Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-09-19
K 4 4 = + X 4 X 4 4 4 X
< INKPADUTAH'S REVENGE. 4

Des MOines Register In a book of
interesting "reminiscences of early days
in Hamilton county recently published
by the historical department., Mrs.
Sarah Brewer Bonebright preserves
Major Brassfied's story of Henry Lott
and the massacre of the Indians at
Bloody Run. Major Brassfield was Il
lKentuckian who had come north in
1S47 and was Henry Lofts nearest
white neighbor after he moved north
among the Sioux.
Major Brassfield gives us the pic
ture of Lott that has become so fam
iliar, rather hardened frOntiersman
who dealt with the Indians unscrup-
ulOusly:
"Henry Lott was not man to inspire
confidence; and his careless, often az
gressive methods with the Indians were
constant source of anxiety TO my
family and to the settlers to the south
and west. His besetting sin found
expression in furnishing fircwater to
the natives and while their brains were
muddled with liquor he readily gained
an advantage in trading with them
Such sharp practices, many times,
strained their relations to the breaking
point, although the Indians We're simple
minded and did not know the value of
I'their possessions. Fur and ponies were
their only trading stock, and on various
occasions numbers of their ponies dis
appeared. some of which were located
with Lott and fOrcihly taken from him.
Other lunches of the animals. sup
pOsedly, were driven by him TO the
settlements south and east and sold.
At one time the Indians located num-
her of their ponies on the premises
of Lott and claimed them. He flatly re-
fused to surrender the horses. assert
ing that he had bought them while
the braves were drunk. On this Oc-
casion several white men. whose APP
pearance was not prepossessing, were
present at the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for
the transfer of the ponies-and the
Indians did not press their claim. a
second depreciation of the same kind
followed Immediately. and very soon
a third one was reported"
The major was one Of the first to
reach the Lott cabin after the Indians
had taken their revenge on him. He
found Mrs. Lott. very frail woman.
little suited to frontier life. and she did
not long survive. The major says of
the Indians:
my family always had beon on
friendly terms with tho Indians. and.
for the time, succeeded in allaying
their anger and inducing them to leave.
Although they had fired Lofts stables.
killed his stock and destroyed his pro-
visions. the Indians had made no at
tempt to inflict punishment upon his
wife or violate her person: and during
the intervals of calmness she spoke
very gratefully of their conduct toward
her"
That Lott took an oath to get even
with the Indians, the major reports in
detail:
"In company with Lott and his party
we retraced our steps to the place
where we had buried the body of his
wife. Over her grave the husband
voiced terrible threat to the effect
that, although it might take years to
accomplish his purpose he would fin
ally get even with The Indians for
what he. in his unreasoning anger. was
pleased to call the killing of his wife.
He did. however. Immediately seek to
execute his vengeance"
Lofts second wife eXcrted a restrain
Ing influence on him and for several
years he seemed to forget his troubles.
But she died in 1858 and he immed
lately started for the frontier again.
1t was no long until old SidOminadotah
had been killed and with him his
sa,awS and children. Here comes the
significant fact. important if the his
tory of the Spirit Lake massacre is to
he written. that it was lnkapadutah.
or Scarlet Point, who undertook the
revenge:
Deer Foot told the terrible tale of
the slaughter Of his kinsmen by the
palefacc who prOfesscd friendship The
bucks in Scarlet Points band We're for
starting in immediate pursuit of the
-perpetrator of the crime but the chiefs
wiser counsel prevailed and they re-
paired to Fort Dodge for advice and
assistance
And again:
'"The Indians were buried near the
scene of the massacre. Scarlet Points
band made no dcmOnstra ion Of diSap
prevail. and stOically waived the right
of tribal burial. The chief however. in
sistently asked that when located. Lott
Shoull ho t,rno<1 Ovnr Tn his hrnyoS for