Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-06-13
THE DACoTAHs CAPTIVE,
A Tale of the IOWA Lead Mines
BIZ BEN pEnLEY poonE.

BY BEN PERLEY PooRE.
While the Spanish colonists ravaged The
southern portion of North America in quest
of gold, and the English planted the germs
of self-government on tho eastern coast, the
French were but the agents of home mcr-
chants, who enjoyed monopoly of the vari-
oos trafics, and were sustained in the en-
joynIeat of it by the strong arm of militia
ry power To the trading association in
particular, we owe the discovery of the Mis-
Il sissippi, by the son of one of the members
the intrepid La Sale In his day lead
was first discovered within the present lin
its of the State of Iowa, but the noted Ju-
lien Dubuque was the first who taught the
| Indians to collect the ore, and make an ar
ticle Of trade of it. lie was not only
brave, but crafty man, and after bis death
the savages, in compliance with bis dying
wish, deposited his remains upon the sum-
init Of high cliff overlooking the S'Father
of Waters" securing the mouth of the
naasoleum with massive leaden door of a
ton weight. They then burned his dwell
lings and erased every trace of civilized
life around his settlements, except the or
chards planted by his own hands. Vandal
whites afterwards cut up the door TO sell,
but the name of Dubuque will ever be re-
tnembcred in Iowa
Years passed away. The white flag of
France no longer waved over the Mississip-
pi valley, and the bold frontiers man, ad-
vancing on the foremost wave OF civiliza-
ton, crossed the river in quest of the lead
ore, game and fertile soil. One of the
first settlements thus established, was form
ed BY party from Kentucky, led by the
grandsire OF the younger generation-old
Joe Bates, noble specimen of frontiers
man. Seventy winters had whitened his
long locks, but be was still hale and hear
ty, able to WELD 40 axe with any Of his
sans, or 10 draw bead on a rife with that
fatal accuracy of aim which had enabled
him TO render good service at the battle Of
New Orleans. Selecting good locality on
the very shore of the Mississippi, old Joe
and his sons built log cabin, surrounded
by stockade to keep off the Dacotabs.-
They then surrounded q clearing with a
worm fence, deadencd the standing trees
| by the fatal axe circle, and planted corn
When their corn was we'll above ground
and free from weeds, they began to pros
! pect for lead ore.
Thus far they had seen no Indians, and
/ began to fatter themselves that the red
skins had lett the country to their peaceful
possession, but the willy savages had kept
a constant watch upon their movements. =
Perhaps, had they confined themselves to
agricultural labors, the intruders might
have gone unmolested, especially as the
! Dacotahs wished to conciliate the United
Stotes government into profitable treaty,
but VIXEN pick axes were welded in search
Of lead ore, the destruction 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 Eve hundred yards from
head quarters, despite the warnings of old
/ Joe. Frank, however, had no fear of Indi-
ans, and lived with bis wife and their babe
| in great happiness, until one summers night
when be was awakened by the loud barking
of dogs. Springing from his bed, he lock-
ed through an opening in the logs, ana saw
to his horror, at least fifty Dacotahs, in
full war costume, evidently seeking the ea-
I siest way to force an entrance into the cab
! in. Arousing his wife, be raised cellar
| trap door, and was about to send her down,
! when the child she hal LEFT in the bed boz
gan to cry.
Il cannotleave my babe said she.
Nay he exclaimed, Il will take care Of
the boy aud almost forcing her down into
the small cellar, he closed the unhluged
door, over which he drew a large chest
Then seizing his rife and hatchet, he took
( the infant and ascended to the loft of the
cabin, pulling up the ladder after him. A
moment more, and the door was forced from
/ its hinges, and the Dacotahs entered, eager
| for their prey. But Bates did not remain
to watch their movements, FOR lashing his
! boy to his shoulder, he cautiously opened a
shutter in the gable of the loft, and seeing
that no Indians we're beneath, jumped to the
ground, rife in hand.
Ere he had traversed bis little garden, the
air resounded with the blood chilling tones
of the war whoop, and volley of arrows
raiued around the fugitive. Happily only
one struck him, and that in the feshy part
Of the arm, so that he kept on, strainin2
every nerve to reach the stockade around
his father,s cabin Rut ere he had oorr