Willmar tribune., 1899-06-21
INCIDENTS OF The SIOUX MAS'CRE,
[CONTIN1 1rED FROM FIRST PAGE.


emboweled logs and one fine morn
ing the oxen we're put TO the wagons,
and all were ready to start and go
eastward. In the meantime Thomas
| OsmundsOn and his father-ip-law,
Svend Bergen, should drive over with
their team to the house of the latter to
take on board some property left
there. When near the house, half a
dozen Redskins or more emerged from
the grove near by, and began shoot
ing at them, Osmundson being seated
in the vehicle and Svend walking be-
hind. They cried out for help and
we're answered in good old Homeric
style by those at the lake, especially
the women. The Indians became
frightened, ran to their ponies in the
grove, and fled southwark over the
prairie toward another grove, called
the "Dahl grove," a swede by that
name living there. Fortunately for
him, he was not at home. The men
from the island pursued for awhile,
but gave up and returned. fearing lest
the women and children, who were
frantically pulling back to the strong
hold, should be attacked by another
crowd of savages.
The panic and confusion having SUBJ
sided, some of the men mounted the
nearest hillocks to look out, while 9TH
ers undertook to ferry over the garri-
son. No sooner had they all got over
than train of men on horseback,
and others in wagons, were seen ap-
preaching from the west. New confu-
sion, this time, however, to end in
general rejoicing! Expeditions hav-
ing been sent out from both sides to
reconnoitre, the approaching caravan
was found to consist of none but the
good people from Paynesville and
vicinity, who, in full military equip
ment, had taken the field to assist their
fellow-settlers at Norway Lake and
Whereabouts.
These brave Paynesville men had,
on the pr 1airie, met with the five chill
dren above mentioned, whose father,
Johannes Iverson, mad been killed by
the Indians. The children mistaking
their friends for enemies, ran with all
their might, and had to be hunted up
and caught like wild animals. They
were now, safe and sound, taken to
their mother who, as stated, was with
the settlers. From the Paynesville
people Mr.. Lundberg learned that al
so his wife was alive. She had come
to Paynesville in the company of Even
Olson and his family, Lars Iverson
and his family, one Erik Kapperud,
and the two men with whose horses
the Indians ran Off near Ole Knud-
sons house. All these had clubbed
together, and, in one body, travelled
north of Norway Lake through woods
and swamps, to Paynesyille, Stearns
county, about twenty-five miles east of
Norway Lake.
They now all set out for Paynesville,
where they arrived in the evening,
and where there was almost no end to
the rejoicings of Mr.. and Mrs. Lund-
berg, who had entertained no hope of
ever more meeting in this world.
Here the fugitives remained few
days, partly to rest and restore their
strength, and partly because of their
disagreement as to where to 90 next,
some of them being for returning to
their farms, others wanting to move
still farther east.
The rumor of the massacre having
spread, people began to come up from
St. Cloud. They warned the settlers
against going east. There they would
perish for want of food. But if they
would 90 back and take care of their
farms once more, they should have
every possible assistance: arms, am.
munition, nay, even military protec.
ton. Thus spoke the men from St.
Cloud. All their eloquence, however,
proving Of no avail, they told the
fugitives that under no circumstances
would they be allowed to cross the
Mississippi river. Despite all this
the Norway Lake people started to
move east, and wherever they came
the settlers along their track made
ready and joined them, for no one
wanted to be left on the line immedi-
ately exposed to the savages.
And on they travelled, young and
old, until they came to St. Cloud,
where they stopped for a few days,
and where the people actually tried to
prevent them from crossing the river.
There was no bridge at that day, and
the ferry-boat was chained and locked
One morning, then, when the ferryman
had preemtorily refused them the use
of his boat, the Scandinavians, and
the rest as we'll, drove their cattle
down to the river, and T. Osmundsou
got safely over on the back of one OF
his oxen. The other settlers followed,
and before evening all the cattle had
crossed the Mississippi. The mex,
step now was to break loose the ferry
boat. The police of the place would
interfere, but withdrew when the sett.
lers declared they would rather risk a
tussle with the honorable peace-pre.
servers of St. Cloud than with the
redskins.
The people of St. Cloud, now beino