Page 306
THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
on the day of the massacre, when entering they retained their guns in their hands. This departure from their usual habit aroused some suspicion. They ordered something to eat, which Mrs. Marble immediately set about preparing. While she was thus engaged the Indians insisted that her husband should shoot at a mark with them, as he had done on former occasions. He finally consented, and in a short time the target was shot down. Marble ran to put it up, and while he was doing this the savages shot and killed him. Then they turned and told Mrs. Marble that she must go with them. They helped themselves to the repast which she had prepared. After this they loaded their captive with such articles as they chose to plunder from the house, and started with her for the camp. The remains of several other victims, whose names are not given, were afterwards found in the vicinity of the lakes.
After completing their work of slaughter and destruction, the Indians remained at the lakes several days, when they crossed over to the little settlement at Sprinfield (now Jackson), Minnesota. Before leaving, however, they made a picture-record of what they had done. Near where they murdered Mr. Marble, in what was afterward known as "Marble's Grove," they peeled the bark from a tree, and with a dark paint represented by rude drawings the persons killed in a prostrate position, the number of figures corresponding with the number of the victims. Pictures of cabins, with smoke issuing from their roofs, represented the number of houses burned.
A man named Morris Markham, a trapper, at the time of the massacre resided at the lakes, making his home with the family of J. M. Thatcher. On that fatal day both
Page 307
THE MASSACRE OF THE LAKES.
Thatcher and Markham happened to be absent, and thus escaped the fate of the other settlers. The latter returned to the settlement two days after the massacre, but on his way wandered from his course, and did not reach the settlement until about eleven o'clock in the night. He made his way to one of the cabins, but only to find its inmates all murdered. He then started for another house, and on his way through the grove on the south side of Lake Okoboji, he suddenly found himself in the midst of a cluster of Indian tepees, or wigwams. Cautiously withdrawing, undiscovered by the savages, he quietly proceeded to the next house, but only to find that the defensless settlers there had also met a horrible fate. Then crossing the lake on the ice, he kindled a fire in a ravine, where he remained until morning, when he hastened to Springfield and notified the people there of the murders at the lakes. This information enabled them to make partial preparation for the attack on that place. Soon after the settlers at Springfield recieved this warning, the savages made their appearance.
At Sprinfield the first attack of the Indians was made at the house of a Mr. Stewart, whom they killed, together with his wife and two children. The citizens, on hearing the report of fire-arms at Stewart's, rushed into their houses to defend themselves. Several families fled to the houses of Mr. Thomas and Mr. Church, where they made a brave and desperate defense, the women loading the guns, and the men discharging them. Mr.Thomas was wounded, and his son killed. At the house of Mr. Church, a young lady, sister of Mrs. Church and a man named Carver were wounded severely. The savages attacked and robbed the
