Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-24

| friends, tell my poor husband
(Thatcher was not killed he was
away from homel that desired only to
live to get back to him." The India n
ordered Mrs. Thatcher to cross the
stream on the rail bridge of driftwood.
When she reached the center he
showed her off into the boiling, seething
murky waters. She recovered and in
her desperation succe eded in swimming
to shore, where she was met by her
merciless tormentors and showed back
with long poles in to the current. She ex-
erted herselfwith hereculean power and
succeeded in reaching the opposite shore
and would have gained the land. but
again she was met as before and thrust
| iuto the rapid current. The water was
almost icy cold, and by this time the
poor woman was chilled almost to numb
ness; but it was struggle for life with
her and she again tried to swim the an
cry stream. But when near the middle
she was carried down some ways
by the current, and as she neared sec
ond crossing some rods below an Indian
put and end ty her sutferings by shoot
ing her through the head. She rolled
over in the water and was swept along
with the current, no more to rise until
the great judgment day.
The other captives fully expected the
same fate, and Mrs. Sharp says death
would at that time have been a welcome
messenger. But it was not theirs to die
then-more suffering and abuse was in
store for them. They were compelled
to do the drudgery of the camp. bear
heavy burdens and submit to outrages
that mantles the cheek with shame.
About the first of May band of Sis
r. I,k Il
purchased Mrs. Marble. Soon after
wards Gen. Sibley succeeded in ran
somrng her from then. After her re-
lease she went to Ohio and Mrs. Sharp
thinks died a few years ago in an insane
hospital.
This left Mrs. Noble and Abby Gard
ner still in captivity. Along about the
middle of May strolling band of Yank-
tons fell in company with their captors
and bought the two women. She says
the Yanktons were the most thoroughly
wild men she saw, being dressed entire
ly in skins and not using a single article
made by white man. They belonged
to Yankton Indian who had
a squaw. One evening Inkpa-
dudah's son came in
to the "teepe," where the captives were
and ordered them to 60 out. Mrs. No
BILE was a spirited woman, and was the
only one of the four who had ever resis-
ted the demands Of their captors. She
refused to obey the order of the inso
lent redskin. He caught her by the
arm and dragged her to the opeuing of
the "teepe." she resisting as best she
she could. At the door he picked up
billet of wood and with it murdered her.
Her body lay upon the ground until the
next morning, when the warriors gath
cred about it and in turn discharged
their rifles into her upturned face until
it was perforated like seive. Then
they fell to with their knives and cut her
body into small pieces and strewed it
rible work they were careful to have
Abby where she would be certain to
witness their inhumanity.
After the death of Mrs. Noble, poor
little Abby was left alone. So far as she
knew she was the only living member of
her father, family, among band of
cruel srvages, with not ray of hope be-
fore her. At that time she was but little
years old. Her lot indeed was one
of despair. Yet her girlish glee in
prosperity no doubt enabled her to
undergo many more hardships than she
could have borne had she been more
mature and more thoughtful. The band
kept moving about until the 23d of June,
when three Indians came into camp
that she knew came from the borders of
civilization because they wore white
shirts that looked like they had been in
a laundry at no distant day.
She scarcely hoped for deliverance
and yet the great desire of her heart to
get away caused her to watch closely for
every little sign. Several Indians, by
gestures told her the new corners had
come to take her away to kill her.
After several days, bantering and dicker-
ing, the three Indians effected her pur-
chase. They gave several ponies, blank
cts, knives, &c. They started east with
tivity she was allowed to ride. In due
time they reached Fort Smelling, where
she was delivered to Gov. Medary,
who paid 81 500 to the three In
dams at the price of her ransom She
was kept there unit! clothed and fully
rested, when she was sent to Fort Dodge
to join her sister, who she had learned
escaped death by being away from home
when the slaughter occurred.
She is now broken down in health,
caused by hardships, at critical period
in her life. Deserted in q heartless man
ner by her husband, land without fault
of hers she is thrown upon her own re-
sources to get living. She is prepar
ing and is delivering lecture descrip-
tive of her experience as captive.
This article is already SO long we must
stop and vet we have only limited at her
history and xperience.-Mason City
Republican.