Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-04-19
Hunted Buffalo Here
Over Fifty Years Ago
Continued From Fourt h Page)

neighborhood. They were all carry.
ing rifles and went to the home of
Pierre Delorme, two miles south of
Walhalla. They found. that gentle-
mar and his. wife there, three sons
and their daughter, Mrs. Annis Moran
and her husband ali together. 1t was
just'dinner time and the family insist
ed on their eating with them. They
ate a little, but seeing the guns got
up and proposed a trade. When they
got a chance to handle the guns they
saw that they were not charged and
so said they would not trade. MIR.
Delorme, ST., had shot a Sioux in a
dght at Souris river, the previous
season and they came to avenge the
death. They went out as if to leave.
The Delormes anxious to appear
friendly went out with them. The
Indians turned abruptly and shot Louis
Moran in the breast. Louis Delorme
turned to go back for his gun and they
shot him between the shoulders, both
men fell dead. The old man, who
was the object of their spite was shot
twice n then slashed fearfully about
the head with a tomahawk. The wife
of Louis Moran escaped with only a
few cuts. She fled into the woods
and hid in a hollow tree. They did
not find her for three days, she being
almost insane when they found, her.
She had zen them kill her husband
and leave for dead her two children
and had not had anything to eat or
drink for three days. Mrs. Pierre
Delorme, when shot, had suspended
on a string around her neck a crucifx
of silver. She, in trying to protect
herself, put her hand across her
breast. the little finger was shot off by
the bullet but her life was saved.
This crucifix was afterward sent to
the Smithsonian Institute, at Wash
ington. Her maiden name was Cure.
non, and after this she was dubbed
and cut with a tomahawk. The Sioux
had apparently run out of ammunition
hor they tried to kill the mother De.
lorme by trying to break her back.
They beat her with their guns on the
head and left her insensible thinking
her dead. Two young boys, Bernard
and Patrite, aged about, 10 and IA,
escaped in the excitement unnoticed
and gave the alarm resulting in mes
sengers being sent to Pembina after
the sheriff and also to Fl. Pembina
for the militia. The church was in
session and nearly all the people were
there. those who we're not there and
heard the shots paid no heed as the
day was the 9Th of July and shots
were not so much to be wondered at.
1t was about twelve O'Clock when the
massacre took place. The young boys
had walked owe the river to Antoine
Gingras' after church and here they
met the two Delorme boys bringing
the news of the massacre. Mr.. Mo-
nette and some of the other boys were
on ponies and so was at the scene in
a few minutes. Those who went
with him were Culbert Grant, Patrice
and Leandre Guernon, Ouesiuce Ber-
ger and Cuthbert Chartrand. When
they got there the victims were all
lying where the Indians left them.
The father and mother were not vet
dead and Mr.. Monette and Cuthbert
Chartrand were sent to bring the
priest, Father LaFleau, from St. Joe.
The priest refused to go as he said if
they were all dead there was nothing
he could do. When the boys returned
the bodies were all In carts ready to
be taken over to the Gingras home
across the river. The old gentlman
died on the way over. The old lady
survived and Mrs. Moran later married
a Mr., George Baker and they at pre-.
sent live near Devils Lake.
We have already seen that Chief
Welkie was a man of great influence,
also preserving peace and harmony
among the people under him. Hun
dreds of men worked together for the
OOIlSLI VI all. 11O WdS SdtlSIl6u LIdl
peace was permanently established and
wished to get better acquainted with
his brothers, the Sioux. Therefore
with the very best intentions he in.
vited to his lodge ten of his new
friends, but the green eyed monster
stalked in among them quite unex.
: pectedly. There were none of the
Chippewa invited-at this time there
J were about a thousand Sioux campec
in Walhalla. The Chippewa deter,
' mined to get revenge for this insul,
and exterminate the rival guests o.
Chief Welkie. One of the Sioux hat
walked out to see a friend and in hi
absence the fight began. Powerlesl
to stop it, Chief Welkie gave to hii
trusting guests all the guns and am.
munition at his command and tolt
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