The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-07-12

to st. Joe, Mr.. Hutton departed for
st. Paul. He made the trip in about
three weeks time, a pony being the
means of transportation. En- route he
found evidences of roaming bands of
Indians, supposedly Sioux, who were
,, heading for the north.
Mr.. Hutton related an interesting in
cdent which occurred while on his
lonely journey across the country. One
evening he stopped at deserted log
cabin ut point about twenty five miles
north of Fort Abercrombie. lie found
a stove and on top of it was a loaf
of bread which was still quite fresh.
He ate the bread with relish, not hav-
ing had an opportunity to partake OF
the staff of life for long time. After
a hearty meal he laid himself down on
the floor to 90 to sleep. During the night
he was awakened by approaching foot
steps and the sound of many voices.
His dog started to growl, but Mr. Hut
ton closed the animals jaws tight. he
did not care to have any unnecessary
alarm created as he had not been able
to satisfy himself as to whether the
voices were those of white men or In
dams. Presently, however, the crowd
reached the cabin and he was overjoyed
to hear the white mans language spok-
en- fluently. Mr.. Hutton did not arise,
however, and make a great fuss over the
party, but awaited developments. The
door to the cabin opened and man
entered. He was feeling his way in the
dark and moved very close to where
Mr.. Hutton was lying down. Suddenly
Mr.. Hutton seized the stranger by the
ankle and gave it tight squeeze. You
can imagine the intruder's fright at such
an unexpected and unusual reception.
The man uttered cry that could have
been heard for miles and made dash
for the door. His companions rushed
hastily to the scene. BY this time Mr..
Hutton was up and prepared to welcome
the unexpected arrivals. They proved
to be DR.. Schultz, and an Irish lord,
whose name Mr.. Hutton cannot recall,
and several other dignitaries, from Can
ada, who were making the trip to st.
Paul. having been at Fort Gary. The
party was accompanied by a number OF
half breeds. Mr.. Hutton learned that
it was the ankle of DR.. Schultz that he
had seized so unceremoniously. On the
following day the party proceeded on
its way, Mr.. Hutton accompanying them
as far as Fort Abercrombie.
Mr.. Hutton acted as mail carrier on
this trip. He brought quite quantity
of mail matter to st. Paul.
On another occasion Mr.. Hutton &C
companied party of Indians to Grand
Forks where they were to treat with
Uncle Sam. A number of squaws and
papooses were in the party. At one
point along the road the squaws and
their little ones were mired in a slough
and the braves sat on the opposite bank
and rescued them with lassos. They
would throw the lassos with deXterity
and precision and dragged the squaws
and their little ones from the mire with
out any difficulty. ."
Mr.. Hutton lived for a number of
years in Martin county. Six years ago he
became resident of Rapidan. He was
in Mankato the spring following the
hanging of the thirty eight Indians. MIR.
Hutton says that he never did have
much use for half breed Indian, but
always found the full-bloods square in
their dealings.