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Spirit Lake MassacreWild West | Single Page | 11 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
The provisions the warriors stole from the whites lasted about a month. 'The Indians have no equal as gormandizers,' Abbie Gardner said. 'They are perfectly devoid of anything like delicacy of appetite, or taste, or decency in that matter.' They ate rotting animals, she said, and picked vermin off their babies' heads and chewed them with great relish. They stuffed themselves at every chance and then, according to Abbie, 'lie down and grunt and puff, like cattle gorged with grass in the springtime; or like overfed swine.' The captives got the leftovers. Subscribe Today
Two days after the Springfield encounter, there was a great commotion when soldiers were seen approaching the raiders' camp. The Indian women were sent away while the warriors placed a guard over the captives and readied for battle. The soldiers, a 24-man detachment under Lieutenant Alexander Murray sent from Fort Ridgely, searched the area for more than an hour, but apparently could not find the Indian camp and turned back. Their retreat saved the captives' lives, for they were going to be killed had the soldiers attacked. Inkpaduta then had his group clear out of the area. After a two-day march, Abbie Gardner could no longer walk and refused to move. A female Indian swung a hoe over her head, but Abbie just bowed her head and was ready to die. Instead, the woman dropped her pack, grabbed Abbie's arm, hauled her up and pushed her forward. Finally they stopped to camp for the night.
The Indians crossed icy rivers, and the captives nearly froze at night. Two or three days passed between meals and the captives were glad to eat the camp offal. When the horses died, the Indians feasted on their remains. As a result, the captives got a little more food but were then required to carry larger packs. They camped at the red pipestone quarries (where natives have quarried the red stone, catlinite, for centuries to make ceremonial pipes) in Minnesota Territory, and then moved into land that would become Dakota Territory in 1861. They had been on the go for six weeks.
On the Big Sioux River in the vicinity of Flandreau (a town that sprouted in 1857 in what would become South Dakota), a 16-year-old Indian removed Elizabeth Thatcher's pack from her back as she approached a fallen tree bridge. Elizabeth had a premonition of death. 'If you are so fortunate as to escape,' she called to Abbie, 'tell my dear husband and parents that I desired to live and escape for their sakes.'
When Thatcher reached mid-stream, the teenage warrior shoved her into the frigid water. Elizabeth swam to the shore and grabbed a tree root. More Indians took clubs and poles and beat her back into the river. Desperately she swam to the other shore, and once again the warriors clubbed her back in. As she floated downstream, the Indians followed along as if it was a grand game, clubbing and stoning her whenever she neared shore. When they tired of the sport, they shot and killed the 19-year-old. Abbie Gardner called Elizabeth's death 'an act of wanton barbarity.' Lydia Noble was so devastated by the murder of her cousin that she gave up hope of rescue or escape, and implored Abbie to go to the river with her 'and drown ourselves.' Abbie drew deep within her Christian upbringing, found the will to survive, and declined the suggestion. Lydia did not have the strength to act alone.
On May 6, 30 miles west of the Big Sioux River near Skunk Lake, two Sioux brothers, Ma-kpe-ya-ha-ho-ton and Se-ha-ho-ta, from Minnesota Territory's Yellow Medicine Reservation paid a visit to Inkpaduta. They spent the night listening to Inkpaduta's exploits and offered to trade for Abbie Gardner, but she was not for sale. Instead, they traded for Margaret Marble. Before they took her, Margaret spoke to Abbie and said she thought the Indians might trade her to the whites, and as soon as she could she would send someone to rescue her and Lydia. They left in a hurry, before Inkpaduta changed his mind. Two of his warriors accompanied them to collect the rest of the ransom. They traveled east to the Big Sioux River, where they came to an Indian camp. A Frenchman approached them and greeted the brothers. They went to his tent, and his Indian wife prepared potatoes, pumpkin and hot tea. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
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11 Comments to “Spirit Lake Massacre”
I have a pamphlet that may be of interest to someone in the Spirit Lake or Okobojois area. This pamphlet appears to be over 100 years old and speaks of the cottages in the area and about the New Inn that would open in 1903. At the time of this book or pamphlet's publishing, Abbie was still alive and receiving visitors. per the book, she would tell an absorbingly interesting story of her life among the savages and experiences.
Even as old as this appears to be, it has still compelled me to someday visit your fine area.
If you would like to discuss this book, please feel free to contact me at the email address supplied.
By Penny Bumpus on Feb 16, 2009 at 1:50 am
HistoryNetStaff, I greatly enjoyed your article about the Spirit Lake Massacre. The facts of this incident have long been among our "family stories". However, my research only uncovered one mention of my great great Grandma, Emma Mead Hushaw and her sister, Hattie. I'm glad to see someone has fully researched the incident and reported all the facts. I can add two more: Emma was told she was taken to show the indians how to make "white man's bread" (?) and she was released because she hollered and carried on so much. Keep up the good work. Sincerely yours, Judith Mandernack
By Judith J. Mandernack on Mar 27, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hi Penny,
I hope someone took you up on this, but if not, I'd love to buy it from you. I'm going back home to Iowa in October and can donate it to the Iowa State Historical Society or the county chapter inyour name.
Kat in NJ
pettycrewkd@yahoo.com
856-728-9546
By Kat Pettycrew on Aug 5, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Kat -
The cabin and a small historical interpretive center are still on Abie Gardner's cabin site. I am sure they would have a great intrest in the brochure / book. Contact info is below..
Mike Koppert
Box 74,
Arnolds Park, IA 51331.
Telephone: 712- 332-7248
Email: gardner@iowaone.net
By Brad from Iowa on Sep 8, 2009 at 1:36 am
I do not really understand the term "renegade" assigned by the HISTORYNET.com assign to Inkpaduta.
Does this mean that you will assign the same term on the brave patriots in European countries – among these my own – who fought bravely against the German invaders during the Second World War?
Inkpaduta was a great patriot and freedomfighter who saw no other way than to kill so many of the intruders as possible. Intruders who had stolen the land of his people and broken up their way of life.
Niels Jurgensen
Denmark
By Niels Jurgensen on Sep 19, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I've lived in Okoboji all my life 40 years and now that the big Corporations have moved in buying up all the property around the lakes and taking over all our local governments and law enforcement. OMG this place is now a hell hole of prudeism and bureaucracy pushing for a new world order & one world government. The level of corruption is unprecedented. I can fully sympathize with the Indian uprising.
Good news is the crimanals tyrony is being exposed and they are on their way out. Google search "The act of 1871" & "AMERICA The Corporaton".
By Kevin Black on Nov 5, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thank you for exposing the atrocities committed by both sides. I fully agree that the Native American’s had their contentions, but we are now faced with revisionist history that paints (no pun intended) the Native Americans as peace loving nature lovers. How far is this from the truth! The disregard for human life and the brutality displayed to captives is not that of a peaceful people. The “white man” is not responsible for all the ills in the world; quite to the contrary, without Europeans coming to the New World this land would be in the sad shape that faces Mexico and many other Third World countries. We need to keep up on our history, but not rewrite it for guilt ridden liberals who want to appease those who seek to destroy us.
By B Hicks on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:56 pm
For B Hicks:
Your white approbation is showing. Not that you would understand if your rhetoric is any judge.
You are quick to point out that Native Americans weren't "nature lovers". Fine. And yet you are loathe to even admit White Americans were known for any atrocities whatsoever. The fact you even gloss over this is telling. Either you are ignorant and don't understand your own nation's history and the involvement of your own race, or you do understand and want to pretend it didn't happen. Either way is unconscionable.
Instead, you live in your own little half-baked conservative worldview where "this land would be in sad shape" if weren't for the White Man.
YOU are the one who is engaged in revisionist history. Just like most narrow minded and racially intolerant conservatives you let your own racial prejudices cloud your judgment.
Let me put it in simple terms so you can understand: You are entitled to your own opinion. You are NOT entitled to your own facts.
Yeah. Deal with it.
By Kenneth Mark Hoover on Dec 18, 2009 at 3:42 pm
According to local newspapers of the time Inkpaduta was in Dakota Territory during the Minnesota killings. Little Crow was considered the chief leader.In Minnesota, if Inkpaduta had been there Little Crow would have deferred to the first great Sioux hero. Inkpaduta was the chief leader in the later Dakota Territory battles against Sibley and Sully. And Inkpaduta was at the Little Big Horn and was said to be 79 plus years old and blind (birth date 1797-Little Big Horn 1876 look it up on the net) so it is very unlikely Inkpaduta led any warriors that day. Old newspapers, records & books of the day continue to be the best source of information…so look things up yourself for answers too.
By Matthew Max on Jan 1, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Please spare me of the bleeding hearts for noble red men and accusations of opportunistic white men.
The majority of people wanted to get along with day to day living regardless of the skin or customs. Every race has its vicious and its kind people. Once racial savage hatred begins, it starts roaring like an out of control fire that destroys everything in its path. The Spirit Lake events started out as tit for tat on both sides that brutally escalated. Unfortunately the victims (red and white) were not the people who began the retaliations in the Spirit Lake Settlement. Nothing was noble about the red or white men who had blood on their hands and revenge in their hearts.
Lets keep events in perspective.
By Carolyn Van Doren on Jan 19, 2010 at 11:06 am
Well put Carolyn. It is the innocents that usually suffer…as was the case there too!
By Matthew Max on Jan 21, 2010 at 10:40 pm