Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-27

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MADE CAPTIVE BY THE SIOUX
e9seHsreaaeeee.sH - re 1HNeaeears
HE monument reared in con
massacre, the bloodiest trag

massacre, the bloodiest trag-
edy in the history OF Iowa, is
n beautiful shaft about sixty feet high,
built in alternate sections of rough and
polished granite.
The story of the massacre as related
by Mrs. Abigail Gardner Sharp, sur
vivor, is one of thrilling interest.
"The Sth of March, 1857" she said
'the Indians entered our house, and
instantly shot my father through the
heart. He fell dead. AT the same time
they seized my mother and my sister
by the arms beating them over the
heads with their guns and driving them
out Of doors; they there killed these de-
fenseless women in the most shocking
manner.
''rhey next seized the children, tear
ing them from my arms one at time.
The little ones reached out their arms
toward me, crying in terror for the pro-
lection that 1 was powerless to give.
Needless of their piteous cries the saw
ages dragged them out of doors and
killed them with sticks Of stove wood.
During these awful scenes 1 was
both speechless and fearless, but now
alone in the presence OF the dying and
the dead, it seemed as though l could
not wait for the missile of death to
strike me, SO I rushed forward to one
of the band and begged him to kill me
quick. lie then roughly seized me by
the arm and said something which
could not understand, but / well knew
by his actions that 1 was to be taken
captive.
''Of the forty persons who were then
residents of the lake region there was
not one left to tell the tale! Every one
who was at home was killed except
Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs. Mar
Bile and myself, whom the Indians took
with them as captives on their return
to the north.
"After six weeks of incessant march
ing over the trackless prairies ard
through what is now known as Lake
Madison, in South Dakota. we Wcre
visited by two strange Indians, who
bought Mrs. Marble.
"Some four weeks after the depart
ure OF Mrs. Marble We fell in with q
party of Yanllton Sioux. One of them,
named Wanduskaihauke, or End-of-
the-Snake bought Mrs. Noble and my
self from the mercenary Ink-pa-du-ta.
zone evening q short time after we
were sold, just as we supposed we
were settled for the night, after a
weary march, Mrs. Noble and I were
nbout to lie down to rest when a son
of Ink pa -du-ta came into the tent of
the Yankton and ordered Mrs. Noble to
go out She shook her head as q signal
that she would not go. No sooner did
'Nshe refuse to go that she was seized by
the arm with one hand, and, with a big
war club in the other he dragged hel
just outside the tent door and there
struck her three blows such as only an
Indian can deal. The piteous groans OF
his victim came through the tent and
pierced my ears-deep, sorrowful and
awful to hear. 1 did not dare venture
out to go to her side. l was too terror
stricken.
"a few days after the death of Mrs
Noble we reached the Jim River in the
northern part of South Dakota. Here
was an encampment of 200 lodges OF
the Yankton Sioux, powerful branch
of the Sioux nation.
"On May there appeared in the
camp OF the Yanktons three Indians
wearing coats and white shirts with
starched bosoms. l was certain they
were from the white settlements, as
well knew no Indian women were
skilled in the art of laundering white
shirts. 1 soon discovered that l was
the subject of their conversation.
cat the end Of three days l was de.
livered over to the Indians in coats,
and the journey toward civilization
was begun"
FEROCITY OF THE CATAMOUNT
"When it comes to savage creatures
I will put the catamount against any
thing to be found in the woods" said
an old hunter, "and l am sure l would
come out in the lead with distance to
spare. The catamount is ferociouS
member. Once corner one of these
creatures and you will have your hands
full to come out with your life. In
the first place, they are well equipped
for fighting at close range. Nature has
provided them with long, curved and
pointed claws and extraordinarily
sharp teeth. Their claws cut like a
knife. and if they could use a scythe
they could not meet with more success
when 1t comes to moving pack OF
dogs down. Dogs, for this reason
fight shy of catamounts.
"They will scatter and scamper
around to the sides of the trail, resort
ing to the same circular course they de-
scribe when they suddenly lose trail
They do not care to surprise cata
mount by rushing upon him suddenly
They know what If will mean tO them