Spirit Lake Beacon (Newspaper) - September 7, 1876, Spirit Lake, Iowa SPIRIT DICKINSON COUNTY IOWA AUGUST 7th 1876 and that UM lake waa under the watch caw of a Spirit 1ta4 iM continually troubled that AO ever ventured to cross U U That some of this Mad U certain to what extent Iv The tell of mystery and the iOW of uncertainty which was thug over this romantic attracted UM attention uf the restless and hardy pio who thus induced to strikeout fir beyond tho confines of civilization and bomei for themselves anil their pos terity in this land of romance and this re of mystery Iowa TUU II THK TO THK OV THK Tbc Ant attempt at permanent mest ia county was by a party from Wiog Mian Win Carl Granger Burt and Ot Harriot of Judge Harriot of La They located upon tho point on die of tho bridge Uio Grangers claiming lite point and Uio land along East Harriot grove on Wts i lake and Snyder Center Grove waa known ta fur time aflur tho to the massacre AMr and his family with from Delaware county in iu tho grove touth of tho I bridge which waa then known aa iu namo from of Ihc principal men of that ict A abort time after thU a Kr from Gordo county in thU State and hits Harvey in and erected cabins near uhal was then known u the bouse being tho onu DOW occupied by Hcv and the one now occupied by K V Mr M Thatcher from Frank iu but formerly from Indiana about hU time staled at tho north end of what It cat ltd Tusculum Grovo Ilij Ij standing upon farm of Mr H At tho same time a Mr Ht the south end uf grove mar thu of Mr At the they were here in cr tho party of Indians known asi band were camped at the extremity of Black Looni Lake to county Minnesota can bo ascertained the band con less than nor more twenty men with their and and an Indian camp baud had long been known as a thieving pilfering bund of tramps Living upon tho border di viding whites and Indians they re neither the usages or tho authority of either They drew no supplies or an unities from the Government and they did not themselves bound by any treaty which could be made They pog no comprehension of a moral obli gation whatever Falsa treacherous and degraded they possessed the vices of both and virtues of band hod been a source of apprehension and to the settlors the border for many years Their depredations in county form a portion of the im portant events In the early history of that I Uwt that Hi I Hi ami UM extol which to la the which I M TBA la honor 8 af Wa waa My and release of alf rightfully belong to the early history of thia county and if they could have been obtained would doubtless hare formed ita most thrilling chapter They were published the time in St Paul papers and are doubtless still in exigence the shortnes of the I have had in which to prepare this have not been able to obtain them for obtaining them should be mediately Continued next Measures taken iro y timo Lad number the final ransom loir depredations had assumed a most savage and atrocious Fcom the Little Sioux messengers were sent to Fort Dodgo describing their situa ion and Imploring relief Bui tho citizens f Port Dodge gave no credit to their and refused to believe their the Indian depredations They the destitute condition of the settlers along the frontier at the commencement of whiter and branded the whole story as a useto induce to send supplies or ako other for their relief The matter was talked over for a day or two in tart Dodgo and theu the subject was drop ed and not thought of again until the news reached them of the wholesale mas sacre at the lakes Tbe Indians arrived in the vicinity of the lakes about the first of March and camped ia the Okoboji Grove at a distance of about fifteen Mattocks The inhabitants there lad received no intimation of the depreda tions committed by them along the Little Sioux and had no apprehension of icr up to the time of outbreak and were therefore taken entirely by surprise 6avds LAW AND HEAL ESTATE A letter found upon the ground written by Dr Harriot to his father Judge Harriot dated two previous to the diana were camped that they were on with them and that they had do at some trading with them Oilier matters were referred to in he letter which shows they had no suspicions of danger of the can never be as there were left to tell ide fearful talc All the details we have are those given by lha daughter of Mr Gardner and they are confined ex her fathers family Her ac count is that the Indians had been encamp ed in the grove for several and that they had no Intimation of any thing wrong until the afternoon or evening of tho 7th of March when her father came up from Esquire Mattocks baring passed the In dian camp and toll his family that he lr Marble from Mlo upon ho wot bunk of Spirit Luke on the owned by Mr A Sv Mead These all of the previous li tho massacre of In order to avoid confusion may be Thu party consisting of Itu er anil redded north itf Ihu where Okoboji bridge weru all young men without except Will loin Granger and family was not litre 2J The family uf Mr con uf himself and wife nml seven at ilio cad uf the bridge also residing him a Mr MatUson and his son had taken claim upon the sidu ol Weal Ink upon lias known as but hail made no Improvements there Sd The family of Mr Gardner con sitting of children the being wife of Mr Luse and Mr Lose wife and two children resid ed in the now occupied by Rev 8 There was aUo man by name of Clark also one by Uio nume of Wilson The family of Mr ttf wife and seven children the oldest the wife of Mr and resided in a cabin near tha present resi dence uf Mr tth The family of Mr J M Thatcher of himself wife and one child and family of ilr Nobles consisting of himself and wife resided ia a cabin on fee place now owned by Mr II O Arthur There was boarding with Mr Thatch at Morris Mr and a of Mrs Thatcher by the name of Butch family of Mr Marble con and wife resided war MM of Mr A S Mead I have beea thai pointing the location of tne ent and UM of connected with each from Ae fact that ia the spring of 1857 OSM important event in the early county The Is true of Gordo county nature of the troubles depredations committed and the tho fact that the In ures uf retaliation or defense adopted by the inhabitants does not belong lore and they aro simply referred to as showing the relations existing between settlers Hnd the Indians at the time contemplation In county the troubles had assumed a still more serious character and finally culminated in kill ing Indian chief the father ot anil his entire fami ly by a man by the name of Lott living on what ia known Creek below in county The skull of this celebrated Indian chief and s now En the possession of parties at Fort Dodge It ia easy to comprehend the feelings of bitterness hatred and revenge which this bund of Indium held toward the whitu settlers The winter of 185C and 1857 Is one be by the ncope of Iowa tu most one in the of its history The first heavy occurred upon the 1st day of De cember nnd Hie enow fell to Ihc depth of about two feet This was followed by others iu quick succession until the snow reached a depth of four feet These storms were of the most fearful and vio lent character hum In intensity has been experienced in Stale of Iowa since Tbe at till lakes were but illy prepared for such a winter aa this We must that there was nut a foot of lumber to bo ial within a hundred miles and all of Ihc flour and provisions used had to be twice The ut were unfurnished They were without nnd had heavy doors hung on wooden hinges Uut fuw of settlers had been able to giU Iu a sufficient supply of when thu came and only sue in reaching hume on snow shoes dragging what they could on hand for the occasion The and privation endured at that may be imagined but they cnn uot tc described in his nearer to tion of il than anything else Umt was ever written and by the way poet spent a portion of that winter in ta nml winter his poem appeared and wo every to that his conceptions ao thrilling clear and of the cold and dreary from actual observations and ex In Minnesota of the terrible win crof 1850 and 1851 The bond of Indians of which mention 113 heretofore been made left their camp n Minnesota in December and went down he Little Sioui us far as Up to this time they had had no trouble with the whites and their relations were sup posed to be friendly The settlers here but if anything of the previous troubles of this band of Indians and the settlers in aider localities and they II G OAY and Counsellor Kni ORSON HIOE ATTORNEY AT LAW AMD Mi iLn lent OFFICE IN COURT HOUSE SPIRIT LAKE IOWA All to his coro aud careful TVo TO Til A X Minne o cr m Spirit Lake Iowa IB Bret The E B SOPEH Keai u O Proprietor Spirit Luke Iowa Good HOUSE O Jf Proprietor Emmel Iowa MEDICAL with Wd uf D H C CHARY Su too Office ny be J Patent etc All or Freeport Illinois or ASSETS Adjusted and Promptly paid at thu Agency By AD economical careful company to offer to none Iu the con u try in both the and German A MOUSE Agent SPIRIT LAKE IOWA J W CORY E A 11EEVES MI and Burgeon Spirit Lake re offers hu to line P of vicinity Surgery of children a door of Boo store and make U and at the tame about which get the reliable III rat UM of ISM a pw SUM too O C R V AUCTIONEERS 23tf D Inform Iho to du all oi In had no apprehensions of dif The first trouble occurred at or in the vicinity of A large drove of elk had come In there from tho prairie the Indians In ing and slaughtering This created con excitement and some of tho sct conceived the idea of driving the In away To they in the Indians in and got up a drunken and represented u aol oat by General to drive them oat ot country At that time about of Hamey at Hol bU a perfect terror to DM Sioux Indians and they became very much alarmed and excited ao much ao that they immediately for the north portico of aad camp becone It they coold to counteract they Wared woold be property which had left aad teat tken to MM did they to appear they were going to have trouble with the Indians as that afternoon they had displayed an unusual degree of insolence and is their he there was danger ahead Aleo that he hud talked with ilio mca at Grangers and but they scouted the idea of there being tiny trouble They regarded it ni a pet nf the Indians that thuy would soon get over and took no extra cautions for defense The matter so worked upon Gardners mind that ho determined to make an cn to leave tho place next day and reach Ihc settlements on the DCS river With object in view they made hasty as they could that evening and the following morning the family nt on hour than usual SIM Iu finish their preparations with the inten tion of getting at daybreak Gard ner to tiie stable tn up his cattle for a when ho heard tiring in the and reluming to the house inform ed his family that he feared they were too laic The next four ur five Indians made their Luce were both shot down in their tracks and the balance of the family excepting the third daughter were soon who was laken prisoner by them at whose hands the suffered indignities and atrocities a thousand limes worse the very mention of which even at this late period makes the blood run cold It may be well to mention here that the second daughter of Mr Gardner had been spending the winter in Jackson county Minnesota and thus escaped the fate of the rust of tho family ThU ac count meager as il is is all that can ever be known of the particulars of the Spirit Lake Massacre with he exception of the killing of Mr Marble and that did not occur until five days later It ia ed that after the first surprise was over some resistance was made at the house of Mr Mattocks The bodies of two of the men from the Granger cabin were found there Dr Harriot when found had a loaded revolver in his hand with one barrel discharged One or two Sharpes rifles were found near the bodies of the Wn aa they lay The cabin was burned In short everything indicated a complete surprise at first and then an attempt to ral ly and make a defense but too late ThU was the instance of houses being burned No indications of any attempt at defense were found at any other place The and Thatcher families were both murdered the same morning but we have DO particulars Mrs Thatcher and Mrs Nobles daughter nf Mr Howe wore both taken prisoners and after suffering untold cruelties were finally murdered in cold blood by their merciless captors The Indians then divided into two par ties the one with the prisoners taking a direction and rendezvousing in the vicinity of SOOM of amall lakes in that not ly other wot op on the side of Spirit Lake and in Grove where they remained until Ote 13th Ia toe mean time ao word of atrocities had reached Mr Marble and was unsuspicious of danger Tbe Indiana remained at bet camp the of the M W Will attend In Dick and Satisfaction guar anteed unit U Spirit Lake Iowa SCROLL The having one of SAwS U prepared to far nil kinds uf Woodwork on We will energetic men and women WANTED Business that will Pay from 14 to per dnr Ctn pure noil PAH rHEr or worth dollars that go to work rtt be on K tc Ca Boston REAL ESTATE Loan Collection Agent Spirit Lake loiva HAH a complete of Title in Witt of title at rates pta lotus n real en and to nil io hie care s hotel i throughout Ohc of Summer Will supplied iu u 1 excellent Hoom M MINNE WAUKON will bu the ror to tf Iu f rim A A County Recorder W X SMITH Deputy Ac OFFICE Collection Fire aud Life Insurance Agents SPIRIT LAKE IOWA tiling CHISHOLM H line in LA ROB Of for sale on the mopt rea of Title at Ill or t Will all or general attend promptly to ull lugal entrusted to oar The Very Best Style Tears of experience In the thorn In to to o s e s li o o Farm of ill in the mended and tampered great cart GUNSMITH I NO 11 all ltd mods a and hy a workman or lone Insurance gency COM rl Companies 048727585 STATE JJcs Iowa 31087248 84127848 NEW ENGLAND Mutual Life Ins Co Manufacturer and wholesale dettler In Guns Revolvers TACKLE Hunters SIOUX CITY IOWA If lall SALOP isr best ui tows far C twice Cigars and Tobacco Confectioneries Oysters Canned Fish Ia good Ice Cream in Tbe SUr is wilk BILLIAM And no effort will be spared pleasant place of resort and public patronage 20yl B DEALER Boots Shoes Spirit Lake Iowa Jan new aad And If prepared to meet the tiM In tn a manner that will prove ail ruox TO LAKE Leaves at 7 JL x and at Spirit Lalco at 12 x Spirit Lake at 1 r and arrives at at A v x Connects at Spen ccr wtih and at Spirit Lake with for Jackaon and ap good good luck and driver attended to with and re thin thoonly State that by all from forfeiture consilient with Indemnity 45tf C II SAWS AMD to per wood n a f them BOTH can make per learn ing a 7ora far The or The Dream Say you read and III AVERAGED PER DAY Hth W K tintra 111 t tawed 110 for Chicago Sf Northwestern RAILWAY for CHICAGO Detroit Toledo Cleveland Buffalo MUran Falls Cin Albany Toronto Montreal Quebeck Portland Beaton Xew York Baltimore Loul Cairn WITH And with the view to of To conform with tho ft he marked with a TenM CASH OR READY AT Mr will UK 1m toro dara running the working of the Saw pronounced tt Ihc moat machine J lure been twelve ami have all scroll r hare paid lor Lake Sioux Cirr Nt Madlton B Onen Bar Milwaukee and all points Weft Kant buy via the Chicago ft Railway Cloee are made at Chicago Lake t Cen tral Baltimore Ohio Van t Line Pan and with the Chicago Alton awi tor all SOUTH CloM art mule R B M for tlx far WeiH CloM are made at jane lion nil croca f ALACK CAKS TheM art ma on all OB all the of thl nMd In which he makei French Calf Sewed a Specialty had the be will IO SA Spirit take 7th 1875 Thin St Pas or tkcM acd Kit At Hrr the for points tke River Running GraM States Co Brine in Your Grists SUITE New Mil Ia now in RUNNING And prepared do aad Milling t Mark and awl to Mra to about at a AB NOT mmr ork I Ui Tow tet they oi their
