The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-10-27
MRS. KELLY'S CAPTIVITY.
from Harpers' Weekly ]

lploua AiIipIIs hceL4y'l
But he.s among the news OF Ihu day
is u story of an Indian captGrs which is
the counterpart of the older tales. On
an evening in July, 1864, Mrs, Kelly,
with her husband and four other men,
aod little fair-haired niece of seven
years, were encamped near tho Black
Hiiis, on their wsv from Kansas to
Idaho. A party of Indians swept down
upon them, aud Mrs Kelly aud her
niece were lett alone and captive in their
hands. Then came the rough aad tor
turing flight. intent upon saving her
darlng's life, Mrs. Kelly dropped bltH OF
paper along the way, and told the child
that they would serve as cleW 10 return
to tue main trail. The child slipped
from her horse to follow the cIew, and
then disappeared. Mrs. Kelly followed
her. ard was retaken. The sayages pur-
sued tho child. who at length saw SOL
ders. At the same moment the soldiers
saw the pursuing Indians and paused.
The deadly arrows sped. and months
afterward Mrs. Kelly SAW the scalp of
fair hair, and knew the young chlld's
fate. On the terrible journey her life
was constantly threatened. She WAS
bound TO u tree to be burned. She was
to bs tied to q horse and sent gall0ping
into the desert. But the fate did not fall,
and gradually tue Indiaps became more
friendly, aud Sioux chief, Jumping
Bear. WAS her confessed lover. She un-
folded to him the Christian ethics OF
marriage, and the shaggy chief acqui-
esced--a twapy Major Dobbin of the
prairie. She began to learn the Indian
language, to teach, and to sing. The
Indians listened and were pleased, and
were sorry for their ill treatment of her.
The woman also were kind; but they
were vain and dirty. They are human
nature in q savage state
Her husband. meanwhile, was busily
seeking to find her, and the Indians per-
ceiving the great interest that was felt
in her behalf decided that they must
meet craft with craft. They concluded
to send word to Fort Sully that on GER
tain day they would bring the white
squaw to restore her. They would then
in full force escort her within the stock
ade, and massacre the garrison. To
save the garrison at Fort Sully was now
the aim OF Mrs. Kelly. Sac turned to
Jumping Bear. and told him that she
was now enamored of Indian life. and
would never leaveit but that she wished
to send one last message to her friends
aud asked him to carry note to Fort
Sully. saying that undoubtedly her hus
band was now dead, and that no Que
would ever love her so dearly again
which was certainly under the circum
stances, human nature in civilized
state. Jumping Bear, faithful and eager
departed. He delivered the letter, which
put Sully on its guard. Two Thousand
Indians presently appeared before i
with their captive. The garrison witt
shotted guns awaited them, and the com
mandaot requested dozen Indians t.
approach with the captive. They en-
tered the fort with her. The gate wa
closed The guns were run out, an
the Indians ran away Congress subse
quently voted Mrs. Kelly five tnousan
dollars, and she has now place in tn
pension office. The other day, whe
the Sioux delegation came to Washing
ton, she met it in friendly manner, an
one OF the chief men wept that sh
would not return with them to the wi
derness. She speaks very kindly {
them. TO question whether they wou
not abuse her If they had her again
their power, she answered that much
the indian cruelty must be attributed
the injustice and cruelty Of the white
"And one reason you can not believe q
Indian. is that the Indian has learn
that he can not believe white man
However that may be, Mrs. Kelly h
proved that she can truly say to the l
dians in the words of Mrs. O'Flaher
to her husband, "Come on! I'm able |!
ye."