The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-24

out through the gate. "and expect US
/ home I'm three days at the most"
On the third day came news that
New Ulm was still besieged. 1t was
brought by a half breed trooper. who
held long parley in the speech Of the
Winnebagos with Two-Faee.
At dusk Two Face went out with the
trapper, making a sign 10 Charles 20
remain within doors An hour later
he returned swiftly and said TO Grand
ma MCGOWAN:
The hearts Of my people are bad
again. Everywhere they burn and kill
Make haste with the large wagon to
Mankato"
Two previous flights by night from
| death at the hands Of savages crazed
by Little Crows command to destroy
every white man, woman and child I'm
Minnesota, had taught the women OF
the MCGOWAN household how to 60
about this business with energy and
precision.
BY the time TwO-Face and Charles
had the team at the door they were
ready. Little Peter bundled up asleep
in his mothers arms. in the front seat
beside Charles, VINO drove was Grand
ma MCGOWAN with an old Kentucky
rife across her lap.
Co said Two-Face, standing at
the gate
For an instant Charles hesitated.
Forty miles in the dark By an unknown
road, through u country Overrun with
savages eager for white scalps. and
he the sole protector OF two women and
a child"
Co" repeated the Indian. sternly.
"TwC-Face guards the home OF mi:
white brother"
So the refugees started on their wild
night ride with their hearts in theil
mouths. Once free from the timber.
they could see to the northwest the
Dlaze OF burning hOmesteads. The
NInnebagOs were sweeping down into
the valley of the Blue Earth.
A daylight they reached Mankato in
safety Into this little town q thou
sand other farm wagons had poured
1000 other refugees. fOur-hfths Of
WEom were women and children, to
claim the protection Of a handful Of
troops.
In the histories of the Minnesota
massacres you may have read how
these women and children. half starved
and badly sheltered. waited and
mouTned for husbands and fathers. re-
ported butchered at New Ulm. and for
their hardly won homes laid waste.
But when Little Crows capture
ended the war, Grandma MCGOWAN in
sisted on returning 70 the homestead
on the Blue Earth river Again
Charles drove over that prairie road.
and the women wept at sight of cab
ms in ashes and herds scattered. The
same sad spectacle met their gaze
when they were within a mile OF the
MCGOWAN homestead. The wife. feel
ing certain now that she was a widow.
wrung her hands and begged Charles
To turn back. But Grandma MCGOWAN
said
Daughter, this is the day appointed
by President Lincoln for thanksgiving.
Let us be sure. first. that we have no
cause to give thanks"
It was dusk when they rounded the
edge Of the woods. The ground was
frozen and the wagon wheels made a
great clatter. Suddenly Grandma Nc
Gowan placed her hand on Charles
arm, saying:
Stop. What is that?"
Charles pulled up the horses. Borne
on the clear frosty air came a sound
that caused Little Peter to cry out with
joy
"Gobble, gobble. gobbIe."
a miracle. At the MCGOWAN home
stead alone there was life remaining
in the wake of the Red Scourge.
Charles dashed up the horses. Yes.
the buildings were standing The
fence was there. and on its top rail
"GObble, gobble, goblet" The tur-
keys were welcoming them home,
The gate was open. Lights streamed
from the windows Of the cabin, and
ROW at the horses heads were two tall
forms. moment later Mrs. MCGOWAN
was in her husbands arms and stern
old Grandma MCGOWAN was hugging
big Jim Smith,
''TwO-Face." said Little Peter. Il
want TWO-Face-"
Ia the doorway stood the young In
dian, whose craftiness had saved for
the McGOwans all their possessions.
even to Little Peters pumpkin, which
he held in his hand.
Let us give thanks" said Grandma
MCGOWAN, sOIemnly.
Copyright, 1901, by W. r. Hearst)