The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-07
SOUTH DAKOTA
ROW WITH REDSKINS
Captain La Barge and a Cannon
Loaded With Rivets Con- =.
trolled the Situation,
His Wife the First White Woman
- to Enter the South Dakota
.... 81. ... F-.
= Country. a
Special to. The journal,

Special to The Journal.
Pierre, S. D., Sept. THE state historical
society has recently come upon the story of
somewhat interesting episode in the Indian his
tory of the state, which has quite passed out of
the memory of any one LOW living in the locality.
In lS47 Captain Joseph La Barge was making
MS nrst tr1p up river as master of his own YES
sci, tho he had piloted many a craft safely over
the turbid AIissouris channel in previous years.
de was accompanied On this trip of the Martha
by his wife, and she undoubtedly the first
white woman to enter the South Dakota coun-
try. -s.'." -
At that time it was the custom of the govern
ment to send annually agent into the Indian
country to distribute presents to the nations and
on this trap Captain La Barge was accompanied
by an agent by the name of Matlock who ap-
peared to be more jealous for the advantage Of
the American Fur company than for the good Of
the savages. Colin Campbell, the fur company s
agent at Fort Pierre, was also along
When the boat arrived at the mouth Of Grow
creek, in what is now Buffalo county, they came
upon the Yanktons and Matlock told them he had
presents for them, but that they must go to
Fort Pierre to receive them To this the In
dams demurred, arguing that it was unnecessary
for them to make the tiresome journey for some
thing they could we'll receive where they were.
Campbell, always offcious, represented to them
| that the facilities for handling the goods were
much better at the fort than there, but they pro-
tested so vigorously that Malock dealt out por-
ton of their trinkets and then insisted that they
| must go to the fort for the remainder .s@ 3
| Made the Boatman Pay. -
The Indians received this ultimatum in sullen
| silence Campbell had prepared lot Of wood
for the steamboat at Grow creek but when the
| boatmen attempted to take it the tribe of the
mighty Yanktons, overcome by WEAKNESS, sal
upon it and not stick could be taken. Being
in absolute need Of the wood, Captain La Barge
was compelled to pay the Indians the full value
Enough Of the deck bands then went ashore tt
carry all Of the wood upon the boat at arm
f,,1 nnoI ,x,1,o, %lox.
the gangway each bending under all he coult
carry, the Indians fell upon them and belaboret
| them with their rawhides until the men dropped
| the wood and tumbled pell nell upon the vessel
Etenne Provost a fearless frontiersman Of
whom the Indians stood in awe, now took hand
and the wood loaded without further annoy
ance, and the Indians disappeared.
The wind, however, high that thu
boat could not proceed, and remained tied up a
Crow creek thruout the afternoon About
clock, while Captain La Barge reading il
his cabin, he aroused by yells. the dscharg
Of firearms and the smashing Of glass and spin
tering Of wood: He looked out to find the for
ward portion Of the boat swarming with howlin,
Indians dancing around the body Of Charlie
Smith, one Of the boatmen, whom they hat
killed.
Fastening to his wife's stateroom, he found he
SAFE and barricading her door with mattresses
he went back to take charge of the vessel an
drive off the int1uders. Unfortunately, an acct
dent had disabled the carriage to the small can
non winch the boat carried ana InaC lmpOrtan
portion Of the vessels armament in the en-
CINE room for repairs, and the savages were Il
possession of the engine deck. e."a
Cannon Made Ready.
Nathan Grismore, the engineer, volunteered t
take Il party to the engne-room from the rea
, of the boat, and attempt to bring the canno
above, and he ACCOMPLISHED the undertaking
Then it was found that the Indians had pos
; session of the portion of the vessel where tn
ammunition was kept, but quantity of powde
was found in the cabin and Grismore loaded tn
gun withs this and boiler riets and it was move
forward until it commanded the lower decB
where the Indians were.
Captain La Barge then lighted cigar and tol
| Colin Campbell to tell the Yanktons that h
was now ready to blow them all into eternity
He then started to hold the cigar to the powder
nrimed breech of the cannon but it was ur
necessary. In twinkling every Indian was over
! side and had disappeared in the timber. Smit
was buried and the vessel proceeded on its way
Fort Union.