The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-03-26
DEATH OF S. R. FOOT.
A Man With a Thrilling Ex-
perience During the
Indian Outbreak,

The death of S. r. Foot, a former
resident of Melrose, which occurred
last week at his home in Californ a.
removes man whose thrilliog ex-
perence during the Sioux outbreak
in 1852 rivals the most lurid fiction
OF the dime novel or the yellow Sun
day paper. At that time he was en-
gagged in trapping and hunting, and
with his wife occupied a cabin a few
miles from Forest City in Meeker
county. Indians attacked the cabin
and a fierce fight ensued, in which
both Mr.. aud Mrs Foot took part
IN defence Of their home and their
lives, Mr.. Foot was shot through
the lung--a very severe and painful
wound, but he would rot give up the
fight. His wife loaded his rifle for
Rim, and propped up as best he could
lie kept up the firing until too weak
for the exertion required. The wound
seemed TO be inevitably fatal, as
both he and his wife firmly believed.
She kept up the fight alone until
night, when, under cover Of darkness
she stole out into the brush. hoping
to reach Forest City. it was a des-
perate chance to save her own life,
and remotely possible, that of her
husband. She evidently lost her
Hearings for the morning found her
wandering about in the brush, for
two days hoplessly lost, and afraid
to move about, except stealthily for
fear the Indians would find her. Late
in the afternoon of the second day
She saw some person cautiously creep
ing through the woods. 1t proved
to be scout form the little detach-
ment OF soldiers encamped at Forest
City, and she accompanied him to
camp and told the story of the fight
and the probable death of her hus-
band. The late DR.. B. r. Palmer of
this city, then surgeon of the troop at
Forest City with An ambulance and
a detachment of men led by Mrs.
Foot proceeded to the cabin to find
Mr.. Foot unconscious and with
scarcely perceptib1e spark of life.
The wound was a terrible one, and
pr ofuse suppuration had set in, the
flies had deposited their eggs in it,
and it was CO 7ered with magg OTIS.
His mouth was fly blown, and a SELF
inflicted wound in the arm was in like
condition. Hehad attempted t. hastel
death by opening an artery in his arm
with razor, rather than endure the
tortures of the Indians, which he be-
lieved inevitable, if they should return
the following morning and find him
alive. He was taken to Forest City
and given the best possible medical
care under which he RAPIDLY improved,
and while never restored to his former
vigor, he lived to ripe old age. His
hatred of the Indians was very natur-
ally deep-seated, and he used to say
that he believed it his duty to kill one
at sight-a threat, however. which he
never carried out. It is said that sew
eral OF them fell in the fight at his
cabin.
He subsequently removed to Melrose,
and took claim upon which he lived
for years, thereafter removing to
North Dakota, and thence to Cali
fornia, where he died. He survived
his wife by several years. His re-
mains were brought TO Melrose for
| burial. /
For the main facts in this narrative
the HERALD is indebted to Solomon
Pendergast, a friend for forty years.
r