The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-06-21
Kidnapped BY Indians.
Thrilling Story Of a Wonan's Cap
ture and Escape.

Plucky Mrs. Lslimer Was the Hero
ire of an Exciting Adventure Wlth
the Bloodthirsty Sioux Ia Wyom
ing Territory In 1864.
PHILADELPHIA Times.
While in Washington one day l
saw come out of the department CT
Justice q woman cf attractive appear
ance. As she paused moment on
the step and looked with briget, ob-
servant eyes over at the White House
and along Pennsylvania avenue, SIZE
presented a picture Of comfortable,
placid middle age. Oae of the at
torneys from tie Indian depreda-
ton claims department accompanied
her to the door, and after she baae
him goodby he said:
That woman is Mrs. Sarah Il
Lsrimer of Nebraska, and she is
making her yearly visit to Washing
ton. When at the capital, she
always calls on her friends in the
department Ct justice. The files of
Iodian depreciation claims contain no
more romantic and thrilling incidents
than those which relate the early
life of Mrs. Lalimer. Those who
meet her now as a woman Of the
present day, quite abreast of the
times in which she lives, interested
in all public questions and full OF
kindly sympathies, can scarcely real
ize that in her youth she was tie
heroine of a regular dime novel
story Of the plains.
"In 1864 Lieutenant Larimer, who
had lust been honorably discharged
from the Union army, left his hone
in Kansas, accompanied by his young
wife and little child, to cross the
plains for the restoration Of his
health, which had given ont through
hard service in the war. They were
in company with several other travel
ers and had with them valuable per
sonal belongings, consisting Of several
wagons and horses, expensive cloth
ing, family jewels, a complete pho
tographic outfit and nearly 81, 900 in
money. When in Wyoming territory
they were surprised by a band Of
Sioux Indians, who murdered three
Of the party, wounded two, Lieuten-
ant Larimer being one of the wound
ed, and captured Mrs. Lariner and
her child. The Indians took the
woman and child to their camp,
about 70 miles from the spot where
they had attacked the travellers.
"A day or two after the attack
news came to the Eleventh cavalry,
stationed at Fort Laramie, Wy, that
the Sioux had attacked travellers on
the emigrant road and lad carried
Mrs. Larimer and her child into cap
tiyity. Lieutenant Larimer had
been found, nearly dead from arrow
wounds and distracted at the fate
which had befallen his wife and
baby. The officers of the Eleventh
Immediately moved part OF their
command up the Platte river and OBJ
tanned further information as to
where the raid had taken place.
They were about to move against the
Indians with force Of two compan'
I les when Mrs. Larimer came crawl
ing into camp, carrying her child in
her arms. Their condition was de.
plorable. She and the child were
nearly faaished. As soon as Mrs.
Larimer was able she gave detailed
account of the position of the In
dians, their plans and movements,
their designs against the command
which they knew would be tao7irg
against them, their numbers and The
ambuscades which they had prepsE,
ed. Her information was 50 valua-
bic that the officers were able tc
thwart the designs CT the IGaia1s.
not only against tie pursuing troops
bat egainst exposed points ard
trains that were On TIE emisrant
road.
The cli.ers found tie iniorlna
ton Mrs. Larimer gave as to tx
position and movements of the In
dams to be exactly as she hal sald
and m4rveled at the powers of oo-
serva;ion and clearcess Ct memory
which had endured through the
hours Of torture she had gone
through. The accuracy Of her sta;e
ments was particularly vcrlasd by
the fact that one o! the lieutenant:
and few Of his men, who bad dis
obeyed orders and followed tral!
apart from the command, fell loto al
ambuscade described by Mrs. Lall
NOR ard we're killed.