Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/428



party tracked the ponies to Lott’s settlement, found them concealed in the woods, recovered them and the chief ordered Lott to leave the country within five days. This he refused to do and, at the expiration of the time, the Sioux chief ordered his men to burn the cabin and kill his cattle. Lott was now alarmed and fled down the river with a stepson, abandoning his wife and small children. Upon reaching the Pea settlement in Boone County, he spread the report that his family had been massacred by the Indians. The settlers at once organized a party to punish the Sioux. Che-meuse, or “Johney Green,” a Musquakie chief, was at Elk Rapids, sixteen miles below, with several hundred of his band. He furnished twenty-six warriors for the expedition, which was placed under his command and piloted by Lott. When they reached his claim the Sioux had gone, and the wife and children of Lott were there without food or shelter. A son twelve years old had attempted to follow Lott when he fled, but after wandering twenty miles alone had perished from cold. Lott remained on his claim, where his wife died during the year, as Lott reported, from exposure and abuse from the Indians. Lott swore vengeance upon the Sioux chief, but made no haste to execute it. In the fall of 1853, he and a son passed through Fort Dodge with an ox team and a wagon loaded with provisions, goods and three barrels of whisky. He went into what is now Humboldt County and built a cabin on the bank of the creek which has since been named Lott's Creek.

Here he opened trade with the Indians in goods and whisky. In the month of January, 1854, Lott learned that Si-dom-i-na-do-tah with his family was camped on another creek since named Bloody Run. Taking his son one day, Lott went to the camp of the Sioux chief. Finding that he was not recognized, Lott made professions of warm friendship for the Indians. He told the chief that there was a large herd of elk on the river bottom and induced him to set off to find them. Lott and his son started