The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-09-21

stockade was built in a day, I might
say. The tamarac logs that constitut-
ed its barriers could have been up
ended by a strong man. Behind this
frail structure as an army of de-
tense was a hastily organized citizen
company of 55,. counting men and Of
ficers, composed of men and boys who
ranged in ages from Is years to 70,
armed with the most primitive wea-
ponry, muzzle-loading rifles of ancient
pattern, single barrelled shotguns
that were as dangerous to the man
behind the gun as to the man in front,
and | am creditably informed that
there was not ten rounds of. ammuni--
ton to the man. Only one of these
men, Lieutenant Dean Stabler,. had
ever had any military experience of
any kind or character. He had served
short time in the Maine militia
wears before, and outside these frail
ramparts,s according to the most au-
tkentic accounts, were at least enc
thousand picked, we'll armed Indian
warriors, within striking distance OF
the little band of unframed whites: II
the Indians had possessed an aero
plane and sailed over this fort and
thus discovered the pitiful weakness
of the garrison the Sank Centre
Stockade would have proved a second
Alamo and the ground wherein we
stand a huge sepulcher of dead mems
bones. AS it was the very audaclty
of the undertaking made it success,
the Indians naturally thought that no
stand would have been made unless
the people were able to make stand
and before they discovered the pitt
full weakness of the situation the
stockade was reinforced by govern
ment troops and then it was too late.
And it further seems to me that if
any human action is worthy of COM
memoration by monument challeng-
ing the attention and remembrance
of generations yet to come, the actions
of the men and women who made their
brave stand against dark barbarism
and red savagery5 here on this spot
are worthy of such commemoration.
My friends l feel that l would be
derelect to my duty and unfaithful to
the trust that has been bestowed on
me in my selection as speaker on
this occasion if l did not call attention
TO citizens of this community to the
public spirit shown by the Ladies of
the Gradatim Club and other public
spirited women of this city in their
interchangeable efforts to see that this
.ommemoration was made.
While all the women who so disin-
terestedly aided in this effort are en-
titled to due credit, probably the most
-rtnusiastic worker in this cause was
Mrs. Alphonso Barto, former presi-
dent of the Gradatim club, who was
foremost in the endeavor to see that
this most important event in North
western Minnesota was fttingly COM
memorated, and many will be the
tears dropped on this stone today be-
cause she did not live to see the
realization of her fondest dream. But
if IS not too much to hope that in the
great undehaable somewhere, she has
ffaaitll- knowledge of what is taking
place here tOuay vie splll'uai
qualification she derives is far great
er than any earthly pleasure she
might feel were she present at these
exercises in body instead OF spirit.
tits most fitting that this marker
here today be solemnlp dedicated TO
the men and women who here stooo as
the foremost vanguard of defense OF
the white mans civilization ana the
white mans enlightenment. Para
phrasing the words of the immortal
Lincoln in his Immortal Gettysburg
address. "ln larger sense we cannot
dedicate, we cannot consecrate TINS
spot. the brave men and women, llv-
ing and dead, have consecrated TINS
kallowed it beyond our power to ado
or detract. 1t is rather for US, the
living, to dedicate ourselves to the
great spirit of living and dying for
the cause of humanity that they have
manifested here, to highly resolve
that the perfect trust, the. splendid
heroism, the lofty courage and the
sacrifcal spirit for world benefit they
showed on this spot shall be cherish
eG by us and transmitted to our child
rem and our children's children, a
priceless heritage forever"
A petition for a ditch to drain Lake
Henry has been filed with the board of
county commissioners.The ditch asked
for would be about three miles in its
length and would drain into Sank RI
YER. About 800 acres of land would
he reclaimed it is said.
I/GET YOUR STOVE REPAIRS
I EARLY-BETTER ORDER NOW. &.
HILLERUD & co. adv