New-York tribune., 1900-12-26
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

Mrs. Sarah L. Lariner Of Nebraska who is maxi
ing her annual visit to Washington, had many
years ago. thrilling experience with Indians For
her losses by Indian depredations and for the valu
able information given to United States troops
garding the plans of the Indians. large of
money was awarded to her later by the Court Of
Claims Her story is as follows
In 1864 Lieutenant Larimer' who had just been
honorably discharged from the Union Army. left
his home in Kansas, accompanied by his girl-wife
and baby the plains for the restoration OF
his health. which had given out through hard
vice in the They were in company with
eral other travellers, and had with them valuable
personal belongings and nearly $4,000 in money.
When in wyoming Territory they were surprised
by a band of Sioux Indians, who murdered three
of the party, wounded two, Lieutenant Larimer
being OF the wounded, and captured Mrs. Lari-
mer 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 news of the attack came
to the 11th United States Cavalry, stationed at
Fort Laramie, Wyo. Lieutenant Larimer had been
found nearly dead from wounds and dis
tracted at the fate which had befalen his wife
and baby The officers Of the 11th Immediately
moved part of their command up the Platte River
and obtained further information to where the
raid had taken place. They about to move
against the Indians with a force of two companies
when Mrs. Larimer crawling into camp carry
ing her child. She and the baby nearly tam
ished. AS Mrs. Larimer able she gave
a detailed account of the position of the Indians,
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 so
valuable that the officers were able to thwart the
designs of the Indians not only against the pur-
suing troops but against exposed points trains
that were on the emigTant road. The officers found
the information Mrs Larimer gave the posi-
ton and movements or the Indians 10 be exactly as
she had said. and marveled at the powers of OBJ
servation and clearness of memory which had en-
dured through the hours of horror she had under
gone. The accuracy of her statements partic-
uarly verified by the fact that one of the heuten-
ants and a few OF his men who had disObeyed
orders and followed a trail apart from the COM
mand fell into an ambuscade described by Mrs.
Larimer and were killed,
Mrs. LarmeT quite clear how
many hours she had passed with the Indians. She
had read OF the tortures inflicted by Indians upon
women captives. and determined, if possible,
TO get her child and herself away from their
clutches and die in other way than by their
tortures. She had always been girl Of fearless
disposition, quick in her movements and very OBJ
servant. She pretended be bodily in a languid
ing and watching their dances and listening to
their plans for further depreda tions when they had
ceased to observe her. she found a chance 10 slip
away beyond the fires into the dark bush. Through
two days and nights she struggled on faint. near
ly dead until she fell exhausted into the cavalry
camp.