The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-22
From the Macoupin QIlinois) Statesman
Eighteen Years IA Captive among
Indians

IN search OF n son, whom he supposes 10 live
some " here Alton. He made his escape on
the 5lh of last May, from The Flat Head Indians,
! near the head of the Flat Head River, in Oregon.
He stated that he had been with this tribe oil In.
dians eighreen Years. We listened for some length
! of lime 10 his history many portions of which is
truly thrilling He taken prisoner in ls36
on The Upper Missouri river, while in the employ
| of fur company. He is native o! France and
speaks English but poorly but we give what he
communicated 10 us as nearly as possible. He
| was IN company with a named John Robert
| son, both OF HON were captured. They attempt
| ed 10 defend themselves, and killed Two Indians
bu' they were overPowerfd, there being twenty
! five Indians 10 contend with They were secured
hand and loot, and placed on ponies, and started
! to the Norhwestward and travelled five weeks,
"hen they came 10 the hunting ground OF the
tribe, where they were gwen up to The chief who
! shook hands with them, and manifested much 10Y
al rh II capture. They were unbound and cun-
] fired lA hut, where s'iey fed, but al
| lowed 10 escape. The Chiel offered them both Of
! his d"ugh'ers if they would marry and remain
with the tribe. Finding escape utterly impossible
| for The Tim" being, the terms accepted, and
! the marriage took place The fruits of this mar.
! rage were two children both of which still
iIviEg, daughter sixteen and fourteen, both
! of whch he left with the tribe. Two years ago
Robertson attemptc to escape, but retaken,
scaIpcd and burned alive, leaving three children
with the lrile. Sepen years ago, Barney at
| tempted to escape, but recaptured and would
have been put 10 death but for The Interposion of
! his wife, who was the daughter Of the chief. Du-
ring the time Of his captivity, Barney states that
he engaged with his tribe in three battles
| two with the Black Feet, aud one with tribe the
name Of which we do not KNOWN one Of which
, he says over seventy Black Feet killed.
The most OF the time Of his captivity he lived
nu tba IpaH of tba Gain
as far up as the head of the Flat Head RIVER
| During these eighteen years he saw neither salt,
| bread, potatoes, coffee, tea, anything Of The
kind; lNIES upon the meat OF the moose, deer,
skunk, rattle snake, turkey, prairie hen, &c. At
The time he made his escape he was near Lake
Superior, about sixty miles from q Trading post of
The American Fur Company. The chief This
iather-ln-la") was a doctor. and the 18Th Of
May left, and while he gone, Barney sue
cecded IN making all the Indians dead drunk with
the "hiskev which had ust been received, giving
one and hall plnts 10 each Indian. After they
we're asleep, he took his bow and arrow, toma.
hawk, pipe. two and half pounds tobacco, flint
and steel, and two pounds OF at being all there
WAS in the hat. He started and travelled all night,
having his dog along, the next morning he killed
his dog 10 prevent his returning to give a clue 10
his trace.
About O'Clock the same dav when about
thirty five miles, he overhauied bv his fa her.
In-laws (the chief dog, which he killed with
his how and arrow, and carried the carcass away
from The path, and then concealed himself in the
brush while he thus concealed The chief
passed by him; the chief muuered to himself in
his language: {" will pass this mountain, and at
the foot 0: it will take the LETT hand" Over.
hearing this Barney availed himself OF thus inlor-
nation Following the chief TO the foot of the
mountain, he found, sure enough, that he had
taken the left hand road, which he ascerlaIhed by
the tracks Of his pony. He continued his Journey
to the east until about two hours before day break
on the next murniEg. when he sat down, farigued
and hungry; after daylight he killed a rattle
snake, eight feet and four inches in length, which
he rousIed and ale for breakfast. He kept on in
The same direction, when about O'Clock he was
oVeThauied by his brOther-in-law's dog, which he
Killed immediately and passed on. On the next
day about 5 O'Clock, he Overbauled by another
dog b, longing TO the tribe which he despatched |
IN The same manner The others after which he !
proceeded without any molestaIion, travelling four !
days without daring to build fire, only 10 The day
unle. He was seven weeks travelling before he !
came TO any tribe Of Indians, during this time he
had spent one week in despair, not travelling or
tApectng ever to reach habIIatIOD oI The whites
Al the end OF the above time, he came 10 a tribe
" hich he calls the TCmaIIawks. He kindly
treated BY th"m. For fear of heing taken again,
he assured thrIn that he belonged to the Flat
Heads. and i'll search Of two crazy Indians,
who had made their escape. Alter asking some
few questions in English concerning The ''crazy
Indians" he departed, aud after miles travel,
came TO the Missouri River. He made raft of
logs, and crossed over. Travelling due east, he
his journey nine weeks before he
rived at W hiIc Lake in Minnesota, during all OF
which time he subsisted on game, which he killed
with his bow and arrow. He remained there three
days and sold his accOulremenis :or clothing, and
hen made his way for this State. He arrived
here in the cars.
Barney is Of considerable intelligence
md seems TO have vivid recollection of nearly
all that has passed during his captivity. He
seems familiar with Indian life and gives many Of
heir signs Tor determining courses, cure for dis
'ases, DC, He would like 10 see his children
'gan, but rather iorego The pleasure than 10 90 ,
back and remain with the tribe. He was married !
soon after he came 10 this country, and lived in
Jtsego county, New York, where his vile died ,
liter which he was employed by the Fur Com ,
amy. He is 90 years old, but still seems active |
nd hardy. He describes lhe country where he r
los been as The han ndsomeSt he ever saw. Truly
e has seen the elephant - and If his story is +
orTect, he can tell OF more trials tribulalions and
dventures than any one living. :
DELEGATE FROM kANsAs.-The St. Louis Re.
ublcan states that MIR. w. Whitfield the pro.sa. l.
ic ILL L