The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-11-22
Tho Execution OF Sha1<Opec and
Medicine Bottle.
from tbc at pnul Press. 18th

The order for the execution of the two
Sioux Indians, Shakopee and Medicine Dot
tie, reached Fore Smelling on Wednesday IN
the absence of Col McLaren, the command
ant. and was read to tho prisoners by Major
Jones with the aid Of Mr.. Quinn, a half-brced
interpreter Ii will be remembered that
these two Indians, who were among the most
prominent of the instigators OF, and actors
in the horrible massacre at Red Wood and
vicinity in 1862, where five hundred whites
fell victims to a treacherous uprising of the
sayaccs, were in January, 1864, kidnapped
from the British territory north OF Pembina,
having been dexterously drugged for that
purpose, and delivered into the hands OF
Major Hatch, by whom they were. in due
time. conveyed to Fort Smelling. OnNovem-
Der 18th, 1864, they were tried before mill-
tary court at that place, and convicted OF
leading part in the massacre, and in the
subsequent hostile movements Of the Sioux,
and sentenced to be hanged. The sentence
was few weeks ago approved by Gen. Pope,
but his order for their execution was sus
pended upon an appeal by Bishop Grace, to
! the President, until a REORGANIZATION OF the
testimony upon which the findings and SEN
tence of the court 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
concourse Of people, variously estimated
at from six to eight hundred, including a
number of women. The crowd was not
nearly so large as it would have been had it
been more generally known. The execution
took effect in three days after the receipt Of
the orders, and the consequence was that
| III, 1lxy oir
culated.
Father Ravoux. of the Catholicchurch, has
laborcd with these poor benighted creatures
for several weeks, teaching them the doc
trines and ceremonies of his church, and
! endcayoring to impress upon them the ne
| cessity of full repentance Of their sins, and
| faith in redeeming grace. lie had spent
| two hours with them in the early part OF the
| morning, administering the Sacrament, and
giving them such spiritual advice and con-
| ISOLATION as their necessities required. By
his indefatigable labors with them he had
succeeded in teaching the Lords Prayer and
other forms Of prayer, in their own language,
which they repeated in low, monotonous
tone. About half-past ten o'clock Father
Ravoux knelt with them in prayer for the last
time. Medicine Bottle repeated the words
which had been taught him, and Shakopee
merely assented to the sentiments expressed
by low, numbling tone Of voice and the
usual grunt Of appreciation. These devotion
al exercises were very impressive.s
twas now quarter past eleven ocleck, and
Col McLaren came in to announce shat the
time had come. Shakopee, who was smoking
his pipe, Immediately threw the ashes from
it, and handingit to the interpreter, told him
to give it to the head soldier" pointing to
Col. McLaren. Medicine Bottle. upon re-
ceiving the news, arose to his feet, and cross
ing his hands behind his back, told them to
tie him, as he was in hurry. The guard,
under command of Capt. Palmer, Of the re-
serve corps, bound their wrists together, and
they marched out, with firm and steady
step, TO the place Of execution.
They were both dressed exactly alike, each
wearing an army suit consisting of light blue
pants, dark blue blouse and grey flannel shirt.
Shakopee was fifty four years old and looked
even older. His hair was long and straight,
and slightly sprinkled with gray. He was
considerably bald in the front and top portion
Of his head, which gave him an apparently
expansive forehead but receding so rapidly
as to indicate deficiency Of intellect. Medi-
cine Bottle was q splendid specimen Of an
Indian. He was thirty-four years Of age
and Of powerful, muscular frame, indicat
ing great strength and power Of endurance.
He was a leading warrior among his tribe,
and his dauniless courage added to his great
physical strength, well fitted him for his po-
sitlon. He also possessed q remarkable
memory and an intellect susceptible Of de-
gree of cultivation uncommon to most Of his
race.
When they reached the platform the orders
for the execution were read. The moose was
then placed over the head Of each and drawn
closely around the neck Even this did not
seem to affect them in the least. They stood
without the apparent movement Of muscle,
still maintaining that astonishing frmness
exhibited from the first. The white caps
were drawn over their faces, and the word
being given "all ready" at precisely twelve
o'clock the drop fell aud all was over. Their
necks were both broken by the fall, and
Shakopee died without . struggle. A slight
contraction Of the muscles of the legs could
be discovered, but that was all. Medicine
Bottle, on the other hand, died very hard.
His strong muscular frame chung to life with
wonderful tenacity. His writings were
pitiful to behold, and nearly ten minutes had
elapsed before his struggles ended.
As soon as the bodies were cut down a
great yell went up from the crowd, and such
expressions as chow are you, Pennsylvania
Quakers," show are you. Massachusetts
philanthropists,' and other like EXPLANATIONS
were heard on every side. The crowd also
made rush for the rope, each anxious to
have some memento of the memorable scene.
The rope, and even portions Of the scaffold-
ing were literally cut into fragments. Some
relic hunters even took the hats worn by the
Indians, as they could not be found after the
execution.