Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-03
MRS. mEEkERs sroRy.

/ oAN sse S"S VSSSs SAN
not say much, and went away. We did not
fear any particular danger, though on Sat-
urday, three days before the massacre. they
had moved their tents and women and chill.
dren to the wilderness. I was in the kitch-
en- with my daughter, washing dishes, about
half.past / o'clock. We had just finished
dinner. Some of the Indians had eaten
with us, and Chief Douglass had been pick.
ing around the table and joking with my
daughter, Josephine, while We were washing
succession Of sharp explosions. 1t was
Ny daughter and I looked into each others
faces. Mrs. Price, who was w.shing clothes
at the door, rushed in, exclaiming: "Whst
shall We do ~ Josephine said, "keep all
together" The windows were shot in.
Our first move was to get under the bed in
Josephine's room to avoid the bullets, which
were whizzing over u heads. Josephine
had the key Of the milk-house, and propos.
ed to 60 there. The bullets were flying like
hailstonee, and we locked ourselves into the
milk-house. We staid there all the after.
noon, and heard no sounds but the crash o.
the guns. We knew all the men were beina
killed and expected that the Indians would
finish the day with the butchery of the
women.
Frank Dresser came in, shot through the
leg. He killed an Indian just as we lei
him into the milk-house. About 5 O'Clock
in the afternoon the firing ceased, and all
was still. Suddenly we heard the low
crackle Of flames and smelled smoke. Then
we saw it coming through the cracks in the
ceilings, and knew that the destruction oi
the agency buildings had begun. As the
fire was increasing we left the milk.house
and Josephine reconnoitered the enemy.
cts a good time to escape" she said, 1.-THE
Indians are busy stealing agency goods"
We went around in front Of the agents Office,
and found the doors open and things undis.
turbed, except that some of my husbands
clothing lay on the front stoop. We saw
no one, living OF dead. and no sign of any.
one having been killed. We ran in . line
with the buildings-toward the sage.brush
80 as to keep the buildings between us
and the Indians. But We had not gone far
before We were discovered and the Indians
made for us, firing as they ran. The bullets
fell all around us, and one struck me in the
thigh, blowing through the flesh just under
the skin. 1t stung me like q wasp, and l
thought ittime todrop. l fell to the ground.
The Indians captured Josephine and Mr..
Price first, as they were behind me with
Mrs. Prices babies. A chief, whose name
I could never learn, came 10 me and said he
was heap sorry" He asked me If I could
get up. l said "Yes." He then asked me
II I would 60 with him. I said "yes." He
said he was heap mad; soldiers killed In.
dian." He saw them shoot, and he was
heap mad ; "they would no kill women and
children" The Indians had 90 ordered.
He said that he would take me to Chief
Douglass house, and asked me if 1 had any
whisky. I said "No," and he asked If I
had any money. answered that there was
some in my room in the building, then on
fire. The Indian told me to get it. and: he
would wait for me. BE was afraid to 70 in
the burning building. I got the money, the
Indian urging me to hurry up, as he had q
great way to 60 that night. We vent to
Douglass camp, and the Indian made me
count the money. There was $50. The In.
dian took it and gave it to Chief Douglas.
| told Douglass that l must have some
blankets. He sent an Indian named
Thompson to the burning building with me
and I got q hood, = shawl, and one blanket.
I handed around bedding among the Indi-
ans rather than have it destroyed. The In
dams took it, and I afterward saw it in the
camp when I was suffering for the want 81
blankets to keep me warm. I went back to
Douglas and said that I wanted my medicine
and ny spirit book" He said, Go" 70
went back . second time, and got ! lar9,
copy of "Pilgrim's Progress' aud box 81
medicine. The box wa 90 heavy that an
Indian refused to carry it. 1t was lost. but
he took the book. In going back this last
time l saw the body of my husband stretch.
ed out on the ground in front Of the ware.
house. All the clothing was gone bat the
shirt. The body was not mutilated. The
arms were extended at the head. The fac,
looked - peaceful aud natural ~ In life
but blood was running from the mouth.
stopped to kiss him, but just a my lips ver,
near his l saw an Indian standing stone-still
looking at me, 80 turned and walked away
Douglass afterward said that nv husban,
was shot through the side of the head
Preparations to leave Immediately ver,
made: Not being used to riding, I aske,
to ride behind Douglass. The moon cam
out 80 clearly that night seemed like day
Douglass breath smelled strongly ofvhisky
He said: "Your father dead. Ihsd
father once. He too is dead. Agent a
+ understand about the fight Indians mike,
The other Indians all took out bottle q
a whisky. Douglass as he rode along san
what seemed to be an obscene sons Ia,
. pretty melody in slow measure. When i
mad finished he asked how 1 liked It, IN
limb ached 90 terribly that I could scarcel
|. BIT on the horse. Douglass held il a Will.
then he strapped it in : kind Of siins
his saddle. l asked IL should see n
daughter. Douglas replied. "Yes.n Az
rode, = Misunderstanding Indian trott.
alongside, and slapped me on the ,houid
and asked how I would like Ia ~ 4
. sauaw, and he made indeeent propo,sj
= Chief Douglas listened and laughed. h
said the Indian was an Arapahoe and