The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-06-03

learn more Of her history than could be
properly efici'ed from her examination upon
the stand, the deep interest felt in her case
BY the Commissioners, induced me at their
request, and with the consent of Mrs. Hurd
to visit her at her rooms, in company with
her attorney,C c.. H. Berry, Esq, Of Winona
and gathered from her the substance Of her
history. After the Indians left her, three
miles from her home, on the prairie, Eve
took our way said Mrs. Hurd, Through
the unfrequented road or trail into which
the Indians had conducted US. It was clear
and the sun shone with more than usual
Brightness, The dew on the grass was
heavy. Ny little boy, William Henry bare
footed and thinly clad, shivered with the
cold. and pressing close to me, entreated
me to return to our home. He. did not
know Of the death Of Mr., Voight, as kept
him from the sight Of the corpse. He could
not understand why Isinsisted upon going
ion, enduring the pain and cold Of so cheer.
less IA morning: lie cried pitifully at first,
but after Il he pressing my hand, he trudg
ed manfully along by my side. Tie little
one rested in my arms unconscious ~of our:
situation: Two guns were fired when l
was short distance, which told the death
of M neiyhbor, Mr.. Cook. l well knew
Its fearful meaning. There was death be-
hind. and all the horrors ofstarvation before
me. But there was no alternative. For
my children anything but death at the hands
o' the inercless savage; even starvation on
The prairleS seemed preferable to this
A,ou, 10 O'Clock ia the forenoon thun-
der storm suddenly arose. It was Of unus-
u,l violence the wind was not high but
the lightning, thunder and rain was most
lc1 rlo'e. The violence OF the storm was
expended in about three hours, but The rain
coit'nueu to all slowly until night, and at
intervals continued until morning. Daring
the Storm lost the trail, aud walked on,
not knowing whether was right or wrong
Water Covered the lower portions Of the
prairie, and it was with difficulty l could
ti'il Il place to rest when night came on
At last came to a sand hill or knoll on
the top Of this sat down to rest for the
night laid my children down and leaned
over them 10 protect them from the rain
and chilling blast. Hungry, weary and wet,
William feI! asleep and continued so until
morning. The younger one worried much ;
the night wore away slowly, and the morn
ing at last came, inviting US TO rem we'd ef
forts. AS soon as I could see, took my
little OF es and muved on About Z o'clock
heard guns. and for The first time became
Conscious that had lost my way and was
still in the vicinity Of the lake changed
my course, avoiding the direction in which
heard the guns, and pressed on with in
increased energy. No Trail was visible
As for myself. was not conscious of hunger
but it was harrassing to mothers heart to
listen TO the cries Of my precious by for
bis usual beverage Of milk, and his constant
comp|aints Of hunger. But there was no
remedy. The entire day was misty, and
| the grass wet. Our clothes were not dry
during the day. Towards night William
grew sick and vomited until it seemed i'm
possible for him longer to keep, up. The
Youngest still nursed, and did not seem to
suffer materially. About dark on the sec
ond day struck road and knew at once
where was, and to nay horror found W. &
only four miles from home. Thus two days
and one night had been passed, travelling
probably in circle. l felt almost exhaus
ted, and my journey but just began bu.
discouraging as this misfortune might be, as
the shades Of night again closed around me
the sight Of known object was a pleasure
to me. was no longer lost upon the yas'
prairie. ~: >..- A...~,.-: .-.> zsz.s4
| l, was now that / fel, for the first time i,
would be better TO die at once; that it
would be satisfaction to die here. and end
sour weary journey on this untrave,ed road
over: wiich we had passed in our happier
days / could not bear to lie down with m,
little ones on the unknown and trackIess
waste over which xe hsd b en- wandering
But this feeling was but for . moment. =
took courage and started on the road 70 en-
! Uim- When it became quite dark, hai:ee
i for the night; that night Ipa<sed as 'belore
1 withou. sleep. In the morning early star
tied on. Ii was foggy ard the grass vet
+ The raad beiag but little Travelled sas grow,
:sup with grass. william, was 80 sicka thi
morning ,s,a he could no, walk much of III
time. SO / was eIaissd tecarry bosl. va
I ne "a seasibly reduced in. strength and ssi
!. approaching hanger. My boy no longer zzk
. ed for t,oa, bus Was tliirs, i, and drank frs
1 sqaensly from the, pools hY the aAysisle
.s.I f. <xs.s