The Mankato free press., 1923-06-29
NOTES PICKED ALONG
ROUTE HLSTORICTRAH


sixty years. First he went on foot
when he couldn't find horse. Then
by oxen next q rubber tire buggy,
later on an autor cbile and now he
wants to make an ascent in an air
ship from st. Peter where he lives
to the fort, before he checks out, he
years when It was Wild and woody
up In that country, besides his du-
ties took him to the fort for the
government. But after seeing Henry
dance a few old war time Jigs, to
the music of the drum corps, and a
bountiful supper which he stored
away. he Will no doubt have his
wish.
Every one enjoyed seeing the old
historic howitzer, at the fort, which
was blown into % pieces on the
night Of April 2, 1922, by vandals.
Some pieces were found thirty feet
away and was reinserted by Y. Mel
son Of Fairfax. 1t was used on one
OF the Commodore Perry's victories
on Lake Erie and the Revolutionary
war and Captain Frank Voight who
spent twenty one years in the United
States navy presented 1t to the fort.
A photographer was there from
their picture took" The old tim ers
included William Horatio Pay, all
locked arm together at the front for
a good pose.
At last faint rays of a golden sun
set over the top of the ridge, the
tourist, led by a car decorated with
nags and bunting as the pilot car,
followed by yellow sightseeing bus
from Minneapolis, started the final
procession on to Redwood Falls for
the night where they were to be en-
tertained.
Among those who went to Ira
verse des Sioux yesterday from here
to meet the Minnesota Historical
society were Lorin Gray, w. H. Pap,
Thomas Hughes and George M. Pal
mer.
The girls who served the guests
of the Minnesota Historical society
at the dinner at Sibiey park yester-
day were Misses Mary Helen Mea-
CHER, Mae Wiseman, Evelyn Wise
man, Lillian Nicholson, Margaret
Miller and Eugenia Gohla.
During the talk of Judge Lorin
Cray yesterday afternoon at the
Sibley park picnic grounds to the
members of the State Historical So
ciety, he told of the cheering of the
multitude of people gathered at the
execution scene, when the second
blow of the axe severed the rope and
plunged the Indians to their death.
Judge Cray stated that it was said
at the time the cheering was led by
a young soldier whose father was
murdered by the Indians. The cheer
ing lasted for some time until the
bodies were carried away in covered
wagons.
Among the old pioneers of the city
who was here yesterday, was C. d.
Johnson, who with his wife and Mr..
and Mrs. E. r. Smith OF Brainard
motored to Mankato for a visit. Mr..
Johnson is an old settler Of Manka-
to, having been born in this city,
and although very young at the time
remembers distinctly the hanging
OF the Indians.
Today the hundred explorers of
1923 continued their tour in celebra-
tion of the three centenials. They
are following the trail mapped out
by Longs exploring party in the far
gone days of 1923 when the small
number of Minnesota settlers were
in the midst of hordes of redskins
On the trail" today the tourists Will
pass the historic Wood Lake battle
field, where the scene of the last
battle with the Sioux tribe in the
year 1852 was enacted. They Will
travel on through the historic coun-
try to the Upper Sioux agency and
on to Camp Release where 200 white
prisoners were given freedom from
the Indians by General H. H. Sib-
ley-still onward to the shores of
Big Stone Lake and then down into
Browns Valley where a historical
pageant on Sunday will conclude the
historic trip.
George M. Palmer was toastmaster
at the luncheon served to the tour
Ing historians yesterday. He intro
duced Judge Cray and Attorney
Thomas Hughes as the speakers, de
claring them the two leading histor
ians OF Mankato. Mrs. George NJ
Palmer was chairman of the commit
tee IN charge Of the luncheon.
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| VoIstead introduced TownIav