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From: "Fran Warren" <>
Subject: [AR-OLD-NEWS] Van Buren Argus, October 5, 1876 -Indian Romance
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 12:17:51 -0800


Van Buren Argus

Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas

October 5, 1876

AN INDIAN ROMANCE

The Leader of the Sioux a White Renegade From Missouri

In the early days of Pike County, Missouri, when the cat-like panther roamed the hills and the fleet-footed deer bounded through the forest, there lived near Bowling Green, a man named Noah Adkins. Realizing the truth of the adage that "it is not good for man to be alone,’ he took unto himself a wife. This lady was named Allison, who had a son "William" by a former husband. This son, William, was a fine physical man, and not inferior in intellect. In 1846 he joined Colonel Rall’s Regiment in Sterling Price’s Brigade, and marched to the wars in California, where he took part in the conflict at Santa Cruz and other battles. After his return he got into a quarrel with his stepfather. They adjourned to Crane’s tan-yard to fight it out, and by singular fatality each shot the other’s arm off. This affair brought on a separation between Noah and his wife, and the latter went with her son in law, James Robinson (once a candidate for Sheriff of Pike County) to Independence, Missouri.!
Some time previous to this a son, John, had been born to Mrs. Adkins and he concluded to follow the fortunes or misfortunes of his mother. After living in Independence for some time, William Allison got the contract for carrying the United States Mails between Independence and Santa Fe. While acting in this capacity he was killed by the Indians. The boy, John, wandered away and was captured by the Sioux Indians. It is rarely that ever a prisoner escapes torture and death at the hands of the savages but John Adkins seemed reserved by some unaccountable stroke of fate for another destiny. He became acquainted with the ways of the redskins, settled among them, and finally became one of their chiefs, and was in command of one of the detachments at the Little Big Horn massacre, when the gallant Custer and his heroic little army rode into the jaws of death. These details were told by an old scout named Cook, who told them in Bowling Green. -Helena Independent

Fran Alverson Warren
e-mail:
479-369-2703
http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/

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