The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-09
INDIAN BARBARITIES.
The Sad Fate of the Germain Family-The
Story as Told by One of the Young Ladies
Just Rescued from the Savages.

III" "a" rate Oh the Germain fhmiiy-Ihe
story as Told by One of the Young Ladies
Just Rescued from the Savages.
Wichita (Kansas) Cor. Chicago Tribune1
From a correspondent of the Kansas
City Times, who has just arrived here
from the Cheyenne Agency, your CORE
spondent has learned the following con-
corning the two Germain girls, recently
restored from captivity with the Chey-
enne tribe:
Catherine, the eldest, has suffered I'M
told cruelties from the demons who have
had her i'll their possession. She told
the following story:
"My fathers family consisted of him
self, Lydia c., his wife, and seven chill
dren: Rebecca, aged 81; Stephen, 10;
Johanna, 10; myself, II; Sophia, II;
Julia, 7; and Nancy, s. We left our old
home in Morganton, Fannin county, Ga,
Howell county, Missouri. From there
we went to Kansas, and, when overtaken
by the Indians, were going to Colorado
for my sister Johanna's health.
eve encamped on the banks of the
Smoky Hill river, in Central Kansas,
about fourteen miles from the track of
the Kansas Pacific railroad, and within
thirty miles of Fort Wallace, on Thurs
day night, Sept. 10, 1874. The next
morning L went down the rivers bank
to drive up the cattle, and, when return
ing, heard shots and yells. Running
toward the wagon, L saw my poor father
shot through the back, and my mother
tomahawked by big Indian. They were
both scalped while yet living. An old
squaw ran up and stuck an AK into faith
er's head, and left it there. Rebecca
seized an ax and attempted to defend
herself. She was soon overpowered and
knocked down insensible. While lying
on the ground, covered with blood,
several Indians outraged her person.
They then tore her clothes off, and Gov
cred her up with bed-clothes from the
wagon. These were set fire to, and my
darling sister was burned to death.
Stephen was killed next, his scalp being
taken. Sister Johanna and myself were
placed side by side, and they came up to
inspect us and see which one they should
kill. The choice fell on poor Johanna,
and she was shot through the head.
Lying us,-Sophia, Julia, Nancy,
and myself, they hurried us across the
prairies, going south. My clothes were
torn from me l was stripped naked and
painted by the old squaws and made
the wife of the chief who could catch me
when fastened upon horse which was
set loose on the prairie. l don't know
what Indian caught me. l was made the
victim of their desires, nearly all in the
tribe,-and was beaten and whipped time
and time again. They made me carry
wood and water, like the squaws. l had
to kill dogs, and cook them for the In
dians to eat. We had nothing but dog
meat and horse-meat.
During the time we were away from
the home camp on the Staked Plains,
nearly froze. The snow was very deep,
and had nothing to keep me warm but
blanket. Both my feet were frozen,
and my nails came off from my feet.
Sophia was with me but little of the
time where she went, L don't know.
"I am positive that l can identify
every one of the seventeen members of
the party that murdered my family.
Water was with them, and |
believe, was the leader / do not care
to go away from here, as L have no
home. They are very kind to me at
the Mission, and / feel that good Mrs.
Mills is a mother to me-.