The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19
LATEST.
Squire Mack, of Willow Creek.
Killed.
Eighteen Horses NtOlen...Setrlers
Missing, &c.

Since writing the above, Mai. Evans arrived
here for more men to pursue the Indians.
he says that as soon as the intelligence
reached him at Garden City, he organized 3
small force partly armed, and started in pur.
suit. he found the farm houses generally de-
serted and ransacked-occasionally the furni-
ture destroyed.
Reaching the farm OF Squire Mack, at Willow
Creek, west of the Blue Earth, we found the
squires dead body in the meadow. face down
ward, where he had evidently been killed
while at work. His reaper was broken to
piec-s ana scattered in every direction and his
horses gone. Some children in house near
6y say they heard the squire quarrelling with
Indians, who evidently wanted his horses.
Ihey heard firing and say that they then run
into the swamp and hid.
Alter finding the squirc's body. Mnior Evans
and party surrounded the swamp, closed in
upon it, and came upon a woman and five
children there concealed.
Mr.. Thomas and wife living in the same
vicinity, was absent from home on visit yes
terday. Hearing the excitement, they re-
turned home and found heir children MISSING
and the house ransacked.
By the time the Indians reached Nack's farm
they had stolen eighteen horses About seven
Indians were seen together and the party must
evidently be larger to carry off so many horses.
Mr.. Roots son is badly wounded, and is not
expected to live. Between Vernon and Willow
Creek four or five families are missing. bat it is
hoped that they are mostly safe
The militia at Garden City. Vernon. Ceresco
and Shelby have all been called ont, and cour-
iers sent to notify the people of Winnebsgo
City, Cham Lakes, and the military authorities
at Fort Ridgley.
Major Evans is confident he saw an Indian
near Willow Creek, and small party was sent
in pursuit just before he started for this place.
The object of the Indians seems to I've chiefly
to steal horses. Wherever resistance is offered
they commit murder. All the murders so far
seem to be of this character.
MIR. Root was killed about three O'Clock on
Thursday afternoon. He was engaged in haul
ing wheat to stack He was pitching wheat on
the wagon, and the boys were stacking. One
report says that Mr.. Root ran at the Indians
with pitchfork before they killed him; an
other that they came up behind him secretly,
as he was near q thicket One nred at Mr..
Root, and the other at the boys on the wagon.
Mr.. Root was shot through the breast the ball
passing out of his back and knocking of the
hat of the other boy. The boys Slid off the
wagon, the wounded one conceallng himself in
the thicket. while the other ran to Vernon and
Onve the alarm. The Indians embarrassed the
Horses and rode of. The wounded bow then
went to his father, who was still alive and
afterwards went to tne mouse Tor water for his
father giving the alarm to the family. Mr.
Root lived but short time.
MIR. Layton, living west Of the Blue Earth.
saw the indians pass his house, riding Roofs
horses, which he recognized. He saws that
one Indian told the other not to 90 to bis
(Layton's2 house, as he had a gun aud would
shoot. They then rode in the direction of
Mack's place, and doubtless were the ones that
killed him.
A company OF militia under Captins Collins
started tor the Blue Earth valley last even
ing
While our southwestern frontier is garri.
soned by from ten to twenty soldiers at inter-
walls OF ten to fifteen miles, permitting the pas
settlers and steal their horses, it must be q
source vi qualification to our military authOri-
ties to know that Fort Smelling, the stronghold
OF our admirable line Of defences, Is perfectly
secure, being held by some 800 troops