The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-09
The aaaieita Daily eagle Thnrsaau zornno gully g. 1891.
ANOTHER PocAHoNTAS.
The Romantic story Of an IntEian We
mans Life.

2ne Romantic story OF an ladaan " .
mans Life.
The recent troubles between the na-
tionai government and the Sioux Indi-
! ans recall TO the memory OF cores
pendent pathetic incident which 90
CURED In that tribe sixty-five or seventy
years ago. and which she believes has
never been in print She Is not posi-
ual, and can De vouched for, she says,
BY other persons now living, some OF
them children and grandchildren of the
heroine of the story.
About the date 1 have given, a Scotch
man named Laidlaw, belonging 70 enc
of the great American fur companies,
traded extensively with the Northwest
ern Indian tribes. On one OF his expo
ditions his headquarters were for sew
eral weeks among the Sioux During
that time a few men of the tribe, for
some fancied injury, or IN conseq uencs
OF some actual disagreement, oeeama
MORALLY offended with him and deter
mined 10 take his life. One man. .
slillful archer, was 10 steal I'D 10 ths
tepee, snd while Laidlsw was busy
with his accounts, send al arrow int2
his heart
An Indian maiden overheard the men
discussing their diabolical scheme, and
determined to save the Scotchman's
life. She crept quietly TO the tepee. but
just as she reached 1t. and before she
could warn him, she saw the Indian Sc
the opening Of the tent with bow al
ready drawn.
Quick as thought she threw herself
before Laidlaw's breast. and the arrow
went through one OF her arms. The
Indian fed, leaving the suffering girl
TO her fate. Laidlaw, surprised and
shocked by the suddenness and horror
of the affair. knew not what to do, but
the girls fortitude and presence of mind
did not forsalze her.
She told him TO assist her in removing
the arrow, which he did BY cutting the
stem in two, and gently pulling it out
They then sought her parents, who
applied their crude remedy TO the
wound
After the maiden's recovery, Laidlaw.
in gratitude for her heroism, married
her and brought her TO Clay county,
Missouri. where she died about twenty,
three years ago.
Mr.. Laidlaw built an elegant house,
with spacious and lovely grounds and
kept a retinue Of servants. His place
was visited by sight-seers and thronged
with guests. he had, / think, eight chill.
dren, whom he sent TO the best acade-
mics for education The daughters were
hne-looking, though showing in .
marked degree their Indian blood. The
mother told me that only the two sons
had pretty blue eyes like their father.
The mansion was provided abund-
antly with comforts and Injuries, bus
while the children enjoyed them to the
full, Mrs Laidlaw seemed 20 prefer
solitude and simple food and clothes
For many years of her widowed life
she lived with one of her daughters, \
kind neighb Dor of mine. | often visited
her, and she talked OF her husband. her
parents and her tribe with 50 much
feeling that / was often moved 70 tears.
She told me that after she had been
married sixteen years Sioux chief,
passing through Missouri heard of her
and came to see her, but she could noe
talk 70 him, for she had forgotten her
native language.
She said it broke her heart. There
was so much she wanted 70 ask him
about her people, whom she still loved
so dearly, and so many messages she
would have liked TO send 70 old friends
and kindred.
In her last DAYS, sven when partially
blind, she wandered every day through
the woods. detected and alone. Though
she had kind friends and affectiOnats
children she seemed to shun companion
ship, and her stately figure, but little
bent with age. coming slowly through
the woods was a sight touching in the
extreme. Youths Companion.