Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-27

iyond the spring. As soon as this was GER
tain it was resolved to send somebody to
Lexington to warn the people there, and
to obtain assistance. There were horses
in this stockadc, and young Tomlinson,
afterward your grandfather, and another
man, volunteered to undertake the service.
Mounting two Of the swiftest animals.
the gate was thrown open, and they rode
out as hard as they could run down the
Lexington road. We expected the In
dams by the spring would fire at them
| but they did not, showing that they
| thought themselves undiscovered. and
We're so numerous as not to fear any rein
forcements that might come from Lex
| ington. The Indians among the corn
were not in sight of the gate and the road,
but they still kept up the most horrible
noises.
Some Of the old Indian fighters now
held council to consider what to do,
for, although in every way well armed for
the struggle, our garrison was but hand
full beside our enemy.
1t was decided to act for awhile as if we
did not suspect the ambuscade by the
spring, and thus see if they would not
expose themselves to our advantage.
But one difficulty of an alarming nature
was discovered-a1e had no aoGter IN tie
stockode. The spring inside the picket
ing had been dry for many days, and
as it was very hot summer, and we had
been bringing water from the outside
spring near which so many Indians were
concealed.
Not bucket Of water was there inside
the fort as we used it all during thenight
in preparing for the early march so sud-
denly interrupted. If the siege should
continue even twenty hours we should
suffer fearfully in the parching August
weather; and it might hold out for sew
eral days, IN which case we should actual
ly perish from thirst, as cruel foe as the
bloodthirsty sayages.
What shall be done? ?" went from lip
to lip, and even our bravest men seemed
alarmed at our peril from this lack of
water
AT length a plan was proposed.
The old Indian fighters said that the
principal force of the Indians was near
the spring, concealed, and would not
show themselves until their leaders saw
chance to capture the stOckade at rush.
The party in the corn was intended to
draw our attention away from their main
body, and make us careless on our gate
front. But as long as we seemed on our
guard no general attack would be made.
Therefore few persons might safely go
after water, if the garrison would make a
show of watchfulness in their defense.
At this suggestion, one of the mothers
proposed that the women should 90 after
the water in their usual way, while the
men made show of being on the alert.
& Probably" she said, the women could
go to the spring and return unframed if
they would do so without acting as if they
suspected an enemy nearer than the corn
The Indians would not forfeit their hope
of taking the stockade by surprise, Just
for the sake of killing few women"
This bold project met at first much OPP
position. Some of the men would not
listen to the proposal that their wives and
daughters should run such risk; a few
children, catching the idea, set up a
frightened wailing; and certain Of the
women, as was natural, had no relish for
the dangerous undertaking. I remember
one in particular, boastful creature, who
had always seemed to consider herself as
brave as the brayest men, but now showed
herself great coward, exclaiming: g Let
the men bring the water. We are not
bullet-proof! The savages will take a
wOman's scalp as soon as a man's!"
But our leaders urged so many and such
good reasons for our going to the spring,
and SO many Of the older women were in
| favor of it, that in a few minutes all
agreed to the plan, and it was decided
! that every woman in the stockade able to
bring pail of water should 90, so as to
show no partiality. We were not to go
all in crowd, but stringing along two
or three together, as naturally as possible,
so as to excite no suspicion among the
| Indians.
Then we got our buckets, some of US
carrying two. Oh, how plainly remem-
Der those few minutes. Many of us wore
shoes or moccasins, but we all took them
off so as to run the faster il we had need
We stood all together by the picketing,
and a paler-faced crowd of women was
never seen. But there was no fainting,
as in these days is SO common among
ladies.
The men, each with two or three loaded
guns near him, gathered along the stock
ade, at the portfolios, ready to fire on
the Indians if they attacked us. Two of
the strongest were to manage the gate.
Finally. when all were ready, my
mother suggested that a prayer should be
| offered before we went out, for, said she
eff God does not shield US we shall never
come back" This idea pleased all, both
men and women.
Mr.. Reynolds, whose son was Captain
Of the garrison, knelt down on the ground
while everybody knelt around him; and