St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-14
ELOQUENT COL. INGERSOLL
RECEIVED WITH APPLAUSE BY WASH
WGTOH PEOPLE.
HE LECTURES ON LINCOLN.
Col. Kiefer's Bill to Reimburse
Minnesota Calls to- Mind the
Spirit Lake Massacre - How
Judge FIandrau Pledged the
Credit of the state for the
Rescue of Mrs. Marble.
neciol Correspondence of the Globe.

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 11.-Col. Il. q. In
gerSon is probably more of favorte i'll
Washington than any other man upon
the public platform today. He lived
here for many years, and Hospitality
entertained the statesmen and artists
and literary people of this great center
of Intelligence at his home. He lee
tured on Abraham Lincoln to packed
house at The new National theater last
Sunday night. There we've cabi-
net officers, senators, congressman,
diplomats - all of the elite of the
capital-Out 10 hear him. Never, prob
ably. were the lights and shadows of
our greatest historical character brought
SO palpably before public audience.
The great orator had a great subject
and great audience. Ills lecture was
eloquent, humorous, philosophical and
pathetic. The theme became luminous
under the magic touches of the orator.
and for two hours laughter and tears
were strongly lntermingled beneath
the wonderful magnetism of this great
est Of public speakers.
Col. lngtrSOIl grows old in years.
but IS still young i'll sympathetic rever-
ence for those things which his keen
but materialiStic intellect has pro-
nouncrd sacred. He loves liberty and
hates co Sc just as strongly as of wore.
Ills Il . on Lincoln is better because
less icD..--IastIc than any of his former
n o aff
that this great and loving human soul
will not permit himself TO see
that the strength of Abraham
Lincoln was spiritual strength,
born Of the sufferingS of his country
and his cOuntrymen in the most trying
epoch OF its existence. Nay, how re-
markable it is that this sublimest of
American orators refuses to see that his
own strength in influencing his fellows
is spiritual power akin in substance to
that of the prophets of oid-like that of
the martyrs who died that the world
might grow. Truly there are none so
blind as those very messengers who
carry light into the worlds dark spots.
I I +
Away back during the winter of
1878 the people of Minnesota were
startled by the news that a band of
Sioux Indians under the leadership of
chief named Inkpadutah had made
raid upon an exposed settlement of
whites at Spirit lake, in Northwestern
Iowa, near the Minnesota line. These
savageS. besides Strengthening several
men and children, carried into captivity
two unfortunate women-a Miss Gard
ner and Mrs. MarbIe-and had left,
going toward the Inaccessible wilds that
skirted the Missouri river. At that time
Hon. Charles E. Flandran was
Indian agent at the Redwood
agency, on the upper Minnesota
river. above New Ulm. Sending
at once TO Fort Ripley for a company of
troops, Agent Fiandrau started in mid
winter to hunt down the murderers and
to rescue the captives. That was fear
tul journey. Snow two to three feet on
level; roadwayS entirely unbroken;
the Whole country one vast, unnhabited
wilderness. After two weeks of un.
successful search, through the most
frightful exposures, the party was COM
PEELED to return empty-handed to the
agency.
Some weeks afterward party of
Sioux Indians came into the agency
having with them Miss Gardner, whom
they had purchased from Inkpadutah's,
band, away out on the prairies near
where Sioux Falls now stands. The
agent began negotiations for her release
and, after appealing to the traders at
the agency Nate Myrick, how living in
st. Paul, was one of the generous con-
tributOrs) blankets, food, traps and
enough other property were contributed
to induce the Indians to yield posses
sion of their prisoner. and Miss Gard
ner was released. Her father, mother
and friends had all been killed in the
massacre.
Then Agent Flandrau began to think
of Mrs. Marble, who still remained a
prisoner. He negotiated with the band
that had traded for Miss Gardner, and
they consented to undertake to rescue
Mrs. Marble, provided the agent would
and property to secure an exchange
with lnkpadutah. But where was the
property to come from. The traders had
already been generous in giving for the
release of Miss Gardner. There was no
government fund upon which the agent
;odld draw. What was to be done?
Judge Flandrau was always a man of
la late
the bonds of the territory of Minnesota
to accomplish this work of mercy. He
at once drew up a bond pIedging the
faith of the commonwealth to pay to
the traders full prices for their goods
upon the assembling of the legislature
lit its next session. Think of it, fellow
citizens. One man pledging the credit
Of the state for thousands of dollars!
But the object was one of mercy, and
Agent Flandrau was determined that
he would leave no stone unturned TO
rescue Mrs. Marble. The traders &C
cepted these bonds and furnished ali the
goods required by the Indians. These
were the first bonds ever issued by Min
ncsota.
Their wagons filled with blankets.
food and goods of every kind. the Indi-
ans started over the snow-clad prairies
OIL their errand of mercy. But they
were too late. Inkpadutah's band were
followed to the banks of the Missouri.
Mrs. Marble had been too weak
to stand the hardships of the
journey and had been assassinated bv
her captors. Of course, the Indians
never returned the goods to the agency.
but The first session of the legislature of
the state of Minnesota legalized and
paid the bonds issued by Judge Flandrau
for the release of Mrs. Marble.
These incidents are related from mem
DRY. Fortunately, Judge Flandrau is
living 70 correct any errors that nav
have crept in. They are now recalled
by the Introduction in the house by
Congressman kiefer. of st. Paul, of $
bill providing for the paymen,
of $1,000 TO the state of Min.
Eesota to lqridate the obligation.
assumed hV the stata in tLc