Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-02
THE INDIANS NEMESIS.
A Nonagenarian Who in His Day Has
Killed Hundreds of Redskins.

in Cedar County, Nebr., lives alone
man ninety years old, who has killed
hundreds of Indians. No one knows
how many redskins" he killed. He
does not himself know. But forty
three years of his life were devoted to
the one effort of killing as many as he
could in revenge for the massacre of
his three children.
Hanson Wiscman and his wife and
baby went from West Virginia to
Northeastern Nebraska long before the
war. That country was then the wild
West.
In 1862 he enlisted as a member of
Gen. Sully's Nebraska brigade, ard in
spite OF the warning of his neishbors
he departed with the troop. Less than
year later Wisemans three children
were murdered and his cabin burned
by marauding Indians. Mrs. Wiseman
had gone to lankton after supplies,
leaving her siXteen-year old son to
protect his little sister and baby broth
er. On her return on the fifth day she
found the cabin a partial ruin and the
boy and hatv dead. Her daughter was
still alive, but with scalp gone and
tongue cut out she lived but few
DAYS The mother, crazed with grief,
ran away.
The news reached Wiseman if Mon
tana. Without asking leave he started
back to Cedar County. After long
search he found his, wife, but it was q
year before she was able to tell him
the story.
Close 10y where the Wiscmans had
lived was the hunting ground of the
Puncas, and the Territory was new and
then invaded by the Yanllton Sioux.
who were ever at conflict with the
Nebraska reds. Wiscman was never
able to discover whether it had been
Sioux or Ponca that had murdered his
family.
Upon the graves of his children Inc
SWorc tic vendetta of the West Nir-
sina hill tribes. and he kept it. just
how many Indians he killed II" one
prctends to know. A few wears a-o u
gcologist discovered at the foot of the
bluff upon which his children We're
buried the remains of twcn:y-fuur In
dams. It was pronounced to be an
Indian burying ground, but Wiscman's
nei"hborS assert it was the old mans
private graveyard. ana the bodies were
those of his victims.
Wiseman stalkcd his game in for
est and over prairie. He always hunt
ed alone, and he made it point tn
pick off every stray Indian lie ran
across. On one occasion, when the
government was moving the Foncas
from Nebraska To the Indian Terri
tory, Wiseman lay in wait at point
close by his home. and as the first twc
canoes rounded the bend he opened fire
with Il Winchester. He killed Severa
and MANNED others before the fright.
ened reds could get out Of range. Ar
Investigation was ordered by the gov
eminent. but nothing ever came of it,
as none Of his neighbors would give
| testimony against him.
| Wiscman is ninety years old, and
| has lived alone for thirty years in q
rude nabitation along the Missouri
| bluffs. His house is built of rough
| implanted oaken planks. with barred
| windows and lOopholcs, Il miniature
| fortress of the frontier type. He had il
| flreproofod in every particular, so thai
| It might not be burned over his head
| by his red enemies. He has the haIlu.
cInation that they are still on his trail
and ne sits with loaded rifle across
his knees and a shotgun at his feet
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