Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-10-19

black coat In the hotel here, await
ing the sheriff's coming to take her
to the Hayward Jail.
She was closely guarded but not
handcuzed, Sheriff Madden having
ordered the manacles removed as
soon as he noticed that his deputies
had put the steel bracelets on her
arms.
The wife of the Cameron dam de-
fender told this version of the bat
tie:
I'VE we're not expecting an attack
this morning" she began. Eve had
no idea that the deputies had erept
so near us. It was without a
thought of what was about to come
upon US that / sent little Johnnie
and Helen out after the cows, whic.,
had strayed over beyond the lumber
pile. They tripped out of the cabin
without the slightest fear and l
watched them cross the plank over
the Thornapple dam below the
house.
when the children stayed too
long | sent Leslie out after them.
He went around the other way, over
God, he walked right into the tap
which the deputies had set.
II was in the yard and heard the
shots come whizzing over the roof.
saw Leslie turn and START back
toward the house. There vas more
shooting and he turned in among the
lumber piles.
Il ran to the house and got in
side where my husband was with hts
loaded guns. 1t has come, john
| cried They have come to kill US.
Get Leslie into the house. was
all he said. His teeth set down hard
and | knew he was going to fight
them.
Il was nightly afraid, but I went
out on the porch and yelled to Les
lie to come in, that they would kill
him IL he stayed where he was.
He got up from the lumber pile
where he was hiding and walked
to the house. They shot at him
again and again. but my brave boy
wouldn't run. 1t was miracle that
they all missed him.
Then the little ones came into
the clearing. expected to see them
shot down by the bloodthirsty crew
that surrounded us. / thank God
that the deputies had the heart to
spare the little inhocents.
Then they began that awful
shooting"
Mrs. Dietz put her hand over her
eyes for a moment as il to shut out
the thought of the battle. When she
looked up she asked with quivering
lips:
What do yoa think of men who
spend all day shooting into a home
where there is a defenseless woman
and her children who have never
harmed anyone?"
There was no answer and she
went on with the story.
Bullets seemed to come from every
direction. They ripped through the
windows and found beds in the walls
and furniture. The thud of them as
they struck the logs of the outer
wall was like the patter of rain.
1--WE all gathered in the living
room, keeping carefully out of range
of the windows. We pulled ont the
organ and heavy bureau, the draw
ers of which were filled with sheets.
We crouched behind this barricade
most of the day.
Johnny trem5ied like leaf and
what could / say to hearten him?
Little Helen nearly tainted several
times. The child was fairly sick with
fear. How kept up do not know,
for / surely thought we would all be
murdered.
leslie was with me and the chill
dren the whole day. He never fred
a shot
IF 1t hadn't been for the children
I'd have failed then. It was all |
could do TO keep up. If the children
had only cried l believe | could have
stood it better. They we're toe
frightened to cry, poor, little. white
faced innocents. A bullet came
through the wall and passed within
an inch of Johnny's body where he
was crouching behind the organ. Les
lie picked it up. 1t was steel-cased
bullet. The whole house now is lit
tered with them.
1.-THE next i remember was VIII en-
John came staggering into the house.
He had made the run from the barn.
I've been hit, mother he said.
holding up his hand, from which the
blood was dripping
Then / began to plead with him
as never woman pleaded before.
asked him for the sake of our un-
born child TO give up the hopeless
fight. Ii was hopeless. Bullets were
still raining on the walls and through
the windows and we did not know at
what minute they would rush us.
prayed TO God TO soften his heart and
make him give up the fight.
Leslie was moved first. He
joined with me in begging father to
give it up. Finally he said. Well. all
right started to get white flag
to so out of the house with.
John pulled me down and told
me they'd kin me If ! showed my
self Before / knew what he was
about. he gave the flag to little
Helen and she ran out of the house
waving II in the air.
John Dietz. in telling his story OF
the battle, said:
Il surrendered at tho pleading of
my wife, who is soon to become a
mother, She and the children hid
all day behind the organ. bed and
a bureau. The bullets came in so
thick that l was afraid that she and
the children would be shot. The
strain was beginning to tell on her,
and had to give it up"
a = a. A.