The Red Cloud chief., 1890-05-30


| gion where their nearest ncighbors were
nearly twenty miles distant.
A. the coming Of this family into the
region was unknown To the other set
| tlcr., Its members failed 70 receive
warning from the couricrs who spread
tho news Of Black Hawks uprising
among tho hills south Of tho Wisconsin
river. Fortunately for d ths Strceter
family, It's whereabouts was also an.
known To the hostile Indians, tho cabin
being n little beyond their usual range
| Of attack.
Tho husband and wife worked on nm
disturbed until n cabin had been built,
and three acres Of ground thoroughly
broken up and planted 70 corn, potatoes
and garden seeds. Tho plants bad
come up. and had boon hood once, when
tho couple found that their small stock
or provisions was nearly exhausted.
Tho nearest market for the S~trceters
| was D~odgeville, more than twenty miles
distant from their claim. II was heces-
sary that ono Of tho couple should stay
| at homo 70 watch tho cows and tho
growing crops. and Mr.. Streetcr set out
alone for I~)odgcvillc, with oxen md
wagon. to get -four and other needed
articles.
lie started on his journey just after
sunrise one morning. Ills vito finished
her mornings work about the cabin. and
went out with . hos ~ work In the field.
taking with her tho child, a little girl
four years Of ago.
Though living miles from any neigh
bors, tho hardy women Of those days
often stayed alone while their husbands
were gone for days, and sometimes for
weeks, upon hunting Or trapping cxcur-
sions, or To distant marketing points.
Mrs. Strcctcr worked for some hours
milling up" young potato vines, whilo
Elsie, the little girl, played with o
small kitten, their domestic pot.
With % sudden scream the child cAme
running TO her mother, and caught her
by tho dress. Mrs. Strcctcr looked
about In alarm. fearing that n rattle
snake had bitten tho child, and discov-
cred tho cause Of her fright to DO an
Indian who had come out Of tho brush %
few rods distant, and was approaching
them.
Although sho was not afraid Of
Indians, shc was annoyed that ono ~
them should come while hcr husband
was away. Sho knew that often thoy
wore lawlcss and thieying when they
discovered women alone.
Al tho Indian camO toward her his
face o cd and grinncd 80 curiously
that she fclt an impulse ~ laugh until
shc saw that its expression camo from n
deformity.
"Hoogt-oogh" no gruntcd. a - he came
up. "You 70. you squaw. puck a ahe<
heap kick! You 20 Tonga me! uoap
lnjun comm" and he pointed up The
valley. 1--WE go yondor" poiuting this
time toward tho Wisconsin.
Tho oma WAS frightened Mt his
words and manner notwiths landing
that no tried To laugh and look aS pleas.
ant IN his queer features would permit.
and though he had no weapons In sight.
"Mcn kin heap! Me- M hurt. Yo,
20. We hoap puck a chsr," and no reached
| down u pick mp tho child,
Tho little girl screamed with terror.
| anil Mrs. Strecter caught her up and
Stcpl~d back.
mo, ! will not ~ with you" said she.
"You'rC u bad lnjun, and you're lying
to mo-" Sho had quickly concluded that
tho Indian merely wished To cnticc her
away while his companions pillagod tho
promises.
Again tho Winncbago-for It. was
John-tricd to explain 10 her that he
meant 10 In friendly and 10 aid her Ia
escape from danger.
Heap ~Ou.agan,ic'" Fox Indians, said
he. "Mcn como. shoot, kin. XIII
papoosc. kin white spuaw. Squaw 20
me-, So" and again he motioncd to-
ward tho rivor, and. by Initiating tho
act 81 padding and by sweeping his
hand forward, slgni He'd that he would
takc her across II LIS his canoc.
mo, you 20 and leave mol" said tho
woman, STORMY. II won't go with you.
Oo." She repeated, pointing toward tho
woods. and then shc tu,ned with The lit
tie girl In her nrms and started toward
the cabin. ~
Instantly the Indian spr~nx forward,
then snatchcd tho child from her, and.
catchiug hcr by the Ahouldc,v. forced
her down Ia tho ground upon her face.
| aud quickly tied her arms. Ito had
evidently cOnc prepared u carry out his
plan by forro II necessary, and the poor
woman felt that hcr instinct had been
truc, Not daring 10 struggle, sho sub.
mitted IA In bound y captive.
Elsie, the littlc girl, had started 10
| run into tho woods, hut John caught her
and took her, screaming, into his arms.
lie walked quickly back with her TO
Mrs, Strectcr, who had risen, after Q
struggle, ~ her fcSt,
'Comc." said he. "vou 90 Tonga mo
now, heap klick' Mo TAX" papoose, We
puck u chez" and he started toward tho
river, ~bcckoning her Ia follow. lie had
Elsie In his arms, and there was nothing
for the now thoroughly. enlightened and
trembling woman to DO but ~ 80 with
him.
1t was several miles to the river, The
W~innebago hurried forward NJ u half
trot. the child crying pitcously At every
step, while the distressed mother, nearly
out Of breath, kept close a. his heels,
trying TO cheer her littlc girl with words
IL Ia -