| Show all along the western frontier especially resulting in extra precautions and stronger defenses With all due respect to Captain Gunnisonsterling qualities it is sufficient to say thattouch of naivete withstrong sense of duty sealed the doom ofbrave Captain andportion of his command Although his expedition ended in disaster it paved the vay for succeeding surveyors and engineers making it possible for them to complete the work Gunnison KR KKK the Atrecent visit little bend in the KKK started A KR KKKK to the massacre river was still KKK site this writer there as are the noticed steep banks and the tamerisk or tamerack but the willows have been long gone Except forfew quiet but stagnant small pools in the low depressions along the grassy bottom from the then recent Spring run-off the river was dry The vater was being taken out miles upstream for irrigation and other uses The whole area had des olate and lonesome aspect even on the warm and brilliant afternoon of my visit turned back to the monument which by itself was pitiful and forlorn-looking Built of rock and cement it was succumbing to the ravages of time and vandalism slowly eroding away halfinch metal plaque the shape of an arrowhead was pocked with holes the carnage ofsick-minded vandal withhigh-powered rifle In spite of this the legend was miraculously still legible in part andread Sacred To The memory of Captain John Gunnison S Creuzfeld BotanistH Kern Artist William Potter Guide John Bellows Private Liprott S Private Caulfield S Private Merteens S Who were massacred by Indians at this spot Oct 26 1853 ErectedD 1927 Source Gunnison ValleyCentennial 1859-1959 |
