Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-08
HORRORS OF INDIAN CAPTIVITY.

On Monday evening, Miss Gardiner, who
was taken prisoner at Spirit Lake, Iowa, in
Marehaast, by Ink -pa-du-tas band of outlawed
Indians arrived in this city, from the \ elbow
Medicine Agency, accompanied by Mr.. Rob
inson and .he Interpreter at the Agency, and
Ma-Za-in-te-mani, or the man who shoots
metal as he walks, Ho-ton-wash-te, or Beauti-
full Voice, and Che e-tan-maza, or the Iron Hawk
the three Indians despatched last month by
Agent Flandrau to effect their release. Upon
the arrival of the steamer, and it becoming
known upon the wharf that Miss Gardiner was
on board, considerable excitement was created.
cheers. Miss G.. was placed in a carriage and
driven to the Fuller House, with her escort.
Miss Gardiner is native of Seneca county,
New York, and at the time of the massacre
was living with her parents at Spirit Lake.
Her father, mother, and the remainder of her
family, were all murdered at the time Of the
attack on the Spirit Lake Settlement, with the
single exception of an elder sister, who re-
moved to the more densely settled portion Of
Iowa few days preceding the massacre. This
sister has since married, and is now living on
the Des Moines. Miss Gardiner is a healthy,
pleasing, intelligent looking girl, OF but fiji
teen years of age.
On Saturday, the 23d OF May, the party left
the Yellow Medicine Agency in two horse
wagon. On the 29th. following up the trail,
they arrived at recently deserted camp,
where they found the dead body of Mrs.
Mobiles. The body was terribly mutilated; it
was apparent that she had been most cruelty
outraged, not only before, but after death.
Three bullet wounds were discovered in her
head, and on her limbs and arms the traces of
brutal cruelties were visible. The Indians
wrapped her body in blanket, and inferred 1t,
Ma-za-in- TO mani, Christian Indian, perform
ing those religious services over The grave of
the unfortunate victim, dictated by his crude
yet earnest belief in the Christian religion.
Leaving this place the next day. the party ar
rived at another deserted camp, where they
found lying upon the ground Mrs. Noble s
hair. 1t was collected by the Christian In
dians referred to, with the intention of bring
| ing it to the Agency: where it could be sent TO
Mrs. y Nobles' friends or relatives.
On the next day, the Both of May, the party
! arrived at an encampment OF 100 lodges of
Yankton Sioux, and three lodges of Ink -pa-du-
/ ta's band On their arrival here they ascer-
! tanned that Miss Gardiner and Mrs. Mobiles had
been sold by Ink-pa-du-ta, to a Yankton war
rior, named Wam-dns- ka- -iham-ke, or the End
Of the Snakes and that few nights after the
/ sale, son of Ink-pa-du-ta came to the camp,
and demanded that the white women should be
! turned out of the lodge where they were kept
/ by their purchaser. Upon his refusal to COM
! ply, Mrs. Mobiles was forcibly removed out
ragged beyond all power of language to des-
| cribe, and then brRtally murdered. Miss Gar
/ diner only saved by the bravery of the
| Yankton who purchased her; he placed her
on his couch, beside his squaw and declared
that his life and that of his squaw, would be
sacrificed, before harm should come TO Miss
! Gardiner. Intimidated by this bold course,
| Ink pa -du-ta's son and his confederates re-
| treated.
But to return to the Christian Indian and his
associates. Upon arriving at the Yankton
camp, they ascertained that Miss Gardiner was
/ at the lodge of The end OF the Snake. They
| Immediately opened negotiations to obtain her
release. One lanktoR chief objected TO the
| surrender of Miss Gardiner, On the ground that
they could do better by conveying her TO the
Missouri, and selling her to the military Off
GERS there-that they could thus get a large
amount of powder and tobacco. Miss Garlin-
er accordingly surrendered. The price
paid for Miss Gardiner was two horses, seven
blankets, two kegs of powder, box of tobacco,
| and other articles with which the Indians had
been provided by Maj. Flandrau.. From the
Agency, Miss Gardiner was brought to St
Paul, in company with Mr.. Robinson, and the
Interpreter, together with the three Indians.
| Miss Gardiner from the time of her separa-
ton from Mrs. Marble, led much the same life
as she did prior to Mrs. Marbles release. She
lodged with The son of Ink-pa-du-ta, and wa,
treated with comparative kindness on that ac
| count. She was compelled TO carry heavy
| pack. Skunk Lake, where the Lac-qui- Parlt
| Indians found Mrs. Marble, is aboat one hun
dred and fifty miles from the Yankton camp
on James river, where Miss Gardiner was res
cued. 1t will thus be seen that Miss Gardinel
was compelled to walk that distance afterMrs
Marble had been ransomed.
3 In reference to Mrs. Mobiles, Miss Gardinel
states that she seemed much detected and des
pondent from the time she was taken captive
until death released her from her sutierings
At times, she would sit for hours, bemoaniDg
and crying over her sad fortune and again
she would rouse herself, and treat the Indians
with the indignation natural to high spirited
woman subjected to the most degrading ont
RACES.
In regard to the treatment these unfortu