Minnesota weekly times., 1857-05-02
From the Red Wing Gazette.
The Shirt Lake Affutr.

From the Red Wing Gazette.
- The Spirit Lake Affair.
Messrs. DeKay and Granger have Just return
% from Spirit Lake, and the information we
have received may be relied upon without a doubt.
II Will be remembered that these gentlcmen left
this place for the scene of depredations' 'immedi-
ately after hearing of the massacre. s
They proceeded to Springfield fifteen miles
from Spirit Lake, where they found that the mel
ancholy reports were but too true. The vOlun-
teers, from below had been to the Lake, and had
buried all the bodies they were able to find,
OF which were eaten by the wolves. We have
not time to give but hasty account of the mat
ter, and indeed it is an unpleasant matter to dwell
upon. It is known that the difficulty first origi.
mated about ninety miles below.
Here they sought for and obtained the revenge
for which they painted, in a manner that makes
many hearthstone desolate and many heart to
feel the keen anguish aud untimsly bereavement.
Three or the victims were our personal friends,
and fellow -citixens, and three more noble-heart-
ed men have not been pioneers of the west. b.
Snyder or Bart rs we familiarly called him, was
one OF the first young men who settled in the
town; and one whose modest and unassuming
manners, and sterling worth made warm friends
of all who knew him. Little did we think when
he left us one year ago that such melancholy
fate awaited him and that we should be called
upon to record his untimely and horrible death.
His aged Father and Mother, in Pennsylvania
will weep drops of blood when they hear of his
loss. Mr.. Harriott resided in this place about n
year, and was associated with Kellogg in the
Drug business. He was young man of fine per-
sonal appearance, and warm hearted friend
His position, when found, showed that his heart
was brave and true. With MIR. Granger we were
not personally acquainted, but the sorrow de-
picted in his brothers eye, shows that he was we'll
beloved by those who knew him. Three braver
men never fell victims 10 the ruthless savage.
Upon the first alarm Granger and Harriott left
their own house, which was strong and well built,
and where they could have defended themselves
easily> and departed for the next neighbor's, for
the purpose of assisting to bring the family Of
which several were women, to their own place,
leaving Bart to defend the premises until they
arrived. The distance was not far, and it seems
that they had accomplished a part of it when
they were overtaken. The position of the bodies
when found showed that they had only been shot
down after desperate resistance, and while COW
sring the retreat of the women. Bart who had
seen the 6gh: had hastened out to deal destruc-
ton to the Indians who were endeavoring to In
tercept the party, and the marks in the snow
where three had fallen about him showed that
his Sharp's Rife had been busy in death. Har;
riott when found, although weeks had elapsed,
reclined against a snow bank where he fell with
his revolver in his hand still pointing with his
stiffened arm at his death foe. s 4.
The bodies of the FIVE men were found in a
line where they had fanked out to defend the wo-
men whose bodies were found short distance
beyond. .asr,. 4 4.f.
We cannot pain the reader with the more har-
rowing details of this bloody massacre. The
troops and volunteers arrived as soon as possible
but the Indians had retreated several DAYS before
and without provisions at that season it was i'm
possible to follow. Four white women were car
ried into captivity worse than death. And un-
less the government takes a prompt and decided
action, war of determination will certainly
punish the fiendish savages. The leaders of the
band are we'll known and belong to set of out
casts from different tribes, and have undoubted-
ly taken refuge with the Yanktons on the Mis-
souri,.
Messrs. Granger and DeKay leave again on
Monday with a small party for Spirit Lake to
push on the improvements so unhappily retarded,
and to be in readiness to punish the murderers Of
their friends. The country is described as the
most beautiful in the West, with fine prairies,
beautiful lakes and very heavy timber.
ca The Provincetown Banner thus narrates
the peculiarities of one of the CANNES:
short time since, several families left
ProvncetOwn to locate in Eastern Virginia.
They took along with them Il large and noble
dog of the New Foundland species. While on
their passage to Boston, in small schooner, the
dog broke loose, leaped into tho sea, and started
on his long and weary passage home. He was
seen and passed by one of our packets, near eve
ming, about five miles off Race Point, and nine
from this town, heading for the Race Light, no.
bly breasting the rolling waves, often covered by
the spray. ps -
The next morning at an early hour, and be-
fore the family had arisen, Mr.. James Doyle, to
whom the dog was much attached, hearing an un.
usual noise at his door, arose, opened it, and was
astonished behold the noble fugitive. Mr.. ID.
says when he opened the door the dog arose,
placed his great paws upon his shoulders, and
fairly embraced him, giving such demonstrations
OF his JOY as no never believed any animal could
exhibit. --TI-I,... ~
In what part of the Bay he left his master, and
the distance he must have swan in a rough sea. it
is not now known, but when seen he was FIVE
miles from land. ~ sp.. .4- sge to
This is the fourth time an attempt has been
made to carry off this dog, and in every instance
and return by swimming home.
The noble animal should now be adopted by
the town, have the freedom of the city and =
pension for life.
FANCY DANCEs.-An Ohio editor, who attended
the inauguration ball, thus describes the saltato-
ry movements of the bellies and beaux on that oc-
casion: "Ths dancing here was somewhat Pc
cooliar.'-It was mainly quadrilles, so called,
ranged cross ways of the hall, with head set only
i'll contra dance style. The changes were few and
simple, such as right and left, forward and back,
ladies change and then repeated. There were no
side sets, no regular cotillions at all. The want
of variety in this Metropolitan dancing was fully
made up however, by the fancy filings, such as
the Waltz and Polka. These were absolutely bar.
barous. The old fashioned Waltz, the morality
OF which even Byron called in question, is here
ignored as altogether too cold and distant. The
lady here lays her head on the gentleman's bo-
som. puts one hand in his, and the other in his
coat tail pocket, then resigns herself to his en-.
braces, and goes to sleep, all but her feet, which
when not carried by him clear off the floor, go
patting around on the tips of her toes. The gem
tleman, thus entwined, throws his head back aud
his eyes up, like dying calf; his body bent in
the shape OF figure 4, he whirls, backs up,
swings around, swoons, to all appearances, pushes
forward and leaves the ring to the great delight
of all decent people," I'D sietcil
How WE GRow.-Have the most sanguine any
adequate appreciation of the wonderful strides
which our American civilization is making West
ward2 1t is not within the power of human ken
to compute the developement of culture and en-
terprise going on in the Western wilds How
forests are laid low, how the desert is made to
blossom, how the pulse of life is made to beat in
the dead corpse of nature, how mighty rivers are
cVa0n nnd and nS-hk 4