The Washington union., 1857-05-09
THE INDIAN DIFFICULTIES IN IOWA.

We find in the Keokuk Qowa Daily Times letter from
" r. Van Antwerp dated Fort Dodge, April 23d giving
further account Of these difficulties from which it will
be perceived that the Indian at that place have
exceeded in extent and atrocy the reports that first
heard of them The not all perpetated
at the time and place. but at points several miles
remote from each other and running through period of
some five weeks We clip the following extracts:
.,A band OF the Sioux Indians it seems, passed.
time last year, out of the south part Of Minnesota by
way Of the Spirit and the Okoboi lakes, down the Little
Sioux river. They returned up the Sioux about two
months ago. and on the 10Th Goth of February
menced their deviltrics at the house of named
Totem on the Sioux from Totcn's north towards the
lakes, generally four or miles apart viz the fam
lilies of Bell the Gilletts, Mead, Frinch, Bicknel, and
Others In the first demonstration Of the savages against
these settlers no murders occurred but atrocities
horrible committed by them.
stThe last of the outrages the Sioux took place
the 26th 27th Of February and it not until some
eight days aterto wit: about the Sth 9th of
March-that the first attack made family named
Gardner near the lower extremity of west Lake Okobo
where The ,rork Of murder commenced
The following facts communicated to the writer Of
the aforementioned letter by Morris Markham and John
Bradshaw who fought for their lives and the lives of
their associates
He returned Monday, the 9th of March, near
night, and, approaching the house of Rowland Gard
ncr near the foot Of the West Okoboi, satisfied
from the appearance Of things about the premises before
getting up to it, that something was wrong. On reach
ing the door he found lying there, outside Of the house.
the murdered bodies of Mrs Gardner her little son, IL
years DID, and her married daughter Mrs Harvey Lnce
ssThe next day he proceeded up the lakes towards
Springfield and passed the houses Of Esq. Mattox Mr.
Howe Mr.. Thatcher, Mr. Granger, and Mr.. Marble, all
of which had met with similar treatment to that Of Gard
Subsequently, when the party from here which
turned only ten twelve days ago, visited those
houses they found dead bodies there follows at Mat
tox's those Of Mattox himself his wife, and four children
the eldest aged IA at Ganers besides the three above
mentioned Gardner himself and his two grandchildren
Albert and Amanda Luce at Granger Carr Granger
DR.. J. II. Harriot and man named Snyder Harriet
and Granger as evident from the position in which
they were found with in their hands near by
battered and bruised had given desperate fight before
yielding their lives At Howes, Mrs Howe and five chill
dren at Thatchers Of his children A. Noble, wife
and child, and Il. Ryan
A detachment of Major Williamss command buried
some thirty of the murdered victims We add the fol-
lowing paragraph
Even reports reach us, daily of Indians hover
ing in small bands near the State nc and along the
Dcs Moncs and Of the settlers from the above
making their way here in very considerable state of
alarm The better received opinion, however of those
well advised in the matter that just ground for any
further serious apprehension exists and that to the
Indians coming down the neghborhpod Of Fort Dodge
where pretty strong body of could be speedily
ganized and the rascas snmmary dealt WITH there
danger of anything of the sort Yet il is deemed adj
among the settlers which is being done accordingly