The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02
THE LAST INTERVIEWS OF THE CONDEMNED
WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

t.. WITH THklk FklENDo. s.s
Wednesday, the oath, was set apart for
the interviews between the condemned and
such of their relatives and friends as were
confined in the main prison for the pur-
pose of exchanging adieus, and for the de-
livery of such messages to absent relatives
as each one might desire to send. Major
Brown was present during these inter-
views, and describes them as very sad and
affecting. The following is taken from his
account furnished to the Mankato Record:
| Each Indian had some word to send his pa
rents or family. When speaking of their wives
and children almost every one was affected to
tears. Good counsel was sent to the children.
They were in many cases exhorted to an adop-
ton of Christianity and the life Of good feeling
toward the whites. Most of them spoke con-
| fdently of their hopes of salvation. They had
been constantly attended by Rev. DR.. William
| son, Rev. Van RavOux and Rev. 8. r. Riggs,
whose efforts in bringing these poor criminals
to knowledge of the merits Of the Blessed
Redeemer, had been eminently successful
These gentlemen are all conversant with the
Dakota language and could converse and plead
| with the Indians in their own language.
| There is ruling passion with Indians, and
| Ta-zOO could not refrain from its enjoyment
| even in this sad hour. Ta-ti-mi-ma was send
ing word to his relatives not to mourn his loss.
| He said he was old, and could not hope to live
| long under any circumstances, and his eXecu-
ton would not shorten his days a great deal,
and dying as he did innocent of any white
mans blood, he hoped would give him better
| chance to be saved; therefore he hoped his
| friends would consider his death but as re-
moval from this to better world. have eve
h<NvNn t,~ NEc~ oh, IL
of the Great Spirit, where shall always be hap
| Ply. This last remark reached the ears of Ia
ZOO, who was also speaking to his friends, and
| he elaborated upon it in this wise: "Yes, tell
| our friends that we are being removed from
this world over the same path they must short
| ly travel. We 60 first, but many of our friends
may follow us in very short time. expect
to 60 direct to the abode of the Great Spirit,
and to be happy when l get there; but we are
| told that the road is long and the distance
| great, therefore, as | am slow in all my move
| mehts. it will probably take me long time
| to reach the end of the Journey and l should
not be surprised if some of the young, active
! men we will leave behind us will pass me on
the road before reach the place of my desti-
nation"
In shaking hands with Red Iron and Akipa,
Ta-zOO said: Friends, last summer you were
| opposed to us. You were living in continual
! apprehension of an attack from those who
| were determined to eXtcrminate the whites.
| Yourselves and families were subjected to
many taunts, insults, and threats. Still you
| stood firm in your friendship for the whites,
and continually counselled the Indians to
| abandon their raids against the whites. Your
| course was condemned at the time, but now
| we see your wisdom. You were right when
| you said the whites could not be eXterIninated,
| and the attempt indicated folly. Then you
| and your families were prisoners, and the lives
| OF all in constant danger. To-day you are here
| at liberty, assisting in feeding and guarding
| us, and thlrty-nine men will die in two days
| because they did not follow your example and
| advice.
| Several of the prisoners were completely
| overcome during the leave taking, and were
compelled to abandon conversation. Others
| again (and TazOO was One) affected to disregard
| the dangers of their position and laughed and
| JOked apparently as uncOncerncd as II they
| were sitting around camp fire in perfect free
| dom.
INTERVIEWS OF WOMEN WITH THE CON-
DENIED
On Thursday, the 10Th, the women
employed as cooks for the prisoners, all of
| whom had relations among the condemned,
were admitted to the prison. This inter-
view was less sad but was still interesting
Locks OF hair, blankets, coats, and almost
every other article in the possession of the
| prisoners were given in trust for some rel
alive or friend who had been forgotten or
overlooked during the interview of the
| day previous AT this interview far less
feeling was displayed than at the interview
of Wednesday. The idea of allowing wo-
men to witness their weakness is repugnant
to an Indian, and will account for this.
The messages sent were principally advice
to their friends to bear themselves with
fortitude and refrain from great mourning.
| The confidence of many in their salvation
was again reiterated.
BAPTISM OF PRISONERS.
On Thursday evening the ordinance of
baptism was solemnized by the Catholic
| priests present, and received by consid-
cradle number Of the condemned. Some
| of them entered into the ceremony with an
| apparently earnest feeling, and an intelli-
gent sense of it's solemn character. AL
seemed resigned to their fate, and de-
pressed in spirits. Most of those not par
ticipating in the ceremony sat motionless,
and more like statues than living men.
FRIDAY, EXECUTION DAY-AN INTERVIEW
WITH THE PRISONERS
On Friday morning, we accompanied
the Rev. Father Ravoux to the prison of
the condemned. The whole number were
sitting and lying about, in pairs, and dis
posed as comfortably as their chained con-
dition would permit. There was very little
conversation kept up among them, though
occasionally one would mutter few words
to another in unintelligible ,jargon. AS a
crowd they sat and lay there, smoking
their pipes as unconcernedly as if they were
engaged in council over some unimportant
matter of tribal concern. Absolutely i'm
passive, smoking and rarely mutterng, as
if their lease of life was eternal, and not
bOnnded nv three or fOur short hours