The New York Herald Newspaper, December 26, 1868, Page 12

{ THE INDIAN WAR. Arrival of the Ni Captives Expect Wounded Indian Children. HvADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, IN THE FIELD, FORKS OF BEAVER AND WOLF Rivers, L. T., Dec. 4, 1868, Camp Supply at this point, 105 miles south of Fort Podge and in the heart of the Indian territory, during its very brief existence, has developed into the most important centre of operations in the Midway between and but a short distance west cf the reservations of the Chey- enne and Arapahoe and Kiowa and Comanche nations, a8 a field base of hostile movements against the refractory Indians a better locality could not present Indian war. have been selected. Good water, an abun- dance of wood and game, winter forage for horses, are the recommendations which it possesses for the accommodation of troops, and its proximity to the favorite resorts of the savages during the inclement and snowy weather of winter gives it a marked stratezic value. On} ber 20, 1868, the construction of the necessary build- ings and defences was commenced under the su- perintendence of First Lieutenant Joseph Hale, Third United States infantry. Lieutenant Hale de- serves much praise for th? energy and skill dis- played in the completion of the post in snow and storm and overcoming numerous other inconven- fences, The work in its finished condition 1s of suMcient strength to be defended by a sinall force against any number of warriors that may undertake to attack it. The work is constructe1 of logs hewn in the woods about a mile distant. The north and west fronts consist of a stockade; the east and south are made up of the warehouses for stores, At the northeast and southwest angles are lunettes sweeping all sides of the fort, and at the northwest and southeas| @ngles are block houses with loopholes. From points the rifles of the troops have unimpeded rafige of at least 399 yards, The entire work has been con- Btructed by the trosps. The following oMicers have been assigned for duty ‘fat the post:— Brevet Major John II. Page, captain Third United Btates infantry, commanding post. Lieutenant Williams, Third United States infantry, post adjutanr, 2 Brevet Captain William Mitcheil, post quarter- Master. First Lieutenant Henry Nolan, Seventh United States cavalry, post commissary. Dr. J. J. Mareton, acting assistant surgeon, United States army, post surgecn. Dr. G. M. Sternberg, captam and assistant surgeon United States army, medical director of the expe- dition. Company B, Third United States mfantry, Brevet Major Henry Asbury, captain; Lieutenants J. P, Thompson and Williams. Company E, Third United States infantry, First Lieutenant Joseph Hale commanding. Company F, Third United States infantry, Brevet pei Jona H. Page, captain; Lieutenant Chancetior jartin. Company K, Fifth United States infantry, Lieuten- ant George P. Borden commanding. Company G, Th'rty-eighth United States infantry, Brevet Major William M. Beebe, captain; Brevet Cap- tain J. A. Sanders, first lieutenant. ‘The last of the Mnetventh Kansas volanteer caval- ry have arrived at this point and will remain here ec present. ‘This regiment, commanded by ex- raor 8, J. Crawford, left Topeka on Novem- 5, 1 to and a broken , November 24, near the t being without rations, his train and about 450 mea 1 with the remainder of his ch of this point. Previous- n sent ahead and found the camp here and had reported the condition of the regiment, By the time of Colonel Crawford's arri- val supplies, under escort of Lieutenant Pepoon’s scouts and Captaio Plyly’s company, were far on the ‘way to the relief of the Kansas men on the Cimar- ron, and safeiy arrived after a journey of several days. The Kansas troops were entirely out of ra- tions, ana for some days had lived on buffalo meat alone, brought in by hunting parties sent out daily. The remainder of the regiment now resumed the Une of march and arrived hereon December 1. ‘The Seventh United States cavalry will also remain here for several days more. Captain J. W. Clous, Thirty-eighth United States infantry, hax been relieved from duty as Acting As- sistant Adjutant General to the present expedition ‘end assigned to temporary duty as Acting Aide-de- Camp to the Commanding General. Captain Louis M. Hamilton, killed in the battle of the Washita, was buried this afternoon with military honors. The entire regular troops at present here turned out. The hody of the deceased caj was carried in an ambulance as a hearse and covered witha large American flag. The ambulance was preceded by Captain Hamliton’s squadron, com- manded by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Weir, aa escort, and was followed by his horse, covered with @ mourning sheet. Major General Sheridan, Brevet Major General Custer, Brevet Lieutenant Colonels Crosby, Cook and T. W. Custer; Brevet Major Beebe and Lieutenant Hale acted as pall bearers. A meeting of the officers of the Seventh United States cavalry was heid in the camp of the regiment, on the north fork of Canadian river, Indian Terri- Cimarron, Colonel Craw under Major Jenkins, a troops pushed out in ly Captain Piyly had tory, the 3d day of December, 1868, to take into con- sideration the untimely death of Major Joel H. Elliot! of the Washita November 27, 1868, and to testify by resolution the reg) deceased was held by his comrades in arms, Brevet Major General George A. Cusier was chosen to pre- side over the meeting and a committee was ap- The following were pointed to draft resointions. Feported by the committee:— Resolved, That the officers and soldicrs of the Seventh United States cavalry unite in their expression of sincere and rofound sorrow for the death of Major Joel H. Elliott, who Was killed iu the battle of the Washita November 27, 1858, ‘That his carneat devotion to dat the regiment which he had labored so zealously to improve. Resolved, That !n all the victasliudes of his eventful life, from the Fanks, where be first served as a soldier during the late war to the position he had attained when he died, lamented Major performed all the duties and obl is station with rare fide!lty and trathfulness ; that ‘example is worthy of imitation by every one who Uinction In the prover: Resolves, That the Daitie which b him career is deserving of the highest aitituce of defiant daring, herote zample inciting them to deeds of valor worihy of the great ‘eat encominmas that can be bestowed. iddenty to th Resolved, That to the bereaved mother _and relatives of the deceased the oficers of this regiment especially tender their heartfelt thies, Reusived, Tht the sccretary of this meeting be directed to end a copy of these proceedings to the family of the de- ‘The of the committe was adopted and the meeting adjourned sine die. A meeting of the officers of the Seventh United States cavairy was held in the camp of the regiment, on the North fork of Canadian river, Indian Terri- tory, on the 4th day of December, 1868, to take into consideration the untimely death of Nap cone Louis jiled in the Dattle of the Washita November 27, 1868, and to tes- M. Hamilton, of that iment, who was tify by resolution the respect and estimation fa which the deceased was held by his comrades in arms, Brevet Major General George A. Custer was chosen to preside over the meeting, and a committee was appotuted to draft resolutions. The following was re- ported by the committee;— Resolve’, That the death in battle of 01 tain Louis M. Hamilton, has bereft uso friend, whom while ving we cherished as gentelnan of unsulllet honor and spotless fame ining the genial fnce, the sparkling wit, the well tri warm aud tPisty heart of iim whose loss wo mourn more ‘deeply than wort «2 tel. Resvived, That by the geagh of the he: army has lost ons OF, its brightest orwatiss thorough, ga'lant soldier, with heart and hand ‘out reproach,” in all thines pertaining among the brilliant soldicrs who were ne closest scratiay from the armies of the E for the new army which wae or; 4 d Ham! to ne of the purest and brightest aoldiers of bis blamele x the departed horace ot hie riotic ardor and devotion t fand duty which renderet the grandeire, Alexander Ha Allustrions, were tru Dost eforts of whose Hshment of the g Nat were directed towa: nt which his progentto to build, whore nod wae shed In risiting just re tribution upon thoxe who had savagely every prin- eiple of humanity, and who had persistently refused to recog Dire the authority of that government which he had learned r y exprens th mourn the joss of the deceas the same to his relatives and family fri Resolved, That the secretary of th transmit @ copy of these proceesin, decraned. ‘The report of the committee was approved and the meeting adjourned sine die. iuring the first few days of the captivity of the Squawe of Biack Kettle’s band of Cheyennes there was considerabie anxiety felt by them. They all expected they were to be killed in retalitation oi the ends, to the relatives of the ‘The Strategic Importance of Cam Supply Description of the New Fort—Rester of the Officers Stationed at Camp Supply teenth Kansas Volun- teers—Hurial of Captain Hamilten—The to be Executed = The as well ag of the regiment, who was killed in the battie % and estimation in which the \d to the best interests of ‘of arma. tiant bearing of Major Elliott in the the end of his earthly raise; that he fell in the | the y rallying his men, and by Inte comrade, Cap- deat and valued gifted dof ‘the West Vi - close of the wod fa the foremoat rank ; life and glorious death en- race. perpatuated ip the grandson, the the re-eataly- had aided jo they tender mecting be directed to NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1868.—TRIPLE SHEET. that no male prisoners were taken over eight zoe old, the rest taking up arms and joining in the fight. Baye and Soh tau Setter nad hots Ir wounded, but un ho single one of them has come the slightest audible indication of their suffering; yet the expres- sion of their faces, the wild glance of their eyes, betray that they do suffer, During such painful operations a3 proving and cleansing out their wounds, placing the thumb on one temple and stretching the hand across the forehead, fixing the second finger on the temple opposite, they close their eyes and patiently submit to such operations as the teachings of surgery require, One little girl about six yous of age has a bullet hole through body, on tie left side, and yet she sits up and makes no compiaints, All the wounded squaws and chil- dren rode in on their ponies, refusing to have any- thing to do with ambulances, Another singular feature In the wounded is the peculiarly offensive odor of the sloughing wounds, The well squaws are still encamped with the cav- alry and seem tobe contented with their lot. The male children amuse themselves throwing reeds as if they were spears at disTeren: objects, thus display- ing the cultivation of their expanding merit as future warriors, Amor the trophies brought in was a handsome lodge, which belongs to General Custer. To-day this was unloaded from the wagon, and having sent for several squaws the General had the lodge put up in true Indian style. This is part of the duties of the squaws, and in a very few minutes they displayed thelr proficiency to an extent which surprised every one. The lodge is of skins and hertoony. white, It is not at all surprising that the loss of their lodges is looked upon by the sav a8 80 great a cal- amity. The number of skins, the proper tanning, of them, fitting and stitching them together consti- tute evidently & labor and expense of considerable ties which conducted General Custer to the Indian village. For the benefit of philanthropists I may allude to an Indian curiosity—a medicine lodge which was de- stroyed by a portion of General Custer’s command @ short time since. A medicine lodge is @ sort of sanctuary where the savages deposit the ps taken in war after they have been powwowed over according to the exaction of their superatitions. ‘The lodge in question was situated on Medicine Lodge creek, northeast of this pont, and was rendered in a certain degree conspicuous Dy its being the point at which the Peace Commission held one of its pala- vers, No one but the medicine men and chiefs are allowed to enter the sacred preciacts, At the time of their recent visit General Custer’s men invest!- gated the contents of the lodge. The scene pre- sented was one not calculated to incite the pe thy of the white man, Hundreds of ghastly scaips were hanging around, some decorated fantastically, probably in @ manner according to the character of its former possessor. Some of the scalps were evidently those of white women and children, a8 might be told by the length of the hair or its finer texture. There was also a diversity of colors—black, brown, auburn, white, and, indeed, every variety of color—and indicating all ages. The infernal place, with all its contents, was destroyed by fire. Several nights since the Osage and Kaw Indians indulged ina scalp dance, The scene was one of savage effect. The burning logs in the centre, the Indians painted and attired in war costumes, with spears, bows, shiclds and ail the trophies taken by them about their persons, rformed their inysterions contortions of the and hooper witaly as if about to engage their foe. One of the Kaw warriors, stepping forward, said he “would be buried under the ground sooner than run from the enemy.” ‘This sentiment was received with shout of approval. Each made his professions of magnitude, In setting up a lodge the squaws get around with the lodge poles in their hands; these they lock at tne upper extremities and set tnem in position forming the skeleton of the lodge. The aes skin, one end attached to a pole, is laid in an upright position against the lodge poles already up; the in then unrolled and wrapped around tle outside over the lodge poles. The ends are then fastened with thongs, leaving an aperture about three feet sigh toe) an entrance and at the top for the egress of smoke. The captives, sick and well, have not lost appetite or flesh since in our hands. Their capacities for stowing away food are truly amazing. Hard tack to them is a great luxury, and old and young, sick and ell, devour it with all the relish of the chotcest and chest cake, The Indian War—Its Origin=The Success Already Accomplished—Winter Fighting the Trae Mode of Subjugation—Description of Medicine Lodge—Two Couriers Killed by Indians—Retarn of Wagon Train. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ae Camp Surety, Forks BEAVER AND WOLF Rivens, I. T., Dee. 6, 18 No influence exerts more power over the savage mind than that of fear. The ordinary feelings of humanity fnd no existence there, and such im- pulses as sympathy or gratitude to incite a recipro- cation of good deeds are a3 dead as the thirst for biood is strong and beyond control, ‘ A review of the causes and progress of the present Indian war is but a repetition of that same expe- rience which hos been the natural condition, it would seem, of Indian affairs for some years past, but in the present instance indicates the exercise of more energy, of more skill and with better prospects of durable results than have characterized former attempts at a decisive subjugation of the hostile tribes. The great draw- back in the past has been the regard for the auto- matic philanthropy of a c!ass urged on in their cant by their own inicrests or those of corrupt oficlals and their tools, This class has even the boldness in the present case to disfigure the true state of the case and again, with their usual misrepresentation, ignorance and falsehood, attribute the blame of the war to the white settlers. In response to a cowardly feeling of so-calied humanity the Peace Commis- sion of 1867 was established, and on it devolved the “whole Indian question for a practical and if possible peaceable solution.” To further this ob- ject the operations of the troops were made subor- dinate to the Commission. This Commission at least deserves the credit of showing an indefatigable spirit if it did come out barren of results. Treaties were entered into with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas and Comanches. At the recommendation of the Peace Commission the Powder river country was abandoned. This action was construed by the Indtans as the result of fear on the part of our gov- ernment. The Sioux having accomplished their firat purpose now extended their depredations to the Pacific Ratlroad, on the Platte. The Indians along the Arkansas, on the south, were not slow In believing that the whites had been forced out of the Powder river country and undertook, in emulation of the boast of the Sioux in the North, to drive the whites out of the Smoky Hill country. Both these sections are fine ranges for the buffalo. ‘The Cheyennes tn August last took the warpath, with nearly 250 warriors, as they had tt then be- Heved, against a band of Indians towards which they were hostile. In the same month they made their appearance amoug the settlements in the valley of the Saline. After receiving the most friendly treatment they suddenly threw off their disguise, and instead of appearing as friends they were sud- dently and too late discovered to be cnemies. The vaileys or the Saline and Solomon suddenly became the scene of a relentless, savage war, and in turn the tomahawk, the scat og knife and the firebrand swept along the Smoky Hill and the Arkansas, ‘The war was now fairly inaugurated and its incep- tion presented one of those instances of Indian treachery which had so frequently before resulted in the massacre of innocent and’ unsuspecting men, women and children. By September nearly 100 per- sons met their end at the hands of the savages. e chiefs of the Arapahoes had promised to procecd to Fort Cobb and get their annuities, and thence withdraw to their reservation. In stead of fulfilling thelr promises, they bezan a series of depredations on the line between Fort Wallace aud Denver, in Colorado Territory. The Kiowas and Comanches about the same time entered into an agreement at Fort Zarah to remain at peace, and left with that impreasion fixed on the minds of those who repre- sented the government. The next information was that the Kiowas and Comanches had joined the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. General Sheridan, taking the practical view of the condition of aflairs within mits of his departinent, at once transferred his headquarters to the field, and commenced prepara- tions for a determined war. General Suily’s fight near this point, Forayth’s gallant fight o e Arri- Karee fork of the Republican, Carpenter's and Gra- ham's fight on the Beaver branch of the Republican, General Carr's dc ctsive fig it in the same vicinity, and General Custer’s annihilation of Black Kettle's band in the battle of the Washita, be sides 8 number of small engagements, is the fj bree = months. = It would be @ low estimate to that at Jeast three hundred warriors have been Killed since the war broke out. Two hundred and fifty are om- cially accounted for. The dexterity of the Indian in getting off his dead would largely increase the oMctal count, which is based upon an accurate knowledge of the Indian loss from the bodies seen carried of or which fell into the possession of the troops. Nor have the wounded been estimated; and it is quite natural suppose that in a loss of two hundred and fifty warriors killed many more were wounded, of which a fair proportion may be called mortally, and subsequently died, It 1s very evident the savages thought the inclem- ency of the winter would secure them in their remote fastnesses, and in tie coming spring they might ain resume their depredations and atro- cities. The wisdom of this winter campaiga has a twofold significance, First the Indians have received thus far the most rapid and decisive thrash- Mg théy have ever been éntertained with in the same length of t'me. In the second place, it ox- plodes their belief that the snows and storms of winter will prove an insurmountable barrier azainst the approach of troops at a time when the effective- ness of their mode of warfare ceases. These two considerations have, doubtiess, by this time, had some effect, but the savages have so far only’ seen the beginning of what is in store for them, There are so many considerations tnvolved in an ry Indian war that to premice anything would be use- ‘less, One thing ts certain: unless higher authorities meddle in the matter the war will go on until it reaches an even iter success and more decisive and durable reanit The captive squaws think their people have had enough and wiil come into Fort Cobb and surrender. ff they do so they come now as a conquered people, in the dust, and wil be tled down to the most rigit agreements. When the Peace Commission treated with them the savages came in shouting and firing their rifles and with other manfestations of victors, which they r were. Some hold the opinion that the hostile savages will take their families to the Staked Plains, a bar- ren waste in Texas, and return and unite tn a league, offensive and defensive. This does not appear plau- mble, for the reason that the larder of an Indiag family ts the plain and the wood; his daily food con- sisting of the proceeds of the chase. [ll success is the fure forerunner of an empty stomach. It is known that the Staked Piains consist of the most barren, desolate waste in this entire region and are = therefor Atrocities committed by their band. At first the | fectly devoid of animal life. vases, wounded ones refused to the hospital, fearing | have no place to retire to that ommaee be reach they were the first singled out for vengeance. The | by the coluinns, soldiers talking to each other not in tones the most As an instance of the faithlessness and shrewd- gentic and « uphontous and in a language they could | ness of the savages against which General Sheridan not underst: >| how they were to be disposed of. interpreter, Mr. Curtis, Were ali to be kuled, whie Man did not kill en and children for what the warriors ‘id they fett materially relieved. Since then the wounded squaws have appeared more Lvely and exhibit an unusual feeling of gratitude the kind treatment they have been receiving. ‘Ths feel ne they Manifest by shaking hands with the von Waenever he visita thom. The most re- mark vie instinces of fortitude are exhibited jn the eases of the wounded Indian chiidr The despera- tono’ th: fighting at the battle of the Wasuita on ‘the of *. of the savages may be judged from the fact id, they construed it into a controversy n of what disposition was to be made art, of the squaws visited General Shert- OCs, tasked him whether hen assured thatthe | in the 1s now Operating some secrets let out by the prison- ers may be mentioned. Several weeks since a war consisting of Cheyennes, Kiowas and Arapa- ‘arted onthe warpath towards Fort Lyon. At the same time another pacers rted to operate vicinity of ort Larned, and @ third party on foot, set out, moving north to fall upon snail partios, At the ‘saine tine thess hostile expeditions were about leaving representa- tives from each band repaired to Fort Coby and se. cured from the representative of the Peace Com- mission there large Quantities of provisions aud other supplies. At the time of the capture of Biack Kettle's camp to} wi AiG Aeatroyed, together | large quantities of powder and lead, It was the trail of oue of tue rewurning War par bravery when heshould meet theenemy, The dance lasted until a late hour. Generals Sheridan and Custer and a large number of oMcers witnessed the scene. Brevet Major Henry Inman, who left here with g@train of two hundred and ey panies. returned jeanne from Fort Dodge, after a trip of two undred and ten miles in twelve days. Arriving at Muiberry creek the Major found a piece of pantaloons covered with blood, a coat filled with bullet holes and other signs of a fight. Reaching the ravine near by a pack of thirty wolves started up, A number of letters were now found strewn around, one of which was a despatch from your correspondent, dated at Bluff creek, November 18, 1863. The despatch was returned to your correspondent by Major Inman, and was considerab! torn, evidently by thé wolves. On the morning of Novem- ber 19, 1868, before leaving Bluff creek, General Sheridan sent two couriers to Fort Dodge with de- spatches, It would appear that these couriers fell ito an ambuscade while crossing Mulberry creel which vicinity is much broken by ravines ‘covered with underbrush. On his return Inman, after diligent search, foand fragments of the bodies, One skull was broken as if strack by atomahawk. The fight was evidently a desperate one. The route of the couriers could be traced for a mile by the empty cartridge shells. A tree was discovered with the head of a spear sticking in it and full of bullet holes. It is robable the couriers took position here after igs faa lost their horses, The remains of the men, suc! as could be found, wefe gathered together and buried. The names of the two mea were Davis and Marshall. On the return trip a small party of In- dians were seen and pursued by Major Inman and Lieutenant Borden, Fifth United States infantry, with a detachment of Kansas cavalry. ‘The following document was taken from the body of one of the warriors slain at the battle of the Washita. It emanates from a peace commission and is a fit commentary upon their labors:— UNITED STATES OF Arceni04,) , DEPARTURNT OF INTERIOR. OFFIOR OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIPS, Noariteny ROPRRINTENDENCY, | Four LARAMtr, June %, 186, This into certify that Black War Bonnet is a recognized chief of the band of Ogallellah Sioux. He {a under treaty stipula- tons with the United States government, and has promised his Great Father to be always friendly towards white any white man to whom he may ahow this papers re hii nan break Ria procaion: mr fal to give him no ca : Saab HW. MoLAREN, President pro tem. Peace Commission. A REVIEW OF THE INDIAN WAR. To THE EpiTor or THE HERALD:— It 1s almost incomprehensible that a few nomades should set at defiance the nation which proved itseif capable of crushing the most gigantic rebellion known in history. Still, it is a truth easily proven that this is the case. The aborigine destroys each year the lives and property of our citizens to an ex- tUat almost beyond belicf. He does this, too, nearly without punishment; and why? The Indian fools the white man, and chooses the time and place for war. When the winter season is at hand and the deep snows preclude the Indian pony from his buffalo grass, the redskin knows that he must go to the vil- lages and lay up until the grass is sprouting anew under the influence of the bright spring weather of the Plains, Itis during this season, then, that the Indian must remain peaceful, and what a peace! Simply the coiling of the snake prior to a fatal spring; for the grass is no sooner sufficiently strong to afford ample sustenance to the mustang when the Indian vil- lagers are moving and the bucks are on the oldtrall, which has Its beginning in spring. and invariably ending im the late fall, at which time the Indian makes his appearance in the vicinity of military posts and represents himself as tired of a war into which he had been led by some very bad Indians, who are now gone somewhere, but exactly in what direction the peacefully disposed party has no idea. In fact, he is gla that he does not know, for this very bad tribe or band of Indians has made great trouble for those of the red brothers who are well disposed to- ward the whites, It is just a trifle curious to know where these very bad Indians go to, for every band which comes in has almost a similar story. It reminds one of schoolboy days, when body did it, sir.’ Seemingly this thing has gone to a suiticient length, and we are to have a winter campaign against the Indians, which, if it proves successful, must, to a certain extent, terininate “Our Indian Troubles’ paragraph, which has been so long a standing item in nearly every journal in the country. The section of country which the Indian finds most fitted for his raids an devastation is that portion of the Plains through which we have the tiree great trading routes to the far West—the Arkansas, the Smoky Hill and the Platte. This is not a level tract, far from it; no more broken country can be found in our broad territory uniess it pe ainong the mountain Thus it’ may easy for a band of Indians, whet be seen that It is er it be composed themselves of ten or 100 warriors, to conceal near the travelled routes and swoop hawk- like, with little posure to danger, on chosen victims. ® trame over — ‘these routes is far greater than would be belived by = ties unfamiliar with the Plains. Some tdea thay be formed from the fact that during the severe winter of 1865 ana 1866 more than 19,009 cattie were frozen to death. These cattle are the motive power of the freight trains, The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad will facilitate the ti ta! of freight to a portion of Colorado, Utah, Neva:la and the Territories of the Northwest; but New Mexico must still send out its wool and receive other articles of commerce in re- turn by means of what is known on the frontier as “bull trains,” which must travel via the Arkansas route, which is quite 3%) miles south of the Platte river, to the north of which the Pacific Railroad has been constructed. Will the construction and com: piction of the Union Pacific Ratiroad 309 miles to the northward, and to reach whic traversed which few men have ever done more than foliow tolerably well knowao route through, enhan the eatety of travel over the more soutlern routes? Even now mischief has been done to the railroad and telegraph lines; to be sure we hear little of this, nevertheless it is the case, The extermination o¢ thorough pin. ishment of a single band o! indians, whose number seems ridiculously small, would « nore to give us safer transit across the buitalo range than ail the treaties that could be made by we'l paid commission- ers, Or humanitarian meotings that may be held at Cooper Institute or claewh What is Known as the ollier band of Chey- enne” is compoacd of the best Neters of the Chey- enne tribes, a few Arapahoes ani sionx. They are well mounted upon stock stoien from our cavalry, the Overiand Stage Company an’ from trains (wag: on) which have suffered from Inilian stampedes. It would be Impossiple to imagine men better armed than are these red rovers; for their weapons are in- var.ably breech-loaders of the most approved attern. Where the supply of ammunition comes mm is @ mystery, but they certainly have abundance, Seven hundred warriors is tne full number of this band, whieh has been concerned in nearly every outrage that has been credited to the reaskin on the buifato range. re they have not been participators they have Inatigated the affair. For instance, keep the Cheyenne aw rom the Kiowa, whose natural range is southivard of the Arkansas river, and it would not be diticult to keep the Kiowa upon such reservations as might be as- signed to them in what is known as the Indian Ter- ritory but let the Cheyenne an Kiowa once com- municate with each other, and, if it be summer time, we have Indian war Where there should be continaal peace, It very naturally suggests itaelf toa ie fon that these Cheyennes should be thrashed, Yes, to be sure, but ere we ‘pot the pigeon” woud it not be weil to have it on hand? and it ts be; ie range of possipilities for troops to overtake @ well mounted band of Indians during the summer season. In the winter the Indians manage to be at The capture of five Alabamas would have een more easy than the capture of this single band of Indians during the summer scazon. Send o' body of troops against them and they wi" ®t an Indian until the Indians mat uever see stampede the horses some <v An attempt to orasmall’ Nunting o ening just at day’ hte ie camp by fIIty OF” aagggr ts Patty is chased in Up and Of, noi" MeOYCd palntad warriors, Saddle reach sie top of ae rsnit, to He sure, but when yot land, there iw not an Tnaiee, divete, of high ridge of follow the trail and you A Wm Sigit. | Undertake to are tratis fn all direct: |. @lL speedily find that there to rendezvous ata ons, The Indians have divided selves, Returnt ome place Known best to them- first thing thes 4 your late camptog ground and the Which has’ .#trikes you is the clean gleaning ie, .wendone during your absence; not a ~ of food or article of any use whatever on may remember to have left is anywhere _ found. the Indians bave visited tie spot ‘our abaence, The thaian’s religion teaches him to fight the white man. To be 1 of worldty riches, such as Possesse nies, fine clothing and such other scalps, roperty as may be more easily secured from the white mab than tt can be obtained in any other way, is certain assport to and through the gates the happy junting ground, provided the body which contained the departed spirit was not bone or scaiped, An In- dian prefers burning alive to being hung. Why? For sullar reasons which it is not well to mention. ‘The indian 1s, however, well satisfed that the spirit of a buck who has met his death by hanging will go, by the most alcggs route, to the abode of bad spirits, and will u ‘arrival be provided with a very warm seat, Before this Indian trouble is nally settled the In- terior Department must be satisfied to let the War Department have entire control of Indian Affairs. Then, and not till then, may we look for what has not been for years—entire freedom from Indian de- predations on the fronuer. THE HILL MURDER. The Case for the Prosecution Closed and the Defease Opened—What the Prisoner's Co sel Intend to Prove—The Excitement in Re- lation to the Result of the Trial Increasing. PHILADELPHIA, Dec, 24, 1868. The crowd in the court room to-day was far greater than it has been on any one day since the prisoner was arraigned for trial. The female por- tion of the audience was especially greater in numerical strength and fuss than usual, one of the worse features about it consisting in the fact that more than one-half of them were girls of a ten- der age, several, to all appearances, not having as yet reached “sweet, blushing sixteen.” If the in- tense interest they manifested in all the details of the horrible murder which were elicited during the ex- amination of the witnesses be any criterion to go by it ig very doubtful if they ever reach any age which will entitle them to the gen‘le qualifications afore- mentioned. It will be seen by reference to the testimony that the defence are making and intend to make a very flerce fight to clear their client from the crime with the commission of which he 1s charged. The deter- mined stand taken by them in refusing to give up to the prosecution the papers found in the safe at Cam- den before the prosecution had proved that the safe belonged to the prisoner was one of the strongest indications manifested during the trial of their determination, by every ingenuityor legal technicality they can avail themselves of, — was also thetr resolution to have the blood stained clothing examined by some expert chosen by the prisoner himself. So far the circum- stantial evidence against the prisoner is very strong, but his friends contend that his counsel wiil be able to prove, beyond hope of contradiction, every statement made in the opening address of Mr. Pratt. Over a hundred witnesses have been sub- peenaed by the defence and it is supposed that the ie wilt nee be concluded until Tuesday or Wednes- jay nex! On the opening of the court Mr. Henderson, a gentlemen alluded to yesterday by several wit- nesses in giving their testimony, was called to the stand. Being duly sworn, he said:—I knew Mrs. Hill; had known her some twenty-six years; at the time of her death she was the widow of Samuel Hill, who died on February 13, 1866; Mr. and Mra, Twitchell were not residing with them at this time; they had only been married @ year or so then; I was Mrs. Hill’s agent after the death of her husband, who was a relative of mine; Mrs, Hill and Mr. Twitchell sevrsree to be friendly until the latter part of July last; about that time a gentleman called upon me, and in consequence of what he told me I called to see Mrs, Hill; at this interview Mr. Twitchell was not present, but before 1 left the house he came into the dining room, and, ina very excited manner, asked me why I had come to create a disturbance in the family, coupling it with, “T give you ten minutes to get out;”’ I answered that I was in no hurry; he said I had better attend to my own business and not interfere with other ge 1 said I was there on business with Mrs. Hill; he again commanded me to leave in ten minutes, saying he would pnt me out by force or get a police- man to put me out; I told him to use his pleasure, but that perhaps the latter would be the better way; he went out as if after an officer, and was foltowed by Mra. Twitchell; I remained there a short time talking with Mra. Hill, and then took my de- parture; I used to see Mrs. Hill once a week or ounce in two or three weeks ever since the deith of Mr. Hill; she visited my house and consulted me about her business matters; Mrs. Iill was @ woman of coa- siderable means; Mr. Hill left the estate which Mrs, Hill possessed; ‘after these conversations with Mrs. Hill I received a bundle of deeds for the property at Tenth and Pine streets; there ts a deed among them to Camilla E. Twitchell; I got this bundle of deeds from Mrs. Hill; Mrs. Hill and Thad been to Mr. Gil- bert’'s together, and it was after that that she brought the deeds to me; it was the following afternoon. Mr. Hagert here proposed to prove that this wit- ness informed Mrs, Hill that the deel had been made out in her ater’s name. 1b was objected to by the defence and ths objection was sustained. Mr. Hagert—Mr. Henderson, do you know the handwriting of the spent Witness—I do; I have seen him write; this is his wri [An instrument p' ting to be a tax re- yr 1867, on the house at Tenth and Pine streets, signed by the prisoner for Mra. Hill, was shown to the witness and put in evidence.) Question by Mr. Hagert—Ilad Mra. Hill made an appointment with you to go and employ couusel on the Monday or fuesday foliowing the murder, wita the view of instituting legal proceedings for the re- covery of the propeity? The defence objected, because this w: question as to a conversation. Mr. Hagert said he would be uuable to show that this was communicated to the prisoner, but he would argue from the circumstances of his being in the same house with Mrs. Hill, being in constant intercourse with her, that he must have known it, Mr. Mann argued that it was not competent, more especially in a capital case, to prove one circum- stance of a purely circumstantial case by other very weak and unreliable circumstances, which when strongest did not receive too much confidence in this age. Mr. Hagert said that he well recollected how firmly Mr. Mann believed in circumstantial evidence when Armstrong, Probst, Williams and Winuemore were hung upon it. The Court sustained the objection and ruled out the question. In answer to the District Attorney the witness pro- ceeded—I had no conversation in reference to the recon, eyance of this property, or with Mrs. Hill, in his presence; when | made collections for Mrs. Hill they were paid to her at my house; the last payment I made to her was of $276 65, on the Friday preced- me the murder, November 20, 'ross-exanined—I estimated the personal estate, all in money, that she got by her husband's death at $36,000; under Mr. Hill’s will she had a life estate in her real estate; I collected the ground rents for her; she collected the house rents, assisted by Mrs, Twitchell; the income was about $6,000; atter her death the property was to go to Mr, Hit heira, not to the prisoner or his wife; 1 do not know that she carried money in her clothes; [do not know that she deposited money in a saving fund; I do not know where she kept her money. Mr. Mann—Have you not sald she carried large ff money about her person? Mr. Hagert ol ‘ted to the question, on the ground that it was not crossexamination, and if it was asked for the purpose of contradiction the name of the person to whom he said it should be given. Mr. Mann said he candidly believed the woman was murdered for her money, which she carried about her, The cvunsel for the defence here made & motion that the articles of clothing stained with blood, which had been identifed as belonging to the risoner, should be submitted to an expert chosen y the accused, the expert to examine them in the presence of four oMcers of the court, The motion was refused by the Court, when the prosecution continued their case, The first witness sworn was Samuel T. Davidson, Samuel T. Davidson, ewora—! €n oMcer of the Firat National Bank of Camd the bank had no transaction with Mr. Twitchell since the 20th of November last, when the books showed a balance in his favor of $2 94. Cross-examined—He did not always have a bal- ance in his favor in the bank; at one thine he had overdrawa his account $411 90; I belteve he opened his account in March and that it was settled in Jane; he had then a balance of $380 in his favor. A. B. Worden, sworn—I am a jeweller; I know the defendant; he applied to me November 21 last for a loan of fifty doliars; I aid not lend it to him. Catharine McNally, sworn—On the 22d of Noven- ber last L resided at Mr. Montgomery’ 17 South ‘Tenth street, next door to Mrs. Iliil's; I recotlect ton the hight of the marder 1 had seven o’c'ock; the kitchen adjoins that of Mra, house; I was there all the evening; wag sitting in the kitchen I heard voices in the other kitchen; just before that I heard the door bell rlaging; dowa in the celar tting coal at the tim bell was rung about ive or six times; I then came up in the kitchen and it was then that I heard the voices in Mrs. Hill's kitcnen; before gol ie gone atiag Yaa barking, Ry al heard anything wn = not hear ‘ue dogs sh I we Kitchen I was aione, rea: ir. Crose-examined—t{ sleep ” tae i eret pf the house Where [ live; it is dificult teuear the bell ring when the garret; I fived in the house two one is w “a the minders Re-direct—1 say it is dificult to hear thé bail ting jrhen 0". ms up th the garret; [could ear it . 4 Were In the bedroom on the second Ror. J. M. Fletcher, sworn—I am 'y Coroner; I was first called to Mrs. Hiil’s abont fine o'clock on the Monday morning after the Aight of the murder; Tassisted Dr. Shay Seon, the post-mortem exam- ination; I was wit Mf, Warnock when the examina- tion of the bedrooms was made; he handed me a dia- mond ring. co™:ings, a gold watch and chatn, some Jowelry a":% $260; the latier was found in the ward- foe; hiso ® due bill of fifty dollars of George 8. Twitchell dated Octobor 29, 1868; it was due to Mra, Hil; Detective Lamon and Lieutenant Connolly were with me at the time we found the things; I took poasession of the house after it had beea rearched; | locked up all the inner doors that Teould lock up; the kitchen was not locked, but the rooms on the second floor were locked; t kept the keys ‘until the following Saturday; on Monday afternoon Lamon and myself went 10 the house to get some deeds I believed were in the house; we allowed @ rs. Isculawer to take the dogs away; the next time Iwent to the house was on Wednesday with Mr. Warnock and the servant girl aud two New York artists; on Thu: morning J went to the house ‘and also on the evening of tho same day, 1 surrendered the keys to Mr. (Beirne, one of the prisoner’s on Friday, | think it was. Cross-examined—I saw the administrator's order by which I was compelled to give up the keys of the house to his counsel; it was in compliance with this order alone that I gave up the keys; I went with the District Attorney on the morning of Thursday to examine the house and with the prisoner's counsel in the evening. Sheriff Morgan, sworn—I have the warrant under which I made distress on the Camden property of Mr. Twitchell; 1 know that the property was rented from John F. Starr by Mr. Twitchell; I never had an interview with the latter in reference to the rent of ceil’ SOM at aay aster 3; Ido no yt any answer to it; r. Starr is not in court, “seed ; Edwin F. Morgan, sworn—I am a member of the firm of Morgan & Son; Mr. Twitchell is in our debt to the extent of $550; par by a note of his we hold, and incidental work to engines; I believe started his establishment in Camden In May last; Ls be! we did for him was done about three Crcss-examinede-He purchased a steam engine and boiler for $1,200; he paid $600 and gave his note for the rest; he paid the note [oper ly; the note rer Age not pald was for $400; it became due last Wm. Gregg, sworn—I resid 1,021 Clinton street; I know George 8. Twitchell, Jr.; last June he applied to me for the loan of money, Counsel for defence—I do noi think that this loan of money has anything to do with the case. It does not prove that he was so sorely pressed then that the loan can be considered as having anything to do with the case. You might, with equal propriety, fond up every loan he made during his whole life ime. ‘The Court overraled the motion. Witness resumed—The amount was somewhat under $1,000; I did not loan the money. ‘The Court—We were under the impression, when We overruled the motion of the prisoner’s counsel, that the money had been loaned and not paid, ‘Tne {pry will therefore please dismiss from their minds e statement just made by the witness, as it is not evidence. Dr. Shapleigh, recalled—Mrs. Hill's hair, on the moraing after the murder I found confined in a cap by hair pins and a few teeth of acomb; the cap covered the middle part of the head; it extend- ed down to the ears; the back hair was closely con- fined in @ hard roll; I took it down; the front hair was somewhat dishevelled; in taking it down I had some diMeuity, Croas-examined—I do not remember whether there were beadg on the cap; tt was a thick woollen cap; it covered some of the wounds; I found the skull o! the deceased to be very thick; the hair on the head was very plentiful; the cap was also quite thick, although the meshes were not close together; the ‘Was soft and the meshes were apart. y the Court—The top was saturated with blood; Ido not think the cap was cut; I think the wounds could have ben inflicted without the cap being cut; the cap and hair would not offer any very great realstance, Dut the blow or cut might reach the skull—a , Tesisting surface— without Grey the cap or hair; this fact would denote that the instrament to make the wounds was a blunt one; I do not know whether the cap was tied under the chin or not. Detective Taggart sworn—I made an examination i ne safe at the prisoner’s place of business at ‘amden. Counself for defence—I do not know of my own knowl tnat the safe I examined was the pris- oner’s ; 1 only knew it was from hearsay; I was rnished with a key to open it; it was not given to me by the prisoner. Detective Warnock recalled—I have tried to get Mr. Starr to come here several times, but he has re- fused; I went to see him by direction of the District Attorney; he tives at Camden, N. J. Chief detective Lamon was here called and was be present. One of the court oficers the chief, J. M. Fletcher, de} col the keys I found in Hill’s house was a safe key, which I gave to Mr. Lamon. Chief Lamon sworn—When the key was given to me I gave it vo officer Teagart to open the safe with; Twitchell told me that his place of business was in Cooper street, Camden. Omecer Taggart was here recalled and asked what he hal done with the key. ‘Counsel for defence—I object for the reasons, first, that there is no evidence that the safe was the risoner’s; second, that there is no evidence that 'witche!l had ever had the key in his possession, and third, that no evidence had been offered con- te the prisoner with what was found in the sate. The Court—In our opinion the fact that the safe was opened by the key that was taken from this house is sufficient to justify the admission of evi- dence as to what the safe contained. OMicer Taggart, resuming—I found a quantity of business papers in the safe; I found account book with the First National Bank of Camden; the bank book, a note book and au unrecelpted Dill I found I placed back in the safe; John F. Starr, Jr. and Sheriff Morgan were in the building when i went there; I returned the keys to Chief Lamon. Chief Lamon recaticd—I gave the keys, after officer rt returned them, to Deputy Coroner Fletcher. puty Corcner Fletcher recalled.—I gave all the keys to Mr. O’Byrne, one of the pi on an order adi Counsel for defence—Mr. M. O'Byrne. will pro- duce all the keys he received, and Mr. beta Ary select from them any one which he may the ba” of the safe referred to. nstrict Attoruey—We ask you for bread and you give us @ stone. Counsel for defenco—We will give you, sir, just what we have received. Bunch of keys produced. Witness—I cannot swear that one of these keys is the key of the safe; tho bunch looks like the one [ had in wy possession. Counsel for defence—Well, you can identify the whole of them in a bunch if you hike. District Attorney—We do not want your keys; we want the papers foand in the safe. Counsel for defence—The court will certainly not require us to produce them now; we will wauta Ittie time, The Court—The counsel may produce them within an hous. os Attorney—Here’s a list of the papers we ani wi Counsel for defence—OMicer Taggart, can you identify these keys? District Attorney—I should think your chent — be the most competent person to identify the ey. Counsel for defence—The articles on the list are Derby & Wetherby’s note, the bank book and Van Lecr‘s bills, We decline to furnish them. OMicer Taggart, resumning—The Van Leer bills, un- receipted, amounted to $198; the Derby & Wetherb. bili amounted to oe 50; the balance in bank boo: was $294 due to Mr. Twitchell; I found also a note eg Se etane 2 es eee District Attorney—I now offer in evidence the various articles of clothing, the 4 due_ bills, the blanket, poker, piece of olicloth and pan used by Mitchell in bathing the head of And I would here state that I am go fe? that the defence should take all clot! and the other stained articles to be examined by an expert, a vided © regulations be made to guard them against sort of mutilation or injury of any kind, Ana here prosecution closea its case. Counsel for the defence then moved that the va- rious articles be to-morrow taken to the Grand Jury room and there examined in the presence of certain court officers by such expert or experts as the pris. onet would select and under whatever regula! the Court might Mgrs ‘The Court—' motion is granted. The time fixed is changed to Saturday morning, at half-past nine o'clock. The articles referred to may then and there be produced by the District Attorney in the wresence of the judges now presiding, counsel for ‘he prisoner and such experts as they may select. Counsel for the defeuce—We asked for time to gonsew the acceptance of the judgment of the it. The Court—We have no objection to allowing time. Counsel for defence—We would ask for the examl- nation to take place without the preseace of the Court. The Court—We have deemed it n that that addendum should be made to the order, because In our judgment the responsibility of the case desired it. Itis not in the range of possibility that the pre- sence of the Judges would affect the experts. Ihave thought that the dav had long since oe when a jury coutd be found to convict in any land upon the Prejudice even of a judge. OPRSING OF THE CASE POR THE DEFENCE. The case for the defence was then opened by Mr. J.T. Pratt, Upon him, one of the junior counsel, he said, had fallen the responsibitity of opening the case, and in doing so he should follow the example set by the Commonwealth and state briefly, a enn 2 ne as the imy nce of the case permitted, points of the defence, leaving to the witnesses the particaiars of testimony. The jury were bably well aware that this was the rst ime that the prisoner had an opportuni! to have single word satd in his behalf. From the fatal night of the 224 of November up to the present time his lips haa been sealed, the car of justice almost closed agai him, not even having been afforded the opport reach the car of the men who w*-- © mee ee pee which guards. OF individual Fights, had taken up, with few honorabie exceptions, the canse of the Com- monwealth, aod all this while awaiting hie trial prison, and he would call om the jury therefore, not to be influenced by any prejudices or preconcelved opinions. Society had @ it to see 0 it that @ murderer should be brought ‘but it had no right to make an innocent man suffer. ‘The evidence in this case was wholly circumstantial ‘There had been no eye witness to the jon of the horrible deed, and one of the very est au- thorities on circumstantial evidence had laid it down that @ juror shonid never convict on circumstantial evidence untess it was of such a character as to leave not even the shadow of a doubt in his mind as to the gatit of the accused. The defence ‘Would show the good character of the prisoner. The companions of his childhood and persons who had been is associates from the time he-bad reached manhood up to the day of the be brought forward to testify as to nable character—that he was a kind, humane Tan, of such a disposition as to make it utterly tm- Baa ble for him to commit so horrible a crime aa he veen charged with. These witnesses were from high and low life, rich and poor, and they had come willingly to testify in behalf of the pris- ‘oner. The de‘ence would also prove that the accused had no motive to commit the murder; that Mrs. Hil’s husband. who died years ago, left a will, in which he left, in Philadelphia, a large estate, sum- cient to maintain his wife In respectablitty, compe- Paya luxury, The estate was left to her Goring her aud on her death was to go to his heirs, fo the wife of the defen it would ‘be proven, was Mrs. Hill’s only child. It would be er established that the relations of the prisoner with his mother-in-law and family had always been of most pleasant character, and that he could have had no motive of revenge to impel him to the doing of the murder. From the declarations of the deceased herself it would be shown that she (the gocessed) had ren | to the Getenmnat’s wife m which they liv and had interested herself in his wife’s welfare because principally of the fact that sue was her child; hat, moreover, the old lady had time again bonght of furniture dealers in 1nis city almost every article of furniture the house contained, all in the name of the defendant's wife, It would’ be proven to the satisfaction of the jury that in the death of Mrs. Hill all the income of the deceased from which the defendant have benefited d her lifetime had been cut off her death, and that, therefore, he could not have, as the Com« monwealth had contended, committed’ the murder, prompted by a peceainy Sar As for the di which the prosecution made go much of, defence would show that they were quict animals and never barked at any one of the wi who had entered the rooms where they were, and that Mra. Hill always had the habit of taki snoee to ren room during the even! when t! dant and his wife om fetiring for tho night. Would, sake tend with them. It would be shown that to the room where the murder nm commit was but one door, and that that door was closed; alsa that the distance between it and the sleeping ap: ment of Mr. and Mrs. Twitchell was too great to allow of their being disturbed by noise that might occur in the room where the crime was per- petrated, particularly so if the defendant and his wife on the night in question, just at the time the murder was done, were fast asleep, as it would be shown they were, The here adjourned to half-past nine o’clock Saturday morning, when Mr. Pratt will continue hig opening speech. BRITISH WEST INDIES. General Condition of the Colenies—Local ua Market Reporte—State ef the Crops. BARBADOS, Dates from this island are to the 24th of No vember. The following changes are reported:—Sir H. Barkly has reaigned the government of the Mauritius; Mr. James Walker, C. B., ex-Governor in-Chief of the Windward Islands, has reverted to a Lieutenant Governor, having been appointed to Prince Edward Island. Mr. Gritfiths, the Auditor General, was re- turned Member of Assembly for the parish of St, Joseph. The agent for the supply of Peruvian guano in- forms the planters that his stock has been short on account of the scarcity of vessels on the coast of South America. a Two new sugar refineries have been erected to meet the demand for a superior class of sugar fog United States and British American markets. The weather was dry and was forcing the eane te premature ripeness, which would be fatal to both quality and quantity of sugar. ANTIGUA. Dates are to the 2ist Nove mber. The Legislative Council met on the 19th. Some explanation was given as to recruiting from the laborers for service inthe West Indies. The recrult~ ing officer had written to the Governor that he had not et asingle contract laborer since his ar- rival. ‘The Colonial Secretary sald he intended but few alterations in the schedule of duties. He intimated that a reduction would be made upon articles of necessity and @ corresponding increase upon lux’ ‘The duty on spirits was fixed as follows:. 3s. 4d., gin 1s, 6d., liqaors and cordials 34, per lon, wine, which formerly paid £15 on £100 value, was fixed at 20 per cent ad valorem; refined sugar 1d, perlb. The council adjourned to the 30th. ‘fhe new cemetery was consecrated on the 13th by the Bishop, in presence of the Governor and suite and a large concourse of people. ‘Sir William Snagg, Chief Justice, had not yet left for Demerara, the new sphere of his duties, ST. VINCENT. The dates from this island are to the 24th of No-' vember, The Court of Grand Sessions closed its sittings on the 10th. There were no cases of — interest. Compulsory vaccination under the law was pro- gtessing favorably. A tendency to increase in the value of property is noticeable. ‘The weather had been almost uniformly dry, very slight showers of rain being the variations in it, One or two estates had commenced crop for 1849. The bark St. Vincent was receiving cargo, expect- ing to sail the first week in December. ‘TURKS ISLAND. Dates are to the 14th of November. ‘The revenue. returns for the quarter ending 30th ber are - with night and others were expected to poy aE the salt exposed had been aeatroyed’ by heavy rains, but an abundant supply was on hand at the three ports in the colony, quite equal to the usual supply at this season of the year. The price was nine cents, although a cargo had recently been sold below \his figure. acer Smith, of the schooner J. B. Lawrence, which arrived on the 10th, reported that on the 7th inst., about thirty miles northeast of Porto Rico, he —— the hull of an American schooner on her m end, both masts standing and one anchor on her bow. The schooner was apparently new and had not been long in that position. ST. LUCIA. Latest advices from this island are to 21at Novem- ber. ‘The ship Lincelles, Captain Sielgntholm, satied on the 11th with 260 coolies who have completed their service and desired to return to India. ‘The Chief Justices of Barbados, Granada, St. Vin- and arrived at Castries on the 14th and held the ly Psa of Appeals. They feft for ana estates were eee for au varly ing. ti two with the stand-overs through the are by 8 yeae"a cOooR crop will be a poor one and it is Not likely to reach one-haif of the last, ST. CROIX. Intelligence from this Island Is to the 24th Novem. Y the tax on corn meal peasantry. The removing entirely the duties on imported food the earthquake in that island, was ref it was contended that ee had verely from an ¢_ in proportion. three years’ revenue showed a surplus, and the pre sent ordinance is calculated to remove a tax of about $10,000, The passage of the act would teat the uestion whether the Council bad taxes, DOMINICA Dates are to the 18th November. Fn ee received i the a uadaloupe, in consequence whlch thee pore ‘was declared intected and no com- munication allowed, except under quarantine regu- lations. Sanitary precautions were also adopted. A bill of health from Guadaloupe mentions the exis- tence of yellow fever at that but noting req sald of cholera, It was repo however, that thi professors of the college and two clergymen wera among the victims by the latter disease, Ata mecting of the Assembly on the 19th the estl- mates for 1869 were presented and ordered to be printed before being entertained, Dates hen: t the lat November. ce are to the 2ist 3 5 ‘The meeting of the Legislature took place on the 17th and continued its session to the 18th, to com~ plete the Money bill for 1869. The expenditure is x it against £25,320 last year, but as about £1,000 of last year's votes are included in this bill it shows an jute reduction im the eatimate of Church also , though not with- out o| fon; but it Avan net’ likely’ to. pass tho Council as at nt constitated. ‘The general impression was that the Assem! would be ‘dissolved 1 in March and @ general tection take place; although the House had adjourned to the 26th of January it was not expected to have the op- portunity of meeting aga in. the free ime—Ai ie canal at Lamaha and to raise a loan to comp! Err areueeetatemmaretsaes t of t ted “and ry bill tor the registration of “Suge Bote had intimated his intention of retiring: from ‘service of the colony at the end of Decem- ber, when he will have compicted nineteen years of service. ie ‘The sentence of death upon & =" ie, bed: his wife, who was false to lim, eEoeetes to impraonment for life. The cir~ by the public press wh: po much Ani i y a among the wives of the coolies, leading: tuumately to the commission of marder on’ the part of the husband when the crime is discovered among them. During the fortnight showers had fallen and most of the vate and tanks had been filled with water, and it was hi that the rainy season had commenced. For a whole year past the carth has not been thor- onghiy saturated with water, and it would require & continued fail of rain for days and even weeks to recover the tation on estates from the stunted and even shrivelled up condition in which It was. ‘The ota were very gloomy antil within the past kw jays, and it was hoped that the showers ‘were the precursor of @ more plentifal supply.