Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-04-25
A BRAVE DEED.

Wv sSSN 81
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A BRAVE DEED. .
A Story OF the 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."
farmer; he was speakingto his neigh
bors, and they we're all gathered in a
Large barn; built no Of logs. in in one Of the
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 a 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 al attack at any time: Every
hour passed slowly in fear and sus-
pense.
The remark with which 1 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. "Armstrone's," 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,
and a 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 S 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
b%utchered, every man, woman and child
of them, as the whites we're 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"
being said with a sad heart. He was a
poor boy, with but n relative in. the
world, as far as he knew. That rela-
tive was 9 sister living. at. Arm
stroag'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 I die for
it,
"See here" he said, going up to the
man who seemed to be the one in
charge of affairs. 81 have q. sister at
Armstrong;. [ can't stay here and do
nothing while she's in, such danger. I'll
undertake to get there and give them
warning"
..Why, boy, you'd be, shot before
! you'd got out of hearing almost" was
the reply. 81 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 a thousand of getting to
them. 1t would be like running a gaunt-
let"
.'Tll take that chance. then," said
Robert. 81 mast GO. Don't try to
keep me back. I have q plan that may
work. Ill try it, anyway"
.'What is it?" they asked him. GLOW
are you going?"
:'By river" answered Robert.
They're camped all along the bank
few miles below here, and no boat Or
ano could possibly get past them UNI
seen." they told him.
''But l am not going in q boat or ca
noe," he said. I'm going to float
down in a 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.
The 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. Some
times it almost touched the bank as
the river made u curve, and the cur
rent ran close by the edgoo of the stream;
then it would drift out into the middle
of the river again.
The moon rose by-and-by, and made
the scene almost as light rs day. Rob-
ert was sorry about that, for it made his
voyage seem more perilous, if il. really
was not so. A very dark night would
have suited him best.
1t seemed to him that he had beer