The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-14
BESIEGED.
A Thrilling Incident Of the Sioux
Outbreak of 1862.

country store. and gazed in wonder
across the Minnesota prairies. To the
right and the left, far away, arose great
columns of smoke, which seemed to as
cend to the very heavens.
Presently, Mrs. Harvey came up from
the spring with bucket of water. She
paused at the store door and asked:
''Joe, what is the meaning of all that
smoke west of us?'
''That's what I've been pulling my
head over" he answered.
SIT can't be the prairie, for that is too
green t. burn"
''NO," replied her husband; ''besides,
the smoke would be more scattered if
it came from prairie-fres."
At that moment, Harry Grey, the
handsome young brother of Mrs. Harvey,
dashed up on his pony. The young man
showed evidence of great excitement,
while the pony was covered with foam
and seemed ready to fall to the ground
from extreme fatigue.
'The Indians" he shouted, pointing
toward the columns of smoke in the
west '"The Sioux have made an out
break and are butchering the settlers
and burning their cabins"
my God" cried Mrs. Harvey. "What
will VIC do?"
''There is only one alternative, re-
piled her husband.
what is that?n she asked, with
blanched face.
Glitch to the light wagon and drive
for our lives to the next settlement east
of u.s." he said.
''Stop, Joe!' cried Harry, OBTAINING
him as he started toward the little shed
where the horses were kept. That is
the worst thing you can do. The In
dams are all around us. Bloodthirsty
bands are guarding every pass and road
leading from our settlement
''What do you advise?'
''Fight the red Williams right here"
answered Harry.
''But won't that be foolhardy?"
mot half as much so as driving right
into one of their traps. The Sioux are
in every direction"
'Well, I'm no coward" said Harvey.
s-When have to fight will fight. But
how are we to fortify ourselves here?"
"Have you plenty of arms and am
munition in the store?" asked Harry
Grey, his keen, dark eyes surveying the
premises.
Eyes. just got in a supply"
''Then why not turn that milk-house
into fort?" suggested Harry.
''rhe very place." CALCULATED Harvey.
"Wen try it, and may God help us
against the red fiends."
The milk-house was low, stone
structure, built over spring of excel
lent water. 1t had just been finished,
and was strong, roomy cave, the floor
and wall of which were thick and solid,
made of rock which Harvey and Harry
had blasted from the open ground around
the milk-housc. The roof was strong
and wcll-sodded.
The milk-house would be capital
place TO use as a fort, for the ground on
every side around it was smooth, offer
ing no opportunity whatever for their
enemies TO creep up.
They wasted no words in getting their
fort ready for siege.
While Mrs. Harvey and Harry hast
ened to convey food, bedding and goods
hiohl viz oIOIO anu CdDll, IldEN6N, WIFI
a strong iron bar, made loop-holes in the
stone walls. He had muscular arms,
and in short time he had made several
of them; with huge auger he then
bored three more in the heavy oaken
door.
As they were busily preparing their
fort for the expected attack, they were
Joined by two young settlers, who had
claims three miles away. They had
been in the woods hunting stray cattle |
and had had very narrow escape from |
band of Sioux, who had given them
a long chase.
These young fellows needed no invi-
tation to help, but began work with |
will. The little party did not forget to |
keep their eyes open for the Indians, |
however.
Sooner than is required to tell it, the |
best that was in the cabin and the little |
country store had been transferred to |
tho milk-house. The stock had been |
driven by one of the men into dense
timber short distance beyond the store,
where the Sioux would not be likely to
find them.
Harvey and one of the settlers had |
prepared barricade before the door.
They drove several stout posts, which |
had been we'll soaked in water to pre-
vent their taking fire, into the ground |
before the door, leaving only space
enough for one person to pass at time.
Tho Indians would have poor chance
to come at them from that way.
Meanwhile Harry Grey, with the as
sistance of the other settler, had pre-
pared torpedo holding several pounds
of powder, which they sllillfully con-
coaled under rocks and dirt on the brink |
of a deep hole tha5 had been made by |
blasting out the rock. This hole was |
not commanded by the loopholes and |
would DO sure to afford the enemy an
excellent point of attack. A rude |
trcnch was rudcly dug from the milk
house. and by aid of some long planks,
\ train of powder was arranged. Then
tho earth was put back so carefully as