Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-25
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Eighteen Years a Captive among lhr Indians


Eighteen Years a Captive among The Indians.
We were visited, few days ago, by n
man by the name of Joseph Barney, who
says that he is in search Of son, whom
he supposes to live nearAton. He made
his escape, on the 9Th Of May last, from
the Flat Head Indians, near the head of
Flat Head river, in Oegon. He stated
that he had been with this tribe Of Indians
eighteen years. We istened for some
length time to his history, many por
tons of which are truly thrilling. He
was taken prisoner in 1886, on the Upper
Missouri river, while 10 the employ of a
fur company. He is a native of France,
and speaks English poorly but we give
what he communicated to US as nearly as
possible. He was with man by the
name Of John Robertson, both Of whom
were captured. They attempted 10 de.
lend themselves, and Killed two of the
Indians, but they wee overpowered-
there being twenty-five Indians loconlend
with. They were secured hand and foot.
and placed on ponies, and started to the
norhward, and travelled five weeks, when
they came 10 the hunting ground Of the
TRIBE, where they were given up TO the
chief, who shook hands with item, and
manifested much joy at their capture
/ They were unbound and confined in a hut.
where they were fed, but not allowed to
escape. The chief offered them bis two
daughters il they would marry and re.
main with the tribe. Finding escape ut.
terIy impossible for tie time bong, the
terms were accepted, and the marriage
took place. The fruits Of this marriage
were two children, boti Of which are still
living, daughter sixteen, and son four.
teen, both Of which he eft with the tribe.
Two years ago, Robertson attempted TO
escape, but was retaben, scalped, and
burned alive, leaving three children with
the tribe. Seven years ago, Barney at.
tempted to escape, but vas recaptured and
would have been pul to death but for the
interpositon Of his wife, who was the
daughter of the chief. During the time
of his ca ptivity, Borne3 states, that he
was engaged with his tribe in three battles,
two with the Black Fed, and one with a
tribe the name of which we do not know,
in one Of which he s,ys over seventy
Black Feet were killed
The most Of the time of his captivity
he lived on the head orthe Columbia rW.
er, and at times as far Up as the head of
the Flat Head river. Durinc this eioh.
teen years, he saw ndther salt, bread.
potatoes, cohe, tea, or anything Of the
kind, living upon mea; Of moose, doet
skunk, rattIesnake, turkey, praro hens
&c. AT the time he made his escape h,
was near Lake Superior about sixty miles
from trading post of the American Fur
Company. The chief (his lather.n.la law}
was a doctor, and on the 18th of Nav
left, and while he was gone, Barney sue.
ceeded in making all the Indians dead
drunk with the whiskey which had Just
been receiving, giving one and haIfpnt
to each Indian. After they were asleep,
he took his bow and arrow, tomahawk,
pipe, two and a half pounds OF tobacco,
flint and steel, and two pounds of meat,
being all there was in the hut. He start.
ed and travelled all night, having his dog
along the next morning he killed his dog,
to prevent his returning 10 give a clue to
his trace.
About ii o'clock the same day, when
about thirly.fve miles, he was oyerbauled
by his lather.in.Iaw (the chol's) dog,
which he killed with his bow and arrow,
aud carried the carcass away from the path
aud concealed himself in the brush while
he was thus concealed the chief muttered
to HIMSELF in his !anguage-"I will pass
this mountain, and at the foot of it | will
take the left hand" 0ver.hearing this,
Barney avaied himself olthis Information.
Following the Ghetto the foot orthe noun.
tain, he found, sure enough, that he had
taken the left hand road which he ascer.
taned by the tracks of bis pony. lie
continued his journey TO the east until
abou; two hours before daybreak on the
next morning, when he sat down, latigned
and hungry; after daylight he killed
ratllcsnake eight feet four inches in length,
which he roasted and ate for breakiast.-
He kept on in the same direction, when
about five o'clock he was oyerhauled by
his brother.in.law's dog, which he killed
Immediately and passed on. On the next
day, about five o'clock he was overhauled
by another dog belonging to the tribe,
which he despatched in the same manner
as the others; after which he proceeded
without any moIestaton, travelling four
days without daring to build fire only
in the day time. He was seven weeks
travelling before he came to any tribe oil
Indians, during which time he had spent
one week in despair, not travelling or ex-
pectng ever TO reach habitation Of
whites.
At the end Of the above time he came
to a tribe which he calls the Tomahawks.
He was kindly treated by them. For fear
of being taken again, he assured them he