New York Times / July 17, 1860
ARRIVAL OF THE SANTA FE MAIL – ATTACK BY INDIANS.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo., Monday, July 18
The mail from New-Mexico, with dates to the 2d inst., arrived this evening. The news from Santa Fe is of no importance.
On the 8th inst, Mr. Thompson, who resides at Ash Creek, in the neighborhood of Pawnee Fort, discovered, as he supposed, some buffalo or ponies, approaching the ranch, and John Cunningham, his head man, went out to see what they were. Mr. Thompson soon after heard a noise, and upon looking, discovered Cunningham running toward the house, pursued by three Indians, who shot their arrows into him. Just as he reached the house he fell dead. Thompson ran into the house and fired three shots from a revolver at them, but without effect.
The Indians then closed on the house, and set fire to it. Thompson made his way out, and, having two guns loaded, fired on them and made his escape. As he was leaving he heard the report of a gun. The next day he went back and found the dead body of a man named Christian Krouse, who had been murdered by the same Indians. The dead bodies were decently burled by the commanding officer at Pawnee Fort. The Indians took all the clothing off the dead men, and scalped them. Krouse had been in the employ of Capt. Scott, and was making his way to Missouri when killed. There is no news of any battle with the Indians by the troops, who are in pursuit of them.