The Northwestern standard., 1886-03-27
RESCUED BY A DOG.
Tale Of the Minnesota Indian Massacre,

Tale Of the Minnesota Indian Massacre
In the early part Of the late India1
outbreak and massacre in Minnesota,
family named Holton was living on tht
frontier, about sixty miles west By
north Of the Germantown Of New Clm
The family consisted of MI. and Mrs
HoltOn. a son, John, about eleven years
old, and Susan and Mary, TWO dangh-
Gers Of the respective ages Of eight and
five years. Holtor had -ernpted, OF
squa5ted, on d farm something like a
year before the outbreak, and had got
pretty well under way, having a snug
log house, with fair out buildings, and
about forty acres fenced and under
cultivation.
The prlnclple features of the estab-
hshment, however, were the boy John,
and his dog Boase, a cross Of the mas
tiff and greyhound, feet of foot and
powerful of muscle, and possessing I'M
usual intelligence. John was a lad Of
precocious developenentb both Of mind
and body and might have passed for a
boy OF fourteen. He and Boase were
inseparable companions and the boy
had taught the dog about all That ne
knew himself, excepting only, as be
was wont to say, such things as re-
auired 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 about twenty
Sioux Indians, who came upon their
dwelling just after daylight one morn
ing, killed and scalped Holton befors
the eyes Of his Mortified family, shot
the cattle, burned the house and barn,
and carried off captiyes Mrs. Holton,
John, Susan and Mary.
Whittier they were being taken, the
captiyes knew not. Mrs. Holton and
the 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. ne had been witness, soon
recovered his possession, and with
characteristic courage began cast about
in his mind for some means Of escape
where was" he thought, 'he would
came and help me to get away
The squad of sayages having the cap
tives in charge, dwindled down to only
two in the course of the day; parties of
from three to six having successfully
left, as Jhey came within striking dis
tance of opportunities for massacre and
rapine. About dusk they entered an
oak opening, which gradually changed
to dense, brushy thicket, wherein the
rayager st last came to halt for the
night. They made no fire; and after
partaking of a frugal meal of parched
corn and fried meat, they prepared to
pass the night by binding the captives'
hands and feet, and laying them close
together, and then stretching themsel-
yes on each side of them.
John was lying next to the savage on
one side, his thoughts busy with plan
ming some mode of escape. He had no
ticed that each Indian had laid his gun
by his side, and had a tomahawk and
knife in his belt, and mere boy though |
ne was, he feltif he could only get pos
session of their weapons rs they slept, |
he would be able to free himself and his |
mother and sisters from their detested |
But how to do this, he
could not imagine, unless Boase should I
come to his aid, as his hand and feet |
we're securely tied
After remaining perfectly quiet for
hours after, until not only his mother
and sisters slept in spite of their fears,
but also until the watchfulness Of the I
ssvages were quenched in slumber. as be |
supposed, John ventuTed to raise him
salf to sitting posture and peer about |
him. He first satisfied himself that /
the savages actually slept, and then he
worked his arms and legs to overcome
The pain and almost paralysis which |
had been occasioned by thelfremaining |
SO long hound and in one position: ali |
the time keeping = sharp lookout in
every direction as the prevailing oh
scnriry would permit
As he thus sat neering ginte the brush,
be at last saw some object slowly NOV
Inc towards him. Nearer and nearer
it came. but with perfect stiffness, and
stopping as if to listen
Yhen it had got within ashort distance