Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-16

died on the march. Miss Gardner and an
other woman were rescued by the state Of
Minnesota a few months later, In a lamen-
table condition.
WHERE THE BLAME LAY.
For this terrible outrage the people OF
the Smithland settlement were Indirectly
responsible and much blame was attributed
to them by the Cherokee colony. When the
heartrendiug tale OF the Spirit Lake mas
sacre reached the ears Of the Cherokee set
tiers every heart was saddened, and all gave
up hope, for they next expected to be pounced
upon. They we're advised by the Smithland
people to leave and in a few days not a
settler was left, some going to Onawa, some
to Ashland, and some to Smithland. As soon
as the Cherokee settlement deserted their
homes the Smithland people-be It said to
their shame and everlasting disgrace-vistted
their homes at Cherokee, plundering what
was left, including provisions, as well as
opening boxes Of household goods. when The
Cherokee colony had not unpaCked since
their arrival from the New England states.
The colony was now very much discour-
aged and did not know which way TO tGrn.
Word reached their eastern friends that
they had all been killed by the Indians. snd
the Or. Russell's society at Milford became
disorganized. The people here were very
much disheartened, and the picture OF e
bright future that fancy had framed IN their
minds. was wrecked by cruel realities. How
NNtlH III nay "a NAe NN"A h"A'g $3.50
returned and put in quite a crop.
In the summer Of 1861 the colony was
again alarmed for fear of further Indian
hostilities from a band on the frontier, The
colony determined to stand its ground this
time. and a company of ho-ie guards was
organized and armed by the state. Two
scouts were also employed, named Purcell.
and in August, 1861, an incident Of quite
an exciting nature occurred. The scouts
the Purcells-were staying over night at
George Lebourvean's; at midnight they
were awakened. and discovered two Indians
in the act Of leaving the settlement with
a span of horses. The scouts at once gave
chase. and each fired a shot at the Indians.
Andrew Purcell's shot proved fatal, and the
first horse thief in the history of the colony
died. The other Indian succeeded in get
ting away with one of the horses, which was
never recovered.
After this matters went on smoothly until
the New Ulm massacre in Minnesota, which
resulted in a general Indian war In that
state. When news Of the New Ulm mas
sacre reached the Cherokee settlement, Cap
tain Willard OF the home guard advised the
people to leave. as he felt unable to give
protection to them. The advice was taken
and once more the county was abandoned,
all going to Sioux City.
1t was during this campaign that the
stockade and fort were built, both OF which
stood until a few years ago. The location
of the old fort is marked by a raise in the
ground just north of the present city, and
it is frequently visited by curiosity seekers.
The commander of the guard soon notified
the settlers that they would be protected at
the garrison and that their families could
find shelter at the fort. The census OF 1863
shows that there were but ten males and
five females within the county. Thus ended
the Indian troubles of the early settlers OF
one OF the most determined colonies that
ever crossed the rolling waters of the Mis-
SiSSippi