McKay Gulch and John Jones in 1878 by Unknown Author

 

The following is the unknown author letter detailing the Nez Perce Indians in McKay Gulch. “The indains went up McKay that afternoon camped in a side gulch where Jack Hayes was Placer Mining Killed him that evening clubbed him to death left him for dead but he crawled up to a spring where he got water and died there. The next morning the indains went to John Jones cabin in McKay gulch knock on door just after daylight Jones ask who is there an Indian said Indian heap hungry. Jones let them in told them they could have breckfast as soon as he had it cook it he & his Pardners got up & Jones built a fire started cooking the miners, Amos Joy, Charles Elliot & John Jones, the door was open & Joy went in timber close to cabin Elliot was sitting on Bed he heard a shot he look & seen Joy fall he said My god they shot Joy. Jones ran out the door he ran right of cabin an indain was standing at corner & struck at Jones he turned & ran past the door jump down in the digings and ran for his life three indains took after him two indains played out but one was long winded and followed Jones up Mount Emerine (Amerine) to nearly top of Mountain Jones got shot in left arm he throwed Rock at the indain. 

 John ran to nearly where the Saphier Mines are now crossed the Westfork Rock Cr. to high Peaks west of Mouth of Antelope Creek he crossed Rock Cr, went up Antelope Cr. and Henry Shoeys (Schuh) Ranch and gave the alarm, he and the Shury (Schuh) family drove to Phillipsburg that night 4 foroclock in Morning and gave the alarm. 

They Killed Elliot in cabin the ranchers & people in the serounding Country in lower Flint Cr. Valley went to New Chicago some went to Phillipsburg they dig some riffle Pits & trenches on hill between Main town and N.P. depot, but there was no railroads then. Mr. Frisby supertndent of trout Mine at Tower telegraph to Gover to send guns & anation so the Govenr sent a lot of guns, John G. McClean took charge as Captain several joined The Company, they scouted around the valley. They went out brought in Hayes Amos Joy, Charles Elliot, that was in July 1878. John Jones was surely stiff and sore from his long run from the indains in 1877 (1878). 

 The End