Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-08-09
Scenario Depicted Several Slassacres Of
Early Settlers b. Sioux Indians c4ftackers
Thousands attend Both Ereri4g and Fitness
Grand Spectacle Played on Open
Stage al. Fair Grounds

enjoyable. The wigwams and camp
fires completed good Indian camp
scene. @.
The Various Dances
Between the above. episode and the
second episode which was the pioneer
an interlude ballet Little Children Of
the Night" was immensely enjoyed
by the audience. 1t can be said here
that all the dancing acts which were
staged as interludes were we'll ac-
complished. Tho the ground was I'M
even the children and young women
executed their difficult and rapid Eight
fantastic toe" program with great
credit to themselves: The dance cast
is large and it's members deserve spe-
cial mention for the work they did.
Pioneer Scene
The scene of worship at the cabin
of Andreas Lundborg at West Lake
was impressive. The pioneers were
gathered in the cabin where they sang
and prayed Rev. Andrew Jackson
held the passionate. The Management
has two cabins made of canvas and
painted to represent two good look
ing cabins. Word comes Of the In
dian uprising. The pioneers dispense
to go to the Green Lake settlement,
where better protection can be afford
ed. The local actors did their best to
put excited conversation and action
into the scene. The school teacher
brings the End word of warning and
efforts to escape are fastened.
The pioneers hasten off the stage
and the lights go out. : +~
The second scene at the cabin Of
Oscar Erickson between Mud and Ea-
gle Lakes sees the pioneers in their
two prairie schooners led by two trap
pers mounted and rear guard of five
trappers on foot pass on their flight.
They urge Oscar Erickson and wife
to come with them but they are de-
termined to remain and defend their
home.
The pioneers move on and off the
stage. Oscar Erickson and wife at
their cabin are joined by Swan Swan
son and family, S. R. Foote and wife
and also Charley Carlson, known also
as "Swede Charley" They all pre-
pare to defend the place AS was .ex-
pected the redskins approached the
camp quietly at night fall and camp
ed around it. ss.:..@
The third scene was as well carried
out as it might have been under the
circumstances. Altho much might be
AIDED to make the scene even. more
realistic, yet it was admirably. given.
In the. morning the Redskins with
murder in their eyes begin their mass
acre. Two Indians engaged Foote in
conversation and two approach Swede
Charley as he digs for potatoes in the
garden near the cabin. Foote is
caught off his guard and is wounded.
Swede Charley is killed. Then follows
a shooting skirmish. The Indians
and expert marksnen, Erickson and
Foote, used blank shells. The firing
was rapid and quite realistic. Foote
and Erickson shoot thru the door Of
the cabin. Two Indians are killed,
The two Willmar boys who made spec
tacular falls after being perforated
by pioneer bullets did their part well.
In crossing the stage they were shot,
Mrs. Erickson and Mrs. F'oote leave
for Green Lake to secure aid
Tribute to the Pioneers
Judge T. o: Gilbert paid an eloquent
tribute to the old pioneers both even
ings. He contrasted the privations Of
pioneer days with the comforts or
conveniences of the present day. He
called attention to the fact that this
month of August is the sixtieth anni-
versary of that fateful August Of 1862,
when the first settlers were driven
from their homes, and also read the
names Of the twenty-four victims who
were killed in the massacre in the set
Elements of this county. At the close
representatives Of the earliest fam
lilies which, were here before the out
break were presented Invitations had
been sent out to one representative
of each such family, as far as known
now in county, but for various rea-
sons many of them did not come The
first evening the following were pre-
sented:, Robert TAFT. who settled at
Diamond Lake in 1857; Geo. Johnson,
Burbank 1860; William Olson, son of
Mons Olson, New London, 1862; Ole
Glesne, son of 3. o. Glesne,. Norway
Lake, 1860; Mrs. Caroline Strand,
daughter of Even Railson, Norway
Lake, 1858; Mrs.sBirget Osmundson,
widow Of Thomas Osmund son, 1858,
and daughter OF Sven G.. Bergen, 1850,
both at Norway: Lake; William Pc
terson, son Of Erick PETERSON family,
Nest Lake, 1853 J; Henry E. johnson,
son of Gustaf johnson Kandiyohi,
1857; Mrs. Osmund Sondreson, grand
daughter of Jephtah Adams, George
Lake, 1857; Mrs. Peter Hend erson,
daughter Of II Parsons Irving,
1857 Peter Thomp grandson
LOT Peter Thompson 81. George. Lake,
1853; Harris Johnson. grandson Rey,