Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-10-29
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llEDT. BeEvER,s DEATH.

His EspOusal of the Cause of b
Northwest and sad Death ON h
Banks OF the Missouri Twenty Years
Ago.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: From one
source and another of late the Pioneer
Press has received a number.o OF inquiries
in regard to tae fate of q young English
man bearing the name of Fred 1. Holt
Beever, who came to Minnesota in 1863.
His story and sad ending are best told
by Gen. Sibley. The account below is
from the generals lips, with the excep.
fion of o few personal points in regard
to Beever that we're obtained from OTTER
sources:
In the yea Of 1868, Just before Gen.
Slbley's command of Minnesota troops,
composed of three regiments. started on
their memorable expedition to drive the
Sioux beyond the Missouri, q young
Englishman joined the command. His
name was Fred !. Holt Beeyer. and he
bore to Gen. Slbley letters of introduce
ton from John Jacob Aston, Hamilton
Fish and other New Workers. In these
letters were personal requests that
Beever be allowed to join the. command.
10 these requests Gen. Sibley rather re-
~luctantly acceded, and attached him to his
staff as side-de-camp. Bower passed
with the command into Dakota doing
good service. On the day of the fight
near the present site of Bismarck, Col
Crooks wat sent ahead with a detach-
ment, He passed with his troops down
into the woods along the the river. De-
siflng to. call him back, Gen. Sibley sent
an order to him to. that effect. This or
der, at bic own request, Lieut.. Beeyer
was allowed to carry. Before starting
he was warned to keep within the
skirmish line and to follow the main
trail, and to look out for detached
parties Of Indians. He reached Col.
Crooks in safety, delivered his orders
and started back alone. But he lost the
main trail, passed outside of the skirm-
ish line, and, in passing a fallen tree,
was suddenly attacked by several In
dams concealed behind it. To avoid at
6rac.ing attention lie was first shot with
an arrow and MORALLY wounded. But,
cool and brave to the last, he turned
on his horse, shot two of the Indians.
and then horse and rider fell dead,fnally
killed by q gun shot. His body was moi
mntilated, but his pistols, field glass,
sabre and saddle, and all his clothing
buthis drawers and shirt were taken,
The next day searching parties sent
out by Gen. Sibley found his body,
and he was buried on the
camp ground with Masonic honors
later Gen. Sibley had his remains re.
moved to St. Paul and inferred in Oak.
land cemetery, where they now lie
The strange part of his life o comes
Lieut.. Beever was an ordained clergy.
man OF the church Of England. He
came froma high family, but some dis
appointment in life sent him to the
wilds of America to hunt. He speni
two years with the Astors and others, anc
then came to st. Paul. The year he was
killed was to have been his fast il
America, for he expected to return IL
England at the close OF the expedition
Gen. Sibley and Rev. Mr.. Patterson, o.
the Episcopal church, opened CORES
pondence with his friends and relatives
and informed them of his death. Hi
mother was at AK Lie Chapelle, France
aud she wrote back sending q sum o
money fo- placing over his grave o table
which Gen. Sibley, at his own expense, hal
taken care of each year. Another inter
esting fact is that after Beever's death j
was learned that an uncle had died an,
left him and q brother 975,000. This j
all that is known of him. Where hi
mother and brother are now ia no
known here. His grave is carefully dec
GRATED each year, by loyal citizens in re
speot to the memory OF an Englishma
who died in q heroic defense IF th
northwest.