The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-27
Aberdeen, S: D., Mar. ~, 1903
FRS. SOPHIA SLACK,
3Continued from 1st page

tile family. uoH oudu ohoii iohH ~"
nry vas over. should rest as soon as
nnsslble in the shelter Of their w
roof. But this hope was not to be
realized. They had got the logs up
not more than five feet high when
Drifting Goose appeared on the scene
and gave emphatic notice that the
settlers must leave and leave without
.dciag. They found it useless to re-
monstrate and concluded that the
wise thing would be to yield to the
demand. at least temporarily. On
the next morning the wagons were
again loaded. the two cows brought
and tied to the wagons and the weary
wandering began ono more.
Tt was necessary pgO south by Ar
nm la{.. Mht.. 1ste Indian were ei.-
cauDpri ia order 10 iuld Mud Creek.
When opposite lie inaian camp, a
large band Of redskins clme out rlu-
ing their ponies furlously. yelling like
demons. They spread out fan shape
I'm order to surround the wagons.
their object was TO stampede the
party with the hope of getting their
cows extra ponies or any other plum
der chance might enable them to Sc
cure. But the party proved to be
equal to the emergency and kept cool,
although they were all a~pprehellsive of
serious trouble at the ford, as the
Indians seemed bent on following
them. But here again nerve and
prompt action aHertcd trouble. While
che Stacks quickly pushed wagons and
stock through the ford under cover
of Jim Humphreys good rifle, Love,
who talked Indian pretty we'll, en-
gagged the galent red me in a parley
oyer a proposition 10 trade the girls
to them for ponies. He put them
Rather high. Wanting forty ponies
apiece fol- them. The a%pprec.ative
Sioux, although sadly realizing the
price to be beyond their available
means frankly admitted. that the
gifls were worth it.
These settlers made their way to
Waubay lakes as the nearest conven-
tent place where they could temper
arily locate and watch their claims.
OIL the jim, ready at any moment to
hasten back when they could do 50
v WITH safety. Here they built a log
hGase and after installing the family
as comfortably as possible. Mr.. Slack,
liz company with Mr.. Humphrey.
made his way back tt Minnesota To
work in the harvest. Through tile
simmer Mrs. Slack, with no neigll-
bors but the Indian traders, watched.
over her family at this lonely out.
post. They were days and nights OF
constant anxiety. Here FranciS
Raundell. an Indian trader, after
v,hom Rondelle was named, lived with
his Indian wife.
Mr.. Slack returned carly i: the.
Fall from Minnesota. Mr.. Humphrey.
gct.bach ;.yoIt th. first Of December
and shortly after that, although In
tie dead OF winter and inteasei, cuiy:,
Slack, Humphrey, Love ANA 4tecss..
anxious about their claims on Gle
A5Ver started out, reaching the river
~ Armida.e, December 3lst. Mr..
Slack, in company with Mr.. Humpll-5
Fey, went up the river to where they
had started the log house thesummer
previous. and although the ground
WAS frozen quite deeply, succeeded in
making a Very comfortable dug-out ia
tf,e west river bank. They used the
logs in the unfinished log house in its,
construction. MI. Humphrey was a
god Shot and had a good rifle and as
game was abundant their larder was
eson well stocked with venison. Tran
Plug was good and furs yielded quite
. revenue. The Indians were along
the river hunting during the winter,
bnt they soon learned respect for
these cool, nervysettlersan molested.
fIlem no further.
The following spring, April 22nd.,
Mrs. Slack and the children again
taolslp their residence on the Jim.
For ghteen years Mrs. Stacks resi-
dcl,ee on the farm by the river con-
tiLnes:., till in the Fall Of 80 she and
husband removed to Melette in
Snink COUNT. establishing aresidence
lear he home Of her youngest daugh-