The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-04

with goods for trading with the Sioux and who
had buried his partner the day previous, who died
ola nervous fever. On the Goth, me, two men on an
express TO Fort Laramie from the American Fur
Company at st. Louis; dined with them and was
much pleased to get fresh from the Staies-who
told the doctor he would probably meet the Pawnee
Indians before leaving the Platte; and il he did,
they would rob hin, and his party.
On the 3lst, at about IL o'clock, the doctor, RI
ding in front of the party, to keep lookout for the
Pawnees discovered large smoke suddenly arising
ahead; halted, adjusted the pack-animas, and then
went cautiously on again. proceeded a few miles,
when a horse was discovered three or four miles
ahead, tied, and apparently in great uneasiness
i 1.-The Exposltor then gives an account OF their
meeting with about twelve Pawnees, who robbed
the doctor and his companions of several articles.
The narrative states that, in few hours, they came
in sight of Pawnee village containing 300 lodges.
II then proceeds:]
| When out of sight of the Indians and the village,
the party again halted, filed their powder-horns,
and took good quantity Of balls in their pouches,
and went on again; but they had scarcely started,
when two Indians were seen coming along towards
the village over the hills; soon another and another
appeared in sight, each coming in different direc-
tons; and in ten minutes from the time the two first
| appeared IN sight, the party completely sur
rounded by two three hundred armed with rifles
| muskets, bow and arrows, tomahawks, and war
clubs, while the mir resounded with the awful war
whoop, they still continued to dash upon them
their feet horses. Seeing that four could do nothing
by firing on such numbers the doctor told the party
net to fire. and no one fired; while the Indians were
IN great confusion among themselves. The hrst
that came, talked loud and boiserous, and began TO
catch the pack horses, when it was proposed to 60
with them to the village.
In the time, all wis uproar and confusion
| some snaching rifle from one Of the party, while
| another caught a blanket and off. Saxton
first got under way, following his pack.horse,
having many valuable papers, and surrounded by
some twenty Indians; they soon stripped him Of
his powder-horn, and his horse, and his saddle,
| and put him on bareback, while brave with
huge battleaxe led his horse by the bride. Brown
| followed Saxton in similar manner, passed him,
and was the first to grsce their fendish triumph,
they entered their village in full gaop. The doctor
| next was suffered to start towards the village, but
not before one had caught skirt of his coat, aud
torn It off; one, one ARM and another Indian tore
off the other part from the other arm; and third
stripped him of his vest. One Indian then struck
him hard blow with his bow on the right check
which scar he carried for more than week; anoth-
er hit him two blows on the top Of the head with q
war-club, which nearly deprived him Of his senses.
With nothing left but his flannel shirt and panta-
looms, he passed Saxton after Brown did
with brave leading his horse, and chief riding
behind him on the same horse, embracing him in
his arms. Chapman followed Immediately after
Brown. They struck him several times on his
horse, as he was riding in. He was hurried along,
ly afterwards. The doctor the last the
ground, and was conducted into lodge of chief,
but not permitted to converse with any Of his
party. The rest Of the men were conducted TO
separate lodges, and treated in similar manner.
The party were fed several times during the even
ing boiled corn at different lodges, accompanied
by Indian, but not permitted TO be to-
gether, except about ten minutes at a time.
The first impression made upon the doctor and
| all the party was, on entering the lodges, that the
back; but before morning all were convinced TO the
contrary, by having their packs opened and piased
of everything of any value 10 them, before their
eyes, and not even letters TO people in the States
were omited-the doctor losing many of his most
| valuable papers, and some twenty letters though
he mailed at this place SAL to various persons in the
Union. After robbng all the party of all their pro-
visions and clothing, well horses-in the morn
ing, several squaws, true to the character OF women
put up some corn and the chiefs--who were at the
head of the outrage, and deepest in crime-brought
forward several poor lame poies and mules, and,
giving each man few old garments, scarcely
enough to cover him, and far less to protect him
from the inclement season Of the year,--a little
after SUNRISE babe them be of, pointing over the hills
where they were taken prisoners.
In the lodge where Saxton stopped during the |
night, while Brown was with him a few moments,
an old chief came in with large package of papers,
evidently robbed from some individual, but would
not suffer him TO read any of them, except the
wrapper, which was of the kind Of paper used for
envelopes in the War Department, and directed on
the envelope "IGgnoanga, chief of the Otto nation"
The Indian then opened the package, on the oppo-
site side of the lodge from Saxton, and took out
passport from the United States, as appeared by the
light Of the fire from that distance, and large paper
having ten or twelve seals on it. opposite to which
were as many signatures, and large paper resem- |
bling deed; also French passport; he then folded
them all up, after pointing to the coat-of.arms on
each, but would not suffer them to be investigated;
putting them all into the envelope; he laid them under
his thigh, gave contemptuous laugh, and soon eft
without drop Of water, the day they left the
village, on the open prairie, taking as their
guide the north star, and going in an east
ery directon--the doctor being very much in.
disposed owing to the violent blows he had
received. Soon AFTER the party out of sight Of
the village the smoke behind told them that their en-
emies had fired the prairie and all that day the wind
drove the fire hard upon the party, and at night the
flames of the tall grass seen behind them ming
ling with the horizon in awful grandeur, giving II the
appearance of an ocean Of fire One kept watch while
the other three slept rather dozed, after eating
a little raw corn for supper. The next morning, ta-
king bite Of raw corn, they continued their course
northeast The party and poor animals suffering
extremely for want Of water, about ten o'clock found
stagnant pool, where all the party were once more
sensible Of the watchful care Of Divine Providence
Continued in the same direction till three o'clock
when the party struck deep ravine and began to
follow il; but they had not proceeded but short
distance when the doctor discovered two Indians
far in the distance to the southeast the bank; the
party stopped, concealed themselves in the ravine;
Brown crept to the bank to watch their movements;
the Indians advanced little, then also stopped. The
doctor then prepared to retreat and change the course
Of travel, and the party readily complied with his
suggestion; went up the ravne some distance, then
took southerly direction, travelled some six miles,
when the party struck small creek kept their
still towards the south, and just at dark cut the Ore
gon road, to the great joy Of all the party. Went on
and encamped that night at twelve o'clock ON the
Republican fork, after eating little more raw corn
for supper.
On the Sd of November parched little corn for
breakfast, as they now considered themselves near
ly out of reach Of the Pawnees, being fifty miles
from their village; went on, the doctor being very
much debltated, eating corn parched, boiled, and in
homny Arrived at the bank Of the Big Blue on
the evening of the 7th
On the evening of the 18th, ate the FIRST meal in
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