The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-06-07

quarters, of the presence of the
Indians, and whose inhabitants
had fled for safety to Sank Centre.
At one time it appeared that the
valley was going to be deserted
from Chippewa to St. Cloud, as the
people that come from Chippewa,
Holmes City, Alexandria, Osakis,
and West Union refused to stop at
Sank Centre, except few, and
these refused to join with us to
defend the state against the red
skins. This had the tendency to
fill the people with fear, and had it
not been for the people of Grove
Lake and Westport in Pope county
and Ashley Valley joining with us,
it would not have been possible to
have retained the people at this
place, but these strengthened the
courage of the people, and called
the people together and talked to
them to the best of my ability, of
the necessity of making stand
here and not having the valley
deserted. We then formed the
company and with the cooperation
of Leutenants Hoffman an d
Stabler, and Corporal Pettijohn
(who has since died), we main
tanned our positions, though at
times under very hazardous cir
cumstances, but my command was
equal to the exegencies and moth
ing transpired to daunt their cour-
age. Great anxiety was felt
however by the company for their
families and temporary stockade
was built, in which their families
could reside. In this we remained
till help was sent US, which was
gladly hailed by all but especially
by the women and children.
This joy was of short duration.
Soon after their arrival they had
orders to move, Capt. Bennet's
company going to Fort Aber-
cromibie and Capt. McCoy's COM
pany returning to st. Cloud by
orders of General Pope. I then
felt it was necessary to have a
safer place for our wives and
families, as the one we had built
was very insecure besides being
very small, and it was evident we
were going to have much sickness
in the company, and especially
among the women and children
from being so crowded together.
I then suggested to Lieutenants
Hoffman and Stabler, the necessity
of building a more appropriate
place both for health and safety,
the circumstances Of the case de-
manding it. They both concurred
in my views and plans were drawn
and one approved of, and in few
days the stockaie was built, and
not till then was security felt by
the people to any considerable
extent, for in it could be placed,
if need be, our cattle and horses as
well as comfortable quarters for
our families and food supplies. 1t
is about two-hundred feet square
and is built in part of tamarac
sticks two feet deep and eleven
feet above ground, and part of
house-logs, and is just what was
needed, as a protection against the
weather and as it is on the open
prairie it would be easily defended
against a large force of Indians
and it is now occupied by Lieuten-
ant Nasmith's command.
81 did not keep a journal of our
doings but will give you a few
particulars about them. From the
first the company was organized
we put out strong guard nights.
part mounted, those that We're
mounted were out on the bluffs
and up and down the main roads,
with orders to report Immediately
if any signs of Indians was dis
covered. One night fire was seen in
the direction of Grove Lake; re-
port was made of it and sent out
a scouting party to see what they
could find. They took circle OF
about forty or fifty miles, and re-
turned at night but found no
Indians, but it was evident they
had been there that day for they
found house burned to the
ground (Krantz) and Lieutenant
Stabler's house plundered of its
contents and the furniture broken
to pieces and the house of Van
Eaton, two and a half miles from
,Stabler's plundered and some cattle
lying dead that they had killed l.
This was two days after Mr. .
Stabler's and other families had
arrived at Sank Centre, but Mr.,
Van Eaton returned home the same
day he came and no doubt fell into
the hands of the Indians. Search
was made for him two or three
times but we could not find him
Editors Note-The mutilated
baby of Van Eaton was discovered
later.-F. M. E. but got upon an
Indian trail and followed it across
the prairie coming towards Sank
Centre but night came on and when
within two or three miles we
discovered small party of Indians
within sighting distance of the
place but not liking the looks of
us turned and went another way.
81 sent out scouting parties on
a circle of fifty or sixty miles
south and southwest of this place.
They reported seeing Indians in
the distance mounted, but could
not come up with them. Lieuten-
ant Hoffman was on a scout and
reported that he had seen three
Indians two or three miles back on
the prairie and was fired upon, the
ball passing through his coat. II
being night it was impracticable