Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-06-15
A FRONTIER HERO.
OS~


brave deed that saved a hundred
dives in all probability. He was the
con Of farmer who had settled ON q
frontier farm in Minnesota.
For some time beforesthe opening of
this story, 1t had been reported among
ueighborhods that there was serious
danger of an outbreak among the In
dams. Several Of the tribes had res
ervations in that part Of the State But
because the intercourse between the
white and red men had heretofore been
mostly Of friendly, peaceable char
acter, 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
IAN outbreak. Every home was prac-
HcaIly dcfenseless.
One day Mr. Sanford yoked up his
oxen and loaded his wife and ell the
children, except John and Hugh, his
12-year old brother, into the lumber
wagon, and drove off across the prairie
30 visit relative who had lately set
tied in the State The road they had
80 go over was rough one, and as
they had about thirty miles to make
zach way, they expected to be gone at
feast four or Ave days.
On the afternoon Of the day Of the
&amily's departure the boys were sur
prised by visit from Jim Grow, an
Indian who had been a frequent visit
or Of the family from the time Of it's
settlement there. He had given his
name az Red Grow, originally, but
John had rechristened him Jim Grow,
and he had accepted the new name as
" It were mark Of distinction, and
6eemed quite proud of it.
''You haven't been here for quite a
Dong time," said John. where have
you been ell summer"
Long ways off," answered Jim
Grow, pointing to the west. "Come
back las week. Found out something.
Come to tell fodder. Where is fod-
-der7" looking about the place in search
OF Mr.. Sanford, whom he had always
called fodder from hearing the chill
&ren call him father"
''Gone visiting" answered John.
won't be back for three or four
days"
(Which way goY' asked Jim Crow.
'9That way" answered John, point
Eng to the east "Gone to see man
who lives as much as thirty miles from
here"
Good" grunted Jim Grow. "Hope
he stay. You go. too. Go soon's you
can"
why" asked John. in surprise.
Jim Grow explained to the two boys
why he had come to see Mr.. Sanford
The Indians were ready to break out
at any time Already they had killed
several settlers on the extreme from
tier limits, and burned their homes
Several tribes were expected to unite
I'm a 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.
''Mebbe tonight, mebbe next week"
said Jim Grow. He had come to warn
NE 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.
Fodder gone-you go, too." said the
Indian. mo injun that way-all this"
pointing to the west, signifying that
they would have no difficulty in max
ing their escape.
In the course of the conversation
John found out something that startled
him quite as much as the realization
OF the danger at home. AS soon as the
tribes got together, they would en-
'deavor to surprise St Mary's, which
was the name Of town about twenty
miles down the river. It had. perhaps,
a hundred inhabitants, two-thirds of
them women and children. Among
them was Johns grandparents. and
with them Alice, his oldest sister.
"Have You any idea when they will
attack the placer asked John Of Jim
Grow.
Indian could not tell when the
raid would be made, because he did
not know when the expected tribes
would arrive. but he was certain that
Ct would take place very soon-any
day. in fact
Hugh, I'll tell you what Wen DO"
John said TO his brother. "You take
old Doll and follow father up. You'll
De pretty sure to overtake him some
where on the road. I'll go down the
rtver 30 st Mary's and let the folks
Ther9 know what to lo9k out for"
4 RaAt do Il" said Jim CyoH, EN-
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