, 1865-11-16
EXECUTION OF INDIANS.
ShakoPee and meljcln6 ISos..e Hanged
ntFort Smelling, minu.

The order for the execution Of the two
Sioux Indians, shakopec and Medicine Bottle,
reached Fort Smelling on Wednesday In the
nbsence of Col McLaren, the commandant,
and was read to the prisoners by Major Jones,
with tho aid Of Mr.. Quinn, halsbrced in,
terpretcr. II will be remembered that these
two Indians who were among the most promi-
ncnt Of the instigators OF, and actors In the
horrible massacre at Bed Wood and vicinity
IN 1862, where five hundred whites fell vic
TINS to trsacherous Uprising Of the sayages,
the British territory north Of Pembira, hav-
Ing been dexterously drusged for that pur-
pose, md delivered into the hands OF Minor
Hatch. By whom they were, In due time, con-
yeyed TO Fort Smelling. On November, 18th,
1864, they wero tried before military court,
at that place, and convicted Of leading part
In the massacre, and In the subsequent hos
tile movements Of the Sioux, and sentenced
to be hanged. The sentence was few weeks
ngo approved by Gen. Pope, but his order for
their execution was suspended upon an ap-
peal by Bishop Grace, to the President,
mtil REORGANIZATION ofthe testimony upon
were based should be made by Secretary
Harlan, to whom the case was referred.
The execution occurred yesterday at Fort
Smelling, and was witnessed by large con-
contse Of people, variously estimated from
sir 10 eight hundred, including number OF
women. The crowd was not nearly SO large
rs II would have been bad II been more gen
orally known: The execution took effect in
three days after the receipt Of the orders, and
the consequence Wa. that the news did not
get very generally circulated.
Father Rnvonx, Of the Catholic church, has
1aborcd with these poor ben1ghted creatures
for scveral Weeks, teaching them the doctrines
and ceremonies OF his church aud endeavormg
to impress upon them the necessity Of full
anfA A1,,S- II, Enfkk =. E 5..,.
Ing grace. He had spent two hours With
them in the early part OF the morning, ad
ministermg The Sacrament, and giving them
, such spiritual advice and consolation as theIi
necessities required. By his indtiatlsable Ia
bors with them be had succeeded In teaching
tho Lords Prayer and other forms Of prayer
in their own language, which they repeated IL
low, monotonous tone. About halfPast I
O'clock Father Rayou1 knelt with them 1t
prayer for the last time. Medicine Bottle 1c.
peated The words which had been taught him
and Shakopee merely assented to the senti
ments expressed, by low, 1nnmbling tone o
voice and the nsnal grunt Of appreciation
These devotional exercises were very In
ptesslte.
Col. bAcLaren came ID to announce that tht
time had come. Shakopce, who was smoking
his pipe, Immediately threw the ashes from
II, and handing II to the interpreter, tol1
him to give 1t to the tshead soldfer,' point
ing to Col. Mcla1cn. Medicine Bottle, npor
receiving: the news, arose to his feet, nnt
crossing his bands behind his back, told then
to lie him, as he vas 1p hurry. The guard
under command Of Capt, Palmer, Of sae RI
serve corps, bound their wrists together, AMI
they marched out, With a firm and steady
step, 10 the place Of execution.
They were both dressed exactly alike, eacf
wearing an army suit consisting Of Light blut
pants, dark blue blouse and grey flannel shirt
Shakopee was tifty-four years old and looked
even older. HIS hair was long aud strnfght
and slightly sprtnkled with grey. Hewas con
siderably bald in the front and top portion o
his bead, which gave him an hpparcntly ex
10 Indicate deficiency Of Intellect Medicine
Bottle was splendid specimen of an Indian
he Was thirty -four years Of age and of pow
erfhl, muscular frame, Indicating great strength
and power OF endurance. He was leading
warrior among his tribe, and his dauntlesl
courage added to bis great physical strength
we'll lifted him for the position. He also pos
scescd remarkable memory and IN intellect
susceptible Of a degree or cultivation uncom
mon 10 most of hts race.
When they reached the platform the order:
for the execution we're read The nooso wa.
then placed over the head Of each and draw
closely around the neck. Even this did moi
seem to affect Them In the least They stoot
without the apparent movement OF muscle
still maintaining that astonishing hrmness c1
hibited from the first The white caps wcrs
drawn over their faces, and the word being
given "all ready" at precisely y o'clock tht
drop fell and all wns over. Their uecks Wer,
both broken by the fall, and shhkopee died
without struggle. A slight contraction o
the muscles Of the legs could be discovered
but that was all. Medicine Bottle, on th,
other hand, died very hard. Hlsstrong, mus
eular frame clunS to Life with wonderful
hold, and nearly ten minutes had elapsed
before bis struggles ended
As soon AZ the bodies were cut downs grea
yell went up from the crowd, and such. ex
pEessions a. show ere yon Pennsylvania Qua
kcrs, y ''how are you Massachusetts phllan
/ thrppists,' and other like e1elamatfons couli
be heard On every aide. The crowd also mad
q rush for the rope, each anxious to hav'
come memento Of the memorable scene. The
rope, and even portions Of the ecafIolding wer
literally cut into fragments. Some relic hunt
ers even took the hats worn by the Indians
| as they could not be found after the eIccu
tfo1