St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-04-05
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FRONTIER
HERO. ~ 81
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
BY EBEN e. REXFORD.

MISUNDERSTANDING VOVUVOVOVUVN
WE generally think of heroes as
Wy full-grown men, but we find,
if we look about us, that we have
many real heroes who have not yet
grown to manhood in years. But at
heart, they are men as much as they
ever will be. 1t is the story of one
of these boy-heroes am going to
tell you now.
John Sanford was only about IA
years of age when he did the brave
deed that saved hundred lives, in all
probability. He was the son of a
farmer who had settled on frontier
farm in Minnesota.
For some time before the opening
of this story, it had been reported
among the settlers of the frontier
towns and neighborhoods that there
was serious danger of an outbreak
among the Indians. Several of the
tribes had reservations in that part
of the state. But because the inter-
course between the white and red
xxlCn AStu uC1CLOlOlC OOCA "OoCAy VI q
friendly, peaceable character, not
many believed the reports and rumors
of impending trouble to be well
founded, therefore nothing was done
to protect the settlers in case of an
outbreak. Every home was prac-
tically defenseless.
One day Mr.. Sanford yoked up his
oxen and loaded his wife and all the
children, excepting John and Hugh,
his 12-year-old brother, into the lum-
Der wagon, and drove off across the
prairie to visit a relative who had
lately settled in the state. The road
they had to go over was a rough
one, and as they had about 80 miles
to make each way, they expected to
be gone at least four or five days.
On the afternoon of the day of the
family's departure, the boys were sur
prised by visit from Jim Crow, an
Indian who had been frequent Wis
itor of the family from the time of
it's settlement there. He had given
his name as Red Grow, originally, and
he had accepted the new name as if it
were mark of distinction, and
seemed quite proud of it.
"You haven't been here for quite
q long time,' said John. ''Where have
you been all summer"
"Long ways off," answered Jim
Crow, pointing to the west. "Come
back las week. Found out something.
Come to tell fodder. Where is fod-
der?" looking about the place in
search of Mr.. Sanford, whom he had
always called fodder" from hearing
the children call him father"
"Gone visiting" answered John.
'sWon't be back for three or four
days.
(Which way go?" asked Jim Crow.
''That way" answered John, point
ing to the east. "Gone to see man
who lives as much as 80 miles from
here"
"Good," grunted Jim Crow. "Hope
he stay. You go, too. Go soon 8 you
can"
"Why?" asked John in surprise.
Jim Grove explained to the boys
why he had come to see Mr.. San
ford. The Indians were ready to
break out at any time. Already they
had killed several settlers on the ex-
treme frontier limits, and burned
their homes. Several tribes were ex-
pected to unite in general uprising
against the whites. Some of these
had not yet agreed upon the terms
of warfare proposed by the leaders
of the revolt, but in all probability
they would do SO very soon, and as
soon as a general understanding was
arrived at between the tribes, the
murderous work they plotted would
begin in earnest.
ssMebbe tonight, mebbe next week"
said Jim Grow. He had come to warn
Mr.. Sanford of the danger ahead, and
advise him to get away from the place
at once. If they were to remain they
would certainly be massacred.
'sFodder gone-you go too" said
the Indian. "No injun that way-all
this" pointing to the west, signifying
that they would have no difficulty in
making Inelr escdPe'
In the course of the conversation
John found out something that
startled him quite as much as the
realization of the danger at home.
Az soon as the tribes got together,
they would endeavor to surprise st.
Mary's. which was the name of q
town about 20 miles down the river.
Il had perhaps 100 inhabitants, two
thirds of them women and children.
Among them was Johns grandpar-
ents. and with them Alice, his oldest
sister.
..Have you any idea when they will
attack tho place7" asked John of Jim
Crow.