The Mankato free press., 1921-09-09
MANKAro FREE PRESS
INVADED
HISTORIC TERRITORY;
OUTING ON SATURDYA

Another and perhaps the most de-
|lightful of all the Historical society
picnics was the one which was held
Saturday. This was so because it
was an all day trip and because of
the friendliness of everyone who
helped to entertain the society. The
most historical part of the state was
visited Saturday, for the society
members were in the heart Of the
country which suffered SO much at
massacre of 1852.
Sometimes, though, II Is impos
sible to have all pleasure and no
trouble, and number of those in
the autos found this out. They
would be bowling along the beauti-
full country roads, admiring the for
ests, streams and, countryside ror
Jome especially attractive farm,
when pop! and looking quickly
around fiat tire would be spied
Then there would be nothing to da
but to change it. while the rest OF
the party rode gaily on their way,
Altogether, eleven punetures and
blowouts were patched during the
day.
7 Nevertheless, it took more than
this to dampen the spirits of the pic
nickers.
The autoists began leaving Man
kato at eight o'clock in the morning
and when they reached New Ulm
they were met by DIR. o. c. Stricken
A. Henle and one of the reporters OF
the New Ulm papers. These men
piloted the visitors to the farm OF
Peter Mack, ninety one years Of age
| who Is the only living survivor of
the group of settlers who founded
New Ulm. After shaking hands with
| the old gentleman, and visiting a
few moments, the party went to
Milford where the ravine and the
marker were pointed out where four
recruiting soldiers were ambushed
by Indians during the outbreak, and
| were massacred.
Just a little farther on, Mr.. Henle
showed the interested spectators a
monument which has been built by
the Junior Pioneer society to the
memory of the fifty four settlers of
Milford who were killed by the In
dians. -,
Mr.. Henle told how he and his
| family had been surprised by the ar
rival of asettler who breathlessly
| ing in the neighborhood. The family
ran to the ferry which was about a
mile or so from the house, and en-
treated the, ferryman to take them
across. The ferryman said that he
must go to his home and get some
money and other belongings, but the
family did not wait for him, but
started across the river themselves.
Just as they neared the opposite
shore the Indians appeared on the
shore they had left, yelling and
beckoning their disappointment. Mr..
Henle pointed out twenty two names
of the fifty four who were relatives
of his.
C. o. Hopkins, caretaker of Fort
Ridgely, and a party of Fairfax peo-
| pie arrived at this point, to pilot the
sightseers to Fort Ridgely.
The entire party then left for
Birch Coulee mission and the Lower
Agency. The trail followed was the
old government trail which was used
| in those days altogether by the
troops going and coming. This road
ran from one hill top to another, al
ways picking the high points of
ground. The cars rolled along this
road for miles, and finally reached
the lower agency. Here the society
was uict Uy UODSft n. ". f1lumdu VI
Morton, a son of the Episcopal rec
tor who was at the mission at the
| time of the outbreak, John Cheney
and F. w Orth, also of Morton
The government storage building of
stone was pointed out, and also the
place where one hundred Indians
were tried after the outbreak. A
monument to James Lynd, the first
settler killed, and prominent man
of 1862, was viewed.
The trip was then continued to
Birch Coulee mission where a gov
eminent school has been in opera
tion for years. Here, is a stone
church which the Indians attend ev-
cry Sunday. 1t is a beautiful struc-
ture of stone set in the midst of
trees, across from 1t is the school,
Id there are homes where the In
dians live, all around the mission
and down in the valley