Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-26
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HEROINE OF SIOUX WARS.
How Nebraska Woman Saved Her
Own Life and that of Her Son.

The other day there came out of the De-
partment Of Justice in Washington a woman
of attractive appearance, a little past 80
years old. AS she paused a moment on the
steps and looked with bright, observant eyes
over at the White House and along Pennsyl-
vania avenue, she presented a picture of
comfortable, placid middle age. One of the
attorneys from the Indian Depreciation
Claims department accompanied her to the
door, and after she bade him good by he said
to New York Sun correspondent:
That woman is Mrs. Sarah l.. Larimer Of
Nebraska, and she Is making her yearly visit
to Washington. When at the capital she al
ways calls on her friends in the Department
of Justice. The files of Indian depreciation
claims contain no more romantic and thrill
ing incidents than those which relate to the
early life of Mrs. Larmer. Those who meet
her now as 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
realize that in her youth she was the heroine
of regular dime novel story of the plains.
''In 1864 Lieutenant Larimer, who had
just been honorably discharged from the
Union army, left his home in Kansas, ac-
companied by his young wife and little
child, to cross tle plains for the restoration
of his health, which had given out through
hard service in the war. They were in
company with several other travellers and
had with them valuable personal belongings,
consisting of several wagons and horses, ex-
pensiye clothing, family jewels, complete
photographic outfit and nearly $4,000 in
money. When in Wyoming territory they
were surprised by band of Sioux Indians,
who murdered three of the party, wounded
two, Lieutenant Larimer being one of the
wounded and captured Mrs. Larmer and
her child. The Indians took the woman
and child to their camp, about seventy
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, Wyo., that the Sioux had at
! tackled travellers on the emigrant road and
mad carried MIS-. Larimer and her child into
captivity. Lieutenant Larimer had been
found, nearly dead from arrow wounds, and
distracted at the fate which had befalen
bis wife and baby. The officers of the Elev-
enth Immediately moved part of their COM
mand up the Platte river, and obtained
| further information as to where the raid
had taken place, THEY were about to move
| against the Indians with force of two
| companies when Mrs. Larimer came crawl
| ing INTO camp, carrying her child In her
arms, Their condition was deplorable. She
ard the child were nearly famished. AS
| soon as Mrs, Larimer was able she gave a
| detailed account of the position of the In
dians their plans and movements, their
designs against the command which they
knew would be moving against them, their
| numbers and the ambuscades which they
had prepared. Her information was so
valuable that the officers were able to
thwart the designs of the Indians, not only
against the pursuing troops. but against ex-
posed points and trains that were on the
! emigrant road.
The officers found the information Mrs.
! Larimer gave as to the position and move
ments OF the Indians to be exactly as she
had said, and marveled at the powers OF
! observation and clearness of memory which
! had endured through the hours OF torture
! she had gone through, The accuracy OF her
statements was particularly verified by the
fact that one OF the lieutenants and a few
| OF his men who discbeyed orders and fol-
lowed trail apart from the commaui, fell