River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-27

| The blockhouse was well supplied
with guns and ammunition; also with
food and water. for the careful Ger.
man, in spite Of his apparent indiTer.
ence, had kept his place OF defense well
equipped; and now the testing time had
come.
You look after McDcnald. and I'll y.
tend TO the loading of the guns" said
Mrs. Schell.
| From different portfolios Schell and
his sons fired at the besiegers. The
father was calm, but the boys were
trembling in their excitement. The In
dams were yelling like demons, and The
Tories were their fitting companions
Again and again they advavnc d. but
the well-aimed guns of the defender,
soon taught them to be careful, and
they withdrew to the shelter of the for.
est. The thug of their bullets, as they
struck the logs of the fort. was heard
continually, but thus far no one within
had been injured, and they were Ger
tam that several of the Tories had been
hit.
They're trying to bur-, as out" said
Schell after an hour had passed. Sew.
eral of the Indians had crept close VI
under the walls, and were endeavoring
&c set FIRE to the fort. The upper story
now became the resort of three Of the
\ BOYS, and the assailants soon learned
more caution. A shower of burning ar
rows fell upon the roof, but the water
which had been stored within quickly
put out each fire.
The fight was becoming desperate. SO
far, the assailants had gained nothing
but their two prisoners, while their
losses were considerable. Suddenly one
of the frightened inmates called out:
Father, there's Mcdonald himself al
The door with a crowbar. II he breaks
il in. Its all up with u.s.
But Schell did not wait for any fur
Their warning. Quickly grssping his
gun, he ran up the ladder 20 the second
story, and glanced out one of the port
holes. Yes, there was Mcdonald pound
ing with his heavy bar against the door.
Already IL was giving way before him,
and in a moment IL must fall. The
tory leader was alone. none of his fol-
lowers having cared to join him in his
dangerous attempt. A wholesome re-
spect for the defenders was apparent
smongst all the assailsnts.
Schell quickly raised his gun and
fired directly down upon Mcdonald.
With groan the Tory fell, his thigh
shattered by the ball.
Here, father, what are you doing?''
called out the startled woman, as she
saw her husband fling his gun aside, and
run to the door. In a moment he had
slipped back the bars and flung il open.
He stepped boldly forth, and. grasping
the Tory 10y the shoulders, dragged him
within. just as he shut the door, veil
louder than any they had heard. burst
from the astOnished Indians end a
shower of bullets struck the house.
you're a bit late" muttered Schell;
then turning TO his prisoner, he said:
III trouble you for your cartridge belt.
Your cartridges are all made up ready
10 use and will save us time"
The belt was surrendered. and Schell
prepared to carry on the defense. He
knew that all danger from fire had now
ceased. for the tories had no desire to
burn their leader, and he was not with
GAA AhAA AhG NOhAA DC
doned. IL the Indians had been left to
, themselves. doubtless that would have
been the cast. for they seldom carried on
long attack; but the white men were
leaders, and they had no thoughts Of
abandoning Mcdonald. A brief respite
however ensued. and the bold German,
going TO the upper story began to sing.
He spoke English almost as fiuently as
he did his own language, and soon the
astonished besiegers heard the words OF
I.uther's hymn in the English transla-
ton that later became so popular:
"A firm fortress is our God, a good defense
and weapon:
He helps US free from all our troubles which
have now befallen us.
The old evil enemy. he is now seriously go.
ing to work,