New Ulm review., 1922-08-23

foe. ,s.
Took Settlers BY Surprise.
The Indians were loath to give up
their hunting grounds to another and,
superior race. It was the lot OF our
pioneers to invade the country OF one
Of the most war-like Indian nations
on the continent, nation which re-
sented with vicious obstinacy the ag-
gression Of the whites. The latter paid
dearly for this invasion, not in dollars
and cents, but with their blood. They
had to defend themselves against an
I'uncivilized enemy, one that was burn
ing with vengeance and hatred against
the intruding pale-face, one that knew
no mercy and did not diferentiate
between the guilty and the innocent,
one that did not spare WON n or
child, or the defenseless.
"The uprising came without warn
ing and they were totally unprepared
to meet it. The vigorous youth had
been drafted to uphold the Union in
that great struggle between brothers
and thereby weakened their defense J,
a fact which prompted the willy Sioux
to take advantage of their helpless
condition.
Courageous Pioneers.
II need not recall the dreadful con-
flict which followed after the terrible
war-cry burst upon the unsuspecting
settlers. I need not recall the hopes
and fears, which owed their birth to
a time so full Of cruelty, Of barbarism
and bloodshed. But I will say that
the bravery and fortitude, manifested
by them during those days, will never
be forgotten and the memory of their
deeds will be cherished long after the
last defender will have passed to his
final reward. ss.
& Since those days our country has
undergone a great change, and I will
ask the venerable pioneers and also
the junior pioneers to follow me in
your minds eye to the time when our
first settlers arrived. Here and there
only an isolated trapper's cabin was
found. The prairie was then covered
with a luxuriant growth of grass as
tall as man. Wild flowers grew in pro-
fusion everywhere. Herds OF buffalo
roamed over hill and plain, and fed
upon the juicy blue-joint. The reign
ing quiet of the prairie was only
broken by the howls Of wolves and
foxes. The waterfowls quacked and
screamed on lake and swamp. The
prairie chickens .focked together by
the thousands. The wild pigeons
roasted in such numbers in, our woods
that young saplings gave way and the
branches of larger trees were broken
by their weight. After dark they could
be bagged by knocking them off their
roosts with long sticks. sSwarms of
blackbirds revelled in the wild rice.
The lakes and streams were teeming
with fish. Verify, this was a land of
plenty, and the naughty Indian was
king of all. Can we blame him for
making an attempt to regain lost
paradise? s
Hunting Grounds Pushed West.
However, these ideal grounds for
the Indians had to give way to the
progress and culture of civilization.
The Indians were forced to sacrifice
Everything that was near and dear to
them; the crude tepee of bark he had
to give up to his superior white brother
and seek new hunting grounds. The
buffalo fell prey to the new invader,
The feathered tribes migrated to less
frequented regions. Acre by acre the
prairies and forests were gradually
transformed into fields, so that hardly
trace Of the bygone days remains.
GAIL this transformation was accom-
plished by our venerable pioneers, with
their wives; and we must not forget
C06 junior Z 1OllCtlS CudG SGOOO Wy CllclF
fathers in this work. 1t was through
the endurance and untiring industry
|of these that the endless prairies and
forests were gradually turned with
plow and axe into fertile fields and
gardens.
.".The priva atoms and exposures they
| had to endure and the dangers they
were exposed to are well known. The
want Of clothing and food was often
great. The dwellings made from logs
were Of the most primitive kind. They
had to make their own furniture.
Chairs, tables and bed-steads were
made Of rough boards and hewn planks.
I remember very we'll, as a small boy,
having slept in the attic of our log
house on such q bed-stead, and am
certain that ] slept better than on a
mattress and feathers now.
Progress of Sixty Years.
IF we compare the conditions of
the past with those Of the present, We
must admit that the old pioneers have
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