Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-29
THE Usage CAPTITE.

Many years ago Charles Hamilton set
tied in the northeastern part of Missouri
Territory, at point considerably in adj
vance of the line Of settlement and from
tier posts. He was widower, with but
one child, a bright-eyed daughter, about
a dozen years Of age, who frequently
visited the nearest settlement, where she
soon became well known aud equally
well loved by the settlers.
During these early days this portion
of Missouri became thickly infested with
horse-thieves. The headquarters Of a
band were somewhere in the neighbor-
hood, although the most diligent search
failed to trace the criminals to their
hiding place.
It was long time before they gained
any clew as to the identity Of the mis-
creants; but one night, when one of the
old settlers was returning to his home
late, he was set upon by party Of a
dozen men, and deprived of the young
mare that he was driving. The old
gentleman had been hunter in his
young days, and kept his eyes and ears
open. The result was the discovery
that the band of horse thieves was moth
ing less than party of Usage Indians,
whose main village was about fifty miles
to the northwest.
A few days later an Usage warrior
named Kowah was captured, as he was
hunting in the woods near the settle
ment. He was instantly seized, dis
armed and marched to the village, where
a council was at once called to determine
what should be done with him.
The community were in such state of
evaporation that they were ready to do
anything except to listen to reason.
Many were in favor Of shooting him, for
they considered it unquestionable that
the color of his skin decided his guilt !;
but the more conservative advocated
giving him severe whipping.
Young Marian Hamilton was in the
settlement, and when the young warrior
was publicly cowhided in the village,
she stood by pleading that the cruel
punishment might be stopped. The In
dian turned his dark eyes upon her with
a curious look, but never uttered a
word. He stood the punishment with
the stoicism peculiar to his race, and
when they had finished he took his gun
and walked as unconcernedly away as if
he was just starting upon some hunting
expedition.
Reaching the edge of the settlement,
he wheeled with the quickness of light
hing, and shot dead the man who had
inflicted the degrading punishment.
As soon as the first shock was over a
half dozen started in pursuit but none
equaled him in feetness of foot, and he
speedily disappeared in the woods.
Shortly after this unfortunate occur
yence another discovery was made. The
horse thieves were not Osages. The old
hunter had naturally fallen into the er-
yor from the fact that the men who
robbed him were disguised as Indians,
while the only one who spoke word at
AL was half-breed named Wentz, who
belonged to a party of outlaws that had
their headquarters somewhere in the re-
cesses Of vast swamp score of miles
to the west.
But it was too late to remedy the
wrong inflicted by the whites. An In
dian never forgets nor forgives an in
jury, and war Lit up the whole frontier.
Many abandoned all to take refuge in
thickly-settled parts !; but, in spite of the
warnings Of his friends, Marian's father
refused to change his abode, affirming
that, as he had not injured the redskins,
they would not iniure him. Terribly
was he mistaken.
One day the settler returned from q
long hunt, and found his house open and
his daughter absent. His experienced
eye speedily detected suspicious signs,
and a brief examination satisfied him
that party of Indians had carried his
Marian away
Marian Hamilton was engaged with
her household duties that same winter
afternoon, when a dozen Indians ap-
peared suddenly. They offered no vio-
ience, but Immediately began their
march through the wintry woods with
her.
After they had travelled some time,
and she comprehended where she was,
she raised her head and looked about
her. Nearly the first face that met her
gaze was that of the Usage who had suf-
fered the indignity Of whipping in the
settlement. The Indian looked fixedly
at her for moment and made sign