Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-10-03
tue DAcoTA1I,s CAPTIVE.

| While the Spanish colonists ravaged
the southern portions of North America
in quest of gold, and the English planted
the germs of self lfgovernment on the east.
ern coast, the French were but the agents
OF home merchants, who enjoyed a mo-
nopoly Of various trAffics, and were sus-
tanned in the enjoyment OF it by the strong
arm Of military power. To the trading
association in particular. we owe this dis
covery of the Mississippi. by the sons OF
one of the members-the intrepid La
Sale. In this day, lead was first discov-
cred within the present limits of the State
of Iowa, bnt the noted Julien Du Buque
was the first who taught the Indians to
collect The ore and make an article of
taade oft. He was not only a brave
but a crafty man, and after his death the
savages, in compliance with his wish, de-
posted his remains on the summit of r
high cliff overlooking the " Father OF wa
ters." securing the mouth of the mausole-
um with a massive leadcn door OF a ton
weight. They then burned his dwell
| ings and erased every trace of civilized
life around his settlement, except the or
chards planted by his own hands. Van
dal whites afterwards cut up the door to
sell it, but the name of Du Buque will
ever be remembered in Iowa.
I Years passed away. The white flag Of
France no longer waved over the Missis-
sippi valley. and the bold frontiers man
advancing on the foremost wave of civili-
zatlOn, crossed the river in quest of lead
ore, game and fertile soil. One of the
first settlements thus established, was
formed by party from Kentucky, led by
the grandsire of the younger generation
old Joe Bates, noble specimen of
frontier man-seventy winters had whi-
teneJ his long locks. but he was still hale
aud hearty, able to WELD an axe with
any OF his sons. or to dlaw bead on RI
tic with that fatal accuracy Of aim which
had enabled him to render good service
at the attic Of New Orleans. Selecting
a good locality on the very shore of the
Mississippi, old Joe and his sons built q
log cabin, surrounded by stocksde TO
keep off the Dacotahs. Then surrounded
by "clearing" with worm fence. dead
ened the standing trees by the fatal IKE
circle, and planted corn. When their
corn was we'll above ground and freed
from weeds, they began to prospect"
lOl lcd0 OICs
Thus far they had seen no Indians and
began TO flatter themselves that the cred
skins" had left the country to their peace
full possession, but the willy savages had
kept o constant watch upon their move
ments. Perhaps, had they confined
themselves to agricultural labOrs, the in
truders might have gone on unmolested,
especially rs the DacoLahs wished to con-
ciIiate the United States government into
profitable treaty, but when pick axes
were welded in search Of lead ore. the
destruction Of the palefaces was resolved
upon in council.
The first object of savage vengeance
was the oldest son, Frank Bates, who
had built him cabin about FIVE hundred
yards from "head quarters" despite the
warnings of old Joe. Frank, however,
had no fear of Indians, and lived with
his wife and babe in great happiness, un-
til one summers night, when he was
awakened by the loud barking of his dogs.
Springing from his bed, he looked through
an opening in the logs. aud saw, to his
horror, at least fifty Dacotahs, in full war
costume, evidently seeking the easiest
way TO force an entrance into the cabin
Arousing his vile, he raised cellar trap
door, and was about to send her down,
when the child she had left in bed began
to cry.
g l cannot leave my babe" she said.
Nay" he exclaimed, Il will take
care OF the boy" and almost forcing her
down into the small cellar, he closed the
unhinged door, over which he drew large
chest. Then, seizing his rifle and hatch
et, he took the infant and ascended to
the loft OF the cabin. pulling the ladder
up after him. a moment more, the door
WAS forced from its hinges, and the Da>
cotahs entered. eager for their prey
But Bates did not remain to watch their
movements. for lashing the boy to his
shoulders. he cautiously opened shutter
in the gable Of the loft, and seeing that
no Indians were beneath, jumped to the
ground, rife in hand.
Ere he had traversed his little garden,
the air resouuded with the blood chilling
tone Of the war whoop, and volley Of
arrows rained around the fugitive. Hap.
PLY only one struck him. and that in the
deshy part Of the arm, so that he kept on
straining every nerve to reach the stock.
ade around his fathers cabin But ere
he had gone many PAGES a gigantic Indi,
an overlook him, Turning like stag at
bay, he faced his antagonist, knocked
him down with the butt OF his rife and
then sped on his way. But now, to his
horror, he saw large body Of the Daco.
tabs around his fathers dwellings, as he
approached, firing over on to the roofs o.
the cabins with arrows to which burning
tow was attached.
III