Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-05-14
From the 0watonna (Mnn } Waterman and Register
Indian Difficulties

Quite an excitement has been created among the
settlers on TIE Blue Earth and Watonwon Rivers,
and throughout the Territory and country, in con
sequence of the serious outrages committed by u
band of Indians upon the settlements near Spirit
Lake in Iowa AID in the Desmoins valley, Miuneso-
ia. 1t appears that some of the settlers near Spirit
Lake became involved in q difficulty with preda-
tory band of Indians, which resulted in the murder
Of a number of settlers, men women and children,
by the Indians.
Asmany conflicting and very much exaggerated
reports Of the difficulties have been published by
various papers, we copy below an account of the
Spirit Lake massacre from the st. Paul Adrertiser.
That paper vouches for its correctness
"Some forty miles from Spirit Lake, on the Little
Sioux River, a party Of Indians were passing the
house Of white man, when dog rushed out and
bit one of the number The Indian, las all Indians
do in sparsely settled country considered him
self with his comrades superior to any force that
could be brought against them, and shot the deg
The party camped for the night near the place where
the dog had been killed The owner of the dog
feeling aggrieved at his loss, indignant atthe pre-
sumption of the Indian, proceeded 10 the evening to
his lodge, in company with his neighbours and there
chasfsed him and took home the guns of the part v
After hr0odng this returned insult till the next
day the savages in body went TO the house where
their guns were stored and took their property and
strange to say, left without offering any injury
insult to the offenders wife, the sole occupant the
time. Had il not been for the circumstance which
VIII relate, probably nothing further would have
been done.
These Indians are a small party of disaffected de
tatehed Sioux, formerly belonging TO the Wa a- pa
con-ta band. The leader chief is Ink pa In tab
who has two daughters married to Yank. ions
Everybody IN the country probably knows that
this last named band is far from being friendly with
the whites, although that appearances kept MP and
4 portion Of the lower ones receive therannuties at
yellow Medicine. The manner in which they have
been treated heretofore, while down for that mr..
pose, has not been calculated to conclate them
Those best acquainted with them would have been
the least surprised al any hostile feeling they might
have, or manifest at any time This Ink pa In tab
and his band have very little feeling in common
Il rowing life; have not been settled on the reserva
lion, ana think have never received annuities while
their association have not been suoh TO strengthen
or create friendship for the whites.
As ntimated, had it not been for these facts
nothing further might have TRANSFERRED, and fami-
lfes that have been butchered, and neghborhoods
sacked and pillaged by them, left undsturbed But
after rejecting upon the indignty as heyconsidered
il ofhaving had their guns taken from them and dis
grace of being beaten by white men, and the sever
tiles of the winter all proving upon their minds to-
gether with the easy escape and safe retreat thew
considered II, among their laukton friends, the
scene commenced
Not house on their march from that place to
Spirit Lake, distance of forty or fifty miles, but
was robbed, and the inmates men, women and
children, that could not escape by fight, hutchered
No one at present knows how many were killed
Captain Bee reports that he found one family by the
name of Stuart, or Stewart wife and two men muir
dered-one or two men and a boy near a house were
partly eaten by wolves or dogs The body of a fra
der nj Spirit Lake, Lieutenant Murray also found
all OF which were buried by the troops II is
reported byJoe Ceuneile at tue time that the In.
aans have taken four women alive with them
which is probably true. They took sixteen horses
from the neighborhood and Killed most OF the cat
tie
The number of Indians engaged in these ont
RACES is varonsiy estimated. Captain Bee who was
first as the ground states the whole number to nave
ht% oil t..ll a., !.
the number much higher.
Another attack was make settlement on tie
Desmoins, some sixty miles from Mankato. Several
persons were killed there, and some cattle stolen
and killed. These murders were committed by
the same band. Immediately upon the reception of
the news OF the Spirit Lake massacre Col Smith
dispatched .hree companies from Fort Smelling to
the scene Of difficulty. Volunteer companies were
also organized at 81. Peter, aIankato aud other pla
ceS and proceeded ina ediaiely the aid of the from
tier settlements Several rude Notifications were
erected ut points on the Blue Earth and Watonwon
rivers Al last accounts howeve., all was quiet
again and all serious apprehension were allayed.
The number of lives taken by the Indians cannot
be definitely aseertained but ii thought to be up
wards OF 80.
Terrible as is the fact in regard to these massaeres
aud loudly call tor prompt rerIbUtive action on the
part of the authorities, we cahnot avoid believing
,Aat much harm has been done by the outrareous
oxaggeration which has been made in some quar-
ers; Talk of q general Indian war has been rife
between
Chippewas and SiaUx for the determination of tbe
white population have been circulating industrious
IS until some sections Of the country we're intensely
excited Oar opinion is, that the trouble is ali over
4 the troops viii take some thorough steps for The
apprehension and punishment; of tho offending hand
At any rate there needioe no fear Of general upris
ing Of the Indians, All the tribes savow any snch
intention. Tho best informed mon in the Territo~x
pronounce such state Of things impossible.
HE RACINE NoLksBLATT.-This paper. a
German weekly, hitherto bunker in polit;es
has been purchased by Mr.. HuGARp. and
will hereafter advocate the principles of the Re-
Publican party.
MICHIGAN ELECTIoN.-The Judicial
Election i'll Michigan, as in Wisconsin.
has resllltedm an overwhelming Repub-
liean triumph. In 81 counties, officially
returned, tile Republicans carry all but
fre-their aggregate majority for Su-
preme Court judges, beinglI, 967. of
the eight Circuit Judges elected all but
one are Republicans. Welldone for the |
Peninsular State,