Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-01-04
From the Macoupin, Ill, stateman.
EIGHTEEN YEARS CAPTIVE AMONG
THE INDIANS.

| We were visited, few days ago, by
man by the name of Joseph Barney,
who says that he is in search of son,
whom he supposes to live somewhere
near Alton. He made his escape, on the
9Th of last May, from the Flat Head
Indians, near the head of Flat Head
River, in Oregon. He stated that he
had been with this tribe of Indians
eighteen years. We listened for some
length of time to his history, many por-
tons of which are truly thrilling. He
was taken prisoner in 1886, on the up
per 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 cap
tured. They attempted to defend them
selves, and killed two Indians, but they
were overpowered-there being twenty
FIVE Indians to contend with. They
were secured hand and foot, and placed
on ponies, and started to the northwest
ward, 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 Joy at their cap
ture. They were unbound and confined
in hut, where they were fed, but not
allowed to escape. The chief offered
them his two daughters if they would
marry and remain with the tribe. Find
ing escape utterly impossible for the
time being. the terms were accepted,
and the marriage took place. The fruits
of this marriage were two children,
both of which are still living; daugh-
ter of sixteen, and son of fourteen,
both of which he left with the tribe
Two years ago, Robertson attempted to
escape, but was retaken, scalped, and
burned alive, leaving three children
with the tribe. Seven years ago, Bar
ney attempted to escape, but was recap
tured, and would have been put to death
but for the interposition of his wife,
who was the daughter of the chief
During the time of his captivity, Bar
ney states that he was engaged with his
tribe in three battles-two with the
Black Feet, and one with a tribe the
name of which we do not known one
of which he says over seventy 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, prai-
rie-hen, DC. At the time he made his
escape. he was near Lake Superior,
about sixty miles from trading post of
the American Fur Company. The
Chief This father-in-law) was doctor,
and on the 10th of May left; and while
he was gonesBarney succeeded in ma
king all the Indians dead drunk with
the whisky which had just been re-
eeived, giving one and half pint to
each Indian. After they we're asleep,
he took his bow and arrow, tomahawk,
pipe, two and half pounds of tobacco,
flint and. steel, and two and a. 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 to the trace.
About o'clock the same day, when
about 35 miles of, he was overhauled
by his father-in-law's 1.-THE chief's) dog,
which he killed with his bow and arrow,
and carried 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 chief muttered to himself, in this
language-"I will pass this mountain,
and at the foot of it viii take the left |
hand" Overhearing this, Barney
availed himself of this information
Following the chief to the foot of the
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 about two hours before daybreak
on the next morning, when he sat down,
faigued and hungry; after daylight, he
killed a rattlesnake, eight feet four
inches in length, which he roasted and
ate for breakfast. He kept on in the
same direction, when, about 5 o'clock,
he was overhauled by his brother-in-
laws dog, which he killed Immediately, !
and passed on. On the next day, about
s 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 with
cut any molestation, travelling four days
without daring to build fire only in
the day time. He was seven weeks
travelling before he came to any tribe of
Indians, during which he had spent one
week in dispair, not travelling or ex-
pecting ever to reach habitation of
whites.
At the end Of the. above time, he |
came to tribe which he calls the Toma-
hawks. He was kindly treated by them.
For fear of heinc taken aCain he as |