Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-30
MINNESOTA INDIAN CAPTIyES.

f"ANNh hSOIA INDIAN CAPTIvES'
tFrom the Fort Dodge Republican, 14th inst.l :
On Monday of this week there arrived In
town, 10y the Sioux City Stage, party Of
eight persons-women and children-who
were taken prisoners 10y the Indians, during
The late difficulties in Minnesota, and had
just been released. They were on their way
to their friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota,
under charge of Mr.. Wright husband Of
one of the captves-who had met them at
Fort Randall, for the pupose of escoring them
| The party consisted OF the following persons
Mrs. Duly and two children aged 4 and g
years; Mrs. Wright and child aged 8 years;
two children, aged and II years, named
Irish and "A girl six years Of age, named
Everett mentioned in another place. .
| MIR. Duly arrived by the Eastern Stage,
and found his wife and children already here
hrec of his children were killed.
We converscd for some time with Mrs.
Wright--a very intelligent and prcpossess-
| ing woman--and give below brief statement
OF some OF the circumstances connected with
her capture and captivity, substantially in
her own words: -.". u
! The captivcs lived on the banks of and
rear Lake Shetek, on the headwatcrs of the
west fork of the Des Moincs, about sixty
miles north Of the Iowa line. During the
summer there had been in the settlement.
rumors OF an intended outbreak by tho In.
dians, and stock had occasionally been killed
by them, but nothing serious was really M.
pretended. On the Goth day Of August, a
chief named "Grizzly Bear" called Mt IN.
house of a German named Holt, and asked
for him. lie came to the door and was shot
down. This murder was soon discovered.
and the settlers with their families collected
at the house of Mr.. Wright for safety. The
Indians soon appeared, and consultation
was held 10y the whites as to the propriety OF
remaining IN the house or taking to the tim
Der and trying to escape in that manner
They finally decided on the advice of par.
ty OF Santce Sioux who lived near, and who
made the warmest protcstatlons of friendship.
even even. Offering to fight for their frends-the
es OF reaching place of safety. They had
not proceeded more than about two miles
when they were completely surrounded by
the Indians, and discovered that those who,
an hour or two before had been foremost In
their professions of friendship, were the
most savage OF their enemies. The party Of
whites now consisted of about 80, of which
number only six were men about tlie Same
number were women, and the remainder
children OF various ages. No escape was now
possible, and the greater portion Of the party
rcndercd--several, however, fed and were
shot, most Of whom died, but some recover.
ed and finally made their way to the settle.
ments. After the cap ure, three women and
SIX children were shot, in cold blood, by ono
indian, and he, too, one Of the Santees. who
professed friendship From the place Of
their capture, the captivcs were taken to the
yellow Medicine Agency, on the Minnesota
river, where they remained some ten DAYS.
The Indians then divided into two parties.
one taking the prisoners named, started for
the Missouri river. They arrived at their
destination on the 27th of October, G8 days
after their capture. They travelled after
leaving the Minnesota river, from 10 to 80
miles per day the Indians taking sort of
a zig gag course, which doubtless fully dou-
blcd the distance. 1t is estimated that from
the place Of their capture to the point where
hey struck the Missouri, by the route Ia.
4, en, is distance Of over one thousand miles.
md the women were compelled to walk cy.
"ry foot Of the way.
Mrs. w. gave us a statement Of a conver
satIon she held with son of old Ink pa- -du.
tah-who it will be recollccted, led the party
lhat Inassacred the settlers at Spirit Lake. in
1907. lie said that in the spring, the Ind.
ans were intending 10 commence the exter.
nInatlon OF the whites--that in three wears
time there would not be white left west of
the Mississippi. The Indians were rot pun
lshed IN 1857, because the whites were afraid
OF them and he thought it sufficient evil
dencc tia. his people were able to DESTROY
the whites. This view Of the matter is gen.
orally prevalent among The Indians, and
'>onld put qnietns to the milk and water
pollcy which the Government has thus far
pursued with the red-skn mnrderers and
thieves. Nothing short Of extcrrninating tho
hostile tribes will ever give US permanent
peace and quiet frontier.
Among the captives was little girl. about
SIX years OF age, daughter Of Mr. Everett.
Tier iather had been in town several days
awaiting her arrival, and they met, fer tho
hrst tiine since her capture, at the hotel
here. lie himself had been wounded in
three places, and barely escaped with his
life, by felgning death his wife had been
murdered while attempting to escape q lii.
tic son four years Of age had been killed be.
fore his eyes, and another still younger. ne
knew not what became OF. Out of his once
happy family Of a wife and three children.
this little girl alone remained. Our readers
can better imagine the meeting than we can
describe il. The child took the hand of her
father. and he pressed her 10 his bosom :
but not word was spoken by either. Tho
JOY of meeting the sole remnant OF his fsmi.
ly, was so saddened by the recollection
yividly forced upon his mind by the pres
ence Of his child--of the fate of his dearly
loving wife and darling boys, that the strong
man was overcome with emotion. He wcpt
like child. He asked his daughter OF ia
little brother, two years old. of whom tho IA.
ther had heard no tidings. Sha replied that
when she saw him last he was crawling into
the bushes to hide himself from the savar e
lie probrbly escaped the tomahAwk
lnaian, only % de ef starratien, inN
cts Of Luxe Shetak.
It having been discovered .