The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-04

Special to The Journal.
Volga, S. D., March 4-only few of the
hostile Indian country over forty years ago
and helped to open South Dakota to settlement
are yet living. One Of these is Byron T.. Pay
of this place who is living in quiet retirement rem
thrilling chapters
Mr. Pay enlisted in the army at Nankato.
MIMI, in 1851, and was soldier In the civil
war until wounded at Chickamauga in 1868.
shortly after which he was discharged for dis
ability. He is the proud possessor of medal
of honor voted him by congress for gallantry in
action at Nolensville, Tenn, Feb. 10, 1858.
Returning to Mankato, Mr.. Pay found employ
ment with James B. Hubbell of st. Paul, who
was an extensive fur trader along the Mis-
souri, river. In October, 1854. he was sent from
Mankato with six wagons and eighteen yoke
of oxen to the old Sioux reservation above Fort
Ridge]ey with orders to Their UP and transport
to Fort Thompson, on the Missouri river, the
remaining santee Sioux and their families. This
| expedition was escorted by Company L. second
J regiment, Minnesota cavalry.
| At tho red pipestone quarry the expedition
was met by supply train OF fifty wagons be-
longing to Mr.. Hubbell and loaded with sup
plies for the Indians at various points, Including
At the latter fort the orders to push
further on to Fort Berthold with 'fur-trading
| outfit pure and simple. For this purpose twenty
wagons, carrying four tons each, with three
| yoke of oxen to the wagon. were made ready.
| Arriving at Fort Sully, three of these wagons
| we're left, and the rest proceeded up the Mis-
| souri, until near Sthe mouth of the Cannon Bah
| river where the party was met by some young
men belonging to Chief Grass band of Black.
, foot Sioux, who escorted the train to camping
place. t.. -'-,'.~'@
Tribute Demanded.
Here the troubles of. the fur traders com
menced. The Indians broadly suggested trlo
ute before the expedition went any further
and after two days parley treaty >. was
made that cost the wagon-train $1,000 worth o.
supplies Fort Rice was reached without fur
Their trouble, but there 1t was learned that tue
Indians were so hostile that 1t would De 1901
hardy to proceed without an escort. Inc sonli
way to reach Fort Berthold was to send to tina
post for an escort Two Frenchmen were Si'e'
this mission, but before they had been gone lont
the commander at Fort Rice ordered the tur
traders off the reservation there-literaily droV
| them into the teeth of the hostile Indians.
h In this position, their lives seemed worth bu
little. To turn back would be to run into IN
: Blackfoot Sioux. with whom treaty" had bee
made that spelled death for sthe traders to re
. turn On the other hand, the hostiles We're al
! around and a massacre was imminent The onl
/ thing to do was to push on to Fort berthol
and take chances. start was made on Dec
90 1864 with the temperature u degrees DC
low zero. Time and again Indian delegations me
: the party and ordered them back, but the ban
had determined that if it came to massacr
it did not make much difference where II nal
a pened. There was no chance for escape OF
e hind, but little in front, but Fort Berthod wa
n the nearest friendly point; so the warnings WeI
a IGNORED and the exneditiOn moved on,