Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-23

the Indians, IL found, and protect the set
ments OF Northwestern Iowa from devasta-
ton, left Fort Dodge upon their mission Of
mercy. The story is long one, and need
net be repeated in oil its details. II will
be remembered BY the earlier settlers that
after IN absence Of seventeen days most Of
the command arrived ct home, many OF
them with frozen hands and feet. The
main part Of the command which came d.
Sectly down the river suffered terrific hard
ships, being detained on tho north side Of
Cylinder Creek forty hours, in which time
the creek was frozen over, and the party
we're able TO cross il on the ice. The suffer
inss Of another party We give in the Ian
euags Of Harris Hoover, who WAS one ofthe
main command, and whose diary was pub
lishsd several years since, in the Hamilton
Freeman
"But great - were their privations and
sufferings, they were exceeded by those Of
our party who lsh Spirit Lake on Saturday
to cross tho prairie to the Irish settle
ment.
"They left Spirit Lake, Saturday, April
4th. and travelled in . southeast direction,
intending to reach If possible the Irish Col
ony that day. but owing to the many deep
sloughs which they we're obliged to cross,
Towards evening their clothes began 10
freeze to their bodies and impede their
progress. Some Of the party still contin-
ued to plunge in and wade through. while
others deemed it prudent to avede them -
much as possible in order TO avoid having
their clothes frozen stiff upon them.
"Thc necessary consequence Was. they
became separated, some travelling in ono d.
rcction and some In another. The main
body. however, with w. X. Laughlin ~
guide, kept nearly direct course. just
before dark they passed small lake skirt
cd BY few trees some proposed to stop
and pass the night, but the voice of the me-
ority WAS in favor Of tssvsling oil night 10
escape being frozen 10 death bus over.
tsaked and exhausted nature will assert
her rights.
"About o'clock It night they were
overcome BY hunger, cold and fatigue, and
being unable TO proceed any farther. lay
down on the prairie, exposed - the msrci-
lsss wind which swept past like tornado.
Their clothes frozen sti6 - nail, without
feod. fire, c. protection Of any kind, they
spent sleeplsss night.
"Slssp came and offered the tired wan
dsrers relief, but Il was tho tssachssous
sleep Of Death few resigned themselves
TO it, in1usnes, but the mere experienced
knew Il would BE- their ''lsst sleep" if they
we're permitted 10 indulge 10 that fatal stu
per, the sure herald Of 1.-The sleep that
knows no wakisg."
"The grateful thanks Of more than one
Of that forlorn company are due 10 John
N. Maxwell and w. X. Laughlin for forc-
bly, keeping them awake through the t.
dious watches Of that awful night. 10 the
morning they found themselves in sight Of
timber on the Dss Moinss river, and arous-
Cd their last remaining energies to reach
IL.
Those who had drawn oil their boots
we're unable to get them on again, SO they
we're compelled to cut up they blankets
| and wrap their feet in them. In this man
ner they reached the settlement on Satur-
pay. April 9th, where they all ultimately
arrived except two; these we're Capt. j.
q. johnson, of Webster City, and William
Burkholdcr, Of Fort Dodge.
"Thsy were last seen about o O'Clock
Saturday, two miles distant from their
companions, and travelling in . southerly
direction. II was confidently hoped thai
they might have straycd down the riveI
and found . lodging place. Every effort
was made to aseer tain their whereabouts
but without success. Their comrades wsrt
At length forced to tho conclusion tina,
they had lost their way and had persisted
in . temptIng.to reach the settlement.
"Ther melancholy fate throw n gloon
over the whole company, 90 they we're spe
ci8l favorites."
After tho return Of the q edition, othe
parties went out In search Of the MISSING
men. But after many days spent in tn,
search, BY different parties, il vas aban
doneh - fruitlss, and oil hope Of ascertain
ing their whereabouts, or recovering thsi
remains, was resigned
But strange to say. after eleven year
had elapsed, tvo skeletons were found il
Palo Alto county, within one mile Of Judg,
iickey's house, BY Mr.. Shea, which hav,
proven beyond q doubt TO be the remain
OF Messrs. Johnson and Bnrkholdcr. Tn
gun carried by Mr.. Burkholder, is recog
uized by Major Hutchinson and Mr.. Crane
as being the luo.. he borrowed from tn
former, and Major Hutchinson even de,
crioed two kinds Of bullets which wer
moulded at his house by himself aud Mr.
1
tho ground when tho skeletons were recov
,red. So there is not shadow Of doubt il
regard to the identity Of the remains. Mr.
Johnston being a much larger man than NJ
Burkholder, DIR. Olney was able to classif,
amt separate every boae, and hardly one 0
the latter was fouud missing. The gun
too, though it had lain for eleven years OF
tho prairie, was quite we'll preserved, tn
stock being but ittio decayed. and not a
all injured by fire. the position in VII cl
they we're found, toe. throws some light up
on the manner Of their death. The fac
that they were found side by side, an,
their guns with them. indicates that thcl
sxpsctsd to lie down aud sleep. and AXE L
60 forward again-hut the cold being % in
tense. they slept the sleep that kaews n,
waking"
On Sunday the 14th inst, the funeral o
WIN. Butkholdsr took place in St. Mark
(EpiseepaD Church Of this place. Th,
burial Was according to the ceremony o
the Masonic fraternity, Of which NJ. Bark
holder vas member. The Episcopal ser
vice was read at the church, BY DR.. Olusy
when the remains we're followed 1, Oak
land Osnstsry BY . large coneourse in III
following order:
let, The Fort Dodge Brass Band.
I'd. The Masonic Fraternity.
Sd. Hsarss, followed BY the Family.
4th. Old members Of The Spirit LAX.
Expedition.
9TH. Citizens generally.
AZ the command Of the expedition pur
poses to write . brief biography Of Mr.
barkholder, for future publication, We 70
frain from doing 50 noW.-North Rsst.
Noae Elrae 2aaafhanea.