Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-03-12
tFr"n th" hAcoupin (lu.} Statesman.l
Eighteen Years a Captive Amongst
the Indians.

A%AF1 A[S~4 - 1%k@a - @A PsA7S AAA4iSAF3 1B
the Indians.
We were visited, few days ago, by
man NAMED Joseph Barney, who says
that he ls in search of a SOD whom he
supppses to live somewhere near Alton.
lie made lis escape on the 5th Of last
May, from the Fat Head Indiaus, near
the head Of the Flat Head River in Ore
gon. lie stated that he has been with
this tribe Of Indians eighteen years. We
listened for snme length Of time to his
history, nnuy portions of which are
truly thrilling. lie was taken prisoner
i'll 1896 on the Upper Missouri river
while i'll the employ Of fur company.
lie is native Of France, and speaks
English but poorly; but we give what
he communicated to us as nearly as pos
sibIe. lie was in company with a man
named john Robertson, botl, Of whom
were captured. They Attempted to de-
ftnd themselves, and killed Two Indians,
but they were overpowered-,here being
twenty-five Indians to contend with.-
They were secured hand and foot, and
placed Oh pvnies, and started 10 the
Norlhwestward, and travelled ffgs weeks.
when they came to the hunting ground
Of the tribe, where they were given up
t., the chief. who shook hands with them,
and manifested much joy at their cap
lure. They were unbound and confined
III hu', where they we're fed but not
allowed to cscape. The chief offered
them bis TWO daughters f they would
marry and rtsnair with the tribe. Find
ing escape utterly impossible for the
time beng, the terms were accepted,
and tbs marriage took place. The fruits
Of t is 'narrlage were two children, both
Of which are still living, daughter.
sixteeu, aud q son foul teen, both Of
which he left with tn g tribe. Two years
ago, Robertson attempted to escape. but
was retaaen, sca|ped and burned alive,
leaving sEres children with the tribe.
Seven Yeas age Dafney attempted to
escape, but Vas reeaplured and would
l,svu been put to death but for the in
terpositiou Of his wife, who was the
daughter OF the chief. During the time
OF his Captivity, Barney states that be
WAS engaged with bis t'Ibe iu three bat
tlss--two with the Black Feet, and one
with q tribe the name OF which we 10
not KNOWN one of Which he says over
seventy Black Feet were killed. z@
The most OF the time Of his cept'vily
he lived on the head of the Colum bia
River, and At times as far up IS the h cad
of the Flat Head river. During these
eighteen years he saw neither salt, bread,
potatoes, coffee, tea, or anything Of the
kind; living upon meat Of moose, deer,
skunk, rattle-snake, turkey, prairie hen,
&c. At The time he made his escape, be
was near Lake Superior, about sixty
miles from trading post Of the Ameri~
can Fur C"mpapy. The chief (his
father~in-Iaw) was doctor, and on the
18th of May last, and while he was gone,
Barney succeeded in making all tue In
dians dead drunk with the whiskey
which had been just received, giving one
and La'f pints 10 each Indian. After
they were asleep he took bis bow and
arrows, tomahawk. pipe, TWO and bait
pounds tobacco, flint and steel, and Two
pounds Of meat, being ALL there was in
The lint. LIE started aud travelled all
night, having bis dog along; the next
morning be killed his dog, to prevent
his returning to give clue TO his trace
About eleven o'clock tue same d"y,
when he lad travelled about t|Iirty-flve
miles, he was overhaued BY bis father
in-Iaw's (the chiel's) dog, which be Kill
led with his bow and arrow, and carried
the carcass away ftom the path, and then
concealed himself in the brush: while
be was thus concealed the chief passed
by him; as he passed the chief mnttered
10 himself IN his language 80" will
pass this mountain aud At the foot OF it
[ will take to the left hand" OveEhear-
ing this, Barney arailed himself Of this
information. Following t0e chief 10 the
foot Of the mountain, he found, sure
enough, that he had taken the left hand
road WI 'ch be ascertalned by the tracks
Of bis pony. lie continued his journey
10 the east, until about two hours after
dsvbreak Oh the next morning, when he