The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-07
THE DAILY STAR
THE OSAGE CAPTIVE.

Many years ago Charles Hamilton set
tied in the northwestern part of Mis-
sour Territory, at point considerably
in advance of the line of settlement and
frontier posts. He was widower, with
but one child, a bright-eyed daughter,
about a dozen years OF age, who fire.
quently visited the nearest settlement,
where she soon become we'll known and
equally we'll loved by the settlers.
During these early days this portion
of Missouri became thickly infested
with horse thieves The headquarters of
band were somewhere in the neighbor-
heod, although the most diligent search
failed to trace the criminals to their
hiding-place. :.
1t 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 gent
leman 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 nothing more
nor 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, disarmed
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 a 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 CIV
ing him a 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 punish
, ment be stopped. The Indian turned his
dark eyes upon her with a curious look,
but never uttered word. He stood the
punishment with the stocism peculiar to
his race, and when they had finished, he
took his gun and walked as unconcerned-
ly away as if he were just starting upon
some hunting expedition.
Reaching the edge of the settlement,
he wheeled with the quickness Of light
ming, and shot dead the man who had in
ficted the degrading punishment.
As soon as the first shock was over a
half dozen started in pursuit; but none
equaled him in fleetness of foot, and he
speedily disappeared in the woods.
Shortly after this unfortunate occur
rrence another discovery was made. The
horse-thieves were not Osages. The old
hunter had naturally fallen into the
error from the fact that the men who
robbed him were disguised as Indians
while the only one that spoke word at
all was q half-breed named Wentz, who
belonged to party of outlaws that made
their headquarters in the recesses Of q
vast swamp score of miles to the west
But 1t was too late to remedy the
wrong inflicted by the whites. An In
dian never forgets nor forgives an in
fury. and the war Lit up the whole front
ier. Many abandoned all to take refuge
In the thickly settled parts; but in spite
of the warnings of his friends, Marion's
father refused to change his abode
affirming that as he had not injured the
redskins, they would not injure him
Terribly was he mistaken.
One day the settler returned from a
long hunt, and found his house open and
his daughter absent. His experienced
eye detected suspicious signs, and 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 dozen Indians ap
peared suddenly. They offered no VIC
lence, but Immediately began theil
: 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 hel
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 sigr
which she understood as token o.
friendship.
At nightfall they halted beneath Q
large spreading oak, where the snow wa'
scraped away and fire kindled. They
had no food, nor did they make any at
tempt to procure any. They simply sal
on the ground, smoked their pipes in sui.
len silence, occasionally exchanging 9
word or two with each other in Their
own tongue.
At last they stretched themselves upon
the ground, wrapped in their blankets
and soon slept soundly.
Marian, too excited and nervous tt
sleep, lay and wondered what her father
would do when he came home and learned
what had befallen her. She looked
toward her savage friend; and when 6
couple of weary hours had dragged by
she saw him rise silently to his feet and
passing around to the opposite side o.
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