This Geocache appears to be in error because it is found in Elbert
County. However, back then there was no Elbert County. It was all
Douglas County to the state line.
There is a monument and other information at this geocache.
With the discovery of gold at Russellville and more miners
moving into the area, the Indians were finally figuring out that
the situation was not temporary and started becoming a bit nasty.
On June 18, 1864, four members of the Hungate family were massacred
near Running Creek. They had operated a “layover
station” on the Smoky Hill Trail, now the Smoky Hill Road.
John Tallman was one of the first to reach the site because he ran
a sawmill nearby. The bodies were taken to Denver and “put on
display” as a warning of the warrior’s wrath. The
supposed warrior was Cheyenne Chief Roman Nose. The actual massacre
was done by members of an Arapaho tribe.
The bodies were eventually buried at the Tallman sawmill.
The Hungate massacre was what prompted Colonel
Chivington’s infamous massacre of Indians at Sand Creek in
the same year.
A few years later, another family was massacred.
To claim this geocache email the name of this other
family.
Also, mention one item of information that you find
interesting.
Photos are fine. JimReeb@ecentral.com
