Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-06-26
RESTORATION or A WHITE WOMAN
FROM THE INDIANS.
TERRIBLE STORY OF BRUTALITY AND sur
TTuTNg.

FROM THE INDIANS.
TERRIBLE STORY OF BRUrAItrY AND SUR
FERING.
One Of the four women who were captured
and carried off by the Indians, in their foray
into the white settlements ON the line between
Iowa and Minnesota some weeks ago. has
returned TO the settlements in the care of Mr..
Charles H. Flandreau, agent for the Sioux
Indians, Of tho Mississippi Her narrative is
very interesting, and calculated to arouse
feelings Of the deepest indignation against her
band of savage captors. 1t seems that the
agent went to distribute provisions to some
700 iomished Sioux, who were fairly frantic
for food, when one Of the bands brought Mrs.
Marble. the woman in question, TO the agen-
cy, having bought her from her savage cap
tors for kog Of powder Several chiefs
were sent out at once to look for the other
women. reward Of $500 being offered them
for their recovery. Mrs. Marbles statement
is to the following effect;
"On the 10Th oc March last, a party Of In
dans came up to the residence Of her husband
at Spirit Lake. Iowa. murdered him and took
her of as prisoner TO their camp in the vicin-
ity of the lake. At the camp she found a
Mrs. Thatcher. a Mrs. Noble. a Miss Gard
ner, all of whom had been taken prisoners at
the lake. Mrs. Thatchcr's husband had es-
capped being killed by temporary absence
SO with Mrs. Noble. Miss Gardncr's entire
family had been murdered. The Indians
broke up their camp and proceeded to Heron
Lake, distant about twenty-five miles, where
/ they encampcd and left their squaws and pris-
orers. and started on an expedition, Mrs
Marble supposes, TO the Des Moncs. al
Springfield, where they committed murders
returning with much plunder. They then lef
/ Heron Lake and travelled 500 miles, being
month on the route.
"lmmediately on starting from Heron Lake
Mrs. Marble and associates were forced tc
carry heavy packs, and perform the degrad
ing and menial services in the camp. Tho
pack that she was compelled TO carry consist
ed of two bags of shot, each weighing twenty
five pounds On top of this was placed the
additional weight of an Indian urchin of som'
three OF four years of age. The snow wa
very deep the prisoners but thinly clad, an,
most of the time suffering from hunger Th'
warm clothing they had on them when they
were made prisoners was taken from them by
the squaws, and in its place they received bu
a scanty supply, ill-suited to the weather anC
the exposure they were forced to undergo
At times the unfortunate captive would ial
to the ground. exhausted and utterly unabb
to proceed further, Then the inhuman wretch
es would place the muzzle of loaded gun a
her head. and threaten her with instan
death unless she would Immediately continue
her weary march. When horse stolen a
the settlements would die, or be killed by th
Indians for food, the prisoners would be al
lowed to recruit their exhausted strength, b!
IA supply Of horsc-fesh. but with these excep
tions they suffered greatly from want of food
and were glad to snatch up the bones throw
down by the Indians after their rcpast. Mrs
Marble states they were often forced to ca
the wing feathers, plucked from the duck
shot by the Indians, and shriveled before tn
fire, to save themselves from starvation
.When the Indians would enctimp for tn
night, the captives were compelled to carr
wood and water, and build fires, put up tn
topees, &c They were, however, never al
lowed TO touch the food. At first they yer
naturally rebclled at the treatment they re
cciyed, but the Indians beat them with club
into submission to their orders. Mrs Mar
bla states that she soon discovered that tn
only way 20 secure herself from ill-trcatmen
was to perform the duties assigned her wit
cheeriulness and alacrity. Herself, Mrs. No
blc and Miss Gardiner pursued this COURSE
and were treated more kindly than their as
sociate. Mrs Thatcher. who was in dolicat
health. and utterly unable to do the amour
of work required of her. This led to a mos
tragic and horrible occurrence, when the par
ty crossed the Big Sioux. They arrived a
this place about fifteen days after leaving LAX
Heron. The Indians cut down several tree
on each side of the river and thus made
bridge across it, When Mrs Thatcher al
tempted to cross she was thrown into the riN
er; she succeeded in swimming to within
short distance of the opposite side, when on
of the Indians deliberately shot her throug
the head The body of the unfortunate VIC
man was left floating in the stream. lie
death was hailed by the Indian women wit
loud shouts of JOY and exultation The feel
ings of the surviving prisoners, at this horn
murder, cannot be imagined They beheld /
Mrs Thateher's death the fate reserved fc
them, when, overpowered by fatigue, the
would be unable to proceed"
Subsequently they reached Skunk LAKE
whore they met the chief who purchased Mr.
NJ. and restored her to civilized life. She
entirely destitute. The camp of lnk-pa-dI
tab. her captor, numbered fifteen lodges.
Mrs. Marble is about 25 years of age,
medium size, and very pleasant looking. 81
is a native of DarlSc county, Ohio, and move
to Michigan about ten years ago. She hi
= been twice married Her first husband
name was Phips. After his death she ma
ried Mr.. Marble, with whom she removed
Linn county, Iowa, and ultimately to Spir
. Lake, in Dickson county Mrs. NJ. is redu
cd to dostitution, her husband has been mu
= dorod, and as to whother her parents are ali'
or not she is ignorant.
MoNrRRAL CArHEDRAL.-Ihe corner stOl
of the new Cathedral at Montreal, in place