January 18, 2008

Return of the Friday Forgotten Tragedy!

Due to the overwhelming public demand (well, someone asked) here's a new installment.

Everyone knows of the Sand Creek Massacre, when Colorado militia killed hundreds of Cheyenne, including many women and children. Sometimes forgotten are the incidents leading up to the raid. Here's one as told by Linda Wommack in her book From the Grave, a Roadside Guide to Colorado's Pioneer Cemeteries:

During the height of Indian wars around Denver, members of the Nathan Ward Hungate family were found murdered by Indians at their farm some twenty-five miles southeast of the city, along the Running Creek, in Douglas County. The mutilated bodies were brought to Denver for public show, being placed in a local business window. The bodies were reported horribly mutilated and scalped, by the Rocky Mountain News.

I'm happy to report that to the best of my knowledge the Rocky no longer engages in the (literal) mutilation of innocents. Continuing with Wommack:

The outrage among the citizens of Denver led to the final war against the Indians in Colorado territory, known as the Sand Creek Massacre.

And I recommend Wommack's book to anyone who has the faintest interest in Colorado history.

Posted by Walter at January 18, 2008 09:02 PM
Comments

You can see more information
about the Sand Creek Massacre
on my web site, http://www.donvasicek.com.

It includes an award-winning movie
about the Sand Creek Massacre. Very
informative and educational, particularly
since it was done from the perspective
of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

Posted by: Donald L. Vasicek at January 20, 2008 11:36 AM

Thanks for coming by, Don.

Posted by: Walter at January 20, 2008 12:32 PM

Walter, I fail to realize what the Sand Creek massacre has to do with golf. I thought this was a golf blog.

Posted by: Kyle at January 21, 2008 09:04 PM

Heh. I get around to that occasionally.

Posted by: Walter at January 21, 2008 10:26 PM

Thanks for the book recommendation. Linda Wommack

Posted by: Linda Wommack at January 29, 2008 05:54 PM

Welcome, Linda! You must have put many years of work into that book, there's so much info in it.

Posted by: Walter at January 29, 2008 06:25 PM

You're welcome, Walter. Keep up
your good work!

Don

Posted by: Donald L. Vasicek at February 27, 2008 12:37 PM