St. Landry democrat., 1884-04-12
BRAVE ROBERT.

"A Story of the Indian Troubles in Min
nesOta.
90 Somebody ought to let the settler
ut Armstrong; know about the DANCE
+, they're in, but l don't see how we'r'
going to do it. -
The speaker was man dressed as {
farmer; he was speaking to his neigh
bors, and they were all gathered in
large barn, built of logs, in one of the
newly-settled portions of Minnesota.
1t was in the time of the Indian out.
break, and they had sought safety here,
men, women and children, inspired by
a feeling of terror only understood by
those who have lived on the frontier.
and know from actual experience the
danger of such life in places where
the Indians are unfriendly and MUIR
derous
Stories had come to them of horrible
massacres at New Ulm and other set
Elements not far away, and they were
expecting an attack at any time. Every
hour passed slowly in fear and sus-
pense.
The remark with which I have begun
this story was called out by the tidings
which a scout had just brought in. He
had learned that the Indians intended
to attack a settlement some ten miles
down the river. Armstrong;, it
was called, because the name of the
leading man there was Armstrong. 1t
was a lonely place, quite by itself, and,
as it had been but recently settled, the
only communication it had WITH out
side world was by way Of the. river,
and rough trail along the bluffs.
''It's Just like this said the man.
THE Indians are scattered along the
river, on either side of it, for four or five
miles below here, clear back to the
sWamps, thus cutting off all chance of
escape for the folks at Armstrong;, if
they knew of the danger, for there are
Indians on the other side of them. The
only chance for them to save themselves
is in getting together as we've done.
and holding out against the redskins
until help comes, and that will be soon,
I'm sure. But they don't know any
thing about what's been done or what
is going to be done; therefore they'll
be taken by surprise, and they'll be
butchered, every man, woman and child |
of them, as the whites were at New
Ulm. It's terrible, but I don't see how
we can help it. It's sure death to at
tempt to get from here to Armstrong;.
The woods are full of Indians. and
they'd discover a fellow before he'd
made two miles of the distance
Robert Woods listened to what was
being said with a sad heart. He was a
poor boy, with but one relative in the
world. as far as he knew. That rela-
tive was g sister living at Arm
.
Must I stay here and let her be
killed?' he said to himself -'slet her
be killed, withouts making an attempt
to save her? No; I'll try to get to
Armstrong; in some way, if die for
''see here" he said, going up to the
man who seemed to be the one in
charge of affairs, II have a sister at
/ can't stay here and do
nothing while she's in such danger. III
Undertake to get there and give them
why, boy, you'd be shot before
Tou'd got out of hearing almost was
The reply. Il know it seems cruel for
is to stay here while they're exposed to )
ugh danger; but we've got our families
o protect, and we know that there isn't I
me chance in thousand of getting to
hem. 1t would be like running gaunt- $
ct. "a
I'm take that chance. then, !" 2aid {
Robert. Il must go. Don't trlf to b
.eep me bacRv,, have plan thauknay
york. I'll tfyit anyway"
'.What is it?" they asked him. 'SEow
re you goingB' . III \
by river, ansS-ered Robert. v Q
They're camped all alops1he ,gank '
few miles below hera Ind no NAT or t
anoe could possibly get past sFenpun- Q
Gen." they told him. n
"But I am not going in q boat or ca b
oe, he said. I'm going to float Z
own in a tree-top. g
just at dusk. that night tree-top q
rifted out slowly into the river from
lie little bend below the settlement. a
idden away among the branches was :