Account published in the Rio Grande Republican / August 27, 1881
Mr. Elias Blun, of Hillsboro, who arrived here last sunday furnishes the REPUBLICAN the particulars of the fight at Gabilan canon, between Lake Valley and Georgetown, a brief account of which was given in last Saturday's REPUBLICAN.
It appears the Indians rode right into Hillsboro and from a hill overlooking the town fired into the houses. Lt. G.W. Smith, with twenty troops and thirty-five merchants and miners of Hillsboro and Lake Valley started in pursuit of the Indians and when passing through Gabilan canon, nine miles from Lake Valley, they were fired upon by the Indians concealed in the rocks. They were completely surprised and Lt. Smith and Mr. Daly and three soldiers were killed and four soldiers wounded.
the troops and citizens scattered and twelve of the most prominent citizens are still missing, among them Mr. Nicholas Galles, one of the county commissioners of this county. The number of Indians is estimated at eighty but is probably much larger. The Indians heaped brush around Lt. Smith's body and burned it. Daly's body was shot all to pieces evidently after death. Daly was a New Yorker who recently invested several hundred thousand dollars in mines at Lake Valley and was engaged in developing the country, spending thousands of dollars monthly in working the mines. His life was of incalculable value in New Mexico.
Gen. Hatch passed down on a hand car to Porter, the railroad station nearest the scene on Saturday, and since that time the Indians are reported to have crossed the railroad in his rear.
