The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-08-09

Mr.. Reynolds to hasten his fight, and d.
rected him what course to take. i was
much excited, and 1t has been so long ago
that I cannot remember the incidents Of
this time very clearly. remember that
Mr.. and Mrs. Reynolds and the two chill
dren got into the buggy, and that we three
girls got into Mr.. PatOile's wagon with him
and Mr.. Davis and followed. We did not
take many things with us. In our wagon
was a feather bed and at least one trunk,
belonging to Miss Williams. Mrs. Reynolds
statement says that the boy started with an
OK team and was killed near Little Crows
village, but I cannot now remember about
this. 1t is singular that cannot well re-
member the Frenchman who was with Mr..
Patoile, when in my statement before the
commission the following year I gave full
particulars regarding him. stating that he
was on horseback, and how he was killed,
etc. I cannot account for this discrepancy,
except that have often honestly and earn
estly tried hard to forget oil about that
dreadful time, and only those recollections
that I cannot put away or that are not
painful in their nature remain in my mem
DRY. The hired man, Landmeier, would not
leave with US. He went down the river by
himself and reached Fort Ridgely in safety
that night. Mr.. and Mrs. Reynolds also
reached Fort Ridgely, taking with them two
children Of a Mr.. Nairn that they picked
up on the road
Flying From the Red F1ends OF the
Redwood.
Mr.. Patoile was advised by Mr.. Mooer to
follow close after Mr.. Reynolds in the bug
gy and not follow the road. But Mr.. Pa
toile thought best to keep the road until
we crossed the Redwood liver. He then left
the road and turned up Redwood some dis
lance, and then struck out southeast across
the great wide prairie. It seems to me now
that we followed some sort Of road across
this prairie. When we had got about eight
miles from the Redwood nounted Indian
overlook us and told us to turn back and
60 up to Big Stone lake, and that he
would come up the next day and tell us
what to do do not know his name but
he seemed very friendly and to mean well; ;
yet do not think it would have been bet
ter had we done as he directed. At any
rate, Mr.. Patoile refused to return, and con-
tinued on, keeping to the right or south Of
within about two miles Of the agency and
ccrld see the buildings very plainly. We
now hoped that it was all a false alarm.
It seemed that the agency bad not been
attacked, at least the buildings bad not
been bu1 ned, and our spirits returned some
what. But soon after we saw a boke III
the direction of the agency and then we
were fearful md depressed again. And yet
we thought we could escape if the horses
could hold out, for Trey were get
ting tired, as Mr.. Patoile had driven
them pretty hard We were trying to reach
New Ulm, where we thought we would be
entirely safe.
At Last, Alas!
When we were within about eight miles of
New Ulm and thought all serious danger
was over, we met about fifty In
diaDs coming from the direction Of the
town. They were mounted and had wagons
loaded with folr and all sorts of provis-
ions and goods taken from the houses of
the settlers. They were nearly naked, paint
ed all over their bodies, and all Of them
seemed to be drunk, shouting and yelling
and acting very riotiously in every way.
Two of them dashed forward to us, one on
each side of the wagon, and ordered us to
halt. Mr.. Patoile turned the wagon to one
side Of the road and all of us jumped out
except him. AS we lcaped out Mr.. Davis
said, 1--WE are 1ost!" The rest of the In
dams came up and shot Mr.. Patoile, four
balls entering his body, and he fell dead
from the wagon. I have faint recollec-
ton Of seeing him fall. He was large
man. as remember him, and he fell heavi-
ly. Mr.. Davis and we girls ran towards q
slough where there was some high grass.
The Indians began firing at us. Mr.. Davis
was killed. The Frenchman ran in another
direction, but was shot and killed Mary
Anderson was shot in the back, the ball
lodging near the surface Of the groin or
abdomen. Some shots passed through my
dress, but I was not hit. Miss Williams,
too was unhurt. l was running as fast as
I could towards the slough when two In
dams caught me, one by each of my arms,
and stopped me. An Indian caught Matte
Williams and tore of part Of her Shaker
bonnet. Then another came and the two
led her back to the wagon. I was led back
also. Mary Anderson was probably carried
back. Matte was put In a wagon with
Mary, and I was placed in one driven by
the negro Godfrey. 1t was now O'Clock, as
l remember from q certain circumstance.
The black wretch Godfrey had been with
the Indians numbering and plundering, and
about his waist were strung number of
watches. When we came to- the wagons
Matte asked him what time it was, and
looking at one of the watches he replied
1T is 4 o'clock" I learn that this old
william is now at Santee Agency, Neb. He
gave evidence against the Indians who were
hanged at Mankato and so escaped their
deserved fate. The Indians shouted and
were very joyful over the great victory,
and soon we were started off. The wagon
with Matte and Mary went toward the
lower agency and the one was in went off
into the prairie. asked Godfrey what they
were going to do with me, and he said he
did not know. He said they had chased Mr..
and Mrs Reynolds and he believed had
killed them. He said: ':We are going out
this way to look for our women, who are
here somewhere" About three miles out
we came to these squaws, who were sitting
behind little mound or hill on the prairie.
They set up joyful and noisy chattering
as we approached, and when we stopped
they ran to the wagons and took out bread
and other articles Here we remained about
an hour, and the Indians dressed their
hair, fixing it up with ribbons.
Woeful Scenes at Wacouta's.
About 3 o'clock we started in the direc-
ton Of the lower agency. Three hours lat.
er we arrived at the house Of the chief,
Wacouta, In his village, half mile or SC
below the agency. Here I found Mrs. Dc
Camp NOW Mrs. Sweet, whose story was
published In the Pioneer Press Of July 15
AS she has so well described the incidents
Of that dreadful night and the four follow.
ing dreadful days, 1t seems unnecessary
that should repeat them, and indeed it is
a relief to avoid the subject. Since 1t
pleased God that we should all suffer as
we did at this time, pray Him Of His
mercy to grant that all my memories of
this period Of my captivity may soon an6
forever pass away
On the fourth day we were taken from
Wacouta's up to Little Crows village, two
niles above the agency. Mary Anderson
died at o'clock the following morning.
While in Little Crows village saw some