The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-02-14
town with us, and so we entered New
Ulm.
Reached New Ulm Safely.

GAS stated before, my husband was
with the Kirby family and others
when the Indians came between our
teams. When he saw the Indians ne
turned his team to go to another road
running north and south. The team
did not want to leave the road and he
had some difficulty in turning them.
The locks on the old-fashioned gun
which he had were raised and in try
ing to put them down, one barrel was
accidently discharged toward the In
dans. In his wagon were number
of women and children crouched down
and it is probable the Indians thought
these were men armed, and when his
gun was discharged they took this for
a signal to attack, but as they were
naturally cowardly, they did not at
tack his wagon. Later an Indian
agent told my husband that was the
reason they did not attack. They
then went on their way unmolested.
When he came to the road leading
north and south there lay the bodies
of our nearest neighbours family, all
killed, but one boy about ten years old.
My husband picked him up, put him
in the wagon and gave him the whip
! and told him to drive the oxen. The
following day they reached New Ulm
safely.
William Karl, one of the men with
whom we entered New Ulm, the fol-
lowing morning organized company
of sixteen men and started to look for
my companion, Mrs. Harrington, his
family and others. This rescue party
sent in five children, who had been
badly mutilated by the Indians, and
went on in search of others. Later re-
turning to New Ulm they found it had
already been attacked by the In
dians. In their rush to enter the town
ten of these sixteen were killed, only
six escaped, of which two were my
brothers-in-law and one cousin.
Spent Night in Slough.
Mrs. Harrington spent the night
where / had left her in the slough.
The following morning she left this
place thinking that and the children
had been killed, as she afterwards
told me she heard screams in the
night. She wandered for week
wounded through the shoulder and
carrying her year-old baby, without
food except that which she found in
gardens, finally entering camp of
soldiers who had been sent to relieve
New Ulm.
Took Refuge in New Ulm.
There were about 5000 persons.
Twice the city was attacked by the
Indians. The first day the Indians
fired the buildings on the outer edge
of the town and tried to enter under
cover of the smoke, but terrific
storm arose and drove the fire and
smoke toward them and this attempt
failed. Then three days later they
again renewed the attack with a larg-
err force, but re-inforcements had ar
rived from the east part of the state.
The people were congregating in the
center of the town and a barracuda
was erected. The women and children
were placed in a brick building under
which a quantity of gun powder had
been placed, and had the Indians been
successful in their attack and taken
the town, this powder would have
been ignited and the building, together
with the occupants, blown up. to save
the women and children from falling
into the hands of the Indians.
after week had passed the men
who had been sent to assist the people
at New Ulm. felt that they must re-
turn to their families and homes, and
1t was decided to evacuate the town.
A train three miles long was started
with the women and children, under
the guard of the men and reached
Mankato that night. From here the
refugees were scattered and cared for