The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-10-23

IildI Lille IW0 IHuldnS gave lHGiI
whole attention to shooting at faith
er. Of course fathers only defens e
] was gone for he had no ammunition
i to reload the gun. And so his only
resource was in lodging and they
kept him constantly on the jump,
yet he was not hit. But now he did
a very foolish thing. He threw
away his gun! Before this they did
not know that he could not reload
his gun, so out of respect for it,
they kept good distance. But now
that he had thrown it away they
had nothing to fear, so they closed
in on him. Seeing them closing in
on him, he called to the boys to stop
and help him. But we had become
a good deal scattered and Radnor
was the only one near enough to
help and he, brave boy, stopped to
face two of them. Father said that
as ne ran up to Radnor he told him
to shoot and then turn and run, but
for some reason Radnor threw him
self on the ground to wait until
they should come within range of
his gun. The Indians who had hith-
erto come along together, now
separated and, making detour to
the right and left, came up on each
side and yet Radnor remained until
thinking them near enough he raised
and fired at one of them, and at the
same time they both fired at him.
There could be but one result.
The brave boy of fifteen had
faced two warriors; had given his
life to save his fathers and had
succeeded for the diversion which
he created permitted father to get
away. Here was an example of
h eroism and devotion that is worthy
of becoming historical.
As | | ave already said, we became
more and more scattered after the
capture of the women and | had
begun to cogitate as to some means
of escape besides running for | felt
satisfied that that means would not
avail.
The country there is what is called
rolling prairie and between the
ridges or swells of land are lower
places or swales containing more or
less water in which grass or flags
grow to the height of several feet.
AS | ran along one of these ridges |
noticed that not an Indians eye was
upon me. They were either loading
their guns or happened to be look
ing in another direction. SEEING
the opportunity of the moment, |
threw myself on the ground and
rapidly rolled down the ridge on the
opposite side from the Indians until
/ had descended far enough so that
| could be out of sight in STOPPING
position. Then | rose and rapidly
ran out few rods into the swale
and then turned and ran back near
but not in my first trail. | then
turned and ran back into the swale
following exactly in my first trail
till | reached the point where |
turned. From there continued in
to the swale but carefully separated
the grass and flags and raised them
behind so as to make as little trail
as possible.I When | had gone six
or eight rods in this way | lay down
and waited to see what would hap
pen.
| heard very little firing after |
went into the swale, yet for safety
remained there for at least two
hours when | cautiously raised up
and becoming satisfied that there
were no Indians about | left the
swale and considered what should
do.
To go back home was out Of the
question and to try to find the
others was useless for l did not
know what had become of them.
So / determined to try to reach the
fort which was probably Is or 16
miles distant. There was well
beaten road which led directly to
the fort, known as the Abercrombie
road, but | thought it would be
unsafe to follow it if they CHANGED
| to be passing through the country.
So ! made up my mind to keep along
parallel to it and perhaps a half mile