The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-11-02
OLD BETZ.
A Sioux Heroine.

Inst now, Wnen We are dlA HdtuIally
;rcensed against the Sioux and dis
rosed to regard them as devils incar-
ppste. il may be worth while, in the in
terest ~ of fair play, to look on the other
s;de of the picture. | do not mean
white ill-doing, but Sioux well-doing.
There is to-day (unless she has recent
" died) a woman of that tribe living in
the State of Minnesota who may well
contest the palm of true heroism with
Ida Lewis or any of our many Cauca.
sian women who have risked their own
lives to save those of others.
The readers of this sketch will re-
member that the massacre OF the 7th
Cavalry is not the first instance in quite
recent times when the Sioux have
thrilled our whole land by their bloody
deeds. Startling as that tragedy is in
lis dramatic accessories, the rank and
popularity of its chief actors and VIC
inns. and more than all, in its absolute
" unprecedented completeness, it still
seems quite trivial when compared
with the widespread, long-enduring
accumulation of horrors upon horrors
in the Minnesota massacre of 1868.
We need not go back to the first
causes of that outbreak. 1t is the old
story of trading dishonesty, and In
dian suspicion and lawlessness. TO
hunger and distrust succeeded loud in
dignation, turbulence, rioting at the
agencies and posts, robbery and murder
az isolated families, and then a general
carnival of fire and blood. Most of the
quietly and peaceably disposed Indians
we're forced by sort of savage con-
scription to abandon or destroy the
homes and comforts which budding
standardization had begun to gather
around them, and to swell the war par
ties that now overrun the country in ev-
ery direction. The terrified European
immigrants who had largely settled all
this northwestern region, hurried from
speril so new as to be almost paralyz-
ing, leaving behind them the helpless
from age and sickness, and carrying
with them nothing except what could
be hurriedly snatched up before taking
fight. The roads were crowded with
misunderstanding figures jabbering a
strange jargon, and lined with wagons
and horses, sick men, women and chill
dren, who had been left to their fate, as
they proved unable to keep up with
their flying friends, while close in the
rear Of the fugitives, from blazing cabin
to cabin, winged with an untiring thirst
for blood, sped the scalping, torturing
bands, silent as death, save when, from
some wayside covers, they burst out
upon their victims with the sudden ex-
ultant notes of savage delight. Earth
has seen few spectacles to compare with
those frightful days.
Still, in spite of the eontagion of ex-
element, SO powerful with all, but most
Of all with savages; in spite of COM
mon interests, affection and blood; in
spite even Of threats, violence, and inn
minent danger Of life, some few of the
Indians remained true to the cause of
humanity. The most notable of these
was, perhaps, Old Betz, a squaw Of
more prominence than is usually ac-
corded to the sex among the redskins,
but aged and ugly and well worn with
work. Seeing her bending forward af-
Ter the manner of the Dakota women,
with bag Of flour or q good-sized
grandchild on her back, partially sup
ported BY the vertebral column, partly
ooy sharp cord that passed over her
forehead, you would not readily have
selected her for heroine. Neverthe.
less, she soon displayed a hardihood,
Doth OF courage and endurance, which
any man might envy. m
When the first murmurs began, Old
betz exerted her utmost influence to lay
the storm, travelling from chief to chic
and from band to band implorine
peace, patience, if only for a little
Wnlle. But she soon found that it was
hopeless to suppress the explosion, and
immediately addressed herself to lessen
= iar as she might, the havoc thai
must unsue. When the fierce gang.
dashed out in every direction on theil
Ialds, there was one before them swift
q and silenter still, darting like {
warning angel before an advancing
most OF demons, spreading far an6
woe the news of the coming danger
netting the few loiterers to escap,
Naie hope was left, and more than all
sasnerlng the abandoned totterlne
Metches from the roadside and cabin
ana leading them by unfrequentet
pains to places of at least temporary
safety.
falstaff's ragged regiment was not t.
% compared to that Of Old Betz. Th,
mother, painfully creeping with th'
seek,old infant; the sick child on tn
aoooilng cripple's shoulder; the hag
safu consumptive toiling painfully t,
ave the little remnant of life; the hal
aa9ed lad. wounded and starving, VIII,
aaa ued through the briars and owe
aiau from the midnight attacks, wher
s aao were dear to him perished in th
asnes Ian or under the knife; the littl
81 whose parents, unhumanized b,