Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-07-05
AN INDIANS WRATH
BY MRS. A. S. BURROUGHS.

Several years ago my husband built
and conducted hotel for the accom-
mediation Of miners and transfers at
the terminal point Of one of our Cali
fornia railroads. Like many other
small towns in the northern portion OF
the State, it boosted of an Indian
rancherie, or settlement, within its
environments, the half-civilized inhabi-
tants Of which played more or less
important part in its local history.
With few exceptions they were a mod
erately peaceful, industrious community
the men spending their time in hunt
ing and fishing, and women doing the
drudgery, such as procuring fuel for
the fires, the laundry work of their
white neighbors, ETC. Every now and
then, however, the wild nature of the
red men, either through the medium Of
fre-water Or intense passion, would be
aroused; and at such times crimes OF
varying degrees Of enormity were almost
certain to be the result.
We had one child, bright little fell
low about two years old, who by reason
of his cute, babyish antics, had become
great favorite with the patrons Of the
hotel; and they, as token of their af-
lection, presented him on his second
birthday with diminutive iron bank,
in which each of the miners and team
sters had dropped a silver dollar. AS
day after day came and went, dollar
after dollar found it's way into the little
treasure box, till it became so heavy
that baby could ne longer lift it, and
placed it for safe-keeping upon q bracket
in my dressing-room.
One evening after old Julia, the
Indian woman who did our laundryine
once week, had performed her usual
hard days work, it occurred to me that
/ had done very careless thing in per
hitting her to go into my room for the
soiled clothes, and, knowing the pro-
pensity of her race to steal, I at once
proceeded to ascertain whether anything
was missing. Babys bank was gone
Old Julia had stolen it.
1t was too late to do anything that
day, but early the next morning we had
their hut searched, with the result thai
fragments of the broken bank were
found, but no money. They were
bountifully supplied with provisions
however, and inquiry at one of the
stores elected the fact that large bill
of goods such as had been found had
been purchased there the evening be-
fore by old Julia and her spouse The
woman was accordingly arrested and
after being convicted, was sent to the
county jail in the adjoining town for {
term Of three months.
Many predicted that this would moi
be the end Of the affair, as the woman's
husband was dangerous character, and
might seek to avenge his wife's impris
onment; but neither my husband no,
myself shared their fears, and the mat.
ter was forgotten after day or two.
One day, about a fortnight after Ju
las conviction, was assisting the din
ing-room girls to prepare the table fol-
luncheon, when suddenly the sound o.
a low, cultural, threatening voice at the
window drew my attention. Looking
up, startled and frightened, I beheld &
savage, hideous-looking Indian glarine
in at me. 1t was Indian Jack, old Ju
LAS husband. r..
Seeing my frightened look, he ad
vanced still closer, put his swarthy face
in at the open window. and, shaking his
fist at me, grunted out, "You no give
me back my Julia. me kill you pretty
soon?"
I had him driven off at once, and as ]
watched him slowly making his way