Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-19

rom the ST. Paul Minnesotian, April 80.
Indian Murders.

Indian Murders.
There has been quite an exci,emcn,
among our red brethren during the last
few weeks. The facts, as near as we
can learn them, are as follows: Not long
since, Winnebago Indian by the name
Of Little Priest wishing to become a
Chief az his father had been before him,
conceived i, necessary to do some brave
deed in order TO accomplish his ambition.
So he goiup war on his own hook. at
lacked and scalped two Chippewas -
The Chippewas, having generally been
on friendly terms with the Winnehagoes,
very naturally concluded tina, their breth-
rem had been murdered by their heredit-
airy enemies, the Sioux. So they imme-
diately formed party. came down to the
Minnesota river and killed Sioux near
SKIS village. A number of Little Crows
band, by way of retaliation, went up to
81. Croix Falls ON Monday last and kill
ed a Chippewa. This provoked another
war party from the, Chi2pewas, who
started Immediately for ST. Paul, where
they arrived on Tuesday night, and Turk
ed around the vicinity ill The next nor
ming al ten o'clock, when the discovered
three Sioux crossing the river in canoe,
one man and two women; but before the
Chippewas could in,erce2. them, they
had entered Mr. Forbes store. They
Immediately came in front of The store
and fired several shots into the store, two
Of the shots taking effect on one of the
squawb, wounding her quite severely
One of the Indians Immediately started
for the store 10 scalp the Indian which he
had shot, but when told tina. he had only
wounded woman. he desisted from the
attempts. Jim, the Sioux who was sho,
ri, returned HE fire with his revolver,
bu. he could only make two barrels go
off and these did not take effect. The
Chippewas soon after lett town.
About fifteen or twenty of our citizens,
under the command of Lieutenant Simp
son, pursued them on horseback, but
did not succeed in over,aking them. In
the afternoon, Lieut.. Magruder, with a.
bout twenty five dragons, arrived from
Fort Smelling. They proceeded TO ST.
Croix Falls. where it was expected they
would in,erceps The ChipPewas on their
return home. As they have no, yet re-
turned. we OF course cannot tell with
what adventures they met. Such bold
and impuden, proceedings on the part of
the Chippewas, created considerable a
mazemeni among our cilizess; and some
alarm among the strangers now in town.
OF course there is no, the slightest cause
for any alarm, inasmuch as all the lndi-
an tribes within our borders have the
most friendly feelings towards the whites,
the Chippewas more especially, who
boast, we believe with truth, that their
people have never been at war with the
whites.
p. S.-Since the above was in type.
the dragons have returned. having inter
cepied the Chippewas on the 81. Croix.
The soldiers were fired on by the Indi
ans, but without effect. The fire was
immediately returned by the soldiers
One Indian was killed. two wounded and
one taken prisoner. The prisoner was
taken to Fort Smelling. We also hear
that las, night Little Crow, with war
party. returned from the ST. Croix. hsv-
ing taken one scalp. We understand
that ell the Sioux who have been engag-
ed in these transactions will be arrested
by the United States dragons to- day.