The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-12-28
tFTom the Macoupih, H., statesmRn.1
EIGHTEEN YEARS CAPTIVE AMONG
THE INDIANS.

we were VlslteuI leW Gays ago, Dy 9
man by the name of Joseph Barney, who
says that be is in search of son, whom he
supposes to live somewhere near Alton
He made his escape, on the 18th of las
May, from the Flat Head Indians, near tho
head of Flat Head River, in Oregon. HI
stated that he had been with this tribe o.
indians eighteen years. We listened fol
some length of time to his history, many
portions Of which are truly thrilling. HI
was taken prisoner in 1896, on the Upper
Missouri'river, while in the employ Of a
fur company. He is native Of France
and speaks English but poorly; but we give
what he communicated to us as nearly as
possible. He was in company with man
named John Robertson, both of whom were
captured They attempted to defend them
selves, and killed two Indians, but they
were overpowered-there being twenty
five Indians ia contend with They were
secured hand and foot, and placed on po-
nies, and started to the north westward.
and travelled five weeks, when they came
to the hunting grounds Of the tribe, where
they were given up to the chief,who shook
hands with them, and manifested much ioy
at their capture. They were unbound and
confined in a hut, where they were fed, but
not allowed to escape. The chief offered
them his two daughters ifthey would mar
ry and remain with the tribe. Finding
escape utterly impossible for the time be-
ing, the terms were accepted, and the
marriage took place. The fruits Of this
marriage were two children, both of which
are still living; daughter of sixteen, and
a son of fourteen, both of which he left
with the tribe. Two years ago, Robert
son attempted to escape, but was retaken,
scalped, and burned alive, leaving three
children with the tribe. Seven years ago,
Barney attempted to escape, but was re-
captured, and would have been put to
death but for the interposition of his wife,
who was the daughter of the chief. Dur
ing the time of his captivity, Barney states
that he was engaged with his tribe in three
battles-two with the Black Feet, and one
with tribe the name of which we do not
known one of which he says over sew
enty Black Feet were killed.
The most of the time Of his captivity he
lived at the head of the Columbia river,
and, at times, as far up as the head of Flat
Head river. During these eighteen years,
he saw neither salt, bread potatoes, coffee,
tea, or any thing of the kind, living upon
meat of moose, deer, skunk, rattlesnake,
turkey, prairie-hen, &c. At the time he
made his escape, he was near Lake Supe-
rior, about sixty miles from trading post
of the American Fur Company. The Chief
This father-inlaw) was a doctor. and on
the 10Th of May left; and willie he was
gone, Barney succeeded in making all the
Indians dead drunk with the whisky which
had just been received, giving one and
half pint to each Indian. After they were
asleep, he took his bow and arrow, toma-
hawk, pipe, two and half pounds tobac
co, flint and steel, and two and half pounds
of meat, being all there was in the hut
He started and Travelled all night, having
his dog along; the next morning he killed
the dog, to prevent his returning to give
clue tohis trace.
About II o'clock the same day, when
about 35 miles off, he was overhauled by
his father-in-law's (the chief's) dog, which
he killed with his bow and arrow, and car
ried his carcass away from the path, and
then concealed himself in the brush
While he was thus concealed, the chief
passed by him; as he passed, the chiefmut-
tered to himself, in his langurge-'I will
pass this mountain, and at the foot of it l
will take the left hand" Overhearing
this, Barney availed himself of this infor-
nation. Following the GHETTO the foot of
the mountain, he found, sure enough, that
he had taken the left hand road, which he
ascertained by the track of his pony. He
continued his journey to the east until a
bout two hours before daybreak on the
next morning when he sat down, fatgued
and hungry; after daylight, he killed a rat
tlesnake, eight feet four inches in length,
which he roasted and ate for breakfast
He kept on the same direction, when, a
bout o'clock, he was overhauled by his
brother-in-law's dog, which he killed i'm
mediately, and passed on. On the next
day, about 5 o'clock, he was overhauled by
another dog belonging to the tribe, which
he dispatched in the same manner as the
others, after which he proceeded without
any molestation, travelling four days with
out daring to build fire only in the day.
He was seven weeks travelling before he
came to any tribe of Indians, during which
time he had spent one week in dispair, not
travelling or expecting ever to reach hab-
itation of whites.
At the end of the above time, he came
to tribe which ! e calls the Tomahawks.
He was kindly treated by them. For fear
of being taken again, he assured them that
he belonged to the Flat Heads, and was in
search of two crazy Indians, ,whohad made
their escape. After asking some questions
in English about the "crazy Indians" he
departed, and after nine miles travel came
to the Missouri river. He made raft of
logs and crossed over. Travelling due east,
he continued his journey nine weeks be-
fore he arrived at White Lake, in Mime
sofa, during all of which time he had sub
sisted upon game, which he had killed
with his bow and arrow. He remained
there three days, and sold his accoutre-
ments for clothing, and then made his way
for this State. He arrived here in the
cars.
Barney is man of considerable intelli
gence, and seems to have vivid recollec-
ton of nearly all that passed during his cap
tivity. He seems familiar with indian life,
Al - e II