Year: 1875

The Sad Story of the Massacre and tn.

 Capture of Two of the Girls by the Indianl

 The story of the massacre of the Ger

 man family by the Indians is revived

 with additional but sad interest by the

 return of the two girls who were helc

 by the Indians. The family consisted

 of John German, his wife, Lydia, and seven children, as follows Rebecca

 twenty one; Stephen, nineteen; Johan na, fifteen; Catherine, seventeen; So phia, eleven; Julia, seven, and Nancy five. Five years ago they left Morgan

 town, Fannin county, Ga., and removed to Howell county, Missouri. In May 1872, they removed to Merryville, Stone county, Mo-, and in the following September they immigrated to Elgin, Howald county, Kan, from which place they started to Colorado, and on this journey they were all, with tho ex. ception of four, murdered. On arriving at Smoke Hill river, in the central part of Kansas. only about fourteen miles from the Kansas Pacific railroad and they were attacked by the Indians.

 Catherine in an interview said: Just as the sun was rising, and while engaged in driving the cattle up the river bank toward the wagon, heard shots and yells, and, running closer, saw my faith CT fall, shot through the back by an In dian. was terribly frightened, but I can never forget the spectacle that there ensued. My brother Stephen was a half mile away hunting up some stock, and he had a gun with him. As poor father fell mother rushed toward him only to receive shot from another In dian who fired at Ter head, killing her almost instantly. My father was not killed at once, for he moved his arms about as he was scalped by one of the party. They also scalped my mother. An old squaw picked up our axe and struck it in my fathers head, leaving it fixed in his skull.

 During the time this was going on one party rode after Stephen and shot and scalped him. My sister, Rebecca, made brave defense with an axe; she knocked down one of the Indians and would have killed him if she had not been tomahawed from behind. While half insensible and scarcely alive, the Indians-fve or six of them-despoiled her person, and after that they scalped her. They then carried her near the wagon, tore off her clothes, piled them over her, with some other things from the wagon, and while she was still alive set fhe to the pile and burned her up.

 Here the broken-hearted girl broke down, and it was some time before she could proceed. Amidst sobs and tears, r1 yroh hrC 11%+ oh as follows, occasionally assisted by Sophia:

 After all were killed but we five sis ters, they gathered around us to see which one should be put out of the way, as they said they could only take four along. One Indian, who seemed to be chief, came up, and looking at Johanna and me suddenly drew up his gun and shot sisters head off. I was so frightened that I could not stir for a long time. As soon as they got every thing they wanted they set the wagon on fire and killed the cattle; then made Sophia and I get on horses and tied us on, took our two little sisters up in front of them and started off as fast as the horses could go. We travelled all day, going due south I should judge. One squaw tried to save Rebecca's life; but the Indian she hit with the axe said he would have her scalp, and so she was killed. After travelling two days we crossed railroad track. The day after we got over'the railroad Medicine Man, with small party, left, and were gone until late in the afternoon. When they came up to us they had three fresh scalps and number of articles of wear ing apparel that must have belonged to @ man, woman and small child; also had a lot of canned fruit and oysters. After keeping us riding nearly two weeks the main camp near the Staked Plains was reached. Stone Calf had command, and when they brought us in all the tribe turned out and had D great time. The same night they had big scalp dance over the scalps of our family, and made us look at it.

 Two days after the main body of h. dians was reached. They took sisters Julia and Nancy away from the camp, and I have never seen them since. but only for few minutes. All of us were one day placed on horses, and, after the Indian fashion, made to ride as fast as the horses could go, and the Indian who caught us had to take care of us for good. Soon after this the whole body started north to get out of the way of the troops which, it was reported, were close at hand. Stone Calf, with Sophia, was left behind with about one hundred more, and the rest, under charge of Gray Beard, Eagle Head, Heaps of Bird and Lean Bear, still kept on the north. In about a week, while encamped on Wolf creek, the soldiers again made the h. dians run. I did not see them, but heard the guns. All of this time was on horseback and good deal of the time very sick had to ride all the time, and at night was often whipped and beaten because l could not carry as much wood and water as some of the squaws. All this time I was under the charge of Long Back. At times I was nearly frozen, having nothing but a blanket to keep warm with at night. Sometimes there would be footof snow on the ground, but they made me work just as hard. This was about December. My feet were frozen and the nails of my right foot all came off. In January I met sister Sophia for short time, and she told me we were better to be killed.

 Catharine was asked if she thought they would kill her, and she answered: : No; I always thought the soldiers would release us some time and told Sophia not to be afraid. In the latter part of January received letter from General Neil, brought to the camp by Kiowa scout, telling me to keep up good spirits and the soldiers would soon capture us. A second letter was received soon after this, but the Indians would not let me open it. They used to let me look at it, but wo1f1d not let mo take it into my own hands. As soon as these letters were received felt ever so much better. From this time until Romeo met us