The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-04-21


first news of the Sioux outbreak
reached this point, is one which will
never be told in detail.
Hardships suffered, the terrors of
the long march and the narrow es-
capes from territory occupied by the
roaving bands of Indians with no
better Accommodations for travel than
an OK team, this in Itself, composes
what is perhaps the most thrilling
ecsapade in the pioneer story # this.
community.
= In Sank Centre today, Mrs. C. c.
Ttobey, a matron at the Minnesota
Home School for Girls, is one of the
very few remaining members of that
little band who made this perilious
journey from Sank Centre to Mime
apolis, known then as st. Anthony.
Mrs. Tobey was then but a little
girl, but the experiences Of that long
"Trek," have been lasting memory
with her-the one big adventure in
the life of a woman who lived
through the most exacting days in
the history of the great Northwest.
Recalling the first news of the
coming of the Indians, Mrs. Tobey
cites the quiet September afternoon
when the first scout, riding a tined
horse, dashed up to the door Of her
fathers home south Of the lily near
the present railroad bridge, and told
them to "hurry into Sank Centre.
that the Indians were coming on the
war-path."
With her parents, Mrs. Tobey hur-
riedly gathered up few household
belongings, bedding and food, end
made their way into the o'amunity
of Sank Centre.
Here they were met by others, all
equally scared and all gathering at
the one suitable building in the vii
lage, the Pendergast store and sta
bles. Here were assembled the Mer-
reys, Barnards, Boobars, Pendergasts
Whitfelds and other families Of the
community and vicinity, all plepar-
ing to make a stand in defense Of
their homes against what they be
lieved to be a conferred attack upon
this place by unknown numbers of
painted redskins.
Armed with every conceivable
means of defense, the MEN made i'm
mediate preparations against attack.
The night was a tying tnc. The
men and women remained awake and
alert in the lower rooms Of the Pen
dergast home and store and gave
over the night to 'noJding bullets,
loading rifles and thro ring up tenn
porary barracades. The children
were all put to bed on the floor in
the upper rooms and sentries
were posted at all points to give
warning against the approach of the
Sioux hordes.
All through the night, in fear and
trembling, this handful of settlers
awaited the attack, but no attack
came. With the coming of the new
day, the outposts came in with re-
ports that they had seen no Indians,
and scouts passing through reported
the Indians further south.
Taking advantage of the absence
of the Sioux from this immediate vi
cinity, the plan was laid to send the
women and children to place of
safety-St. Anthony and st. Paul, if
possible, and the arrangements were
made for "the great trek" ..--.
Immediately, every OK team in the
community was drafted into service.
The women and children and a few
belongings were loaded into the wa
CONS, the aged men were armed and
the younger boys and a few young
men, armed themselves to accompany
the caravan as guard.
There were no horses provided this
caravan because all horses were
needed here for scout duty. The men
and boys walked and the journey was
made at the fastest~speed that could
be developed from OK teams. "There
was long line of wagons that left
here" said Mrs. Tobey, 81 do not re-
member how many"
The refugees took the shortest route
through the woods and headed
straight for st. Anthony. They were
ten days making the journey, and
many families dropped out during the
march as they from time to time ar
rived at points where partial shelter
could be found.
II will never forget that trip" said
Mrs. Tobey. GAIL day long we
travelled as fast as oxen could go, the
older men and boys guarding the line
of wagons. At night we would camp
out. The wagons would be placed in
a circle and all stock tied inside Of
the circle. The women and children
would leave the wagons and sleep en-
the ground and the men would stand
watch. Night after night we camp
ed this way, always in fear of hostile
attack"
The narrator tells of arriving at