Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1855-11-15
Eighteen Years Captive Among the
Indians

tue name OF Joseph Barney, who SAYS that he is i'm
search of son, whom he supposes to live some
where 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 cioh
teen years. We listened for some length of time
to his history, many portions of which are truly
thrilling. He was taking prisoner in 1886 on the
upper Missouri River, while in the employ of fur
company. He is native of Franco. and speaks
English but poorly; but we give what he communi
Gated to us nearly as possible. He was in com
pany with man by the name of John Robertson.
both OF whom were captured. They attempted to
defend themselves and killed two Indians. but they
were overpowered-thereb being twenty-five Indians
to contend with They were secured hand and
foot and placed on ponies and started to tbe north.
westward, and travelled five weeks when they cano
TO the hunting grounds of the tribe, where they
were given to the chief who shook hands with
them, and manifested much iov at their CAPTURE
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 Finding 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; a daughter sixteen. and 4
son, 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 wears ago
Barney attempted to escape but was recaptured
or,I TO- l.
terpositIon of his wife, who the daughter of
the chief. During the time of his captivity. Barney
states that he was engaged with his tribe in three
battes-two with the Black Feet. and one with
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
on the head OF the Columbian river, and, at times
as far up as the head of the Flat Head river
During this eighteen years he saw neither salt.
bread, potatoes, coffee, tea, or ANYTHING of the
KIND; living upon meat of moose, deer skunk
rattlesnake, turkey, prairie hen &c. 1t the time
he made his escape he was near Lake Sunerior
about sixty miles from a trading port of the Ameri-
can Fur Company. The chief (his -flther-in-law. )
was DOCTOR and on the 10th of Nav left. and
while he was gone, Barney succeeded in making
all the Indians dead drunk with the whiskev which
had just been received, giving one and half pint
to each Indian. After they were asleep: he took
his bow and arrow, tomahawk, pipe two and a half
pounds tobacco; 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 his dog. to pre-
vent his returning to give clue to his trace
About ii O'Clock the same dav, when about 80
miles off. he overheard bv his fathcr-in-law.s
(the chiefs dog, which he killed with his bow and
arrow, and carried his carcas away from the path.
and then concealed himself in the brush: while he
was thus concealed the chief passed bv him: n he
passed, the chief muttered to himself in this Ian
Guage-'l will pass this mountain, and at the foot
of it will take the left hand.'' Ovcrhearinc this
Barney avaled himself of this information Fol
lowing the chief to the foot of the mountain. he
found, sure enough, that he had taken the left hand
road. which he ascertaned by the tracks of his
pony He continued his journey to the cast until
about two hours before daybreak on the next morn
ing, when he sat down. fatgued and hungry: after
inches in length, which he roasted and ate for
breakfast. He kept in the same direction, when
about O'Clock, he was over-hauled bv his broth
in-aw's dog, which he killed Immediately. and
passed on. On the next day, about o'clock he
was over-hauled by another dog belonging to the
tribe, which he dispatched in the same manner as
the others. after which he proceeded without any
| ,olo a
build a 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
despair, not travelling or expecting ever to reach
a habitation OF whites.
At the end of the above time he came TO 4 tribe
which he 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 in search of two crazy Indians, who had
made their escape. After asking some questions
in English concerning the "crazy Indians he de-
parted, and after nine miles travel he came to the
Missouri river. He made raft OF logs and eros
sed over. Travelling due east, he continued his
journey nine weeks before he arrived at White
Lake, i'm Minnesota, during all of which time he
nlu SuDSslcu upon game, whlcn he Killed with his
bow and arrow. He remained there three DAYS
and sold his accoutrements for clothing and then
made his way for this State. He arrived here in
the cars.
Barney is of considerable intelligence
and seems to have vivid recollection of nearly
all that passed during his captivity. He seems ia
miliar with Indian life, and gives many of their
signs for determining courses, for diseases,
&c. He would like to see his children again. but
would rather forego the pleasure than go back and
remain with the tribe. He was married soon after
he came to this country. an0 lived in Otsegc ,oun-
ty, New York, where his wife died, after winch he
was employed by the Fur Company. He is 63
years old. but still active and hardy. He
describes the country where he has been, as being
the handsomcst he ever saw. Truly he has ''seen
the elephant" and if his story is correct he can
tell of more trials, tribulations and adventures than
any one now living.-Macoupin ~ Statesman.
The Destiny of Kansas.
Under the above caption, the Cleveland Plain