The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-05-24

The popular impression ministers
of the gospel are inclined to be e.
Terminate and lack experience in the
red blooded side of life had the "stuf-
fling kicked out of it, yesterday
morning when the Rev. A. q. Conrad
O. the Park Street church in discus :
sing his Huckleberry Finn days out
in Sterling, Mimi, wove true story
of blood curdling Indians, massacres
and frontier adventure, which rivals
not only the story of the great Buff
falo Bill but also the hair-raising ex
periences of the immortal Jesse
James.
Here is a good tip to chip on
shoulder folks Don't ever sass" DR.
Conrad. He is afraid of no man, Jess
Willard included. We don't say that
he wouldn't he might clean you up
1t was natural that DIR. Conrad
should plead lack of interesting things
to tell about his boyhood when the
traveller man talked with him yes
terday morning down in the big par
lor of the Park Street church. 1t is
strange thing, but the men who
have made good in life, who really
have something interesting to tell
never realize that fact when an ap-
peal Cor such information is first put
TO them.
Brought up on Ranch.
So as DR.. Conrad sat there in the
wicker rocking chair and smiled he
said: Really, l don't think there is
anything that would particularly in
terest folks about my boyhood."
Some folks might think that that
was discouraging start. But il
wasn't, because almost in the next
breath DR.. Conrad said: l was
brought up ON frontier ranch, in the
heart of the Indian country"
Could anything have more posi-
bilities?
"It was out in Sterling, Mimi, -
went on DIR. Conrad, after a bit OF
persuasion my father was Pres
| byterian minister and preached fol
miles around. Our farm was a 800
acre affair. A tribe of Winnebago
Indians inhabited the country close by
Of course, my fathers preaching took
him away from home a great deal
and many time he was forced tC
break engagements because the In
dams were getting too thick fol-
comfort in the neighborhood. Some
times mother was left quite alone
with us four children, and if ever a
woman showed courage, it was she.
Indians Providing Around.
Il remember, time and time again
while our little family was seated
around the supper table, looking uI
and suddenly seeing an Indians face
pressed close to the pane. Mother
with resolute expression would ge
up and release the dogs. Then in
variaoly the door would open slowly
and the Indian, hideously painted and
wearing full feathered head dress
would glide into the room unlimited
He would point to some knicknack
or ornament on the mantel or wall
with the low gutteral demand, Me
want that Many time mother has
gone to the door under such condi-
tions and made believe to call to my
Father when he was forty miles
away. Between the calling and the
dogs the Indian would make retreat
They were always prowling about
| This way when you least expected
| them. We boys used to go to the
poStoffice, some miles away, OF
horseback; and many a time a grouI
of Indians, suddenly coming over &
rise, would chase us for miles.
don't know what they would have
done to us, but when we were out
in the open country they always made