The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03

ing them, was informed that there were
ten "old Indians" in the party, the re-
mainder being women and children. AS
the whites were preparing to leave, they
were admOnished by the Indians to remain
over night, that they would have dance
in the evening, plenty squaw, &c. This
was evidently an attempt on the part of
the Indians to prevent their presence being
known at the fort.
Mr.. Spencer, proprietor of the house at
Breckenridge, being here when the party
arrived, Immediately started, in company
with two or three others for home, for the
purpose of ascertaining the motives of the
savages, and arrived within few rods of
the house about dark.
All at once their progress was stopped
by the appearance of several guns peeping
out from behind log, and sort of she
ha" yell from the fiends directing their
aim, the signifcation of which was to halt
or their lives would pay the forfeit. Hav
ing very imprudently omitted to take arms
with them, our men wheeled their horses
about and reported at headquarters in
double quick time.
Capt. Vanderhorck dispatched mes
senger to Georgetown the same day, with
orders for the detachment stationed there
under Lieut.. +. A. Cariveau, to report
here at once, all of whom arrived safely
on the following day.
Mr. p Lamb, agent for Burbank & Co.,
having in charge the train Of treaty goods,
and Benjamin Thompson, Esq, with twen-
ty head of fine beef cattle for the same
purpose, very fortunately arrived here dur
ing the day.
On Sunday, the oath, accommodating
| parties were sent out in various directions,
composed of both citizens and soldiers,
and at Breckenridge found the bodies Of
the three men who remained there on the
day previous, piled one upon the other,
| having been shot, and afterwards mutt
| lated in the most barbarOus and disgusting
manner The Indians had also taken pos
| session of the stage coach bound for Saint
Paul, murdered the driver (Joseph SnelD,
torn open the mail bags, scattering and
| destroying much of their contents,-killed
portion and drove off the balance of the
live stock, and smashed up things general
ly-not leaving SO much as pane of glass
in the windows. They attempted to take
the mail coach across the river, but having
got ''mired," they cut the harnesses in
pieces and took the horses with them.
On the following day, 25th, a good force
of men was sent to Breckenridge after the
bodies of the three men above mentioned,
and while there, discovered, in saw-mill
close by, an old woman, siXty-five years of
age, named Scott. She lives at the "Old
Crossing" fifteen miles beyond Breckin-
ridge, in the direction of st. Cloud, and
her condition when found, taken in con-
nection with the circumstances which
placed her there, are enough to rouse the
male citizens of Minnesota, every one
of them, to the exterminating pitch. Mrs
Scott, together with a son about twenty
five years old, and a grandson eight years
old, had recently purchased their little
home for six hundred dollars in cash, and
were acting in the capacity of "station
keepers" for the accommodation of the
travelling public. On Saturday, 23d, this
old lady and her son were sitting in their
house, entirely unconscious of danger (the
little boy being about at the time) when
all at once ball from an Indian gun en-
tered the heart of the young man, killing
him instantly. Mrs. S. became terrified
attempted to escape through a back win
dow, and in so doing received three buck
shots in the breast, wOunding her very Sc
verely, and telling her to the floor. Her
great presence of mind dictated the policy
of lying perfectly still where she ell, I'M
der the pretense of death, following which
doubtless saved her life. The savages,
supposing her to be dead, poked her with
their guns and laughed exultingly; when,
upon hearing the approach of wagon
outside, left the house. The wagon here
mentioned, was one of Burbank Il Co. s,
which had been sent out from Dayton, fif-
teen miles nearer St. Cloud, with a load
of oats for distribution at different stations
along the route. As the driver approached,
he heard the report of guns, and upon be-
holding the Indians, jumped from the wag-
on, (receiving ball in one of his arms
and headed for Dayton, where he arrived
in safety. The Indians destroyed the oats
and took the team with them.
Mrs. Scott, after lying upon the floor
until satisfied that the Indians had gone,
crawled to where she had few dollars laid
away, took it outside the house, and buried
it in pile of manure When evening set
in, she started out for Breckenridge Qifteen
miles), and reached there during the fol-
lowing day. When our detachment found
her in the saw-mill, on the 25th, she said
she had been secreted there twenty-four
hours, and had not eaten anything since
leaving home on the 23d. She did not find
her grandson, and she supposes the Indians
took him along with them. Talk about
"powers of endurance! did you ever
hear of more remarkable case?
Mr.. Lamb, who accompanied this squad
of men with his horse and buggy, brought
the old lady in with him, and am happy
| to say that she will, under the skillful