The Van Buren press., 1873-11-25
The Nodocs In Missouri.
From the St. Joseph Herald.l

III tue Lava Deus and ueh6u the power oil
the government for weeks, passed thro'
our city at 9 o'clock last evening. bound
for their new home among the Quapaws,
In tho north eastern part of the Indian
territory. They left Fort Mcpherson
night before last, and came by way Of
Omaha and the X. c., St Joe and & b.
X. r., and having travelled constantly for
more than twenty four hours, were too
tired and sleepy to lie successfully inter
viewed. They were is charge OF First
Lieut.. NJ. c Wilkinson of the Third in
fantry, member Of Gen Howards staff
No guards or other assistance was need
ed or used, these deisnceless people trust
ing implicitly in Lieut.. Wilkinson, and
submitting to his every direction with
the simplicity and readiness of children.
The party numbered thirty nine men,
fifty three women and sixty children, one
hundred and fifty two persons in all
Among them are Scarf Face Char.ey, Bo-
gus Charley, Steamboat Frank and Shack
Nasty Jim, names familiar with all who
read the accounts of the Nodoc war.
Scar-Face Charley is the cknowledged
head of the band since the death of his
eoniederates. Bogus Charley comes
next, and is the interpreter for the tribe
Steamboat Frank is third and Shack
Nasty jim fourth in rank
Through the kindness of Lieut.. Wilk-
inson We were introduced to Bogus
Charley, who speaks very fair English
When we entered the car, Bogus, with
his wife and child, were asleep in bunk
which they had arranged by turning two
seats together, and We must say they pre-
ssntsd far from = repugnant or even dis
agreeable picture. They are exceeding
ly timid and distrustful of the whites, and
when Lieut.. Wilkinson touched Bogus
to arouse him, he started up With a
frightened look, which disappeared upon
hear the lieutenant's reassuring tones.
We noticed particularly how quietly he
addressed them, whenever he had occa-
sion TO speak at all, treating them a. ten
dery as children The lieutenant said
to Charley, d" Bogus, will you give your
hand to this man ? He is good friend"
" Yes, said Charley, at the same time
extending his band aud giving ours "a
cordial grasp, and giving gttCrancs to Jhe
single word, friend "Now lie down
again and 60 TO sleep, Bogus said the
lieutenant, and this man whose name we
have associated with all tnal i, blood
thirsty, did it as obedisntly as a child
These people are far better looking than
the average Indian having rather pleas
ant expression Of countenance, regular
features. and not at all bad complexions
They are rather small in stature as com
pared with the indians we have seen of
other tribes.
They express themselves pleased with
their removal. stating that all they want
now is to be good Indians and work to
support themselves Upon leaving Nc
Pherson they asked Lieut. Wilkinson if
there would be any hunting where they
were going, and upon being told that
there would not, that they would plant
corn and raise their supplies like other
people, they said all right that was bet
ter
There were three carloads Of them,
each car being in charge Of one of their
leaders Wenotced particlarly the clean
illness of the cars, and do aver that we
never saw cars in which white people had
travelled as far, that were in as good con-
dition as those containing these wild In
dians. That in charge Of Scar Face
Charley was remarkably so. All baggage
and loose blankets not in immediate use
were carefully folded and slowed away,
and the floor was free from litter Of any
description.
In the front end Of one car was scene
which reminded us Of some Of the incl
dents in Coopers novels. Among the
party WAS a sick child, and this they had
laid upon some blankets on the floor, and
the old men and women were gathered
about it, doctoring it after their own pc
cular fashion This consisted simply
Of singular motions, accompanied by a
low song or incantntion, of a most weird
and strange character, producing in the
mind Of the listener feeling almost Of
They were oblivious of everything that
was going on around them, being appar
emily wholly engrossed in the business
at hand. We learned that this Lad been
going on for some hours, and were told
that the child was better Their med-
cine certainly possessed one virtue. 1t
was harmless Two hours is the time
they allow for these iueaAtations. in
which time they assert the patient must
get better or worse, The terrible scenes
these people have been called upon to
witness are still fresh in their memories
Lieut. Wilkinson. in order to illustrate
the impressions that had been made upon
ther minds, related to us, that while pre-.
pairing to start from Mcpherson, he had
provided quantity OF rope, thinking he
might need it to tie up packages, and
had thrown it under tent 1t was left
until the last thing, and when drawn from
its hiding place the indians we're SO ter
rihed at the sigh taat 1t was with the Mt
most difficulty they could be psafed
The lieutenant, while depressing severe
measures IN ordinary cases, is of the
opinion that the execution Of Capt Jack
and his coHfcd crates Aad Almost saiutarv
effect upon the Indians Of Oregon and
Washington territory.
The wives and children of those noted
Indians are with The remnant Of the tribe
which passed through last evening.
We might give more that would be in.
,eresting about this unfortunate tribe did
time permit. They now 60 to seek new
homes among strange people, and it is
certainly to be hoped that they may
snend tho rect of their days in neacc.