Utter Party Massacre: Difference between revisions

The '''Utter Party Massacre''' was an attack by Native Americans on September 9 or 13,<ref name="Carey_p661"/>, 1860, that killed or captured 29 of a group of 44 emigrants on a fork of the [[Oregon Trail]] in [[Washington Territory]] (modern day [[Idaho]]), United States. 10 survivors were found on October 24, 1860, emaciated and eating the disinterred remains of a party member.<ref>Schlicke, p. 5</ref> Historian Charles Henry Carey described the attack as "more atrocious than any that had preceded it".<ref name="Carey_p661">Carey, p. 661</ref> It was noted as a "rare [occasion] when Indians not only attempted but sustained a prolonged assault on encircled emigrant wagons".<ref>Site of Utter Party Massacre, p. 1</ref>

The incident has been referred to by many names. Some have referred to it by family names of party members, including the Van Ornum party massacre, the Myers massacre, the Utter train massacre, and other variations.<ref name="McArthur, p. 97">McArthur, p. 97.</ref>

It has also been referred to by its location, including Salmon Falls Massacre (referring to [[Salmon Falls (Snake River)|Salmon Falls]] on the [[Snake River]])<ref>Site of Utter Party Massacre, p. 3</ref> and the Sinker Creek Tragedy.<ref> name="McArthur, p. 97.<"/ref>

|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/=40624468