The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-12-29
CAPTURED BY REDSKINS
Mrs. Armstrong, of Green
vile. Was Sitting Bulls
Captive and Won His
Heart.

there resides a lady who was a captive in
the hands OF the willy old Sioux chief.
Sitting Bull, who was recently killed
while resisting arrest by the Indian po-
lice. Mrs. Armstrong, of Danforth ave-
nue., who enjoys this somewhat unenvi-
able distinction, was visiting friends in
st. Paul. Minn., In 1880. when her uncle,
Charles Sanborn, of the United States
Army. invited her to accompany him on
tour through the Indian country. She
eagerly accepted the invitation and went
to Dakota. where her uncle was stationed.
One day Mrs. Armstrong accompanied a
troop OF cavalry on visit to some of the
Indian camps n the neighborhood, little
dreaming OF the exciting experience she
was to undergo before she again saw CIV
ilizatiun.
She was much Interested in all that she
saw. The beauties of the vast country
through which she rode aud the curious
scenes which she witnessed in the camps
OF the Indians more than compensated
her for the fatigues and hardships of the
rough journey over the uncivilized
country. The little expedition proceeded
without misnap until Que day the little
troupe rode into Sitting Bulls camp.
SHE MAKES A CONQUEST OF SITTING BULL.
The treacherous old red man and his
warriors treated the party with the ut
most kindness and respect, especially
Mrs Armstrong. who was the recipient
OF the most marked and demonstrative
attention at tho hands of Sitting Bull. 1t
was not long before it became apparent
that the old chief had become smitren
with the charming daughter Of the pale
faces, nor was it long before the old rep
rebate removed whatever doubts there
might be In the matter by proposing TO
the young Jersey woman that she become
the chief squaw of the great medicine
man of the Sioux.
One Of the characteristics of the In
dians which had aroused Mrs Arm
strong's Indignation more than anything
else was the state of servile bondage in
which the poor miserable squaws were
kept by their lords, and although she
rejected Sitting Bulls offer with all
her womaniy diplomacy she improved
the opportunity. the offer afforded her,
as we'll as she was able, to plead for her
per-coloredEsisters.
But her efforts were In vain and old
Sitting Bull was not to be discouraged by
Il single no. He was not in the hauit OF
relinquishing so easily what he desired,
and when he found all his Establishments
OF no avail, he resolved upon q more
heroic course of wooing. He stationed
two trusty braves in the tall grass which
grew on the plains around the camp with
orders to stay there until they snould
bring in the beautiful pale face For
three days the young bucks kept con-
cealed and saw nothing of their victim.
On the fourth Mrs Armstrong went out
unaccompanied to stroll through the
country IL was a delightful day, and.
lured on by the beauty OF the surround
ing scenery and the many natural points
of interest about the camp, Mrs. Arm
strong wandered on further and further
from her friends.
CAPTURED BY THE YOUNG BUCKS.
When fiually she thought iL time to re-
turn TO the camp and she was about to
relrnce her steps, the two young bucks
who had been waiting for her so long,
bounced upon her, and before she could
realize what had happened she found her.
self bound hand and foot gagged, and
borne rapidly way.
The young braves informed Sitting
Bull of the success of their venture, and
tine old chief Immediately broke camp,
and with all his followers rode away.
The friends of Mrs Armstrong soon
missed her, and General Sanborn ordered
ou. scouts to search for her. Two of the
scouts discovered her in the Indian camp,
anc, being totally unable TO cope with
the Indian force, hurried back and told
General Sanborn of their discovery. The
general ordered out a force of cavalry and
surrounded the Indian camp. A demand
was made for Mrs. Armstrong but her
captor was inclined TO hold on to her.
However. when he saw the soldiers, with
their fingers on the triggers of their car
bines, he weakened and produced Mrs
Armstrong, who was then a badly fright
ened woman.
When he came to take leave of his fair
captive the old medicine man presented
her with u number of Indian relics as a
mark Of his great affection and regard
These Mrs. Armstrong now has in her
home on Danforth avenue and they make
most interesting exhibit. One of the
relics is the great war tomahawk whic h
was used by Sitting Bull. Ii is made of d
species of red clay and is inlaid with a
piece of flint. The handle is OF wood and
about twelve inches long. Thirteen
notches are cut in the handle which show
that during MS career Sitting Bull has
killed and scalped no less than thirteen
persons.
THE GREAT CHIEFS WAR BONNET.
A large head dress four feet long Is also
among the articles OF the collection. 1t
is made of turkey feathers fastened TO a
cloth band in such a way as TO stand erect
Mrs. Armstrong explained that the head
dress was taken from the head of dead
chief. The other articles of the collection
are six bows made OF hickory and tipped
with eagle feathers and two dozen arrows
made of the same wood, tipped on one
end with eagle feathers and on the other
with flint heads hewn out of solid stone
There are also four tomahawks of the
same shape as the one which Sitting Bull
carried. One of these tomahawks has as
many as twenty-four notches in the ham
ole. The other three have three, nine and
ten notches respectively. A number of
colored beads and other trinkets form the
rest of the collection. Mrs. Armstrong
values these relics highly. and it would
take large amount of money to induce
her to part with them. as they are the
mementoes of her terrible though short