Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-04-15
GREAT indian
SCARE OF 1857
Following Spirit Lake Massacre of
Short Time Before-Hamil-
ton County Panic
Stricken.
FALSE REPORTS CIRCULATED
Precautions Taken for Defense
Two Die on the Relief
Expedition.
FALSE REPORTS CIRCULATED

From the History of Hamilton
County: All who went out with the
Spirit Lake expedition finally re-
turned to safety to their homes ex-
cept the gallant Captain Johnson of
Hamilton county, and Burkholder of
Webster county. These two became
separated from the rest and becom-
ing lost, persisted on the bleak
prairie. Eleven years passed before
their bones were found and the
place where they gave up their lives
was at last made known.
~ OF all the heroes of ancient or
modern times, none endured greater
hardships or died in a nobler or
more unselfish death. Their fame is
safe in the grateful memory of the
people of Iowa.
After the rSsnrn to Webster and
Hamilton counties of the volunteers
and fugitives, the stories told by
them of the murders and cruelties
committed by the Indians, filled the
hearts of all with alright, ready to
turn upon the slightest preteXt into
terror and a stampede.
These stories were told on the
streets, in the places of business,
and around the firesides. Vague ru-
mors filled the air to the effect that
the relentless Sioux, having had a
taste of blood, and having escaped
without a scratch, were preparing
to make descent upon the settle
ments along the Boone and Des
Moines rivers And these rumors
held such credence in the minds of
the people that scouts were detailed
to make excursions to the frontier
settlements and beyond, to note if
savage Indians were to be seen and
in form the settlers in time for them
to escape or prepare for defense.
These precautions were entirely
unnecessary. as what we have al
ready written as well as the sequel
will show. But the settler did not
know then, what we do now, and
the desire for the safety of their
families justified the vigilance which
they adopted and which led to
scenes which we are about to de-
scribe
On the 27th day of April. as two
of the scouts Eve believe they were
John Maxwell and w. L. church,
were returning from an expedition
far up the Boone river, and when
they were about fifteen miles north
of Webster City. another scout go
ing out, saw them in the distance
and mistook them for Indians. They
wore shawls, as the weather was
chilly, and no doubt looked like In
dams. But the scout not only saw
them, and mistook them for the en-
envy, but his imagination pictured
farther to the north the tepees of a
numerous encampment of redmen.
He Immediately turned and began
to make for home. The two scouts
saw him. too. and from his actions,
guessed that he had mistaken them
for the enemy, and, supposing they
could oyertake him before he reach
ed the city. drew their shawls over
their heads and started after him,
single Hle, On the gallop. Their ac-I
tons were seen by the lone scout.
Now thoroughly convinced that the
Indians were. coming, he threw
down his whiskey bottle and powder
horn in the road. in the hope that
they would find them and be delay
ed. for a time at least, and rode
with might and main for town,
avoiding the road and high grounds,
however, and keeping down the ra-
vines and out of sight. He gave the
alarm at every cabin on the way,
and aroused the town as soon as he
could possibly ride in. From his
statements it was supposed that a
large force of mounted Indians were
hurrying down upon the settlements
and that Webster City would be at
tackled that night. The news spread
through the settlements up the
Boone like wild fire and almost on
into town the terror stricken set
tiers. Three or four farmers from
south of town who had not yet gone
home, heard the news and hurried
home, arousing the neighbors on the
way, so that in comparatively
short time the whole neighborhood
was in a panic.
The people north of town came in