Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-10-18

MI =. IiCAL OtOi Vi WHAT tOOh
)lace within the Thornapple cabin
While steel-jacketed bullets rained
lpon it was told while she sheltered
Ter two little children under long
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
handcuffed, 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:
We were not expecting an attack
this morning." she began I'VE had
no idea that the deputies had crept
so near us. 1t was without a
thought of what was about to come
upon us that / sent little Johnnie
and Helen out after the cows, which
had strayed over beyond the lumber
pile. They tripped out of the cabin
without the slightest fear and
watched them cross the plank over
the Thornapple dam below the
house
When the children stayed too
long l sent Leslie out after them.
He went around the other way, over
the hill, near the lumber pile. My
which the deputies had set.
81 was in the yard and heard the
shots come whizzing over the roof.
/ saw Leslie turn and start back
toward the house. There was more
shooting and he turned in among the
lumber piles.
Il ran to the house and got in
side where my husband was with his
loaded guns. 1t has come, john
l cried. They have come to kill us.
Get Leslie into the house. was
all he said. His teeth set down hard
and 1 knew he was going to fight
them.
81 was nightly afraid, but / went
out on the porch and yelled to Les
lie to come in, that they would kill
him if 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 innocents.
"Then they began that awful
shooting"
Mrs. Dietz put her hand over her
eyes for a moment as if to shut out
the thought of the battle. When she
looked up she asked with Quivering
lips:
What do you think of men who
spend all day shooting into 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.
I'VE all gathered in the living
room, keeping carefully out of range
of the windows We pulled out the
organ and heavy bureau, the draw
ers of which were filled with sheets.
We crouched behind this barricade
most of the day.
Johnny trembled like leaf and
what could / say to hearten him
Little Helen nearly tainted several
times. The child was fairly sick with
fear. How l kept up | do not know
for / surely thought VIC would all be
murdered.
Leslie was with me and the chill
dren the whole day. He never fired
a shot
eff it hadn't been for the children
I'd have failed then. 1t was all
could do to keep up. If the children
had only cried / believe l could have
stood il better. They were 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
! lie picked it up 1t was steel-cased
4 juliet. lie WHOiC AOuSC loH 10 III
| tered with them.
"The next | remember was when
John came staggering into the house
he had made the run from the barn
1--we been hit, mother, he said
| olding up his hand, from which the
| lood was dripping.
Then l began to plead with him
| IS never woman pleaded before.
| sked him for the sake of our I'm,
BORN child to give up the hopeless
! light. 1t was hopeless. Bullets were
| still raining on the walls and through
| the windows and we did not know al
what minute they would rush us.
prayed 20 God to soften his heart and
make him give up the fight.
Leslie was moved first. He
| joined with me in begging father tc
| give it up. Finally he said, Well, al
| right | started to get white flag
/ to go out of the house with.
John pulled me down and told
me they'd kill me If / showed my
self Before / knew what he wa.
| about, he gave the flag to little
Helen and she ran out of the house
waving it in the air.
John Dietz, in telling his story Of
| the battle. said:
81 surrendered at the pleading Of
my wife, who is soon to become &
mother, She and the children hit
all day behind the organ. bed ant
bureau. The bullets came in Sc
thick that was afraid that she and
| the children would be shot. TIT
strain was beginning to tell on her
and l had to give it up