The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1857-06-27

Charles L. Flandrau, agent for the
Sioux Of the Mississippi, arrived at st.
Paul on the 3Oth ultimo, from the Sioux
Agency, accompanied by Mrs. Margaret
Ann Marble, one of the women taken
prisoner by the Indians at Spirit Lake,
Iowa, in March last, and whose release
from captivity has been briefly noted in
our paper. Below we give some very
interesting facts connected with the cap
tivity of Mrs. Marble aud her associate ss :
Mrs. Marble states that on the 18th of
March last, a party of Indians came to
the residence of her husband at Spirit
Lake, Iowa, and murdered him and took
her off as prisoner to their camp in the
vicinity Of the Lake. At the camp she
found Mrs. Thatcher, a Mrs. Noble,
and a Miss Gardener, all of whom had
been taken prisoners by the Indians in
their attack on the settlers at the Lake.
Mrs. Thatcher's husband had escaped be-
ing killed by temporary absence; so
with Mrs. Noble. Miss Gardeners en-.
tire family had been murdered.
The Indians broke up their camp at
Spirit Lake Immediately, and proceeded
to Heron Lake, distant about twenty five
miles, where they encamped and left their
squaws and prisoners, and started on an
expedition, Mrs. Marble supposes, to the
Des Moines, at Springfield, where they
committed other murders. They re-
turned to the camp at Heron Lake in
about ten days, with a large lot of pow
der, dry goods, guns, horses, &c, all of
which had been secured in their attack
on Springfield. The next day after their
return, the Indians broke up their camp
and started westward. They were Oh the
march every day for upwards of a month,
and only rested at Skunk Lake, west of
the Big Sioux River, and about one hun
dred and twenty miles northwest Of
Spirit Lake Mrs Marble estimated the
distance travelled at four or FIVE hun
dred miles, probably owing to the tortu-
GUS course pursued by the Indians to
avoid pursuit. She thinks they arrived
at Skunk Lake abou. the first of May.
Here they remained five days, when the
fortunate circumstances transpired which
resulted in the release Of Mrs. Marble
from captivity.
Immediately y on starting from Heron
Lake, Mrs. Marble states that herself and
associates were forced to carry heavy
packs, and perform the degrading and
menial services in the camp. She says
that the pack she was compelled to carry
consisted of two bags of shot, each weigh
ing twenty-five pounds. On the top Of
this heavy load, which this weak, i'll
used, and distracted woman was forced
to carry, was placed the additional weight
of an Indian urchin of some three or four
years of age The snow was very deep,
the prisoners were but thinly clad, and
most of the time suffering from hunger.
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,
ill-suited to the weather, and the expo
sure they were forced to undergo At
times the unfortunate captive would fall
to tie ground, exhausted and utterly un-
able to proceed farther. Then the inhu-
man wretches would place the muzzle Of
loaded gun at her head, and threaten
her with instant death unless she would
Immediately continue her wear,cd march
When a horse stolen at the settlements
would die, or be killed by the Indians for
food, the prisoners would be allowed to
recruit their exhausted strength by a
supply Of horse flesh, but, with these sx-
ceptions, 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 plucked from the ducks
shot by the Indians, and shrivelled be-
fore the fire, to save themselves 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 tepees, &c. They we're, how
ever, never allowed to prepare the food.
At first they very naturally rebelled at
the treatment they received, but the In
dians beat them with clubs into submis-
sion 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 alacrity. Herself,
| Mrs. Noble, and Miss Gardiner pursued
this course, and were treated more kind
ly than their associate, Mrs. Thatcher,
who was in delicate health, and utterly
unable to do the amount of work requir-
ed Of her. This led to most tragic and
horrible occurrence, when the party
crossed the Big Sioux,
They arrived at this stream about Hf-
teen days after leaving Heron Lake. The
Indians cut down several trees on each
side Of the river, and thus made a bridge
across it. When Mrs. Thatcher attempt.
ed to cross, she was thrown into the
river; she succeeded in swimming to
within a short distance Of the opposite
side, when ono Of the Indians sclibe.
~steIv shot her throrgh .hn hnaS. killin-