Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-08
EVENING STAR.
THE DAcOTAHS CAPTIVE
A Tale of the Lead Mines of Iowa,
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iuSst VI SOlu ANU lue LusttSu .plallel t0e
germ of self governing on the eastern coast
the French were but the agents of home mer-
chants, who enjoyed a monopoly of the va
rious traf6cs, and were sustained in the en-
loyment of it by the strong arm of military
power. To the trading association in parti:-
ular we owe this discovery of the Mississippi,
by the sons Of one Of tho members-the in
trepid La Sale. In this day, lead was first
discovered within the present limits of the
State OF Iowa. but the noted Julien Du Buque
was the first who taught the Indians to collect
the ore and make an article OF trade Of it
lie was not only brave but crafty man, and
after his death, the savagcs, in compliance
with his wish, deposited his remains on the
summit of high cliff overlooking the " Fa-
ther of water, :" securing the mouth of the
| mausoleum with a massive leaden door of a
| ton weight They then burned his dwellings
| aud erased every trf % of civilized life around
his settlement, except the orchards planted
by his own hands. Vandal whites afterwards
| cut up the door to sell, but the name of Du
Buque will ever be remembered in Iowa.
Years passed away. The white flag of
| France no longer waved over tho Mississippi
valley, and the bold frontiers man, advancing
| on the foremast wave Of ciyiliz alton, crosst
| the river in quest of lead ore, game and fertile
| soil One of the first settlements thus estab-
llshed, was formed by party from Kentucky,
led by the grardsire of the younger genera
| tion-old Joe tes, a noble specimen of
| frontier man-seventy winters had whitened
| his long locks, but be was still hale aud
| hearty, able to WELD an axe with any of his
| sons, or to draw bead on rife with that fatal
accuracy OF aim which had enabled him to
render good service at the battle of New Or
| leans. Selecting a good locality on the very
shore of the Mississippi, old joe and his sous
built log cabin, surrounded by stock
ade to keep eff the Dacotahs. Then
! surrounding "clearing" with worm fence
deadened the standing trees by the fatal axe
circle and planted corn. When their corn
was well above ground and freed from weeds,
they began to prospect for lead ore.
Thus far they had seen no Indians, and be-
gan to fatter themselves that the I" red skins
had LETT the country to their peaceful posses
sion, but the willy savages had kept con-
slant watch upon their movements Perhaps,
had they confined themselves to agricultural
labOrs, the intruders might have gone on un-
molested, especially as the Dacotahs wished
to conciliate the United States government
into profitable treaty, but when pick-axes
were welded in search Of lead ore, the de-
| struction of the pale faces 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
Headquarters, despite the warnings of old
Joe. Frank, however, had no fear of Indians,
and lived with his wife and babe in great
happiness, until 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, and sawto
his horror, at least fifty Dacotahs, in full war
costume, evidently seeking the easiest way
to force an entrance into the cabin. Arousing
his wife, he raised a cellar trap door, and was
about to send her down, when the child she
had left in bed began to cry
cannot leave my babe" she said
"Nay," he exclaimed, 81 will take care
of the boy" and almost forcing her down in
to the small cellar he closed the unhinged
door, over which he drew large chest. Then
seizing bis rife and hatchet he took the in
FAINT and ascended to the loft of the cabin
pulling the ladder up after him. A moment
moro the door was forced from its hinges and
the Dacotahs entered, eager for their prey
But Bates did not remain TO watch their move
ments, for lashing his 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, rifle in hand.
Ere he had traversed his little garden, the
air resohded with the blood chilling tone Of
the war whOop, and a volley Of arrows rain
ed around the fugitive. Happily only one
struck him, and that in the fesby part of the
arm, so that he kept on straining every nerve
" lcdCu lllS olOShdUo dTOuuu DlS Idtler s CaD-
in. But ere he had gone many PAGES a G.
gantic Indian overlook him. turning like a
stag at bay, he faced his antagonist, knock
ed him down with the butt Of his rife and
then sped on his way. But now, to his hor-
rOr, he saw large body Of the DacOtahs
around his fathers dwellings as he approach
ed, firing over on to the roofs of the cabins
with arrows to which burning tow was at
tached.
He paused-but the cries of his boy aroused
him TO sense of his own danger and his
wife's perilous situation. Directing his steps
towards the river whore he found his dug out
safely moored, he soon was padding across
the river to a settlement where there was a
large number Of whites.
Day had scarcely dawned on the succeeding
morning, before twenty miners, good men and
true, were ready to accompany him across the
river. They cared no more for DacotahS than
for prairie dogs, and acted upon the spur of
the moment, regardless Of consequences.
Crossing above his residence, young Bates led
them toward his clearing, but on arriving
there nothing remained but a mouldering
pile OF ashes His beloved wife had evident
ly perished in the flames, for among the ashes
and charred beams in the cellar they found
some blackened bones. Just then they were
Joined by old Joe Bates and two of his yeung-
er sons armed to the teeth. They were de-
lighted to see Frank alive, for they had feared
that the column of smoke that had arisen
from his cabin was his monument, but now
they did their best to condole him in their
rough way. He said but little, but secretly
vowed to avenge his wife's death, and well
did he keep his word. To have seen him, no
one would have supposed that the mild look
ipg, slender built Frank Bates was an incar-
nate demon in fight with the Dacotshs, yet
within year after his cabin was burnt he
had twenty scalps hanging at his girdle
Vengeance" seemed his only thOught-his
lifes desire.
For some time after this outrage the Daco- |
tabs kept away from the miners; but at last |
a party of them came prowling about, and the |
miners determined to have little brush with |
them Who was so competent to head the
party as that sworn enemy of the red skins"
Frank Bates2 The party engaged two Win |
nebagoes as guiies, and then struck into the
night of their journey, the wary leader in
sisted on standing sentry, and about midnight !
the crack of his rifle awakened every sleeper
In an instant every man was on his feet, rife |
in hand ready to repel any lurking foe but