Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-24
tesse ~ ~ ssss rson..s ma Dsnsssss, Hsys 81.
& The Rescue Of Hrs. Marble.

Z,
steamer Minnesota, accompanied by Mrs
Margaret Ann Marble one of the women Ia
ken prisoners by the Indians u Spirit Lake,
Iowa. March last, and whose release from
captivity has been briefly noted in our paper.
From Mr Fiandrau we learn sutne very In
teresting facts connected with the captivity
CT Mrs Marble and her associates
Mrs Marble states that ON the 18th Of
March last party Of Indians came TO the
residence Of her husband at Spirit Lake
Iowa, murdered him, and took her of as pris-
oner 10 their camp, in the vicinity OF thclak
At the camp she found . Mrs Thatcher. Mrs.
Noble. and Miss Gardiner all Of whom had
been taken prisoners by the Indians, in their
attack on the settlers OF the lake. Mrs.
Thatcliers husband escaped being killed by
temporary absence 10 with Mrs. Noble
Miss GARDENERS entire family had been muir
dered
The Indians broke up. their camp at Spirit
Lake Immediately, and proceeded 70 Heron
Lake. distant about twenty-five miles, where
they encamped aud left their sqaawr and
prisoners, and started on an expedition, Mrs.
Marble sapposes, to the Dss MoiDes, at
Springfield, where they committed other mur-
ders They returned 10 the camp at Heron
Lake, in about ten days, with large lot Of
powder, dry goods, guns, horses dc, all OF
which had been secured in their attack on
Springfield On the next day after their re-
turn, the Indians broke up their camp and
started westward They were on the march
every day Tor upwards OF month, and only
rested at Skunk Lake, west Of the Big Sioux
River, and about one hundred and twenty
FIVE miles northwest of Spirit Lake, Mrs.
Marble estimated the distance travelled at
four or five hundred miles, probably owing
10 the tortuous course pursued by the lndi-
ans 70 avoid pursuit She thinks they arriv-
ed at Skunk Lake about the first Of May.
Here they remained FIVE DAYS, when the for
tunatc circumstances transpfred which re-
suited in the release Of Mrs. Marble from
captivity.
Ia relation TO the trials and suiferings Of
the unfortunate females, during the journey
to Skunk Lake, Mrs Marbles narrative is
deeply interesting, and calculated to thrill
the heart Of the most Indifferent with feelings
Of horror, indignation, and desire for Justice
If not revenge, upon these cowardly murder
ers.
Immediately on starting from Heron Lake
Mrs Marble states that herself and assocl-
ates were forced to carry heavy packs, and
perform the degrading and mental services
in the camp She says that the pack she
was compelled to carry consisted Of two bags
Of shot, each weighing IS pounds. On top of
of this heavy load, which this weak, ill-used
and distracted woman was forced 10 carry,
was placed the additional weight of an In
dian urchin of some three or four years OF
age Tho snow was very deep the prison
ers were but thinly clad, and most Of tho
time suffering from hunger. The warm cloth
ing they had on them when they were made
prisoners, was taken from them by the
sqnaws and in its place they received but a
scanty supply, i'll suited to the weather and
the exposure they were forced to undergo
At times the unfortunate captive would fall
to the ground exhausted and utterly unable
TO proceed farther. Then the inhuman
wrctches would place the muzzle OF a loaded
gun at her head, and threaten her with in
slant death unless she would Immediately
continue her weary march When horse
stolen at the settlements would die, or be kill
cd by the Indians for food, the prisoners
would be allowed to recruit their exhausted
strength by supply of horse flesh but with
these exceptions they suffered greatly from
a want of food, and were glad to snatch up
the bones thrown down by the Indians. after
their repast Mrs. Marble states that they
were often forced to eat the wing feathers
plurked from the ducks shot by the Indians,
and Shriyelled before the fire. to save them
selves from starvation
When the Indians would encamp for the
night. the captives were compelled to carry
wood and water and build fires put up the
tei5aes, &c--Thcy were, however, never al
lowed TO prepare the food. At first they very
naturally rebelled ut the treatment they re-
cevcd, but the ldianns beat them with clubs
into submission to their orders. Mrs Mar
BILE states that she soon discovered that the
only way to secure herself from i'll treatment
was to perform the duties assigned her with
chcerfuness and alacr,y Herself, Mrs. No
bic and Miss Gardiner pursued this course,
ana were treated more kindly than their as
suciate, Mrs. Thatcher, who was in delicate
health, and utterly unable to do tbs amount
Of work required of her. This led to a most
tragic and horrible occurrence, when the par
" crossed the Big Sioux
They arrived at this stream about fifteen
days after leaving Heron Lake. The Indian
cut down several trees on each side OF the
river and thus made q bridge across it.
When Mrs. Thatcher attempted to cross, she
was thrown into the river she succeeded in
swimming to within short distance OF the
opposite side, when one of the Indians delib
crately shot her through the head, killing
her instantly. The body of the unfortunate
woman was left floating in the stream. Her
death was hailed by the Indian women with
loud shouts JOY and exultation. The feel
ings of the surviving prisoners, at this hor-
rid murder, cannot be imagined. They be-
held in Mrs. Thatcher's death, the fate re-
served for them, when oyerpowered by IA
tgue, they would be unable to proceed
About five days after the party reached
skunk Lake two iac-que-parle Indians, on
their spring hunt, made their appearance at
the camp oi Ink pa-du-tah 8 band, They We're
well received by the chief and his followers
a feast followed ut which the indians related
thoir exploits at Spirit Lake boosted Of the
marders they had committed, the goods they
had stolen, &c. ssss-----.--
The Lac-que- Parle Indians remained in
the camp all night, keeping a sharp lookout,
they informed Mr.. FIandrau on the move
ments Of lnkpadu-tah, who, they apprehen-
ded, would attempt violence The next morn.
ing, having previously learned that the ind-
ans had three white women in camp, they
made proposition 10 purchase one OF the
captlvcS After considerable negotiation,
Ink padu-tah's band consented to part with
thFs, AafblS IN CONSIDERATION OF receiving q
gun, iet Of blankets, key of powder, and q
small supply of Indian trinkets The two | n
dams immediately started homeward with
Mrs, Marble, aud arrived at Lae-qui Parle on
the 20th OF May. On the journey, occupying
ten days they treated Mrs NJ with great
Kindness, furnishing her with wnrm clothing,
carrying hcs ever streams and providing her
with food
Ca driving at l4ac-qui Parie, the two In.
dams, who were brothers and known as
Gray Foot and Roaring Cloud, placed Mrs.
Nj, in their fathers lodge, where she was
treated with equal consideration and kind
ness, There she remained until Messrs
Williamson and Biggs, Missionaries, arrived
and removed her to the Agency ut Yellow
MedieAe After u few dav ycst, with the
families at the Agency ana Fort Ridgcly, she
started for st Paul, in company with Mr.
flanarau, and arrived at the Fuller House
last evening
Mrs, Narble is about twenty FIVE years of
age, oimedium size, and very pleasant look
ing. she isa native of narke county, Ohio,
and moved 10 Michigan about ten years ago,
Sac has been twice married Her first