From the Owyhee Avalanche, May
30th :
Bast Saturday afternoon, about half
pjist two o’clock, a small band of In
dians,the number not exactly known,
but supposed to be from live to eight,
attacked a party of four men, who
were riding along in a wagon between
the Sheep .Ranch and Inskip’s, about
four and a half miles from the latter
place. From two of the party at
tacked, Hosea Eastman and J Jen Ab
bott, we learn they were riding leis
urely along in a wagon, never dream
ing of danger, some one observing,
however, that it would be a favorable
place for Indians to make an attack,
when three or four of the bloodthirsty
fiends fired from the rocks not more
than five yards distant. A horse
which was tied behind the wagon,
broke loose and was immediately tak
en possession of by the Indians. East
man, who was driving, whipped up
the team and made good time for
some distance, when looking behind
he observed Ben Abbott running for
dear life with an Indian close at his
heels and another farther behind mak
ing rapid strides. Instantly compre
hending the situation, Eastman seized
his Spencer rifle and ran towards Ab
bott, who was unarmed. While run
ning, Eastman discharged his rille at
the Indian nearest Abbott, probably
not hitting thp red devil, but causing
him to drop down among the sage
brush and give up the chase. A bet
ter aim -was taken at the other pur
suer, who also immediately disap
peared in the brush ; but judging from
the way the fellow acted, it is thought
that a Spencer bullet made him very
sick. Upon returning to the wagon it
was found that one of the party,named
David Smith, was severely wounded.
