The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-28
LITTLE CROW.
Some Of tho Misdeeds and the End u q
Very Bad Indian.

trouble during the past generation II
was the Sioux who were the most &C
lively engaged in war with us, after
the discovery of gold in California, IN
1S49 caused such a stream of emigra
tion across the continent; they were
the leaders in the destruction of Custer
and his command; it was they who per-
| petrated the terrible massacres of 1861
| in Minnesota, and who came so near
bringing on general war in 1s90-91.
Among the famous leaders OF the
Sioux was Little Crow, who at the be-
ginning of the outbreak of 1862 was
living in comfortable brick house,
| near one of the agencies, which had
been erected by our government as an
| inducement for him to help in the civ
ilization of his turbulent people. He
est friends of the whites, and, indeed,
had lost caste with many of his own
people because of his support of their
| measures.
Yet on the fatal day in August, when
the fierce bucks ran to his house and
as to what should be done, Little Crow,
instead of counseling peace, told them
that, inasmuch as trouble must newt
ably occur between the whites and his
people, it might as well begin then as
lat any time. He proposed that they
should go to the agency and kill the
traders, and volunteered to act as their
leader. Having thus identified him.
self with the hostiles, he became one
of the most bitter and unrelenting Of
them all. He possessed considerable
ability, and he threw himself heart and
soul into the fight. He was the leader
in several of the most decisive defeats
received by detachments of troops; was
in command in the attacks on New
Ulm, Fort Ridgely and the agencies,
struck many hard blows, and though
he personally did not wish to torture
prisoners, was too weak to prevent his
men from doing SO.
1t always takes a civilized govern
ment a considerable while to shake it.
self into shape when such a crisis
comes. The civil war being then under
way, quite a number of armed men
were in Minnesota, because of the call
of President Lincoln for volunteers.
By and by Col. Sibley was able to reach
the Indians, with the consequence that
they were badly beaten. Not only did
the majority surrender, but the leaders
in the atrocious butcheries were
caught and tried and SO were hanged at
,Mankato, in February, 1868.
Little Crow, however, fled northward
with large body of warriors, and took
refuge in the neighborhood of Devils
lake, where, the following year, he re.
newed his crimes and outrages. He
was so defiant that he notified Col. Sib-
ley where he was, adding that soon he
intended to arrive with his men at the
Yellow Medicine agency. ~
The authorities became so incensed
against the Sioux because of their
atrocities that they organized scouts
to hunt them down, and offered a re.
ward for every one that was killed.
Such was the state of affairs when, ON
Friday afternoon, July 3, 1868, Chauncey
Lampson, boy, and his father were
walking along the road several miles
north of Hutchinson, one of the towns
that had suffered severely from the
massacre. Each had a gun over his
shoulder, and they were walking side
by side, talking in low tones, when the
son suddenly touched the arm of his
father and pointed to little clearing,
MT hn oh
two halted at sight of couple Of
Indians picking berries. Their hacks
were toward the whites, who softly |
stepped behind the trees, and held q
whispered consultation as to what was
best to do.
There was no doubt that the Indians !
were hostiles, and had they seen the |
others first, would have shot them Mr. |
Lampson and his boy decided to antici,
pate them. Taking advantage of the |
shelter afforded by poplar surrounded
with underground, the father crept |
near enough to secure good aim, when /
he fired at one of the Indians. Tho /
savage threw up his arms with a yell
and fell to the ground, badly wounded.
Not knowing how many Indians might
be near, Mr.. Lampson began a cautious
retreat, but was obliged 60 expose him
self in doing so. The wounded Indian
had partly risen and aimed at him. At
the same instant, Chauncey, the son,
drew a bead on the wounded savage,
while the unwounded one leveled his
gun at the boy. Rather singularly all
three fired at the same moment.
Mr.. Lampson received flesh wound
In the shoulder, the ball of the un.
harmed warrior grazed the boys cheek,
while the missile of the youth instantly
killed the wounded Indian. Then.
fearing a charge from a war party.
Chauncey dashed off for help. As il
grew dark, the father started for home
by a circuitous route, and safely
reached there after midnight. The
body of the slain Indian was carried to
where to the establishment
and relief of all, il was identified as that
Of the famous chief Little Crowds
troit Free Press.
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