The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-15
THE SMOKY HILLS MASSACRE.

THE SMOKY HILLS MASSACRE.
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE GERMAN GIRLS
THE RESCUE BY GEN. MILES CoMMAND-THE
TERRIBLE FATE OF THE OLDEST SISTERS.
The Leavenworth Commercial gives the
following additional particulars of the
tradegy connected with the capture of the
little German girls by the Indians: The
family consisted of man, wife and several
children. They were from Georgia en- route
to Colorado. At Smoky Hill the Cheyennes
came upon them in broad daylight, shot the
father, Drained the mother and old son with
an axe, and then started for camp with the
daughters. Here it was very apparent what
the massacre was committed for-solely 10
get possession of the girls, and force them
to a life worse than death. The oldest
daughter proved to be an invalid, and she
was put out OF the way with a knock
in the head. The little bahy
girl was Drained against a tree
and the family of nine was reduced to four
girls, aged respectively 10, Is, 8 and 5. The
two yOu~ngest-Julia and A~delaide-not
being old enough to occupy the lodges of
the braves, were turned over to the squaws,
who treated them in the most barbarous
and inhuman manner. They had scarcely
enough dried buffalo meat to keep
them from starvation, and were obliged
TO ride astride of the raw boned Indian po-
nlCS III NnOlI hUlOS HUH nc6l 10 I0lKn were
completely scarritied and covered with run
ming sores. When captured they were in a
most deplorable condition, and would have
lasted but a few days longer. As the partic-
ulars OF the capture are exceedingly inter-
esting we give them as RELAXED by DR.. Pow
denly upon the savages, who were
camped on the brow of a hill, and
charged the camp before the savages recoy-
cred from their surprise. They did not
have a chance to save a single thing but
their ponies, which were spirited off by the
squaws at the very first shot. The older
white girls were forced to 90 with
the ponies and the little ones left
where they had been sleeping while the
fight went on. 1t was a desperate strug-
gle: The military we're fighting their way
up hill inch by inch, and the bullets flew
like rain above and around the little ones.
who, wrapped up in a buffalo rope were in
the thickest of the fire. Not till The redskins
had been routed and the ground passed over
two or three times were the little waits dis
covered. The soldiers first
TooK THEM FOR ~PAPPoosEs,
but when the youngest exclaimed, 81 am
so glad the soldiers, have come" there was
no doubt regarding their nativity, and for
the nonce the the flying Cheyennes
were forgotten, and every attention
given to the little prairie BIOS
SUITS 50 uu64D cCl6ulH uncovered. Both
of the children were stark naked with the
exception of a piece OF army blanket tied
about the loins and worn out mOccasins.
The soldiers at once provided for the wants
OF their little proteges, and raising a purse
of money, placed them in charge OF DIR.
Powell and sent him to Leav-
enworth with orders to report
to Gen. Pope for further Instructions.
Gen. Pope will provide for the children
until he can obtain an appropriation for
their education and support from the Chey-
enne fund. We understand the relations of
the children have been heard from. They
sent a letter from Fort Wallace when the
Smoky Hill massacre was first reported.
Gen. Pope has telegrapaed for this letter,
and it will be here in a day or two.
THE REMAINING SISTERS.
AS to what has, or will become of the two
girls of the same family yet in the hands of
the savsSes, we are at a loss to contemplate.
That they are better cared for and protected
is to be presumed from the fact that they are
made to satisfy the hellish lust of the young
men and warriors of the band. The first
movement of the savages when attacked
was to place them beyond reach of the
troops. The next eldest girl. Sophie, was
torn away from the side of the little ones
and with Catherine, the oldest, made to ac-
company the squaws to a place of safety.
Powell thinks there is some hope
of capturing these sisters yet. He af-
that If the troops ever run across that
band of savages again there will be a Smoky
Hill atmosphere overhang the battle ground,
for the boys are terribly excited over the bru-
tai treatment che little ones received, and
are full of sympathy and solicitude for the
of thos yet in captivity. 1t is a heart
and sickeniDg affair from begin
ming to end. The father, mother, brother
and oldest sister butchered in cold blood,
and four young, innocent and delicate girls
carried into captivity to be ravished and
starved to death.