FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
February 25, l910
LADY CAPTURED BY INDIANS WAS AT THAT TIME A SIDNEY WOMAN
Seldom has an article appeared in the Herald that has
attracted more attention that the one in our last issue with
reference
to the lady whose husband was killed by the Indians at Plum creek
in Nebraska way back in 1864.
No sooner were the papers in the post office than old-time
citizens began to call at the office to impart the desired
information; Uncle Alf Bobbitt, who has been here always and who
remembers distinctly everything of importance that has transpired
during all that time--and who, by the way, never misses an
opportunity to do the Herald a good turn--called over
the phone to tell us the story; while just as soon as the return
mail could bring a reply comes an account of the affair from
Charles Daniel Rowe who now lives at Woodward, Okla.
The woman in question is now Mrs. Nan Stephens who lives with her
husband on a fine farm near Jefferson, Iowa. She is a sister of
Hiram and Jim Fletcher and also of Mrs. Emma Curran and of the
late Mrs. J.F. Moomaw and was in Sidney at the time of the death
and burial of the latter.
At the time the tragedy occurred she was the wife of Thomas J.
Morton who in partnership with her brother, William Fletcher,
owned and operated a freighting outfit hauling government
supplies from Missouri river points across the plains to the the
then unexplored west. Mrs. Morton, a courageous woman, insisted
on accompanying her husband on these trips which required
weeks and sometimes months in going and coming. On the ill-fated
morning in question while the freighters were camped along Plum
creek they were surprised by a band of hostile Indians under the
leadership of Big Crow and the entire crew of 11 men were
massacred, the train looted of everything of value and the horses
driven off to the Indian camp, many miles away.
After being compelled to stand helplessly by and witness the
murder of her husband, a brother and nine other men, Mrs. Morton
was made captive, strapped to the back of a pony and traveled
into camp where she remained prisoner for more than six months.
The government soon learned of her plight and set about to devise
means for effecting her capture (sic.; Release?)
Through their agents and Indian traders the government conferred
with the chief and agreed upon a price to be paid for the
unfortunate woman. Twice the ransom was paid and accepted and the
woman given her freedom. But on both occasions Indian treachery
asserted itself, the rescuing party was pursued when but a few
miles from camp and their capture retaken, the chief having
learned that by retaining possession of her he had a veritable
gold mine.
Finally one of the agents set his wits at work against the
cunning of the Indians and won out. Having agreed upon a price he
started out upon his journey to bring the woman back to
civilization. He took with him a number of good horses which he
left in pairs at stated intervals, shortening the distance
between posts as he neared the reservation. With the woman in
his possession he started on his mad race for safety. Sure
enough, as was expected, the Indians assumed the same tactics and
went in pursuit. But the government man and his protege managed
to gain the first post where the fresh mounts were stationed and
on these began to outdistance their pursuers, whose ponies were
lagging, and by continuing these tactics made successful escape,
though they hardly paused except to change horses until the
entire distance of 400 miles was covered.
Mrs. Stephens says that she was treated with all kindness and
consideration at the hands of her captors, who showed no
inclination to harm her in any way but gave her the best that was
to be had after the manner of Indian living, they holding her
only as a source of revenue from the government. However, at best
it is scarcely an experience one would care to undergo
a second time.