The morning call., 1890-12-26
BRUTAL INDIANS.
A Bloody Tragedy i'm the Early
Days of Nebraska.

In the year of 1889 young man and his
newly-married wife set out from Parkers-
burg, in what is now called West Virginia,
to try their fortunes in the great West, says
the ST. Louis Star Sayings. The young man
had scarcely attained his majority and his
wife was few years his junior. They set
tied first at Burlington. Iowa. then from
tier town. But living In wilderness be-
cones passion with some men, and in 1857
they settled at ''Brocke's Bottom" They
had been blessed with eight children two OF
whom they had buried in Iowa. BY dint OF
toll and thrift they had accumulated large
property. They built comfortable home
upon this 'tsquatter's claim Here another
sen died Che fist natural death in the
county,, and another was born to them.
Their sorrow was merged in this new JOY,
and father, mother and children bent heir
united energies TO the suhduing of the for
est A happy future appeared to be before
them. But alas, sorrow was in store.
In September, 1862, Abraham Lincoln
issued the emancipation proclamation. and
when in the month following the President
called for more troops with which to sup
press the rebellion the heart of the Virginian
abolitiOnist burned within him. His second
son. now II, YVES deemed sufficient protector
for mother and children, and so the eldest
enlisted as soldier. The father joined
company i, cOHnHiduutu by CdptdlH JOHn
Taffe, afterward a member of Congress- and
the company was ordered to join Sul!yS
regiment, which was sent to Crow Greek,
Oak
On the sd day OF June, 1868, the mother
had gone to 1anktcn, Dak, by pony express
to purchase some of The little luxuries that
serve to mellow the rough side OF u frontiers
mans life. Leaving the carrier at old ST.
James, near tie mouth of Petit Arc, as the
French voyagers called it, she walked three
miles through a ravins to her home. Ar
irving there with a mothers joyful eXpecta-
ton, she was alarmed al seeing no signs of
life: no outstretched arm met her waiting
embrace: no lips Were upturned to receive
a mothers cherished kiss. Looking through
the window she saw an Indian lying upon
the floor.
Tell-tale marks of gore were upon the
door. But they had not the significant as
surances which the blood of the Paschal
lamb gave to the breast of a Hebrew. AS
the terrible truth flashed upon her be-
wildered brain SIZE was seized with the
frenzy of despair. She rushed to the other
side of the house. There lay one Of her
children, boy Of Syears, stark and stiff
shot TO death. Wild with grief, fear and
frenzy, the poor woman fled back through
the ravine to old st. James. and told the
dreadful story. 1t was now nightfall, and
no one dared move till daybreak. What
night that must have been TO that fond
mother.
On the IuOTFOW lil6 SlDali UdEu Oh settlers
at old St. James took a crcGlt0uS route on
the open prairie to the scene OF the massacre.
Three of the five children were dead. The
two others were yet alive. The eldest, boy
of II years. lay upon the floor, his skull
crushed and both arms broken. His hands
still clutched mis- rife, with barrels empty.
The brave boy had persisted in a hand-to-
hand struggle TO protect the honor of his
sister from savage infamy. The sister, yet
living had been mutilated in a manner
which forbids detail.
The poor girl lived for five days, but never
spoke. The second boy, a lad of Is, had
been stabbed to death. Another boy of
years. lying outside the door, had been seen
by his mother. But the saddest of all was
the sight Of mammals darling" little fel-
low of summers, mortaily wounded. en-
dams scared me, mamma" was all lie could
say. He died in three days. The victims
of this cruel slaughter were buried in sin
gle grave near the mouth of Petit Arc.
In less than two weeks news travelled
slowly them the sad story reached the father,
200 miles away. Mounting his horse with
out taking refreshments, he set out upon his
dismal Journey. On he rode, night and
day, with the energy OF madness and de-
srair. Arriving at " Brocke's Botton,,''
Hanson Wiseman entered the house-his
homo no more.
Above tie grave of his slaughtered chill
dren Hanson Wiseman swore terrible oath
of vengeance. How well the oath has been
kept is secret between him and his God
But this is certain; for over twenty years
bone of tho yagabOnd bands of Indians
which have infested this county could be in
duced to enter "Brocke's Bottom" To the
red man il is the valley of the shadow of
death. At the time the Winnebaeoes were
moved down the river several canoes were
emptied of their living freight in passing
the scene OF the Wiseman murder. Some
mysterious person shot them from the
heavy timber" along the river But
short time since the settlers in that neigh
borhood were shocked by the discovery of
several skeletons buried near the "Wiseman
claim" They were the bopeS of aburigines