The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-06-17
Mrs. Marbles Narrative of her
Captivity among the Indians.

On the 18th Of March last, o party
Of Indians came up TO the residence of
her husband at Spirit Lake Iowa, mur.
dcred him and took her off as prisoner
to their camp in the vicinity Of the lake.
AT the camp she found Mrs. Thatcher,
Mrs Noble a Miss Gardner, all Of
whom had been taken prisoners at the
lako. Mrs, Thotcher's husband had es
capped being killed by temporary ab.
sence so with Mrs. Noble. Miss Gard.
ner's entire FIRMLY had been murdered.
The Indians broke up their camp and
proceeded 10 Heron Lake, distant about
twenty i've miles where they eucamped
and left their squaws and prisoners, and
started on an expedition, Mrs Marble
supposes, TO the Des Mones at Spring
field, whore they committed other mur.
ders, returning with muoh plunder.
They then left Heron Lake and travel
led 500 mies, being a month on the
route.
" Immediately on starting from He.
ron Lake Mrs Marble and associates
we're forced to carry heavy packs, and
perform he degrading and mental serv
ccs in tho camp Tho pack she was
compelled to carry consisted of two bags
ofshot each weighing twenty-five pounds.
On top of this was placed the additional
weiabt of an Indian urchin Of some three
or four years of age. The snow was
very deep, the prisoners but thinly clad,
and most Of the time suffering from hun.
ger. The warm clothing they had on
them when they were made prisoners
was taken from them by the squaws, and
in its place they received but scanty
supply, illsuited 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 further, Then the in
human wrotches would place the muzzle
of a loaded gun at her head, and threat
en- her with instant death unless she
would immediately continue her weary
march. When horse stolen at the set
Elements would Gle, OF be killed by the
Indians for food, the prisoners would be
allowed to recruit their exhausted
strength by supply of horse.Hesb, but
with these exceptions they suffered
greatly from want of food, and were
glad to snatch up the bones thrown
down by tho indians after their repast.
Mrs. Marble states they were often
forced to cat the wing feathers, plucked
from the ducks shot BY tho Indians, and
shriveled before the fire, to save them.
solves from starvation.
"When the Indians would cncamp tor
the night, the captives wero compelled
to carry wood and water, and build
fires, put up the tepecs, Sc. They were
however, mover allowed to prepare the
TT, III. "a e. they very naturally re.
belled at the treatment tuey lrusr.ea,
but the Indians beat them with clubs in.
TO submission to their orders. Mrs
Marble states that she soon discovered
that the only way to secure herself from
ill'treatment, was to perform the duties
assigned her with cheerfulness and alac-
rity Herself, Mrs. Noble and Miss
Gardiner, pursued this course, and were
treated more kindly than their associate
Mrs. Thatcher, who was 10 delicate
health aud utterly unable TO do the a.
mount of work required Of her. This
led to a most tragic and horrible occur
renee, VIXEN the party crossed the Big
Sioux. They arrived at this stream a
bout fftoou days after leaving Lake He.
ron. The Indians Gu. down several
trees on each side Of the river and thus
made a 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 Ipdi-
ans deliberately sho, her through the
head. The body of the unfortunate wo-
mau was left floating in the stream. Her
death was hailed by the Iudian women
with loud shouts of joy and exultation
The feelings of the surviving prisoners,
at this horrid murder, cannot be imag-
iued. They beheld in Mrs Thatcher's
death, the fate reserved for them, when
overpowered by fatigue, they would be
unable to proceed"
Subsequently they reached Skunk
Lake, where they met the chief who
purchased Mrs. NJ and restored her to
civilized life, She is entirely destitute.
The camp of Ink pa-dutah her capsor,
numbered fifteen lodges
"Alrs. Marble is about % years of age
of medium size, and very pleasant look
log. She is a native OF Darke county,
Ohio, and moved to Michigan about ten
years ago. She has been twice married.
Her first husbands name was Phips
After his death she married Mr.. Marble,
with whom she removed to Linn county,
Iowa, aud ultimately to Spirit Lake, in
Dickson county, Mrs. NJ is reduced to
destitution, her husband has been mur-
dered, and as to whether her parents
are alive or not she is ignorant"
LET's LAUGH OVER iT.-The following
lettsr received in our countingroom is
"as good as a play" II is. to all ap.
pearance. bona fide production, and we
give it to show that topography " is
spreading
Mr.. Bowels & Co-our-i wish yound
cend---'s pepper bi male the dam thing
dount knum haf the tim We susposc sum