The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-10

gloated over what they had done. They
were large in number, the whites were
small. and for business and other reasons
it was deemed impossible TO wage open
warfare. The situation, however, was
such that it was deemed ut to curtail the
power of the Indians, as Iey were inso-
lent and threatening.
Beckwith went down the Missouri river
to place where smallpox existed. He OBJ
tanned smallpox virus in form that could
be easily transported. One story was that
he carried the poison in an air tight CAMS
ter like arrangement When he reached
his destination he infected some clothing,
which was Immediately put in possession
Of the Indians, so that the poisonous germs
of the smallpox, which are short lived,
would not lose their efficacy. The result
was that the epidemic broke out and in
creased to a pestilence. In more than 50
per cent. of the cases the disease assumed the
continent and the hemorrhagic forms, and
the fatality was not far from 100 per cent.
In their delirium scores ran to the river,
and death was thus accelerated in its ap-
proach. The white men shut themselves
up in what was called the old fort, a large
abandoned structure, large part of which
lence stricken, focked. They humbly came
TO the white man, whom they had so re-
Gently abused and exulted over in their
brutal, savage way.
After the abandoned old fort had been
converted from lazar house to a charnel
house by the action of disease the means
of egress were barred, and in order to stamp
out the contagion fire was applied. Scores
of dead bodies were consumed. The con-
tagion was thus stamped out, the power of
the Indians was broken without the loss
OF single white man and the insults
avenged. This occurred between forty and
fifty years ago.
On another occasion a young German
who was employed in a mental capacity in
private fort of A. NJ. Harvey, in ignorance
or otherwise, disregarded instructions given
him, and on certain occasion when there
was danger strayed from the fort about a
quarter of mile He was killed by In
dians and cut into small pieces
The mutilated remains were then left as
a warning to the whites of the Indians
prowess. Just as in the smallpox case, the
whites did not appear to notice the in
dignity, and also as in the smallpox case
the Indians regarded this as an indication
of cowardice The Indians, however, kept
away for short time after the murder to
see what would be done Then they came
around to'trade. This fort had an alley
like entrance, guarded by door or gatelike
at each extremity. The sides
were walled or boarded high. The white
men managed to get the alley full of In
dians
They had previously allowed Indians in
here after the murder in order to disarm
suspicion. The whites opened the outside
barriers, but placed behind thin inside |
barrier masked cannon. This was heav- |
lily loaded with iron slugs, parts of black |
smith shop refuse and material of that !
nature. Without warning this was dis |
charged into the pacFed mass of savages /
A moment later the narrow way was filled |
with dead and mangled Indians The out |
er way was shut and others were killed. /
For A long time after this the Indians were |
well behaved
Frontiersmen say that if eastern senti- .
did not prevail to the extent of /
with the army movements
and with the action of men who thorough
ly understand the Indian character ut ev-
cry turn the Indian problem would soon
he solved, and to this problem there is but
one solution.-kansas City Star.