Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-23
The Spirit Lake Massacre b,
ID. K. Potter.

Lake Okoboji, Iowa, July 10th 1908.
Reporter and Farmer.
AT last the dream of years is realized
and l am now at this place, made his
tofic and memorable by the so called
Esprit Lake Massacre which occurred
here March Sth to 18th 1857.
Save for the iron enclosure of the
sacred spot wherein We're buried about
thirty of those slain, the massive yet
beautiful monument dedicated to the
memory of those who fell, the original
and only log cabin left of those here
prior to March Sth 1857. One could
hardly believe now in looking over the
bustling towns of Spirit Lake and Oko-
boji, the hundreds of substantial farm
buildings seen in every direction, the
numberless boats from the little skiff to
the elegant steamboats, playing upon the
waters, and thousands of tourists COM
ing and going. / say it is hard to
realize that only so few years ago the
bloodiest and most brutal massacre
recorded in American history occurred
here; yet such is the fact.
And here let me say, / obtained an
introduction to Mrs. Abbie Gardner
Sharp, who was then a girl of thirteen
years living here, and who with a Mrs.
Marble, who is now living in California
were the only ones spared and carried
off by the Indians into captivity. From
Mrs. Sharp's own lips and from the his
tory Of the massacre written by her
self ! CLEANED the following sketch.
Perhaps a word in regard to her may
not be amiss, as in reading of heroines
we like to know how they look. She is
rather tall and slender, light complec-
ton, soft blue eyes, and brown hair
slightly silvered with gray, her manners
are quiet and pleasant and her face has
pensive subdued expression showing the
great suffering she has passed through,
she seems to entertain no feeling of
revenge for the wrongs she has suffered
but when the fate of her family are
alluded TO it is then her woman's heart
is more manifest than in speaking of
any personal abuse she has received,
she informs me that up to the year 1889
she had been All invalid and great suf-
ferer, writing a good share of her book
lying in bed or bolstered up with pill
lows, but at that period she heard of
Christian science and resolved to give it
a trial and to the great surprise of her.
self and all who knew her she was made
whole, not only cured of physical ills,
but obtained a better knowledgeo of Him
whom to know right is life eternal.
/ am not a Christian scientist but as /
looked at this woman / thought if it can
make this woman whole, who had been
sick over thirty years, if it make her
now sixty years of age, look not more
than thirty five, if it can cause her to
entertain no spirit of hatred or revenge
for those who murdered her parents
brothers aud sisters and subjected her
to untold suffering and car cause the
Christ light to shine out from her soul
SO as to fairly illuminate her countena-
nee, it is good enough for anyone.
I'll o CABIN.
This is entirely enclosed in a structure
of iron to protect it from the ravages of
the weather, just in front is a booth
where, if you do not wish to enter the
cabin a be purchased curos, relics and
her narrative. Here also you buy a
ticket admitting you into the cabin,
upon entering You are met by Mrs.
Sharp who shows You all the objects of
interest and W your questions.
The cabin is 14x20 feet built OF oak logs
hewn on the inside pointed up and
neatly whitewashed, and was built by
Mrs. Sharp's father in 1856. Upon the
walls hang several paintings and prot
rats of famous Indians Including Ink
pa-dp-pa the fendish brute who headed
the massacre, n painting represents
the scene of the massacre, another the
Indirn council, concerning her ransom.
To be continued.