The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-20

LETTER FROM ST. CLOUD.
sspOndence of the Pioneer and Democrat.

The Indian War Humbug.
LETTER FROM ST. CLOUD.
Correspondence of the Pioneer and Democrat
ST. CLOUD, July 10, 1860.
A most remarkable panic on account of
the Sioux Indians occurred on Wednesday
last, in the neighborhood of Maine Prairie,
large farming settlement fifteen miles
southwest from here. 1t is an affair which
should not pass unnoticed, because, if it was
wholly groundless, as it seemed to have been,
it will serve as an important warning as to
the damage that may happen by recklessly
spreading unfounded alarms.
In the lower part of Maine Prairie it was
first reported that large number of Sioux
had commenced hostilities against the whites,
and that the people Of Forest City had fed
to Clearwater. The alarm Immediately
spread through the settlement, and was in
creased by the fact that two or three
settlers in the neighborhood of the Big
Woods were known actually to be going,
through fear of the Indians, towards Clear
water. A man was Immediately sent to St.
Cloud for military protection, and in the
meantime the settlers hastily collected their
stock and started for that place for refuge.
The alarm reached St. Cloud at four
o'clock in the afternoon, and in the course
of an hour the St. Cloud Guards, under
command OF Capt. Lucy, and accompanied
by number of citizens with arms, were on
their way for Maine Prairie. By this time
the news had spread in all directions, and
there was general apprehension and excite
ment, though few expressed the belief that
there was no danger. Families with their
live stock were moving into St. Cloud dur
ing the evening and night, not only from
Maine Prairie but from other settlements
where the panic had spread. The st. Cloud
guards reached Maine Prairie at about ten
in the evening, but no sign of an Indian
could be seen. A messenger was then dis
patched to Forest City to learn the origin
of the alarm. He found the people of that
place at home and composed but reported
that half-breed had come there from Fort
Ridgely, who said the Sioux had become
dissatisfied at the payment because so much
of their money had been used to pay for
depredations to the settlers; that a fight had
occurred between them and the United
States troops, wherein the former had lost
thirty and the latter six.
Whether this story is true we have no
means now of knowing, but the state of
things reported seemed entirely to abate the
alarm OF the people in this neighborhood;
and yesterday morning the settlers began to
return to their homes, bnt had not all left
till this morning. The St. Cloud Guards
remained on guard all of Wednesday night,
and the next morning went through a very
creditable drill. The same may be said of
the company of volunteer citizens, under
Capt. Inman. The Guards returned to St..
Cloud yesterday at o'clock Pm.
The panic has done great damage in hav-
ing taken farmers from their labor at a
busy season. This alarm could hardly have
gained such importance if the people had
considered the extensive settlements between
the Big Woods and the Sioux reservation
settlements which would have intercepted a
good many Indians. Neither was there
much cause to apprehend that the Sioux
would attack people living within fifty miles
of the Chippewas; an army of whom could
be obtained and set upon the Sioux at short
notice. We are anxious to know, however,
what has happened at the Agency. We
have not tolerated the idea that tie Sioux
could have any i'll feeling towards the whites,
from whom they have received so many
kindnesses, although they have taken cattle
and committed many depredations on prop.
erty.
LETTER FROM FOREST CITY.
Correspondence OF the Pioneer and Democrat.
FOREST City, July Il, 1860.