The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-03-31
The Story of The
Sioux Massacre
Last Instalment of Mrs. VOgtman's
Narrative of Indian Warfare
Continued from last week.

pressing men and teams into the SER
vice to take the refugees to safety.
So one morning string Of teams
drove In front of the quarters, load
ing on those that had fled to the fort
for safety. There was long string
of teams under an escort of soldiers.
We drove until sunset when we
stopped for the night. Some barrels
of hard tack were opened and dis
tributed. The well, an old fashioned
one where the water was drawn was
not far from the house where we
stopped. With SO many people,
drawing the water was naturally slow
work with bucket, but when they
tried to drink this water it had
rank taste. Hair was discovered and
the head of a woman was dipped up
in the bucket. Now we weref left
without water and that bareback was
SO hard that it could not be broken
with a hammer or stone We had
been travelling all day where the
stencil from the bodies of the dead
animals that had died from over
eating unprotected green corn. Now
and then we would pass new mound
where some unfortunate one had been
murdered and the remains left in the
sun. A few shovels of earth was
thrown upon them to get them out
of sight but the air was something
fearful that night. We slept under
the canopy of heaven, mother earth
for our bed. Morning dawned at last.
Some more bareback for breakfast
and the journey resumed. Slow and
weary we travelled on till we reached
st. Peter. Here we were treated to
hot soup that contained so much pep
per we could hardly eat it. Then we
were escorted to some unfinished
buildings for shelter and without
bedding of any kind. The next morn
ming the men were informed that if
they would go out of town and work
in the harvest fields themselves and
families would be provided with pro-
visions, if not, the women and child
rem would receive soup once day.
Father told them he could not do it
as he had large family and winter
was near. He needed clothing and
bedding SO poor father had to go
hungry some of the time.
We remained here several days as
we had no means of getting away till
one day small steam boat loaded
with wheat made its appearance and
father made arrangements with cap
tain for our transportation to. st.
Paul. Three more families went with
US, Mr.. Eune, his blind wife and child
rem, Mr.. Kumor's family and Mr.. and
Mrs. Yess. Mrs. Yess had bullet in
her head received in the fight from
the Indians. While on the boat we
would lay for hours at time on some
sand bar in the middle of the river.
the men carrying the wheat sacks
first to the front and then to the rear
to change the ballast so we could
work off the bar. The third day out
the boat struck snag and sprung
leak. This put the men on the pumps
and for three days and nights we
were without food and that while
among supposed civilized people. They
told US we could be satisfied for be-
ing on the boat. The banks of the
river at this point were heavily tim
bered and run over with wild grape
vines, making it an excellent place
Tor the Indians to hide so the men
were put on guard every night which
added greatly to their suffering. Fin
ally father asked the Captain how
far we were from lie Sueur and on
learning we were but four miles from
there by land we received permission
to land.
On landing our first thought was
of something to eat We tried to buy
some bread at the first house, but
they were threshing and could not let
US have any but they directed to us
another house about a mile away.
At last we reached this house and
were kindly received. The lady gave
dish pan to the men and told them
to dig some potatoes and some got
some water. Mrs. Burch the lady of
the house made biscuits and such
feast as we had. Some Of the crowd
took sick from over eating they were
so hungry. The meal being over we
wendell our way to lie Sueur four
miles distant where we wehe well
cared for, thanks to the citizens. The
town had sent the most of its men to
assist at New Ulm. Our men went
to work the next day for one dollar
per day in the harvest field This was
in September, the grain was all I'M