Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-06-19
KIDNAPPED BYINDIANS
THRILLING STORY OF A WOMAN'S
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.

Plucky Mrs. Larimer Was the Hero.
Inc of an Exciting Adventure With
the BIoodthlrsty sioux In Wyoming
Territory In 1854.
While in Washington one day saw
come out Of the department of justice E
woman of attractive appearance. Al
she paused moment on the step anC
looked with BRIGHT observant eyes ovel
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 he1
yearly visit to Washington. When at
the capital, she always calls on he1
friends in the department of justice.
The files of Indian depreciation claims
contain no more romantic and thrilling
incidents than those which relate the
early life Of Mrs. Larimer. 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 ques-
tions and full Of kindly sympathies, can
scarcely realize that In her youth she
was the heroine of a 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, accompanied by his young wife
9nd little child, to cross the plains for
The restoral ion 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
$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. Larimer 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 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
iMlAcdiately moved part of their COM
;land mp the Platte river and obtained
further Information as to where the
raid had taken place. They were about
to move against the Indians with a
force of two companies when Mrs.
Larimer came crawling into camp car
rying her child in her arms. Their con-
dition was leplorable. She and the child
were nearly famished. As soon as Mrs.
L1rimer 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-
tion 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 elnigrant road.
"The officers found the information
Mrs, Larinler 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
,.s':, I;-?e early. RiSers.