New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-01
OFFICIAL Account or THE LATE
INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.
.,,,,s.r,s osTbe Pione,T ana Denoc,..


grow as they extend from the Of the occurrence
deem it my duty being in possession of the facts as
they really TRANSFERRED TO give thss publicity in order
10 prevent erroneous statements Pom going abroad
which nay BE- prejudcia TO the interests and advance
ment of the Territory by unnecessarily alarming those
| who intend mmigratug here the present season.
The Sioux Indians bearing abroad the reputation Of
being powerful and warlke race and 50 few persons
BEN conyersant with their condition their divisions
and their relation 10 the Government the whites and
10 each other the oenses OF any portion Of then will
naturally be attributed TO them AL and awaken appre
tension in quarters where there possible grounds
for them: il is 10 alay such fears and 10 direct public
sentiment in the right channel n. the outset that pro-
pose explanation OF the difficulty. the causes which
have led 10 H. the Indians who chargeable with H.
and the influence il will legtmaely exert upon the
country
The Lake situated near the north line of the State
| Of Iowa, short distance west OF the Des Molnes
River where il crosses that line. Last Spring the Hon.
VIM Freedom Of Red Wing in connection with other
gentlemen projected settlement at this point, which
| had progressed up to this Winter to Fix or seven
houses, with many families they were well supplied,
and contemplated large improvements this season.
Some time last Sprlug Summer. town was laid
of or fifteen miles from this lake up the Des Moines
River. and called Springfield, by Mr.. Wood, formerly
of lEatO. This settlement at the time 81 the trouble
(which occurred during the early part of March, con-
taned two trading houses and several families this
the nearest settlement on the north there being
no habi,atiUn than the Wa-ton-wsn River.
There settlement on the west OF IT, The nearest
settlement on the south is reported to be about forty
miles down the river which takes its source in Spirit
Lake, known among the Indians a. ln-yan-yan Key,
or Rock River. 1t will be that this locality is
isolated md on the extreme verge of civilization, and
without possessed the of defense within itself
would be unprotected in case OF danger from an
enemy The settlers houses are always considerable
distance apart and generally not within sight OF each
other and would fall Ill easy prey to half dozen men
acting in concert
The Indians were hunting in Iowa. in the vicinity of
the settlement Rock River one ri the Indians was
bitten BY n dog belonging to n white man, and he
killed the dog. The white assaulted the Ind
and bea, him severely, and the whites proceeded TO
the camp Of the Indians and disarmed them by some
means the Indians rcpossesscd themselves Of their
als or procured others, and commenced III attack
upon the settlement with what result have been
unable certainly ~ ascertain but fear the worst they
up TO Spirit Lake, and by taking one house at
time Il. is reported either killed, took prisoners, or
drove away all the persons residing there
The frst that was known Of this outrage was ascer-
tanned by Mr. Morris Markham who had been resid.
ing at Spirit Lake, in the family o Mr. Gardiner, and
who returning after absence of some time IN lows,
proceeded to his former residence the 9th of March
last aud found it sacked and three dead bodies III The
house He visited two other houses that DAY ana
found them deserted. He then secreted himself until
night when he went 10 fourth house. aud Jaw six or
eight lodges of Indians encamped near IT, Suppo-ng
they had been the of what he had witnessed he
went Immediately Ia the Des MONIES settlement, ana
reported what he had seen. Most OF the men being
absent they sent to Fort Ridgey for relief and two
Young men over, arriving on the iSth oil March
being personally acquainted with some of the parties
at the Des Moincs who had signed statement oil the
facts sud knowing the presence in that neighbOrhOod
of lGwlcss Indians fully satisfied OF tho truth OF
the report and after consultation with Col Alexander
commanding Fort Ridgely lie. with conlnenda9lr
nlacli.y dispatched company of the lenth IN
fan,rv under Captain Bee and Lieutenant MUIR
raw. To the scene of the troubles. These
troops encountered all the difficulties and obsta,
~clcs incident TO marching over praiHes covered
with deep snow, and just in the transition stage
between Winter and Spring but perseveed day after
dsv until they reached the Lake Here they ascer.
aimed that the Indians were two days IN advance OF
them the retreat having been apprised by one OF
tie traitors Of the approach O the troops alter whnh
information they murdered him, pundered his estab-
shment and made good their retreat into country
which made capture improbable, with their small
force and pursuit unavailipg Had it not been for
this untoward circumstance the troops would probably
have taken them the spot. The Indians here re-
polt that force arrived from the Missouri River OF
about one hundred soldiers, but have heard nothing
reliable concerning them. Capt. Bee has returned,
leaving Lieut. Murray at the Lake with twenty-our
men, A guard viii be kept there until orders are re-
ceved what action 10 take to punish the Offenders;
The exact number Of persons Killed IS not ascerained
but twenty are said To be missing Inns l. MS
tory of what has taken place.
Twill nov give you short history Of the Indians
who have committed this outrage, ndtheir character,
and relation to the Sioux Of Minnesota
Previous 10 the year 1851 the date of the treaty be-
tween the NJ dc wa-kan-ton and Wak-peku-ti Sioux,
these Indians inhabited the country of the 81 Peters
Minnesota up To the Little kePls, anu also tue
northern portion of Iowa, and about the Des MONIES
and Spirit Lake country. The Wak-peku-ti were
under two Chiefs, WaBI-di-Sapa and Ta--a-gi, and
were at war with the Sacs and Foxes the W sk-pe-
ku-, who now live the Resery alton say that II was
the lawless and predatory habits OF the Indians under
Nam-di-sapa that kept up that war. The Sac and
Fox troubles and other causes separated the ak-pe-
ku-i and those under Wan-dsapa gradually went to-
ward the Missouri River, nnb,ing the country about
Veimlon River At the time of the ces.ion of NJ de-
we-ksn-ton and Wak-pe-ku-ti lands, these Indians
not considered occupying the lands embraced
in the treaty then made, which inciudes the Des
Noines and Spirit Lake country and they did not sp-
pear or take any pan in the treaty More recently
they have planted near Spirit Lake. In 1891 num-
Der of them came to the payment aud claimed the
right 10 be participants IN the annulties ana were re-
ected BY tie Indians and the Agent La-t Fall they
cnue again, and again NJ ected. There Is no
friendship existing between these Indians and those
included in the treaty and they are a. ready to depre-
date upOn those Indians as upon the whites.
The force of this stroing band who have done thu
mischief is not more than eight ten lodges or abou
fifteen They are led by Ink pa-data, ana are al
well known. The case has been laid before the
Indian Department by myself, and immediate aud
energetic measures recommended to bring the
offenders 10 Justice II has also been fully reported by
the officers at Foit Ridgely. and have no doubt but
that the Government Will speedily punish the guilty
parties. mn
The Sioux Indians upon the reserve are well dis
posed ard receive this intelligence with as much in
dignaton and dsapprobation as the whites them
selves. They doing their best to improve ther
condition and stand clear of any suspicion Of or con-
necton with this affair The few of them who yet
nger abou, the white settlements will be removed In
the Spring end would have been before had 4 been
possible for them 10 subsi on the reserve TINS inter
So far from the Sioux a. a tribe being implicated in
this affair has been perpetrated by few stroiiing
Indians who are not recognized by the Sioux or the
Government and have been for years outlaws among
their own people and who il is my opinion, VII be
ext,rnnated before the leaves Of next Autumn fall.
Persons coming into the Territory need feel no more