Arkansaw, (R.L.) Dec. 9th, A. H. Sevier, Esq., who returned this morning from Hempstead and Miller counties, has just communicated to us the following truly melancholy intelligence:
Just before he started, he saw and conversed with Mr. Isaac Pennington (recently residing on the Arkansas,) who belonged to a party of hunters, consisting of twenty-one persons, in the employ of Major M'Elmurry, of Cadron, in this county, who were hunting on Red river.  Mr. Pennington states, that about two or three weeks since, the party was attacked by a band of Osage Indians, whom he supposed to be about two hundred strong.  The men made considerable resistance, but they were soon overpowered by the superior numbers, and Mr. P. thinks that none escaped except himself! He happened, fortunately, to be a short distance from their camp, where the men were collected when the attack was commenced, and succeeded in securing his retreat in a neighboring cane-brake, where he remained till the Indians had retired.
After waiting some time, Mr. P. ventured to the camp, (for the purpose of procuring provisions to enable him to reach the settlements,) and there beheld the mangled remains of several of his companions, murdered, scalped and stripped.  It was dark when he returned, and suspecting that some of  the Indians might be lurking near him, he did not stop to examine the bodies of his murdered companions, but he recognized that of old Major Welborn, from the upper part of this county.  Having found a buffalo's tongue, being the only article of provisions the savages had left, he set out for the settlements on Red river. The Indians followed him two days, and also stole a number of horses from Judge Brice's company of Mustang hunters, whom he fell in with.
The outrage took place on the Blue River, a tributary of Red River.  Previous to the attack, the party discovered, from the prairies being on fire, and other signs, that the Indians were near them.  They also discovered the head of a man (scalped) sticking on a pole, in a prairie, which was supposed to have been done by the same party of Indians.  In consequence of these signs, a party of four men were sent to the Indians, with presents, to conciliate them. This party, however, did not return, and it is supposed they were also murdered; for while their companions were hourly expecting their return, the attack was made on the camp as related above.
Mr. Pennington is expected here in a few days, when we shall probably obtain some further particulars of this tragical affair.
Our relations with the Indians, along the whole Western frontier, from the head waters of the Mississippi to the Spanish provinces, have, indeed, arrived at a serious crisis: and, unless some prompt measures are taken by the government to check and punish the growing hostile disposition of the numerous tribes of Indians on our borders, it will soon by unsafe for a trader or hunter to venture beyond the limits of our settlements; and we even fear that some of our frontier inhabitants may be endangered, from the incursions of these lawless marauders, who frequently  (..?..ate) in their hunting expeditions, into the midst of our settlements.
 P.S. - Since the above was in type, we are informed that two sons of Mr. Imbean(sp?), residing about a mile below this place, have just returned.  They belong to a hunting party, under the direction of Mr. Barrique, of Arkansas county, who were hunting in the neighborhood of Major Elmurry's party.  They also have been attacked and plundered by the Indians and some of their party killed.  We also learn that the Imbeans have heard from some of the men belonging to Major M'Elmurry's party who were supposed to have been killed - and we hope the loss of lives has been exaggerated.  - Arkansas Gazette.

 
The Arkansas Gazette of the 25th of November, and that of the 2d of December, came to hand on Saturday. In the paper of the 25th of November, it is stated that for several days previous, the inhabitants of Little Rock and its vicinity were almost suffocated with smoke, produced by the extensive fires in the prairies.  The density of the smoke was such as almost to intercept the rays of the sun, and produced a continued twilight.  On the 20th, a slight rain was experienced, being the first that fell, in the vicinity for some weeks, which only increased the smoke; but on the same night, there was a copious rain, which entirely extinguished the fires in the neighborhood, and cleared the atmosphere of smoke. 

St. Louis, Jan. 13-- William V. Rector, Esq., who returned from the Arkansas the evening before last, brings information, derived from Mr. Painbrook, the Deputy Indian Agent for the band of Osages on the Arkansas, that a party of traders sent out by Frederick Notrebe, of the post of Arkansas, under a Mr. Baraque, were attacked some five weeks since by a party of Osages, high up on the south side of the Arkansas river, and ten or twelve white men and one negro were killed, and a large quantity of beaver taken from them.  Bareque and two other men escaped. The outrage is said to have been committed beyond the tract of country claimed by the Osages.
Gen. Atkinson, upon receiving the above information, dispatched an officer to Col. Arbuckle, commanding the troops at Fort Smith, on the Arkansas, with special instructions touching this affair.
A letter from Col. Leavenworth, at Council Bluffs, dated 13th Dec. to Gen. Atkinson, who commands this frontier, states, that three men, lately arrived at that place from Cedar Fort, bring information that six or seven men of Major Henry's party had been attacked near the Mandan Villages, by either the Mandans or Aurickarees, and that three of the white were killed.  They also state that the Aurickarees were building two towns, one on each side of the Missouri, near the mouth of the Cannon Ball river.
 
 

We are happy to learn that there are not so many lives lost, in the last attack made by the Osages on the hunters on Red River, as reported in our paper of last week.  And we were also misinformed with respect to there being two separate attacks - one on a party in the employ of Major M'Elmurry, and one on a party under the direction of Mr. Barrique.  Both parties were together at the time of the attack and consisted of between 20 and 30 men.
A number of the hunters belonging to these parties have arrived on the Arkansas, some of whom reside near this place.  They escaped singly, or by couples, without knowing the fate of their companions; and all reported, at the first settlement they arrived at, that they were the only  ones that escaped the scalping knife of the savages.
The attack was made so suddenly that they had no time to defend themselves; and every man made his escape in the best manner he could, amid a shower of  musket balls which poured in upon them from every quarter.  Those who were not shot down in the first onset, took refuge in the bushes and cane brakes, until the Indians retired, and found their way home by different routes.
We have not seen any of the men who have returned, but understand they concur in reporting from five to eight of the party killed. - Arkansas Gazette.

 
The following letter, communicating information of the hostile intentions of a part of the Pawnee nation of Indians, was received by last mail, from a citizen of Fayette, Howard county, and is dated Nov.10, 1828:
 "I have just received a letter from J. Dougherty, U.States I. Agent, dated "Cantonment Leavenworth, 4th of November." Informing, that the Grand Pawnees and Pawnee Loups, consisting of 1500 warriors, had gone, en masse, on a war excursion against the whites; and that their attention would be directed principally to the Santa Fe road, to intercept our traders - and, should they fail in this, to fall on the frontier settlements on Arkansas and Red river, having declared their determination to scalp all white men with whom they may meet."
 The Pawnees inhabit the plains of the Arkansas, and are divided into 3 bands. They are a strong, athletic race of men, but destitute of true courage.  When united, they can bring into the field several thousand warriors.
 
 

The last Mail from the West, brings information of the death of General George Izard, Governor of the Territory of Arkansas.  He died at his residence at Little Rock, on Saturday the 22d ult., after an illness of about a month, which proceeded from an attack of the gout.
By this event, the government of the Territory devolves, temporarily, upon Robert Crittenden, the Secretary of the Territory; and, being upon the spot, he entered immediately on the discharge of the duites of acting Governor.
 
 
The Arkansas Gazette states, that the Clerk's Office in Miller county, was destroyed by fire on the 5th inst. - no doubt, we understand, the work of an incendiary. All the Records and papers belonging to the Office since the organization of the county, together with the papers
(were destroyed.)

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from the book, HORRORS OF TORNADO FLOOD AND FIRE, by Frederick E. Drinker, 1918, The Minter Company, Harrisburg, PA., contributed by Anna Newell.

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