Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-03-20

fate OF those previously slain. were all
massacreed, except four women, whom
they bore away prisoners and after
ward violated with circumstances OF
brutality so abhorrent as to find no
parallel in the annals Of savage bar
barity il we except the massacre OF
1862.
The bard then proceeded to Lake
Sheiek, where they encamped several
lays. trading with William Wood and
his brother, and having daily inter-
course with the settlers at Springfield,
then Just established. The Woods
brothers wGrned them that the force
from Fort Ridgeley were on their trail.
and next day the Indians murdered
both traders, sot fire to the post, and
then fell upon tho settlement
on the other side Of the Des
Moines. Here they murdered ev-
enteen persons, making forty-seven in
all on this bloody raid. Mrs. Stevens
and Mrs. Noble were also killed, but
Mrs. Marble and Miss Gardner were
rescued by the Wapheton Sioux, the
government paying tn t1so Indians
who brought them in one thousand
dollars each.
The government required OF the
Sioux the delivery of lnkpadud , and
his murderers as a condition precedent
to the payment OF further annuities.
A council was held at Yellow Medi-
cine, Aug. 10, 1857, at which Mazakutl
Mani complained loudly, urging the
fact that Inkpaduda had been pursued
by the Sioux, and that they had killed
Inkpaduda's son and three others.
Another council was held Sept. /, but
without results. 1t appears, however,
that Mazakuti Mani told the truth, for
Agent Flandrau organized the pursu-
ing party, which numbered LOG Indians
and four half-breeds. The Indians
were found at Big Dry Wood Lake,
three men were killed, another was
wounded, and two ONE and a child
were captured. On this showing Maj.
Cullen advised Indian Commissioner
Denver to allow the annuities to be
paid, to which Mai. Pritchett yielded
a reluctant assent. The annuities
were accordingly paid, and it
is the opinion of Agent Murch.
who had much 10 do in the events fol-
lowing the second massacre at Spirit
Lake, that this was a mistake, it hav-
ing been construed by the other Sioux
bands in that vicinity as an evidence of
weakness.
In his message to the general as
sembly of 1858 Gov. Grimes thus re-
ferred to the massacre:
''In February last (1S5O Ink-pa.du-
tabs band of Sioux Indians made a
hostile ihcursion into the state and
perpetrated most terrible atrocities in
Dickinson county. When intelligence
of this event reached Fort Dodge Mai.
Williams at once enrolled three com
panies of mon under Captains Richards
and Duncomb, of Webster county, and
Captain johnson. of Hamilton
county, and proceeded to the
scene of difficulty. These heroic
mon left their homes in the most
inclement season of the year, and en-
dured almost unhead of sutferings and
privations; crossing swollen streams
flooded with ice, and traversing unin-
habited prairles in the most tempestu-
Gus weather, SO that they might save
their creatures from a severe %butchery,
and rescue them from a captivity
worse than death.
1.-TWO Of their number, Capt. j. G.
Johnson, of Hamilton county, and
William B~urkholder. Of Webster coun-
ty persisted on the march. Others re-
turued frozen and manned. The ex
petition did not vontake the Indians;
but they reached the scene Of their
barbarities; gave the dead a Christian
burial; and brought back with them
two children, the sole survivors of the
slaughtered settlement.
"eThe men who thus CALAMITY and
hum&nely periled their lives have re-
ceived no compensation for the time
employed in the expedition, or for their
outfit. The federal government is in
equity bound for their compensation.
The Indian tribes are under its pro.
lection and control. 1t has allotted to
each tribe q scope of country for its
exclusive occupation. 1t has sold lands
TO settlers in this state with the under
standing that these tribes shall be CON
fined to their respective limits, and that
the possession of the land purchased
shall never be disturbed by the govern
ment or those under its management.
II the savages break over their bounds
and intict injury upon others, the gov
eminent should respond to the parties
injured for the damages sustained, and
for the expenses incurred in protecting
themselves against a repetition of the
injury. To this end l recommend that
q memorial be addressed TO the Con-
gress of the United States.
"But many of tho members of Major
Williams command are unable to
await the tardy action of Congress,
and l therefore advise that the state
assume the payment. and reserve the
same from any appropriation that may
be made"