Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-05-19
Rescued by Dog. .E
4 Tale OF the Minnesota Indian Nrassa.

| In the early part OF the late Indian
outbreak and massacre in Minnesota, a
| family named Holton was living on the
frontier, about sixty miles west by
north of the German town of New Ulm.
The family consisted of Mr.. and Mrs.
Holton, a son, John, about eleven years
old, and Susan and Mary, two daugh-
ters of the respective ages of eight and
five years. Holton had preempted, or
| squatted, on a farm something like a
year before the outbreak, and had got
| pretty well under way, having snug
log house, with fair out-buildings, and
about forty acres fenced and under cul-
tivation.
The principal features of the cstab-
lishment, We're the boy John, and his
dog Boase, cross of the mastitf and
greyhound, fleet of foot and powerful of
muscle, and possessing unusual intelli-
gence. John was lad of prccocous
development both of mind and body,
and might have passed for q boy of four
teen. He and Boase were inseparable
companions and the boy had taught
the dog about all he knew himself, ex-
cepting only, as he WAS wont to say,
such things as required speech. We are
thus particular in our mention of these
things, because this story hinges on the
courage and sagacity of John and the
fidelity and intelligence of Boase.
The first knowledge which the Hol.
tons obtained of the Indian outbreak
was communicated by q band of about
twenty Sioux, who came upon their
dwelling just after daylight one morn
ing, killed and scalped Holton before
the eyes of his Mortified family, shot the
cattle, burned the house and barn, and
carried off captives Mrs. Holton, John,
Susan and Mary. Ea
! Whittier they were being taken, the
captives knew not. Mrs. Holton and
her two little girls were so overcome
with fright and horror that they seemed
bereft of their senses; but John, though
at first stunned by the terrible scenes of
which he had been n witness, soon re-
covered his self-possession, and with
characteristic, courage began to cast
about in his mind for some means OF
escape and revenge. "If Roase only
knew where | was" he thought, " he
would come and help me get away
The squad of sava9es having the cap
! tives in charge, dwindled down to only
two in the course of the day parties 0i
! from three to six having suCcessiyely
! left, MS they came within striking dis
rapine. About dusk they entered an
oak opening, which gradually changed
to dense, brushy thicket, wherein the
savagcs at last came to y halt for the
night. They made no fire and after
pnrtaking of frugal meal of parchetl
corn and dried meat, they prepared to
pass the night by binding the captves'
hands and feet, and laying them close
together, and then stretching them
selves on each side of them. -.
| Jnhn yyaa lyinr nnxf a., th, eoxy,.,n ~,
one side, his thoughts busy with plan
ming some mode of escape. He had mo-
| ticcd that each Indian had laid his gun
| by his side, and had tomahawk and
knife in his belt; and mere boy though
he was, he felt that if he could only get
/ possession of their weapons as they
slept, he would be able to free himself
aud his mother and sisters from their
detested mastership. But ho,y to do
| this, he could not imagine, unless Boase
should come to his aid, as his hunds and
feet were securely tied.
After remaining perfectly quiet for
hour after hour, until not only his
mother and sisters slept in spite Of their
fears, but also until the watchfulness OF
the saVaSes was quenched in slumber
as he supposed, John ventured to raise
himself to sitting posture and peer
that the savagcs actually slept, and
then he worked his arms and legs tt
overcome the pain and almost paralysis
which had been occasioned by their re.
naming so long bound and in one posi-.
ton; all the time Keeping sharp look
/ out in every direction as the preyailing Q
Iobscurity would permit. aa# =
| As he thus sat peering into the brush
! he at last saw some object slowly NOV
ing toward him, but with perfect still
/ ness, and occasionally stopped as If to
listen. When it had got within a short
distance of him, it stopped and gave a
low plaintive whine. Johns heart al
most bounded into his mouth for In
! that whine he recognized the tones OF
! his faithful Boasc; and in the exuber-
ancc of his JOY he called the dog by
name and held up his hands toward
him. Boase Immediately crept forward,
but John becoming alarmed at his own
rashness, lay down again by the side OF
the savage, lest the latter should awake
and detect the presence of the dog.
But the Indian slept on; and after q
short time John again cautiously raised
himself to n sitting posture; and to his
great satisfaction he found BOase crouch
ing at his feet. He caresscd the brave
fellow with his bound hands, and then
holding them up SO Boase could see the
leathern thong with which they were
tied, he told him to gnaw it in two
Boase seemed to comprehend the case
ut once, for he instantly set to work and
soon set his young masters hands at
liberty. ......
What to do next? was now the qucs-
ton. John was SO overcome for time,
N ffe In 10 fpt, L..r 1t.
forgot that his feet were still bound un-
til he attempted to rise. Then he was
reminded of that fact. Should he let
Boase gnaw them loose, or should he
withdraw the Indians knife from his
belt and cut the thong? Deciding upon
the latter course, he gently possessed
himself of the knife, cut the thong and
then, cautiously drawing the toma-
hawk from the savage's belt, he rose to
his feet. lie lad decided upon his
course.
Pointing to the sleeping savage, he
patted Boase on the head and whisper
ed to him TO seize the Indian the mo-
ment he stirred then taking the Indi-
ans gun, he cautiously cooked ii placed
the muZzle to the heart Of the other say
age, and fired, killing him instantly
AS the surviving savage, aroused by the
report of the gun, attempted to spring
to his feet, Roase, with howl Of ven
geance, dashed at his throat, and with
a few terrible tearings and crushings
killed the bloody wretch outright.
Mrs. Holton, Susan and Mary, awak-
ened by the noise of the gun, and hear
ing the brief but horrid struggle be-
tween Boase and the Indian, set up a
series of terrified screams, which it took
poor John some time to quiet. When,
ut last, the assuring voice of John, the
severing of their bonds, the gambols
and caresses of Boasc, and the lifeIcss
bodies of the Indians, enabled Mrs.
Holton aud the little girls to understand
what had actually transpired their 10Y
was beyond expression, and was at last
manifested by their all rushing into a
compact pile, the chief elements of
which were John and Boasc mellowed
by hugs and kisses.
As soon as calnlnes was restored. Mrs.
Holton and John resolved to set out on
their return, piloted by Boase, without
delay; and taking the weapons of the