The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-26
BLOODTHHRsTY SAyAGES
Horrible 'rreatme nt OF ahe
Victims.
How they EzaSSacred ahe I'm
fortunate Germaain Family.


fortunate Germafn Family.
The details of the Smoky Hill
massacre which occurred in cen
trail Kansas in September 1874, are
OF such a startling character as to
CURDLE THE BLOOD
IN ones veins and cause the mind
to sicken with horror at the recital
of the fiendish acts of the of atroc-
ity which stamped the tragedy as
one of the most barbaric and de-
non-like that has ever been known
since the determination of the In
dian race began.
A Kansas City reporter went
out to this country to sec the Ger
main children, and to him Mrs.
Miles
DEsCIBED THE CONDITION
OF the captives when brought TO
her door.
She said: II was unprepared to
see such sight as was presented
me when poor Catherine alighted.
Her dark hair was matter about
her head and her limbs, which
were exposed as she walked to-
wards us, she having nothing on
but a blanket, were terribly emac-
lated; and her weak, sickly condi-
ton showed us plainly that her
poor SYSTEM had suffered more
than it could bear. [ took her in
my arms and kissed her, and we
BOTH SHED TEARS.
Sophia seemed to have Jared bet
ter, and was in a stronger condi-
ton. Catherine seemed half-craz-
ed when she came in, and her &C
counts were not altogether salts
factory; but she speedily recover
ed, and is now rapadly assuming
her former condition"
Going into the pleasant parlor
of Mrs. Miles cosy home, the re-
porter found himself in the pres
ence of the heroines of this chap
ter Of real life, far stranger than
fiction.
Mics. Catherine shows traces OF
beauty, and as she told her story,
her expressive blue eyes were at
times blinded with tears. She
was
SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD
on the 10th of the present month,
and is of ordinary height, with
regular features, q mass OF dark
hair, and face of more than ordi-
nary intelligence. Her language
shows that she is possessed of a
common school education, and in
her manners she is exceedingly
modest and retiring. She fully
realizes her terrible situation. but
is not downcast, seeming to think
it more judicious and sensible to
strive and forget her awful expcr-
fence.
Sophie is only II years old, but
is we'll developed and looks older
than she really is. Her eyes and
hair are like her sisters. She has
been less cruelty dealt with, and
will soon be as well as ever. Many
a heart will be shocked with the
account of Mathews treatment
while in the power of these lecher-
Gus devils that satiated their
beastly desires over this helpless
creature. She was not considered
as the wife of any one chief, but
was
CARNALLY KNOWN
by nearly every demon ofthe tribe.
And this was the unfortunate girl
that had been for nearly nine
months subjected TO such fendish
treatment as this! There she sat
pale, wan of face, snnken of eye,
and heart-broken in spirits. And
outside in lazy Incidence the vile
wretches who had perpetrated
these ontrages! Surely every one
of them should be made suffer the
full extent ofthe law. She SAYS
she can identify every one of the
party that murdered her parents
and brothers and sisters, and the
government should not be slow in.
bringing these
CoPPER-coLoRED DEVILS
to justice-such as is served out
to white men.
Catherine told a portion OF the
history of her family, showing
that they were respectable people
in moderate circumstances, and
that the children had been reared
with all the care the loving par
ents could give. They left Nor
Fannin county, Georgia,
nearly i've years ago, and removed
to Howard county, Missouri, where
they remained until May, 1879.
Leaving there they emigrated TO
Merryville, Stone county, Mis-
souri,, living their until September
with an uncle by the name Of Bur-
ton Brown. johanna, one Of the
being unhealthy, the father
decided to go to Kapsas, hoping .
change would be beneficial. They
then removed 20 Elgin, Howard
county, Kansas, but remained
there only one year, when they