The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-01
From Fridays Daily.


eight Sioux Indians in Mankato.
Thirteen old soldiers and persons
who were present at the hanging
met at the National Citizens bank
this morning at eleven o'clock and
held long discussion in an attempt
TO locate the exact spot where these
Indians were hung, so that some
small monument might be placed
there to commemorate the act.
Captain Clark Keysor was the first
speaker. He said that he was pres
ent at the hanging and that he
thought that the scaffolding stood a
short distance across the street
from where the old Leach building
used to be, what is now known as
the Central block in the middle of
the block just north of Main
street. He said that he thought
the hanging was very near the
river bank, and that the distance
between the building where the In
dians were kept prisoners and the
scoffold where they were hung was
the distance of Il company of SOL
diers.
Great Many Changes.
w. III. Pay was then called upon
to relate his experience and to tell
as nearly as possible the exact spot
where the Indians were hung. He
said that in order to agree upon
the locality, the conditions as they
were then would have to be cOnsid-
cred, because since that time a
great many changes had been made
in the contour of the land, the
streets and buildings as well as
the course of the river.
At that time, he said. l.. c. Har-
rington's elevator abutted Oh Front
street and that there was a little
creek runDing close by where he, as
a boy, used TO fish. This formed
little slough or pond near the
river and near the elevator. Just in
front of the place where the Saul
paugh hotel now stands and to the
north, he said he thought the scat
fold had been built
A large part of the river bank had
been filled in and a trestle built over
the river The flagstaff stood down
Front street a short distance from
the Saulpaugh hotel. He thought
that this scoffold stood directly in
front of the Leach building, slant
ing from about where the North
western freight depot now stands.
Colonel George w. Meade then
gave his version of the hanging and
told the members present where
he thought the execution took place.
He said he never saw the scaffold
until the time of the execution and
after it was removed He thought
the scaffold was built the length of
company of soldiers from the
Leach building straight towards the
river. and directly opposite the Leach
building where the Indians were
kept prisoners.
Remarks of General Baker.
General ]. II. Baker stated that
he was not very familiar with the
ground then as he came from Ka-
sofa that day with company of
about 400 men. During the time of
the execution he was on horseback
and had a good view. He did not
remember the building in which the
Indians were kept but agreed with
Captain Keysor as to the location of
the scaffold. However, he thought
that it was the distance from the
building of one company of soldiers
in two ranks instead of one.
He has at present in his posses
sion the sledge hammer which
drove down the stakes that fenced
in the scaffold and intends to give
it to the historical society very
soon
Daniel Edwards thought that there
were two companies from the
building to the scaffold, with the
cavalry outside. He thought the
scaffold was kitty-corner from the
building, and not directly opposite
as the others had said
Story Of Deputy Sheriff.
b. d. Pay was then called upon
for his opinion. AT that time he
acted as deputy sheriff and he re-
ceived orders to help build the scat
fold. He gave rather lengthy his
tory of the entire execution and de-
scription of the buildings. Logs
were drawn from about the village
and made into a prison, where the
HiIgers livery barn now stands. Very
close to this was the office of the
officers and with but two openings,
one from the inside. He said also
that the scaffold was in front of the
door of the Leach building and that
Tic IllilS W tllGll
death, went singly between two
lines of soldiers from the door of
the Leach building directly across
the street to the scaffold where the
execution took place. He thought
it extended over to the present gut
ter of the street, a distance of about
eighty feet from what is now the
Central block, next to the Thomas
drug store.
Where Fowler Was Stationed.
Register of Deeds J. G.. Fowler
was stationed between the bank of
the river and the scaffold, some
fifteen or twenty feet away, when
the Indians were hung. He said
that there were two rows of soldiers
on each side of the plank walk
from the Leach building to the place
of execution, and that the scaffold
was about twenty feet square, but
that it was little to the south of
the Leach building.
Captain G. Carter confirmed the
statement about the two rows Of
soldiers, but thought that the scat
fold was about 100 to 120 feet from
the door of the Leach building. He
stood about five feet from the door
as the Indians passed out and gave
orders to omen ranks wide enough