The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-02-13
RESIEGED.
a Thrilling Incident Of the Sioux
Outbreak of 1862.

One morning in the summer of 1862,
ice Harvey stood in the doorway of his
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 puzzling nv
head over, ne answered.
sit can't be the prairie, for that is too
green to burn"
No, . replied her husband; "besides,
the smoke would be more scattered if
it came from prairie-fires."
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"
Ny God!" cried Mrs. Harvey. 'eWhat
will we do?"
"There is only one alternative, - re-
piled her husband.
''What is that?" she asked, with
blanched face.
Hitch to the light wagon and drive
dOc our lives to the next settlement east
81 us, he said.
"Stop, Joel" 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
band'j are guarding every pass and road
leaoing from our settlement"
What do you adviser"
Eight the red Williams right here,''
answered Harry.
But won't that be foolhardy9"
Not 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.
When have to fight will fight. But
now are we to fortify ourselves here?"
Have you plenty of arms and am
munition in the store?" asked Harry
Hrey, his keen, dark eyes surveying the
premises.
Yes. just got in supply"
Then why not turn that milk-house
into fort?'' suggested Harry.
The very placer CALCULATED Harvey.
Wen try it, and may God help US
against the red fiends.
The milk-house was a low, stone
structure, built over a 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-house. The roof was strong
and well-sodded.
The milk-house would be a capital
place to use as 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
Tort ready for siege.
While Mrs. Harvey and Harry hast
ened to convey food, bedding and goods
lrom the store and cabin, Harvey, with
strong iron bar, made loop-holes in the
slene walls. He had muscular arms,
and In short time he had made several
q them; with huge auger he then
door.
AS they were busily preparing their
iort Tor the expected attack, they were
lolned by two young settlers, who had
claims three miles away. They had
oeen IN the woods hunting stray cattle
ana had had very narrow escape from
band of Sioux, who had given them
= long chase.
ihese young fellows needed no invi-
taelon to help, but began work with
wiz. The little party did not forget to
keep their eyes open for the Indians,
sooner than is required to tell it, the
ues1 that was in the cabin and the little
country store had been transferred to
sns mllk-house. The stock had been
=. 1alsen oy one of the men into dense
- ssaDer a short distance beyond the store,
s aAsre the Sioux would not be likely to
Harvey and one of the settlers had
FFseparea F barricade before the door.
efoye several stout posts, which
- -. asea well soaked in water to pre-
'aeir taking 1sei into the ground