The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-06-05
For the Pioneer.


The late melancholy and unfortunate occurrence
in Benton county, by which an honest and indus
trious citizen OF this Territory received his death
wounds has called forth from all classes Of this
community but one sentiment, and that is s-lne
for ife.' Let the guilty suffer; aud however
much we may deprecate the occurrence, or Gen.
sure those by whom it was brought about, we feel
constrained by sense of justice 10 those impli-
Gated in this bloody transaction, to make the fol-
lowing statement: f,s ss,..
Within the past ten days, while or visit to
one Of my trading posts at Latte Rapids, the prn-
cipal men Of Wack-p ton band, came TO and
enquired il it was fact, that a white man had
been killed by the Indians replied in the affirm
ative--they hung their heads and appeared TO be
down hearled; and replied was it cot the Winnie
bagoes! ] answered no; for the whites had seen
Sioux in that vicinity. Ii such is the fact, we are
sorry They then requested me to stay one day
till they could hold a council; did as they re-
quested, and the day following the principal men
Of the band met IN council, and requested that
should IL the whites in Benton and Ramsey
counties that they regretted that any thing had
happened to lnake them be looked upon with sus4
picion by the whites; although we are at war
with the Chippewas, we are not with the whites.
We regard them as friends, and we look 10 them
for projections. The past shows we have not betn
their enemies, but their friends. A white man
YOU tell US has been killed, and you inform Us
that il is the general opinion band did it, if SO,
we are ignorn At Of the facts true as the Great
Spirit hears US talk. ssi.f, .s.s. 3 4, -.
A number of our young men few days ago,
previous to the time you say this white man was
killed, started out to hunt and drive off any Chip
pewas they might find on our hunting grounds
While upon this expedition, they discovered upon
our hunting ground lodge, as they supposed, Of
Chippewas; they surrounded the lodge, and one
Of The persons, there being two in the lodge, at
tempting to make his escape, our young mes fred
and wounded him; on a nearer approach, how
ever, he proved to be a half breed. although
dressed as Chippewa; which had deceived our
young men. As soon us they made this discovery,
our young men rendered him all The assistance
they could; for God, the Great spirit, knows our
young men would not have harmed him, had they
have known he was half breed; for with them,
as with the whites. we desire peace. Prior how-
ever, to this occurrence, a number OF Chprewas,
came upon our land, where our people were max
ing sugar, and killed a man and woman, (the
woman being pregnant and three small children
that they should have Killed the man and woman
is natural. For us 10 have revenge, our young
men soon after raised a war party, and started up
the Mississippi river in pursuit; finding no Chip
pewus, and having been out Of food for two or
three days, they killed a young buffalo, which
they supposed belonged 10 the whites. For that,
however, as any other damage they done, we are
willing our agent shall make payment.
While near Fort Ripley, five Of our young men
being detached from the main party, got IN pur-
suit Of a Chippewa who had keg Of whiskey,
after having pnrsued biur for some distance, he
dropped the key and made his escape; two or
three Of tlJe number it IL said. became intoxicat-
ed, and while returning home, seeing some teams
passinx ON the road, fred rather - n salpts sut
A..