Sioux Indians in Ambush Preparing to Attack Settlers

19th century fear mongering at its finest!

This ostensibly authoritative scene shows a band of Sioux warriors planning to ambush an (apparently unarmed) settler family somewhere west. According to the accompanying ‘story’ printed on the verso, ongoing attacks in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska have been overlooked by the government and Indian Bureau, despite the active cessation of hostilities from U.S. troops.

“It is stated on very good authority that the settlers on the border and the emigrants on the Plains are as much disturbed by the Indians as they were before and during the late Indian war, but the acts of hostility on the part of the redmen are concealed or overlooked by the Indian agents of the Government. How true this is we can not say; but undoubtedly several well-authenticated outrages have lately occurred…our illustration shows the mode of warfare practiced by these predatory bands upon the unsuspecting and defenseless settlers.”

A fine example of yellow journalism from the 19th century. Issued in the May 2, 1868 edition of Harper’s Weekly magazine.