The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-28
INDIAN MURDERERS HANGED
Execution of the Indians Who Partici-
pated in the Frog Lake Massacre.
The Gallows Works Smoothly and the Eight
Murderers Expire Almost Instantly-An
Interesting History Of Their Crimes.

tion of the eight Indians found guilty of murder
at Frog lake and Batteford, occurred at 8:27
this morning The morning broke dark and
cloudy. All the preparations were complete by
o'clock. Fathers Bigonesse and Cochin re-
ceived the last wishes of the condemned. All
were willing to die, and expressed. no anxiety,
except for their families. Large numbers of In
dams from the neighboring reservations were
present. A strong guard of the mounted police
was posted around the scaffold. The process
sion formed at 7:30. Each man was pinioned,
and the black cap was drawn from his head.
Guarded on either side, they marched with
steady step to the scaffold, taking their places
on the trap. Wandering Spirit and Miserable
Man made actresses in the Indian tongue &C
knowledgng the justice of their sentence, and
warning their people to keep clear distance in
the future. The whole party then joined in the
death chant, to show they did not fear death.
TIE executioner then drew the capes over their
faces; the nriests addressed the parting words
and offered prayer, in the midst of which the
bolt was drawn and the drop fell, all dying
instantly. Doctor Ralph examined the bodies
and pronounced life entnct After hanging
fifteen minutes they were cut down and placed
in collins, and handed over to the coroner and
jury. The prisoners expressed thanks to the
police for their kindness. The galows stood
the strain without tremor, and all the arrange
ments were carried out without hitch
The court sentenced eleven to death. but Char
lebois, alias Ducharme, and Dressy Man. who
killed Crazy Woman, in Big Bears camp were
respited, and Louison Monogram, who shot
mounted policeman at Pitt, had his sentence
committed to Imprisonment for lfe This was
unexpected as he killed Policeman Cowan under
circumstances of great cruelty; when the latter
was lying wounded on the ground Monogram shot
while the words Don't shoot, BROTHER" were
sounding in his ears. His good luck is attribut-
ed to the fact that he notified Instructor Mann
and family of the threatened danger at Fort
Pitt, and escorted them to place of safety
While Rlel was alive these Indians were full
of hope that their lives would be spared, and
spent the time in such gayeties and amusements
as their positions permitted, but with the news
of his death they became serious When on first
learning their own fate, and that the hone of
reprleve was past, they broke down and wept
for days together. The AssniDones at first
were proud of what they had done, but gave
way at last. AS the time wore on thew became
calmer, and, with the exception of Dressy Man.
they professed to accept Christianity. Last
week large knife was found secreted in the
closet devoted to the prisoners use, having been
placed there by friends in the hope of falling into
their hands, but, fortunately, it was discovered
Dy the guards. In consequence, double sentries
and pickets on the outside guard were put on
Saturday night the respite came for DresSy Man
and Charlebos. This did not excite much sur
prise, as their crimes lacked the malice shown
in the Others Double sentries have been on
duty all the week, and several strong scouting
parties went into the country, but found every
thing quiet. The prisoners have been allowed
police rations Father Bigonesse devoted much
time to instruction of the prisoners but it vas
only after orders for the execution came that
they gave him much attention. All arc pagans,
or noMinally Roman Catholics.
The gailows was a substantial and massive
structure. 1t was first intended to hang them
two at time but other counsels prevailed, and
it was determined to hang them all at once 1t
stands in secluded corner of the mounted po-
lice barracks square. 1t was tested yesterday
by dropping heavy weights on all the ropes in
the presence of the deputy sheriff and others
and stood the test.
During his imprisonment, Wandering Spirit
was led to shudder under the dread that some
one would shoot him, but this feeling wore off
and he became reconciled to hanging Misera-
BILE Man asked to be shot but on being told the
policeman could not kill him at once. he said it
was best as it was. He asked for pair of shoes
with thick soles, as it was long Journey over
the sandhills lying between this world and the
happy hunting grounds.
terday afternoon Most of them had nothing
to say, while others talked freely; but very
little Of interest could be extracted from them.
OF the eight Indians hanged this morning
seven were active participants in the horrible
massacre at Frog lake, on the Sd of April last
The bloody work was commenced by Wandering
Spirit, and was afterwards carried on under his
direction, until the white people of the Frog
lake settlement were almost exterminated. On
the morning Of that fatal Gay, according to the
a NJ har of TnHio
of Big Bears band determined to stop the white
mans reign and assert their sovereignty
over the land This was believed to
be be noG consequence qt tS Of Ries uprising
having reached the Indians at Frog lake only a
few days previously. Up to the morning of the
Sd of April no hostile demonstrations had been
made although there were not wanting signs of
a rebellious spirit the part of the savages
Early that morning, however, the Indian agent
Thomas Quinn, who was a Sioux half breed
from Minnesota, was aroused from his sleep by
Wandering Spirit and his companions who com
manded him, as the representative of the gov
eminent to increase their supplies immediately
Quinn seems to have complied with this order
supplying the Indians with beef and issuing
orders on the Hudsons Bay Company store for
other supplies. So far, evil intentions were
apparent in the Indians demeanor, beyond
that Of getting even with the gov
eminent on account of what they considered
past depredatons. few hours later, however,
the hollowness of their pacific protestations was
abundantly shown. 1t was Good Friday, and
service was held in little church by Rev.
Fathers Fufard and Marchand, Oblate mission
aries, who had left the comforts of civilization
to minister to the spiritual needs of the obscure
settlement at Frog lake. While the people were
gathered in the church Wandering Spirit
marched in, covered with war paint, and carry
ing his Winchester with ali air of insolent bra
vado But his time for taking revenge on the
white people had noty come. Some time after
the close of the service and while the congrega-
ton was dispensing the Indian ringleader pro
ceeded to the agents house. In front of this
he met IMr. Quinn and Charles Gouin,
another American half breed. He ordered Quinn
to go to the Indian camp and on the latter ask
ing for a reason said Never mind why, but
CO. Quinn refused. and the next moment was
Spirits rifle.
The fall of Quinn acted upon the already ex-
cited Indians as the smell of blood to tiger