Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-03-27
A BRAVE DEED.
A Story of Che Indian Troubles In Min
nesOta.

A Story of Che Indian Troubles In Min
nesota.
Somebody ought to let the settlers
at Armstrong know about the danger
they're in. but I don't see how we're
going to do it. -
The speaker was man dressed as a
farmer; he was speaking to his neigh
bors, and they were all gathered in a
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 settlement some ten miles
down the river. Armstrong; it
was called. because the name of the
leading man there was Armstrong. 1t
was q 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,
aud 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 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 sad heart. He was a
poor boy, with but one relative in the
world, as far as he knew. That rela-
tive was q sister living at Arm
strong's.'
Must I stay here and let her be
killed?'' he said to himself-'.let her
be killed, without making an attempt
to save her? No; I'll try to get to
Armstrong; in some way, if | die for
it,
.'See here" he said, going up to the
man who seemed to be the one IN
charge of affairs. II have a sister Mt
Armstrong;. / can't stay here and do
nothing while she's in such danger. I'll
undertake to get there and give them
warming
why, boy, you'd be shot before
you'd got out of hearing almost" was
the reply. Il know it seems cruel for
us to stay here while they're exposed to
such danger; but we've got our families
to protect, and we know that there isn't
one chance in thousand of getting to
them. 1t would be like running a gaunt-
let
..rll take that chance. them" said
Robert. 81 mast go. Don't try to
keep me back. have plan that may
work. Ill try it, anyway"
what is it?'' they asked him. "How
are you going"
s.By river answered Robert.
They're camped all along the bank
few miles below here, and no boat or
canoe could possibly get past them TN
SEEM" they told him.
''But am not going in boat or ca
noe," he said. I'm going to float
down in q tree-top.
just at dusk that night a tree-top
drifted out slowly into the river from
the little bend below the settlement.
Hidden away among the branches was
the boy who had determined to risk his
life for the sake of other lives.
Tie current bore the tree-top along
past the shores where, for all the young
voyager knew, an Indian might be
lurking, hoping for a victim. Sons
times it almost touched the bank as
the river made q curve, and the cur
rent ran close by the edge of the stream;
then it would drift out into the middle
of the river again.
The moon rose hy-and-by, and made
the scene almost as light as day. Rob-
ert was sorry about that, for it made his
voyage seem more perilous. If it really
was not SO. A very dark night wouls
have suited him best.
4 conv,ooI H. AZ