The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-12
THE MASSACRE OF 1862
Six Hundred Settlers Were Muir
dered in Minnesota.
. CARNIVAL OF BLOOD
The Naked Sevaees. Daubed With War
Paint. Denced Around Their Helpless
victims-warren De Camp Re-
members All About Il.

The present Indian outbreak in Min
nesota recalls the great massacre in
that state In 1862. in which GOO settlers
were killed. The massacre in August
OF hat year was the most bloody drama
that ever attended the advance of civil
ization in the Northwest. Their are a
number Of citizens in Montana who
will never forget the horrors of that
awful carnival Of death. Warren De
Camp. ex-assessor of Lewis and Clarke
county. recalls the incidents OF that
slaughter with a shudder. His father
was a victim of the raid OF the savages.
Mrs. De Camp. with her two sons. re-
moved to this state a few years after
the outbreak and has since resided here.
She is related to the ate Harry ~.
Sykes of Helena. Warren Is acquainted
with the history Of that uprising as
well. probably. as any person in this
state. The immediate cause OF the out
break was the failure OF the United
States government to pay money for
lands secured by treaty. The country
being In the throes Of civil war. the
'''HAhi A'on ooN VI 1h1lt Soll =
need of soldiers In the South. believ-
ing they could bring the nation to its
knees.
Emigration to Minnesota rapidly fol-
lowed the organization of hat terri
tory in 1si9. In 1851 the Indians were
Induced to sign a treaty by which they
transferred to the United States some
30, 900, 900 acres, r~eserving for their own
home a tract of $50 by 20 miles In ex-
s..s -.. 49, 49, =
1852 the Indians also coded this tract,
agreeing to accept such a location as
the president shoul select. But the
Indians did not move. In 1860. two
years after the admission Of Minnesota
into h union. the government pur-
chased half this tract.
The Indians were p~redisposed to hos
tility against the whites by reason of
the restrictions with which the gov
eminent had surrounded them. Then
the traders added to this feeling by
robbing them outrageously. The ad-
vent OF the whites on the purchased
lands for which the Indians were not
paid bid fair TO drive the red men away.
The whites cut down trees, the steam
boats frightened the beaver and water
fowl and the deer and buffalo were
driven away.
The night before the fateful 18th day
Of August. 1862. a great Indian council
was held at Rice Creek. and II was de-
termined to go to st. Paul, ~ necessary,
tn urge the making OF a payment on
the purchase made by the government.
II was found that the hostiles could
bring into the field 1900 warriors. all
armed and fierce with hatred for the
whites. who, they charged. had wine
led them.
Strange as II may seem. the actual
killing Of the whites began with n dis
pute among four Indians over two hens
eggs The quartette, passing across a
prairie. discovered the Eggs. Two pro-
posed eating them. The other two said
no-that the egg were the property of
the whites. One Indian threw the eggs
To 'he ground and was called a coward.
This same redskin then. to show his
BRAVERY shot an OK and again was
called a coward.
you break eggs and kill an OK" said
ono. You are a woman i am a brave
nan I have been on war parties and
taken scalps."
The quarrel was kept up until the
four thirsted for scalps and likewise a
chance to show their bravery.
loon they arrived at the home of
Howard Baker. They accepted the hos
pitality of the white man. and finally
arose as II to 60. Instead. however.
they suddenly turned and opened fire
on the whites. the shots taking effect
WI " wv fltu ifl NfONltT dflh
Jones. and Mrs. Jones. All were killed.
Then a Miss Wilson was dragged from
the house and shot. Mrs. Baker and
Mrs. Webster hid in the cellar. and.
after the Indians retired. sent a boy to
Ripley with the news OF the murder.
Captain whitcomb Of Forest City with
IL or 15 men hastened to the place and
held an inquest. While so engaged II
Indians passed on horseback. One sol
der opened fire. and the redskins fed.
The relatives OF the four murderers
then resolved upon a general massa-
ere to shield the quartette from appre-
hension.
on the morning Of the 18th Of August
the Indians began their march. Two
miles from the agency they numbered
$50 mounted and armed men. all mad
with the desire to shed white mems
blood. There they were Joined by the
great chief. Little Crow. as leader.
Swift messengers were sent 10 all the
tribes asking them to Join In the muir
derous work.
When the Indians entered the little
agency village a signal gun sounded.
Then the awful work began. The first
shot. fired at Myrich's store. killed
James Lynde, a clerk. Divall. n clerk.
and Fritz. the cook. were the next TO
fall. Young Myrick attempted to es-
cape, but was slain with arrows. At
Forbes store the Indians killed Joseph
Belland and Antoine Young: at Rob-
erts' store. one Brusson and one La
Bate. Many others in the Immediate
vicinity were also killed. George Bou-
rat made n dash for liberty. He was
twice shot. The Indians stripped his
clothing from him and piled a number
OF logs on him. promising to return and
cut him to pieces. He succeeded In ex-
Treating himself and made his es-
cape. All the stores and houses were
looted as fast as the owners were muir
dered.
with the first sight of blood all the
savag instincts OF the Indian became
predominant. Inc the atrocities Of that
awful day are landmarks OF cruelty.
Down the river. m each side. below the
fort and within six miles Of New rlm,
n up the river 70 yellow Medicine.
the massacres extended that day.
Large numbers persisted at Beaver
Creek and Sacred Heart Creek. The
Indians. Invested Of clothing and COW
cred with war paint and blood. pre-