The Mankato free press., 1923-06-29

Kings" filed with relics as closely
related to the development Of the
northwest as King Tut's tomb was
to the Egyptian civilization, was ex-
plored yesterday in the anniversary
tour Of the Sioux Historical Trail
county.
There were eighteen cars In the
party including about 130 people. All
| day long they travelled the beautiful
| Minnesota valley, rich in Indian lore,
over stretches Of the most magnid :
| cent, fascinating country, with old
| forest trees, growing for centuries
on bluffs, the winding river which
the Indians called the sky tinted
water" always in view Of the tour
, lists. And this was the land which
was once called to wild for the
white man" and only fit for the do
micile of Indians. Exactly one hun /.
dred years ago, James Monroe sent
an expedition to the source Of the
st. Peter river and from that day to
great deeds as the civilization Of
the northwest slowly dawned.
Stopping a short time at the In
dian monument here, the tourists
wended their way on to Fort Ridg-
| ley, through fields of rich. growing
grain, OF corn and rye, where In the
early day sonly wild rice grew. The
! first stop was made at Courtland
where the party stopped on account
of a passing shower, which laid the
dust and relieved a humid atmos-
phere Henry Benson of st. Peter,
member of the historical associa-
ton played the host and treated
everybody to "Spearmint" gum,
from the little grocery.
A thirty five piece band, the mem
! bers, natty in white blouses and
| dark blue trousers, met the process
eral selections and then escorted the
guests to the monument which was
dedicated to those slain in the Indian
massacre. It contained two wreaths
Of flowers and several flags. The
city of New Ulm was profusely dec
! Grated with flags and bunting and
! every courtesy was shown the tour
| lists. They were then taken to Tur-
ner hall where ice cream, lemonade,
cake and pop were awaiting them.
| This was served by the wives of the
| Civic and Commerce association. DR..
L. A. Fritsche of New Ulm, mem
ber of the Historical society, gave
an address of unusual interest, con-
corning the history of the town, how
IL derived it's name and other points
of interest. This was followed with
fine talk by Dean Ford, who Is
Otto Streissguth, president Of the
Commercial club, gave an address
and invited the guests to remain in
all night. should the rain continue,
and they should sleep in the best
| feather beds in the city.
| Early in the morning the country
people drove in to attend the cere-
mony at New Ulm. The whole town
practically turned out and the
streets were thronged with people
and during the parade the merchants
and clerks stopped business to give
glad hand to their visitors.
At New Ulm every one visited the
historical log cabin which is filled
with relics of an early day. In a
frame is the last ticket issued in
1878 on the Otter steamboat
running from st. Paul to New Ulm.
ON the lawn of the cabin stands the
boiler of the Otter which lay for
years in the river bed, was taken up,
cleaned and makes a nice historical
ornament
Several cars containing members
OF the Commercial club at New Ulm
escorted the tourists out of town for
the distance of several miles.
In the party yesterday was Mrs.
Allanson of Henderson, who has an
interesting history Her father was
Joseph Brown, who tapped the drum
three times as a signal when the
Indians were hanged here. He was
drummer boy with Colonel Leaven =
worth. Mrs. Allanson was a captive
with fifteen other people taken by
the Indians during the Indian raids.
A stop was made at st. George.
Here is a little village OF fifty in
habitants, reminding one of the vii
lage of Grand Pre-, has one OF the
most beautiful Of cemetaries and a
large. magnificent brick church, a
rici, monument to these thrifty peo-
ple which shines out over the
country for a distance of miles.
| A large, silk flag, sixty feet, sus
pended from the church steepel and
TO an ateuna on another building
was the first object to greet the eyes
Of the tourists at Fort Ridgely
Other flags fioated from tall nag
poles over the ridge. The people
from Fairfax and other nearby
towns. were there to do honor. a
lmagnifcient dinner prepared by the
wives OF the civic clubs Of the city
awaited the party. It was fan
4 faronnde'' for every body. After
1 dinner every one went to lnspira
l tion Point, which was truly named
and viewed a scene Of wonderous
beauty. the like which Is possibley
found no where in this land. 1t is
a loyefeast OF nature, the handi
4 work Of the Creator who seemed tc
have prepared It for his own specia
i1se. not to be dissoiled or marrec
by man. but for their injoyment
The fife and drum corps Of For
Ridgiey gave serenade or wa
time melodies, with Colonel G. n
Hopkins at the drum. The colone
has been the Father" Of Ft. Ridgely
grounds for many a moon and he
loves every inch Of its space. He
took the guests to the one remain
ing building left OF the fort also tc
the monument, 140 feet tall and the
monument dedicated by the govern
ment to the friendly Indians durtns
the massacres and raids. g.
| Thev atso visited the little church