The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-23

the Free Press the story as to the pur-
chase of the blood hounds during the
early days of the Indian scare, which
we reproduced from old records in the
auditors Office few days ago, and
adds thereto the following interestin g
"reminiscences :.- -,.--- .--,-r-.,
Capt. Budd, our. Oldest settler and
historian, was interviewed on this
subject and remembered the circum-
stances we'll, though at the time the
blood hounds were purchased he was
in the army, but returned home that
year.
He says the murder of the Jewett
family who lived on the Blue Earth
river near Garden City, was the cause
that led up to the purchase of the dogs.
A. L. Ward was delegated to go to
Mankato and get the hounds and bring
them back for use in this county.
This he did and was also. entrusted
with the surplus due the county after
the purchase which he turned over to
the county treasurer.
Mr.. Ward not being at home, could
not be interviewed as to his part in
the affair, but there is probably not a
man in the county today who would
care for the job of going with an OK
team from Mankato to Fairmont across
trackless prairie, through mud and
mire, fording creeks and rivers and
Doggy sloughs, with three savage, bay
ing blood hounds for company and pas
sengers.
In looking up this matter in the re-
cords of Martin county we find that q
special meeting of the county commits
sioners was held Aug. 80, 1866, and
one paragraph of the records is as fol-
lows:
son motion of j. G. Hudson, AL
Mankato to receive the report of Major
Evans and receive the blood hounds
and to use his discretion in regard to
the same, either to take the same or
refuse so to do, and to make report to
the county commissioners at their first
meeting hereafter. -
At meeting on Sept. 9Th of the
same year the commissioners accepted
the report of Mr.. Ward and allowed
him $91 II as pay for the, four days re-
quired to make the trip,
The dogs assigned to Martin Co.
were placed in the care Of the soldiers
then stationed at a little stocka de
about where the court house now
stands. They were splendid animals
and furnished great amusement and
sport for the soldiers.
They would frequently send one or
two of their number out in the morn
ing on long tramp through the wild
country until about noon. when they
would return to the post. Then after
dinner the hounds would be taken out
and put on his track, followed by a
number of soldiers, and the dogs never
failed to keep the trail and bring up
at the fort again toward evening. The
purchase of the hounds had wonder
fully quieting effect upon the Indians
and they regarded the animals with a
dread and were 10th to
commit murder or theft when they
knew that company of we'll armed
soldiers would be able to follow their
trail without hesitation or deviation.
After the Indians had quieted down
and most of them had been removed to
agencies far to the north and west,
the blood hounds were sold at auction
and within few years there were
many of their desce ndants, half cast
savage brutes, used as watch dogs in
different parts of the county, and they
were highly priced by their owners.
AS we talked with Capt. Budd, the
pioneer, on his beautiful
lawn and heard him relate his many
adventures of those days, and even
point out the spot in has yard where
stood giant oak that measured three
feet through. and mammoth elm that
over four feet it seemed like
q voice from the past.
All about us were evidences of
higher civilization-beautif ul lawns,
well kept streets, fine rows of shade
trees and tasty cottages and fences,
and overhead was network of electric
light and telephone wires-a beauty
spot in the most beautiful city in Min
nesota-and all of this had been trans
formed within the manhood career of
the veteran at our side, from dense
and tangled forest and prairie will
derness stretching away far to the east,
inhabited only by savage wild beasts
and more savage and bloodthirsty wild
men.
1t was like magic tale from the
Arabian Nights, instead of the simple
story of tie development of Martin
county and the growth of Fairmont :;
the Queen City of the southwest of
the North Star state-a gem of city,
hung as spangle of brilliancy upon a
beautiful chain of natures sparkling
liquid pearls.