Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-10

morning in infantry tactics and in the even.
ing in cavalry evolutions, and many Of our
o%lderciti,ens who belonged 10 this home
guard remember with keen interest those
stirring times. The Indians stole horses
and committed all sorts of minor depreda- F
lions throughout the surrounding country,
but Sioux City rested in security and peace
until July 9, of the year alluded to, 1861,
when the massacre of two citizens sent q
thrill Of horror through the little commu-
nifty.
On tina. day Henry Cordua and Thos.
Roberts took = span Of horses and . wagon
and vent out to Rscon's Hollow, about two
miles and half east of the city, to pillow a
patch of potatoes which they had planted
there. They went out in the morning, and
during the afternoon q dog which had &C
companisd them came home, and acting 60
strangely q to attract the attention of Mrs. !
Who at once began to suspect that
something was wrong. When nightfall
anne and the men did not return, Mrs. Cor
dua became nearly frantic With fear, and
going to the house of Sergeant White, who
Vas the nearest neighbcr, told him Of the
prolonged absence Of her husband, and how
she feared he had been killed by the In.
dians. Sergeant White at once went to F.
]. Lambert, who was then sheriff Of the
county, and q brother-in-law Of Cordua, and
they y went to Capt. Tripp, who ordered
Lieut.. Smith to taFe . squad of FIVE men
and 60 out in search of the missing ones.
1t was nearly midnight before Lieut..
Smith, Sergeant White, F. ]. Lambert, Geo.
Chamberlain, a Mr.. Her and another man
whose name We cannot learn, started for
Bacon's Hollow. The night was quite DARK,
but without much trouble they found the
wagon the men had taken out with them in
the morning. 1t was overturned, and
lying scattered about wos the harness, which
had been cut Of Of the horsee. A rifle and
a shotgun belonging to Cordus and Roberts
were there, as were other articles, and it va
evident that of the property nothing was
missing except the horses. The fate
Of the men was still unsolved, but the worst
was feared and it was with deep anxiety
and great foreboding the trace of them was
sought. The night, however, was go dark
that nothing could be discovered, and the
man were obliged to wait for daylight. 1t
was 3 painfully solemn two hours that the
little band passed waiting for the dawn
which it seemed would never come, but At
last daylight streamed over the eastern
hills, and the search was renewed. They
had not long to look. Down by the creek
they found Roberts. He had been shot in
the back, the ball piercing his heart. and 80
close had been his murderer that his cloth
ing were the ball entered was powder burn.
ed. A few feet further ON they found
Cotdui, He had also been shot from be-
hind, the ball entering we'll around on his
right side, and had tore clear through his
body, passing directly thought the heart,
and coming out lodged in his left hand,
which was spported BY his thumb caught..in
the armhole Of his vest. It was evident
that the death Of both had been Instant
aneons, and the bodies had not been riHed
or mutilated. From all indications they
had been shot about noon, when they had
gone down to the creek for . drink. As
they were returning two Indians concealed
behind q big bush which stood on the bank,
had taken deliberate aim az the men uncon.
scious Of all danger walked away toward
their wagon, and firing at the same time,
killed both in the same instant.
Lieut.. Smith sent Mr.. Lambert back Ia
the town With the sad news. while he. with
the other men, took the trail Of the Indians
and followed after them. Additional mer
from the company also Joined in the pursuit
which was kept up d. far Is the Minnesota
line, when 1t was abandoned, it being found
that the Indians had 30 much the start that
there was no hope Of overtakiug them be-
fore they would be where it would be dan
gerous to further follow them. The Iudiar,
With the horses went to their agency il
Minnesota. where their identity was estsb-
! lished: acd through the agent steps were be
ing taken to bring them to justice, vher
the outbreak of that summer took place. il
which the agent referred TO vas killed, eoi
in the confusion aHd general breaking n,
: which followed, oil trace of these two Indi.
ans was lost.
About two weeks before the killing o
Cordue and Roberts . detachment of th,
: Sioux City company was over at Correction
. VILE. where the Indians had been stealini
horses and eenerally annoying the settlers
and while some of the men were il q hous
y them. when VIM. Robefts, q brother q
. Thomas, wee shot il the breast, the bal
a elancing around and LODGING in The hach
making Q painful bat not fatal wound. Il
this same melee Judge Pendleton received
glsncing shot on the forehead, and . bal
struck square In his cartridge box.
ri Cordua and Roberts were buried In N
Q old cemetery with military honors, and the
remains rssted there uutil . few yean ainoI
= when they were Transferred to the new ~
eteIy scross the Floyd, to . lot provided h
NJ. Lambert Mrs. Cordua u barred slonl
side of her husband.
Roberts was . married mas, and ghis vi
returned 70 her former home il Iniian
where We understand she some years n
n married again.
= When Nm. Oordus vas intorned Of Il
k~-$