they kill him ?’
‘They no tell me that. I dunno; maybe choke him.’
‘How did they kill the other man ?’
‘Dunno. When I come back, four Injin hold him on the ground; then I go off down the river little ways, to find place to picket pony, and when I look back, see cabin on fire.’
‘Was it dark when they burned the station ?’
‘No—purty near dark, though.’ - 1881 History of Nevada page 152