Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-06

Ov luc H0mG vi IQSCPu 0otuCy, WhV 10y s""l
10 is in search Of q son who he supposas
lives somewhere near Alton. lie made his
escape on the 5th Of last May from the
Flat Head Indians, near the Flat Head Xiv
or, in Oregon. He states that he has been
with the tribe Of Indians ID years. We
listened sometime to his history, many por-
tons OF which are truly thrilling. He was
taken prisoner in 1896 on the Upper Mis-
souri, rivor, while in tho employ OF Fur
Company. He is native Of France, and
speaks English bot poorly; but we give what
he communicated to US a. nearly as possi-
BILE. He was in company 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; there being
TWENTY-FIVE Indians to contendwith They
were secured hand and foot and placed on
PONIES, and started to the north westward,
and travelled five weeks when they came
to the hunting grounds of tho tribe, where
they were given up to the chief, who shook
hands with them and manifested much Joy
OF 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, il they would mar
~ and remain with the t,iss. Finding es-
cape utterly impossible for the tina beins,
the terms were accepted and the marriages
took place. The fruits OF this marriage
were two children, both Of whom were still
living a daughter Of sixteen years old and a
son fourteen, both Of whom were left with
the tribe. Two years ago Robertson at
tie mpted to escape, but was taken, and scalp
ed and buried alive, leaving three children
with the tribe. Seven years ago Barney
attempted to escape but was recaptured,
aud 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, Barney states that he was en-
gsgei with the tribe in three battles, two
with the Black Feet and one with
tribe the name Of which we do not know, in
one of which he says 20 Black Feet were
killed.
The most OF the zine Of his captivity he
lived on the head of the Columbia river, and
at times IA far up as the head Of Flat Head
river During this eighteen years, he saw
neither salt, bread, potatoes, coffee, tea. or
anything OF the kiad; living upon the meat
of the moose. deer. skunk, rattesnake, tur-
kies, prairie hens, &c. At the time he
made his escape, he was near Lake Superior
about sixty miles from the trading post OF
tho American Fur Company. The chiet
[his father.in-law) was doctor, and on tbs
18th Of MAY left, and while he was gone,
Barney succeeded in making all the Indians
DEAD Drunk with the whiskey which had
Just been received, giving one and hall
pnts to each Indian. After they vera ali
asleep, he took his bow, arrows, .omshawk.
two and half pounds tobacco, fnt and
steel, and abo.t two pounds meat, being alt
there was in the hut He started and tray
eled all night. having his dog along; the
next morning he killed his dog to prevent
him returning to give clue to his trace.
About eleven o'clock the same day, when
about thirty five miles cut, he was overhaul
ed by his father-in-law's (the chief's) dog,
which he killed with his bow and arrow,
and carried the dog away from the path.
and then concealed himsel! in the bushes;
while he was thus concealed the chief pass
ed him; as he passed he heard the chief
mut,er to himself in his language, Il will
pass this mountain, and at the foot Of it |
will take the LEFT hand" Oyerhearing this
Barney, avaled himself of the information;
lOlIUWlUk LIS (UtSi " lhc AtDt Va tht hbAii-
tain, he found sure enough that he had TAX
en- the left hand road, which he ascertained
by the tracks Of his pony. He continued
his Journey to the east until about 9 hours
before day break On the next morning, when
he sat down, fatigued and hungry: after day
light he killed ratilesnake eight feet four
inches long, which he roasted and eat for
his breakfast.
He kept on in the same direction, whsn
about five O'Clock he was oyerhauled by an
other dog, which he killed Immediately and
passed on. On the next day, abost 5 o'cl'kI
he was overhauled by third dog, belong
ing TO the tribe, which he dispatched in the
same manner as the others; after which heI
proceeded without daring to build fire on.
y in the day time. He was seven weeks
travelling before he came to any tribe OF In
dians. during which time he had spent one
week in despair, not travelling or expect
ing ever to reach habitation of whites
At the end of the above time he came to al
tribe which he calls the Tomahawks. He
was kindly treated by them. For fear of
being taken again he assured them that heI
Of two crazy Indians who had made thsr es-I
cape.
After asking some questions in English
concerning the crazy Indians he departed,
and after nine miiestr travel came to the Ms
souri, river. He made raft Of logs and
crossed the river. Travelling due east, he
continued his journey nine weeks before he
arrived at White Lake, in Minnesota. du-
ring all Of which time he had subsisted up
on game, which he killed with his bow and
arrow. H remained there three days and
sold his accoutrements for clothing,and then
made his way for this State. He arrived
here to-day.
Barney is man Of considerable intelli- |
oence, and Seens to Kaye q vivid recollec-I