The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-21
REALITIES OF INDIAN LIFE.

,ontier, which is better than the sensational
unbbhngs of the imitators of Cooper who
Low fill the weeklies with their lucubrations.
Ihls narrative of facts says:-
. Previous to the removal of the Sioux In
S@ans from the country ceded by them to the
United States, west of the Mississippi and
eounterlfing on both sides of the Minnesota
nyer in the year 1852, a murder was commit
ted by young girl of that tribe, at village
on what was known as Lee Prairie, lying be-
tween ShaSopee and Belle Plaino The girl
" was an orphan, and had been adopted by
family there, but having no near relative
< Residing near to protect her, was subject
to the most cruel treatment from the
family; and, at the period spoken of
more particularly, as the only one who had
] ever shown her any kindness (ths wife of the
old mani had died recently a grown-up
daughter now made her a perfect slave,
making her perform the hard work and
I drudgeiy of the wigwam; and when, from
sheer fatigue, she was unable to perform the
tasks allotted to her would strike her sense
less, and otherwise abuse her. At the time
spoken of, she had accompanied her task mis-
uess to procure fuel, and for some minor
fault was, as usual, struck with club in the
hands of her tormentor. In a moment of
rage she shot her through the heart.
''IIappan, on seeing what she had done,
Immediately fled directly across the country
Of Lake Pepin, where the thriving town of
that name now stands, having some distant
relatives at that place But they, not wish
ing to get themselves into trouble, and not
being powerful enough to protect her, she
was barely tolerated and the old man. father
of the murdered girl, hearing of our herones
Whereabouts, at once solicited and obtained
= the assistance of Thief, a famous brave of
his band, to 90 with him for the purpose of
4 claiming and bringing her back.
:" Thief pledged his word that her life
should be safe, but that she must return, he
claiming the right to her services to perform
Il the duties performed by her who was now no
more. But remember, said Thief, for
y your sakes and at your request her life shall
be spared, and the spirit of the dead will be
appeased by knowing that this has been done
at the request of those who have always been
our friends, and still will, know assist us in
future; for l fear that the clouds are thcken-
ing over our people, and that we must soon
leave this our home. The graves of our
fathers mark, by their numbers where we
have been for many winters, but our places
will soon be filed by the stranger; and when
We reach our new homes l hope it may be
well; but the cloud is too thick and black to
penetrate beyond. Knowing we'll that his
pledge was inviolable, they were suffered to
depart.
'After a while, the old man, thinking his
wigwam was too desolate without a wife to
grace it, proposed to our heroine the honor
of becoming the happy one which was refused
with disgust. His solicitations became so
earnest that at last the option was given to
accept the honor intended her or death.
thief, seeing nothing but ingratitude, as he
viewed it, in her refusal, after her life had
been spared, which had been forfeited, re-
fused to interfere in this matter, and she was
thus left to her fate. But, having been
Brought up to rely ON her own resources,
very often having been obliged to seek, in
the pursuits of the other SEX the means of
satisfying hunger-she had become an adept
in the use of firearms, which will account foI
the gun in her pOssession-the cause of her
now again being obliged to flee for her life,
which she had decided to do rather than be
obliged to become the wife of one she loathed.
'After her resolution to flee was taken, hel
first preparatory step was to change her cos
81 tune to that worn by men.
ut being the winter season, Happar
reached Good Rood's village on the ice, some
nine miles above Fort Smelling She was re-
ceived with true hospitality, and, after par.
n taking of food, she told them she was from
Lac qui Parle, and belonged to the Wah-pe
ton band Of Sioux, stating that this was The
first time she had been so far from home.
"One day. having joined party who went
to the Minnesota river to fish, 'Happan' sud
denly beheld the avenger at her side. Bu
seeing that she was not recognized, and en-
tering into conversation wi b him, he in
quired if she had seen a runaway girl, tn
murderer Of his daughter, wAom he had ono
forgiven, but she had again deserted his wig
wan, and now was determined to find her
and as she had not listened to his good coun
sells, she must perish, to appease the nov
wandering spirit of his dead daughter.
'She appeared to listen attentively to wha
was not new to her. and even encouraged hin
to prosecute his search, expressing indigna
tion at such ingratitude, being of course yer
particular to use phrases in her conversatio
never used in speaking by woman.
Early next morning, without exciting an
comment, she left, deeming it unsafe to re
main any longer near her old home. Th
next point she made was Mendoza, going
the house Of a gentlemen there, telling, q
- before, that she was from Lac qu Parle. Ih
gentleman referred to has often spoken of til
- industry eyinced by her in performing out
door labor. She carried out the plan of he
disguise admirably, never refusing to do any
3 thing required
"One night one of the Indian women ha'
ing business in her room, when she w'
|1- asleep, became satisfied that she was not VIII
she appeared to be, and next morning, wit
her natural quick perception, finding her di
W. 8ulse had been discovered, she suddenly di
Is appeared.
while party of Winnebago Indians fro
Long Prairie, on the Upper Mississippi rive
s We're ON visit, or on business with IL
superintendent of Indian Affairs at st. Pau
then small village, one morning Siou
ne famous Paul. or Maggah-koo-tay y-manne
r. VINO worked SO faithfully in 1862 during Il
terrible Indian massacre. and assisted in 50