Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-05-09
The Massacre by Indians in iowa.

A letter in The Chicago Times, from Fort
Dodges Iowa dated the ] 9th inst, states
that the Volunteers who went from that
place TO punish the Indians for their massa
cresof the whites atSpirit Lake, Iowa, have
returned from their expedition. The writer,
who WAS one of the company, says:
hf'cr our arrival at "the Colony" pre-
para ons were made for a battle; twenty
two picked men were detailed 10 act as
Scouts, s,%ho kept some three miles in advance
of the main body, About ono O'clock, we
received information that they had found
about twenty five men, women and children
upon the prairie, some Of whom had been
wounded by the Indians. They were with
ont provisions scautilvs clothed, and ex-
hausted by falitue. When we camc up,
we found them encamped in grove by the
81 e of the Des Moimes river, where they
had been ttlkep by the scouts. We sup
piled their wants as we'll rs we were able,
and our surgeon, Dr. Bissell, attended to
the wounded.
These people had come from Springfield,
n trading post ON the west bank oflhe Des.
Moines liver Ia Southern Minnesota
On Friday. the 27Ih nli,. ut about 1
O'Clock p. M. they entered the town, and
calledfirstatthe store OF Geo, S Wm Wood,
which they robbed of all the goods and eight
hundred dollars in gold. Wm. Wood
was killed, and George Wood missing, was
supposed to have been burned with the
store. t$
They next called at the house Of Josiah
Stewart, and shot him through the head
His wife begged for life to which they re.
piled "ncbo' squaw" (kill sqew.) and shot
hen also in the head Her two lule girls
were killed With war clubs. John Stewart,
a little boy eight years old hid himself be-
hind a log and escaped. Mdj, Williams has
| taken him home, and will bring him up
He has now a good protector.
Fhey then proceeded 10 the house of q
Mr Thomas several families had here col
leeted together, and there were some eight
or nine rifles inthe house. Unlpashota, an
old Indian chief, we'll knownin this neigh
borhood, ran past the house, shouting to
the inmates, several of whom unfortunately
ventured to the door e, see what was the
matter when about twenty Indians, posted
behind a-hay,stacs, about Ave rods distant,
fired upon them, killing ason of Mr.. Thom.
as, ,ngcdten;years MIR. Thomas was woun-
ded in the arm. repdering amputation nee
essary; David CaFvefiwas shotthrough the
arm, The hall Iodging.in his side, the wound
is not e9nsidered dangerous and Miss Dru-
| sella Swiver receivedn ball in her shoulder.
the ball passing out upon the opposite side.
The doors were Instantly shut and bam..4.
caded. Some of the inmates eugaged them
selves IN moulding balls, others in lbadinc
the rifles. while John Bradshaw antf a man
named Markham fred upon tho hdans wifi
out. Their chief and a num8er Of others
were killed; the exact number IS not known.
II was reported by an Tndian to alnan nam
ed Shiglcy, that nine were Eillrd and hvo
wounded. Towards night the Indians with
drew carrying theidead and wounded with
them. No whine person was killed after
the first FIRE.
We resumedSour march next morning.
and after fWthor journey oflwo days, ar
+, rived al Granger's claim, 10 miles ensl of
FSPhit Lake. Our scouts here discoycrcd
traces ofthe Indians, but afler "a diligent
search, no Indians could be fcasa We
learned that the troops had beeB's, aprine-
field hulied the dead and ttii55zss, ii, iSp5ecded
to Spirit Lake and had buried ono nf the
dead at Marbles house that they baSl,fol-
loved the Ipdians until they edliss ysithin
a halfa day march of them, ~ isen tjte pur
suit was abandoned, the Ipsiians retreatiug
10 such as'e ~ 1si IA ifs;Hs i; sof their pum.
der behind then Aye horses. Why
nc Pet9pI.. 1,..'t. w.sei eP,I know got.
:. Major WilldH cstSing that the troops
had.chased the SIS ps6off, who were a.
least five days inaS snce, and that It would
be of no use to.follow them, detached TWEEN
ty,four men to go TO tbe.Jake ana bury the
dead they might end there,
The men sent to Spirit lake have return
ed. They have buried twen.y-nine bodies:
iwo were found burned} besides, il is not
known OF course, whose skeletons they were.
They first visited the house of Mr.. Tbatch.
er. and folnd two bodies-tbose Of A No.
Bile and MIR. Ryan. They then visited the
residence Of Jonathan House; here nino
bodies were found. dreadfully manglcd--
men, women and children, All indlscrninate.
lly murdered; the body of Jona,hcn House
is reported missing.
The next house was Changers, near tbo
Lake HsreS eSprobably, asharp conflict had
snsued, q man named Snyder was found
dreadfullly mangled with broad axe. Tho
a!ranger's have one missioe, probably k;lS,
ed. The body OF man 8as foand unon
the Lake near the house, SO rnsaeled ,ba, &
was Impossible 10 recognise him. Brolen
flfies were found about this house. and otb.
er signs indicative of a 6obl 'N''.FT'