Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-06-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THRILLING STORY OF A WOMAN'S
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.


Territory In 1854.
While in Washington one day 1 saw
come ont CT the department of justice n
woman of attractive appearance. As
she paused a moment on the step 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 depre-
dation claims department accompanied
her to the door. and after she bade him
goodby he said:
THAT woman is Mrs. Sarah L. Lari-
mer of Nebraska. and she is making her
yearly visit to Washington. When at
the capital. she always calls on her
friends in the department of justice.
The files of Indian depreciation claims
contain no more romantic and thrilling
incidents than these which relate the
early life of Mrs. Larimer. Those who
meet her now as woman of the present
day. quite abreast of the times in which
she lives. interested in all public ques-
tions and full CT kindly sympathies, can
scarcely realize that in her youth she
was the heroine of a regular dime
novel story OF the plains
lin 1864 Lieutenant Larimer. who
had just been honorably discharged
from the Union army, left his home in
Kansas. accompanied by his young wife
and little child. to cross the plains for
the restoration of his health, which had
given out through hard service in the
war. They were in company with sew
eral other travellers and had with them
valuable personal belongings. consist
ing of several wagons and horses. ex-
pensive clothing, family jewels, com
plete Photographic outfit and nearly
81. 600 in money. When in Wyoming
territory, they were surprised by Il band
of Sioux Indians. who murdered three
of the party, wounded two. Lieutenant
Larimer being one of the wounded, and
captured Mrs. Larimer and her child.
The Indians took the woman and child
to their camp. about 20 miles from
the spot where they had attacked the
travellers.
"a day or two after the attack news
came 10 the Eleventh cavalry, stationed
at FCrt Laramie, Wy, that the Sioux
had attacked travellers on the emigrant
road and had carried Mrs. Larimer and
her child into captivity. 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
moved part of their COM
mand up the Platte river and obtained
further information as to where the
raid had taken place. They We're about
to move against the Indians with
force of two companies when Mrs.
Larimer came crawling into camp, car
rying her child in her arms. Their con-
dition was deplorable. She and the child
were nearly famished. As soon as Mrs.
Larimer was able she gave a detailed
account of the position of the Indians.
their plans and movements. their de-
signs against the command which they
knew would be moving against them,
their numbers and the ambuscades |
which they had prepared. Her informa-
ton was so valuable that the officers
were able to thwart the designs of the |
Indians, not only against the pursuing !
troops, but against exposed points and |
trains that We're on the emigrant road. |
1.-The officers found the information |
Mrs. Larimer gave as TO the position |
and movements of the Indians to be ex-
actly 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 state |
ments was particularly verified by the |
fact that one of the lieutenants and a |
few of his men. who had disobeyed or
iers and followed trail apart from the !
fell into an ambuscade de-
scribed by Mrs. Larimer and were
killed.
Mrs. Larimer was never quite clear
as to how many hours she had passed
with the Indians. From the moment of
captivity, when they had started off
with her child and herself in their train,
she had concentrated every faculty ON
for an opportunity of escape.
She had seen her husband struck down
by arrows, killed. as she supposed; had
seen the wagons fired and her friends
killed and wounded. She had read of
The tortures inflicted by Indians upon
captives. never imagining that
)ne day she would be their wretched
victim. She was determined, if posi-
Die, to get herself and child away from
heir clutches and die in some other
way than by their fortunes. She had
always been girl of fearless DISPOSE
ion, quick in her movements and very
,bservant. She pretended to be bodily
n a languid and almost immovable
tate. After hours of waiting and
their dances and listening to
heir plans for further depredations.
when they had ceased to observe her.
he found n chance to slip away beyond
he fires into the dark bush, For hours
md hours, through two days and
nights. she struggled on. faint. nearly
lead. until she fell exhausted in the
amp of the cavalry.
1T was happy time. of course.
when she found her young husband
live. All they had in the world was
zone. but after the horrors of their ex-
.a-inrc.a lad ranssnl nS,-nv littl.a AID |