Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-02
boy SCOUTS FORM
FOUR PATROLS HERE
Movement Meets with Enthusi.
astic Reception in This City.
Forty Boys Join.


Forty Boys Join.
The Pathfinder patrol was the
first to be formed, and its members
have set a pace that will keep
the new recruits hustling. Within
two days Of their first meeting they
blazed a trail three miles through
the woods and built at its end, care
fully concealed in the bushes, a log
fort. This fort, which they have
named Fort Smelling, is the head.
quarters of the patrol. It is built
on a strategic point on high hill,
overlooking Foot Lake, only a
stones throw from the spot where
the white settlers sought refuge
from the Indians in the outbreak
in 1862.
The first regular scouting expedi-
ton of the Willmar troop was made
on Saturday, October Is. The boys
all assembled, ready to march at 6
a. M, and an advance party was
sent out along the trail. When
this party was out of sight the
main party followed. On reaching
Sandy point-every point and hill
and stream has been named-skirm.
ishers sighted the enemy entrenched
on the trail half a mile ahead. The
scoutmaster asked for volunteers to
reconnoiter their position. A small
party was sent out, while the main
party halted to wait for their re-
port. Ten minutes later the scout
ing party was seen by the enemy
and surrounded, but reinforcements
came up on the run and secured the
prisoners. Then, by hurried flank
movement. they evaded the enemy
and reached Fort Smelling in safety
Here an hour was devoted to dis
lance judging with the naked eye,
tree telling and cabin building
After dinner, which was cooked in
the open, the boys discussed scout
work and adopted their patrol yells.
They returned to town that even.
ing.
The four patrols in the troop
have established headquarters in
the surrounding country. All left
early Saturday morning on scout.
ing expeditions.
The country around here is well
adapted for this kind of work, for
there are plenty of hills to climb,
and lakes, streams, and forests.
Many points Of historic interest
lend an added charm. Later the
boys will make excursions to these
places, learn 1he6 facts connected
with them, and attempt to repro
duce the stirring scenes enacted in
the Indian war of 1862. For in
stance there is the old stone we'll
north of Willmar Lake which was
built by Solomon Foot, the first
white settler on Foot Lake; the
Clarke residence, where Berger
Tolerson built the first house in
what is now the city of Willmar,
and where he was murdered and
scalped by the Indians.
Then there is the spot on Eagle
Lake creek, where Oscar Ericsson
and Solomon Foot held at bay a
band of fifteen Indians for hours.
Both men were severely wounded in
this encounter-but they killed
three Indians first, and won the
fight. Then they were rescued by
the "Heroinc of Kardiyohi." Curl
Endreson. This brave woman was
fleeing for safety with a yoke Of
oxen, after her two daughters had
been captured by the Sioux, but she
stopped and dressed their wounds,
carried them to her OK cart and
lOOk tnem TO a pace or safety.
There are many such instances,
and the Boy Scouts are learning
them all.
The Commercial club has in
dorsed the movement and has do
mated its club rooms for the boys
down town head quarters. Later
they will use the Episcopal Guild
hall. where maps and books on
scouting will be provided, and
where all bulletins will be posted.
The troop will be governed by a
council Of the leaders of the vari-
Gus patrols and an advisory commit
tee of leading business men. The
churches and newspapers are help
ing and Wi'lmar is going to have
one of the strongest Row SCENT mr.