Narrative of My Captivity Among the Sioux Indians — John Shaqi
Narrative of My Captivity Among the Sioux IndiansKelly, Fanny
History
Narrative of My Captivity Among the Sioux Indians
Kelly, Fanny
Dakota Indians -- History; Dakota Indians -- Wars -- 1862-1865; Indian captivities -- West (U.S.); Kelly, Fanny, 1845-1904
Mr. Kelly, with faltering steps, supported by the strong arm of Andy,
was among the first to search the spot; his intense distress for the
unknown fate of his family urged him on, although he dreaded to think
of what the bloody spot might disclose to him.
The dead bodies of Mr. Sharp, Mr. Taylor, and our colored servant,
Franklin, were discovered lying where they had fallen. Poor Frank
had been shot by an arrow that pierced both his legs, pinning them
together, in which condition he had been murdered by the ruthless
wretches by having his skull broken.
Both Mr. Sharp and Mr. Taylor left large families at home to mourn
their loss. Mr. Larimer came up with an arrow wound in one of his
limbs. He had passed the night in trying to elude his savage pursuers,
and was very tired and exhausted, and very much distressed about his
wife and son, a robust little fellow of eight or nine years.
But Mr. Wakefield was nowhere to be seen. After searching the
brushwood for some time, and a quarter of a mile distant from the
scene of attack, they discovered him still alive, but pierced by
three arrows that he had vainly endeavored to extract, succeeding
only in withdrawing the shafts, but leaving the steel points still
deeply imbedded in the flesh. Mr. Kelly took him and cared for him
with all the skill and kindness possible. No brothers could have been
more tenderly attached to each other than they. He then procured as
comfortable a conveyance as he could for them, and picked up a few
relics from our demolished train. Among them was a daily journal of our
trip, from the time we were married until the hour that the Indians
came upon us. This he prized, as he said, more than he did his life.
The next thing that was necessary to do, after the wounded were cared
for, was to bury the dead, and a wide grave was dug and the four bodies
solemnly consigned, uncoffined, to the earth. A buffalo robe was placed
above them, and then the earth was piled on their unconscious breasts.
At that time the question of color had occasioned much dissension, and
controversy ran high as to the propriety of allowing the colored people
the privilege of sitting beside their white brethren. Poor Franklin had
shared death with our companions, and was not deemed unworthy to share
the common grave of his fellow victims. They lie together in the valley
of Little Box Elder, where with saddened hearts our friends left
them, thinking of the high hopes and fearless energy with which they
had started on their journey, each feeling secure in the success that
awaited them, and never, for a moment, dreaming of the grave in the
wilderness that was to close over them and their earthly hopes. They
were buried on the desolate plain, a thousand miles away from their
loved wives and children, who bemoan their sad, untimely fate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account