The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1917-08-29
Many Meet At
Fort RidgeIy
Fifty-Fifth Anniversary Cele.
brated by Eight Thousand
People at Historic Spot
COMPANY L PARADES
julius Schmahl, d. S. Hall, Sen.
Benson And Others Talk
Straight Patriotism


An estimated crowd of 5000
people from Western Minnesota
gathered at Fort Ridgely last
Wednesday. The occasion was
the 55th anniversary Of the de-
Tense of that fort against In
dams. 1862 was a year in which
a thousand settlers in the Min
nesota valley were killed by the
savages and the decisive battle
at the Fort marked a practical
termination of Indian hostili-
ties. At the present celebration
a few of the original defenders
of the Fort were present.
The directors of the Sioux
Historic Trail Association under
whose auspices the annual cele-
brations are held, convened at
the Fort in the morning to dis
pose of matters of routine bust
ness and elect the following Of
ficers for next year: Frank Hop
kins, of Renville county, presi-
dent; A. B. Kaercher of Big
Stone county, vice president; A.
r. A. Laudon, Redwood county,
secretary and treasurer; Thomas
Hughes, Mankato, historian; dl-
rectors: J. L. Hall, Traverse
county; Emil Ostlund, Big Stone
county; J. J. Mooney, Yellow
Medicine county; H. M. Aune,
Redwood county; Charles Lam
mer, Renville county; Albert
Steinhauser, Brown countp; A.
Russell, Nicollet county; Judge
Lorin Cray, Blue Earth county.
The next annual meeting will be
held in Granite Falls, on June
2, 1918. ;,
Hundreds of cars had arrived
early and many family and COM
munity picnics were scattered
over the reservation during the
noon hour. Groups of veterans
Of Indian and Civil wars collect
ed and remininsced over agents
of their pioneer days.
Program.
The formal program began
about 100 with music by the
Scenic City band. The Fairfax
band was also present and fur
richnd several selections during
the program. Colonel Frank Hop
kins of Fairfax, custodian OF
Fort Ridgely, introduced as
= chairman of the meeting, Hon:
D. S. Hall Of Olivia, president OF
the Sioux Historical Trail Asso-
citation. Mr.. Halls brief address
was followed by two papers on
the history of the defense at
Fort Ridgely> and of the Indian
outbreaks along the Minnesota
valley, given respectively by
Thomas Hughes and Judge Cray
of Mankato. The former at the
close of his paper was elected
historian of the Association.
Speeches were made by Secre-
tarv Of State julius A. Schmahl,
whose parents were among the
pioneer defenders of the Fort;
former Senator H. S. Benson,
thru whose legislative efforts the
present reservation at the Fort
was purchased by the state a
few years ago; and Mrs. Gault,
of St. Peter, who gave a repre-
! santation of the work done by
the Red Cross. Musical num-
bers were given by Miss Gather
inc Miller of Morton and Rev.
Bell of Fairfax. The feature
sextette of Company L also sang
and delighted the crowd with
it's "calliope."
Storm Interferes.
The program called for fur
Their speeches by Judge Laudon
of Redwood Falls, Representative
F. Hopkins of Fairfax, and Hon.
Mike Bowling of Olivia. How
ever. during Mrs. Gault's ad-
dress, a bugle calling "assemb-
ly" stampeded the crowd to see
Company L pass in review. A
threatening storm had hurried
the schedule and after the pa
rade many cars were unable to
leave the grounds before the
storm broke.
Pfaender Absent.
The program Of the afternoon
mas essentially and intensely pa
y triotic. The occasion was primed