davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21
INCIDENTS OF THE
SIOUX MASSACRE,
the FIRST BLOOD SHED.
The Details Of the Premature Outbreak
Which Served to Warn Many
Settlers Of the Danger.
~ - - ~

At little stopping-place called
Acton, about 81 miles southeast of
Grove City, in Meeker county, on
August 18th, 1862, the first killing of
the great Indian massacre took place.
Indians called over at Mr.. Jones'
place for a visit, as they affirmed, but
there was enough in their actions to
make Mr.. Jones feel that there might
be trouble. Without exciting suspi.
cion on the part Of the Indians as to
his feelings, he invited his guests over
to Mr.. Bakers, where there were a
couple of white men. Leaving a niece
at home IN charge of an infant baby,
Mr.. and Mrs. Jones, together with the
Indians, went over to Mr.. Bakers.
Here the Indians suggested that the
men present should try their skill in
shooting at a mark. Jones and Baker
accepted the invitation, but had no
more than discharged their rifles be-
fore the Indians shot and killed them,
and Mr.. Webster, who, together
with his family, was camped near Mr..
Bakers in a covered wagon. Mr..
Webster was away from the wagon
when shot, and the Indians paid no
attention to the vehicle. This enabled
his family to escape with their lives.
Mrs. Jones shared the fate of her hus-
band, but Mrs. Baker escaped. After
Mr.. Baker received the first shot an
Indian leveled his gun at Mrs. Baker,
but Baker sprang between her and the
gun just as it was fired, receiving the
wound which killed him. The force OF
his fall caused her to lose her balance,
and she tumbled over into the cellar
where she remained and finally made
her escape. A few days afterwards
men from Forest City came out to bury
the dead and found the niece { left with
the baby with her head split ope" and
lying in pool of blood, but the child
uas alive.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21
New
dhd mha yhrHs

Two girls we're taken ta ,oners by
the Indians at Mr.. Andertxja's.. They
spent the first night as ca9&iyes. Of the
Indians near the northeast shore Lo1
Eagle lake. During the night the
horses stampeded and the girls made
good their escape, though Indian bull
lets whistled close to them as they
darted through the bushes. A few
days later they were found away down
by Little Kandiyohi lake, some six or
seven miles south of where Atwater is,
by Otis Ferguson and Mark Piper.
Jhewriter does not intend to eulogize
Mrs. Anderson and her wounded son
for the part they took in those stirring
times, but merely to tell the simple
narrative as the events happened and
let the reader decide for himself
whether or not they are entitled to a
high place in the annals OF the history
OF this state. This old lady, with the
help of her wounded son who had a
rifle ball through his shoulder, moved
Mr.. Ericsson down stairs, whose con-
dltlon was such that every movement
OF his body was like taking his life,
and lifted him into their wagon. The
same was done with Mr.. Foote, who
had received dangerous wounds in the
breast and back, and who was large,
heavy man unable to move a muscle.
After being safely placed in the wagon
Mrs. Anderson nursed these men. and
saw them safely through to- Forest
City.
These men recovered from their
wounds. Mr.. Ericsson is now a pros.
porous farmer near Solomon lake, liv.
ing on the old claim of the ill-fated
Anderson family. Mr.. Foote now lives
in San Pedro, California, hale anc
hearty at nearly eighty years of age
After his experience with the Indians
he enlisted in the army and fought fo,
two years and half against the forces
OF the South. The writer received 9
letter from him but a short time ago
lntelligently and remarkably vel
written for a man of his years. Broad
minded, public-spirited and energetic
he would in all probability haye beer
one of the prominent men of the cou ut,
ii it had not been for the incidents O.
the Indian outbreak of August, 1862.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21

Johnson's house, where they hid them
selves in the cellar. The Indians soon
arrived there, fired through the win
dows, split open the door, and cut to
pieces what scanty furniture they
found: among the rest the clock, which
they tore down from the wall and
trampled upon. Fortunately enough,
the hatch over the opening into the
cellar escaped their eyes. One of the
heavy chests had in the scrimmage
been pushed over it by the fiends them
selves. They thereupon left the house.
In the meanwhile Lundberg had got
start of about a mile. On arriving
at his house he told his family and
two other persons who lived with them
to make ready without delay, and soon
they were all on their way toward the
nearest neighbours, Mr. Ole Knud-
sons, about three miles off. Lund-
berg himself and an elderly compan-
ion were the last who left the house.
They took with them two guns and
some ammunition. The Indians soon
were on their track, and the settlers
were in no little danger, their guns
having become wet while they were
plodding through a slough. They had
several times to turn around and make
front against their pursuers, as if they
prepared to attack them. The Red
skins would then retreat until they had
got their guns reloaded, when they
would take the offensive again. Hav-
ing in this way come within about a
mile of Ole Knudson's house, the at
tention of the Indians was attracted
to team of horses tied to wagon.
A little off two men were busy hewing
logs for cabin. The Indians went
up and shook hands with them asking
permission to try the fine horses. The
owner objected. Two of the Indians,
nevertheless, mounted the animals
and rode off with them, while the 9TH
ers stood with their guns cooked, COM
pelling the settlers to keep quiet.
They didn't kill any of them, however.
Lundberg and his party had in the
meanwhile improved the opportunity
to secrete themselves, hoping for a
safer escape when under cover of
night. In the evening some of the
fngitives arrived at the house of Ole
Knudson, who at once prepared to
start with them. He and his wife
shouldered each a child; and off they
sped toward the house of Even Rail
son, their neighbor; finding that he
had left they resolved to take refuge
in small island in Norway Lake,
situated so far from shore as to be
safe against the guns of the Indians.
The passage was effected by means o1
an excavated Eastwood log, hardly
capable of carrying two men at time.
They repeated the trip till all of then
had got over safely. They determined
there to defend themselves to the ut
most against the Indians. AS, how
ever, several of their neighbors and
acquaintances were yet, in all proba
bility, rambling around not far from
the lake-among them the wife ant
daughter Of Lundberg-slx men wer.
sent out with two horses 1.-THE latter
i brought along by Johannes, the eldes
of the sons of Lundberg) to lool
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21

War was in full blaze, to be sure, but
it's effects were little felt here in the
extreme Northwest, and of the diseon-
tent among the Indians the settlers
hardly heard anything; that was no
concern of theirs. Then, as a light
ming flash from clear sky, came the
bloody horrors that broke up this lit
tie colony also.
Wednesday,, the twentieth of August,
dawned bright and warm Members
OF several of the households had gone
east to attend services held by the
Rev. Andrew Jackson. Some of the
most western families were of Swedish
nationality, namely, those of Andreas
Peter Broberg and Daniel Broberg,
two brothers. Only few half-grown
children and some of more tender age
were left at home. Shortly after the
parents had left, these were visited by
a number of Indians who had scarcely
entered the house before they began
maltreating the defenseless children.
One of the latter, however, got away
and notified the parents. Nearly all
in the congregation were ready to take
up their guns and start back, but were
prevented by the minister, who, think
ing the case one of no extreme danger,
was for peaceful settlement of the af-
fair. This proved fatal mistake
Some of the most fearless settlers
started, nevertheless, to return, but
only one of them, A. Lundberg, took
his gun with him, putting more trust
in that weapon than in the clergy
mans familiarity with Indian habits
and disposition. He also went by a
more direct route through grove,
while the others followed the wagon
road.
When near enough to see his house
he heard the report of guns, and, stop
ping on this account, he saw how the
other party, and among them four OF
his own sons, namely, Anders, Gustav,
Lars and Samuel, were assailed by
the Indians. One of the boys, Lars,
on receiving a dangerous wound, ran
toward fence near where his father
was standing, and tried to climb it,
but was hit by the bullets of the pur-
suing fiehds, who soon after came up
and cut his throat from ear to ear,
where upon they stripped his body OF
such clothing as they thought they
could use.
All this happened before the eyes o1
the father who, paralyzed with horror,
was unable~to move from the spot tc
protect his boy. In his despair, how
ever, he emitted heartrending cries
and thereby drew upon himself the at
tention of the Indians, who started tc
pursue him, and sent their bullets
after him. He ran as fast as he could
and the Redskins, just then catching
sight of a wagon drawn by oxen ant
filled with settlers returning from th'
aforementioned meeting, left off from
their, pursuit after Lqndberg ant
headed for the wagon. They soo1
came up with it. Some of it's occu
pants, Sven Johnson, with wife an.
two children and another little boy
P. ,Broberg (who now is a merchan
at New London, in the same county
succeeded, nevertheless, in reachinl
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21
the STRUGGLE IN TOWN Of DovRE.
A Narrative Relating the Trials Of the
First Settlers in Wilimar and Dovre
Townships in the Indian War.

The news and rumors OF the killing
at Acton spread to the settlements
around Diamond, Green, Eagle and
Foot lakes. On the 10Th of August
Mr.. Solomon r. Foote heard rumors
of the Acton massacre. and immedi-
ately made arrangements to leave his
claim and together with his neighbors
60 over to the settlement at Green
lake. He made an appointment with
Andrew Nelson, now Hon. Andrew
Nelson, Of Meeker county, but who at
that time was holding a claim at what
is now Judge Qvale's farm, to meet
him that evening at his place and they
would go together and pick up the
Ericsons and others on their way to
the Green lake settlement. Along in
the afternoon of that same day Mr..
Foote noticed an unusual tinkling of
the bells on his cattle, which were ia
the woods and on the prairie west of
the creek that flows between Mud and
Foot lakes, a disturbance which indi-
Gated that Indians were near, and he
concluded to go to Mr.. Ericson's at
once. Mr.. Foote and family arrived
at Mr.. Ericson's place at just about
sundown. Besides the Foote's and
Ericsons at this point, which is now
known as the GundersOn place, and is
located where the road to the Eagle
Lake church passes over the Eagle
Lake creek, there was family by the
name of Swanson and man called by
his neighbors "Swede Charley" Soon
after Mr.. Foote'S arrival seven or
eight Indians made their appearance.
Mr.. FoOte warned them to keep away
from the house, and told them what he
had heard of the killing at Acton.
They protested that they had no evil
intentions, claimed to be good Indians,
and said it was a few bad Indians who
were the cause of the trouble at Acton.
Mr.. Foote knew most of the Indians
by name, had hunted with them fire.
4uouGIy, duu Willie A0 udVufd11 udu
more confidence in them than he would
If they had been strangers to him, yet
he told them that they must stay out ol
the house.
The Indians decided to camp near
the house for the evening and sent one
of their number to the cabin several
times to borrow things, which were
given to them by those in the house.
In this quite friendly way the Indians
spent the whole evening, camping on
the premises. In the morning they
sent word to the houee that they would
like to have some potatoes and ket-
tie in. which to cook them. Mr.. Foote
sent word back if they wanted any
potatoes they were welcome to them,
but that they would have to dig them
themselves. "Swede Charley Thought
this rather discourteous, and as long
as the Indians appeared to be friendly
he. considered the whites should extend
to them the glad hand of friendship.
: II the Indians were not already ugly,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21

OSOI w uuu OuO WuO "d6 ttlcfe. i ue
hoy reported what he had seen and
heard, and DR.. Masters, throwing out
his household goods from his wagon,
took the two women with their children
to Forest City. Passing the place where
Mr.. Backlund and Mr.. LawrensOn and
the cattle had been killed but couple
of days before, near where the German
Lutheran church is now located, in
Harrison, they arrived at their desti-
nation without further incident.
Mr.. Foote and Mr.. Ericsson lay in
the house through all the day of Mrs.
Foote's departure, the following night
and part OF the next day, expecting
every moment to see the Indians re-
turn and put them out OF their pain
and suffering Foote afterwards
affirming that his only wish was that
death might cheat the Indians out of
the pleasure of seeing his end. Mr..
Ericsson lay upstairs, having dragged
himself up there with the assistance of
the women before they left for Green
Lake. Mr.. Foote was stretched out
underneath him in the room below. the
blood from Mr.. Ericson's wounds
dripping down upon him through the
boards above as he lay there unable
to move. At times during the first day
that they were alone they thought they
heard voices, but thinking there were
Indians prowling outside they m made
no endeavor to attract attention. The
second day they heard voices again
and were able to distinguish one OF
them as woman's voice. BY the
greatest effort they were able to make
themselves heard. Those outside came
to the cabin and they proved to be Mrs.
Anderson and a wounded son, who
lived at the northwest end of Solomon
lake.
The coming of Mrs. Anderson to Mr..
Ericson's cabin INVOLVES the telling of
another narrative, which it may be
we'll to insert at this point. The day
after the fight at Mr.. Ericson's place a
number of Indians appeared at the
home of Mr.. Anderson and killed him,
one son, his sons wife and wounded
another son. Mrs. Anderson tumbled
into the cellar just as an Indian fred
his gun at her, and supposing her to
be killed he paid no farther attention
to her. This killing was done just at
the approach of night, and the wounded
son, reaching to his shoulder to feel OF
the wound which panied him, an Indian
noticed him and examined the boy to
see if he was really dead. The son
"played 'possum" so successfully as
to deceive the Indian, and after being
turned oyer several times he was left
alone. The Indians then left and the
! next day the mother and son, after
covering the bodies o: their dead with
blankets the best they could, started
for Mr.. Ericson's place with yoke OF
oxen. Their voices were the ones that
the wounded men heard the first day OF
Mrs. Foote'S departure for Green lake.
Mrs. Anderson hearing movements in
the cabin, and thinking they were Indi.
ans, left the place, possibly going back
to her dead, but returned again the
next day, when Mr.. Foote was able to
attract her attention.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21

lcoNTINUED ON LAST Ash PAGnl
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
Church Social.

At a meeting on last Friday
evening the following committees
were appointed for the social ol
the Oath inst. The program Of
entertainment will be given at the
church and supper at the hall:
COMMITTEE ON SOLICITATION.
The Misses Amy Epler, Maud
Fitzpatrick, Ida Finch and Alice
Eplcr.
CoMMITTEE TO SECURE TABLES
AND HALL.-Rev. Heltman and
Messrs. Watts, Willis and Green,
Committee ON SETTING TABLES
AND COFFEE Mrs. Watts, Mrs.
Brazelton, Mrs. ID. L. Epler,
Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Tuttle.
COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON TABLES
Mrs. ID. l.. Epler, in charge
the Misses Emma Upton, Ems
King, Lena Scbimpf, Millie Grit
fin, Mary Epler, Nellie Fitzpatrick,
Maud Fitzpatrick, Alice Epler,
Ida Finch, Amy Foote, Leila
Knight and John F. Epler, A. &.
Atnip, Willie Joseph, Harvey
Harding, Edgar Hull, Alta Ho-
bart, John Stoddard and Dick
Finch.
Door KEEPER.-Mr. Willis.
The object of the social is to
raise funds to complete the belfry
and puint the church. Everybody
come and bring your friends.
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24

The Rocky Mountain News, pub
lished Mt Denver, Colorado, is the
oldest paper in Colorado and the
Rocky mountain region. 1t has been
identified with the growth and pro-
gress OF that region since its inception
in 1859, and devotion to the re-
sources and interests of this portion
of the West has always been the
chief aim OF the paper. Special at
tention has always been paid TO its
state mining department, to the end
that the fullest and freshest reports
of operations in all mining distrects
shall appear in it's columns daily.
The News prints more reliable news
dsily, and possesses larger circu-
lation and advertising patronage than
any other paper in the Rocky nouns
tain region. Sample copies on ap-
plication.
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
Closing of Contest.

The voting contest for Maid Of
Honor closes ON Saturday. All
parties having coupons should send
them TO this office by Z O'Clock Sat
urday morning or to VIM. Little,
county clerk, at Kiowa, SO they
will reach him early that day. A
courier will leave the TRIBUNE
Office Saturday morning at s
o'clock, with all ballots cast in
our ballot box, and will present
them to the county clerk in time
TO be counted.
The TRIBUNE is in receipt of a
long article from a we'll known
party in Elizabeth, giving history
of events leading up 10 the tragedy
of few days ago, and criticising
the actions of some citizens in our
sister city, but declines to print
the same.
Bills are posted announcing the
Lincoln County Fair on Sept. 1st
and End at Hugo. Handsome
purses for running and trotting
races are offered and prizes for
agricultural products of Lincoln
county, also live stock, ladies'
fancy work, &c.
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
ATTEND COLLEGE THIS YEAR
~@S~

Never in the history of our country
was there grander opportunity than
the present for educated young men
and women. What an auspicious
moment for those who are just now
on threshold of life.
Grand Island Business and Nor
NAL College has for fourteen years
been the leading institution of
its kind in the western states and last
year more than twice as many calls
we're received for its graduates as
could be supplied, Every hin g
necessary for successful start in
life is taught--Business, Normal and
Shorthand courses. Expenses low.
Board only $3.50 per week One
years time given on tuition. If d O.
sired. College Record sent free, oil
for six cents will send elegant cat u
logue.
Address
A. NJ. HARGES, President,
Grand Island, Neb
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
A Mother Tells How She Saved
Her Little Daughters

] am the mother of eight children
and have had a great deal of ex-
perience with medicines. Last sum.
mer my little daughter had the
dysentery in its worst form. We
thought she would die tried every
thing / could think of, but nothing
seemed to do her any good. / saw
by an advertisement in our paper that
Cham berla;n's Collie, Cholera and Di-
arrhoea Remedy was highly recom>
mended and sent and got bottle at
once. Itproved to be one OF the best
medicines we ever had in the house.
1t saved my little daughters life. |
am anxious for every mother 10 know
what an excellent medicine It is. Had
l known it at first it would have
saved me great deaf of anxiety and
my little daughter much SUFFERING
Yours truly, Mrs. GEo. BURpIcK,
Liberty, r, l. For sale by Jacob
Epler.
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
I. +. Coleman is back after an
absence of several weeks in Denver

Epler & Carnaban shipped six
cars of potatoes this week sending
them south. Price paid was 65
cents per 100 lbs. The quality
is very satisfactory. and extensive
shipments are anticipated
Mr.. and Mrs. A. j. Wilson
after living three months in the
Arkansas Valley near Florence
have decided to return to EIbert
and he WAS in town Saturday
looking for a house to live in.
Their health has not been as good
ns usual since moving south.
S. l.. Griffin, who since the
repairs and improvements has ns
neat and nice store room as there
is in the county, moved back this
week and is now quite at home.
Mr.. Purden has renovated the
post Office boxes and returned
them to their old quarters, also.
The picture of Miss Cora Stod-
dard appeared, with those of sew
eral prominent candidates for
Maid of Honor over the state, in
the Denver Post Sunday morning
and affords her friends great
pleasure. The engraving was
very accurately and nicely done.
The hulk of wheat and oats on
the Divide will be harvested this
week and it is estimated wheat will
average 10 bushels to the acre, oats
probably 20. A month ago many
thought the crop would be m en-
tire failure-and it would have
been in any other country than
the Divide.
Miss Sadie McDowell's school
at Sidney after very successful
term of four months closes to-
morrow with an entertainment
and picnic. Exercises will begin
at o O'Clock and close in time for
dinner in the grove. All patrons
and others who feel SO inclined are
invited to attend.
Mr.. Alba Mcfarland, the young
man who last spring spent month
or two in Ebert for his health,
lied at his home in Eastern
Kansas Monday of last week, Of
cancer of the stomach. He was
n brother of Harvey Mcfarland,
the clerk at Jacob Epler's store,
and won the respect and goodwill
of all our people during his short
residence with us.
Mr.. Louis E. Ruflieux, a prom
inent old soldier from Denver,
but lately of the Soldiers Home,
Monte Vista, came Friday and
will make his home with Col.
McGill at Fondis AT the meet
ing of Byron l.. Carr Post Satur-
day Mr.. Ruflieux exemplilied the
secret work TO tho satisfaction Of
all.
Byron L. Carr Post held very
interesting meeting at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Ross, s miles south
of Fondis, on Saturday and re-
ceived two new members. Conn
mittee on organization of Woman's
Relief Corps reported progress
and that the Corps would be in
suited at the next regular meeting
in September. Mrs. Hall gener-
ously donated the use of her build
ing at Fondis as regular place of
meeting, and the favor was duly
acknowledged with thanks. By
vote it was decided to hold the
next Decoration day service at
Ebert. The Post is in a very
fourishing condition and the feel
iuu with all members harmonious.
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
Notice for Publication.
Land once at Denver. Colo.

Land Once at Denver. Colo.,l
July q, 1899.
Notice Is hereby given that the following nam ed
settler has 1led notice of his intention 70 max q
fnal proof in support Of his claim. and that said
proof will be mace before the Clerk of the Comfy
Court OF Ebert County, at Kiowa, Cole on Sept
2nd, 1899. viz: Henry Friedorich Homest stead
Application No. i6e2s for the hf ne ar, sw or
He names the following witnesses to prove hir
continuous residence upon and cultivation Of.
eaid land, viz.
August Beuck, Joseph A. Scherrer, Fred. Gsb
hard, Conrad STREET., all of Agate. Colo.
45ls c. D. FORD, Register,
The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-24
Notice for Publication.
Land ONCE a, psnrsr. colo.

Land ONCE al Denver, Colo,
July 81, 1882 I
Notice is hereby given that tho following.
named settler has hled notice of his intention
to make Anal proofin support OF his claim and that
said proof will be made before the Clerk OF the
County Court of Ebert County at kio va Colo,
on Sept End, 1899, viz: Conrad STREET. Home stend
Application No. 1889 for the or Sec. II, Up. 4
s., Rng. 80 W.
continuous residence upon and cultivation OF.
said land viz:
Beuck. Joseph Matt, all of Agate, Colo.
S3-4e C. ID. FORD, Rogistor.