Millerville History
Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
ALEXANDRIA IN EARLY DAYS.
The Times of the Indian Out break. --
Story of the Dangers Encountered.
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Killing of Andrew Austin by Indians.
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A. M. Darling and N. F. Barnes Brave Dangers to Save Their Property.
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St. Cloud The Harbor of Refuge.
from
"Alexandria Post News"
© Thursday, July 15, 1897
Page 1
EDITOR Post News -- I promised you long ago to tell you some
of the incidents of the Indian out-break but absence from home
must be my excuse for the delay. Suffice to say that very few
settlers believed that the trouble was anything more than a
drunken Indian row which wouId blow over in a few days. We knew
but little of Indian character at that time, but we were soon
to learn more. Nearly, or quite every family met at Alexandria
to talk over the case, and at the first meeting it was decided
to wait until we should hear more definitely whether it was
really an out-break or not. We had not long to wait. The
governor sent arms and ammunition to Alexandria, stating that
the out-break was serious and that troops were already on the
march to our assistance. As nearly every family was unsupplied
with flour enough to stand much of a seige, we would have to
run the gauntlet to St. Cloud (our nearest source of supllies.)
It would be better to take our families there and return
ourselves and save such of our property as we could. Consequently
all started at once for St. Cloud, with the exception of two
(Mess. A. M. Darling and N. F. Barnes,) who remained to secure such
crops as they could. A more foolhardy act was never committed
by sane men, and the only reason they were not killed, was
simply because there were no Indians there to kill them. There
was at that time only two pairs of horses owned in the county
(really but one.) A young man just arrived a few days before
the out-break with an elegant span of horses. He had not located
his claim; he was not even sure that he would locate there at
all, but instead, of leaving, he unloaded his own goods and left
them to take care of themselves, and took a load of women instead
and joined the train. I dare not tell you his name or of the many
acts of chivalry he, performed suffice to say he lives in your
beautiful village to day, and no man in your county is more
respected than he. We received accessions to our train as we
proceeded, and when we reached St. Cloud we found the people
there as we were. They were building a fort on St. Germain
street, also one in the lower town. They recieved us
hospitably. Leaving our families there, we returned to Alexandria.
Henry Gager of old Chippewa, had a crew of men harvesting his
oats. Then Andrew Austin and a man by the name of Lewis and
others went to Evansville to help Mr. Rogers save his effects.
The Indians fired on them, killing Mr. Austin, and after a
running fight, also Mr. Lewis. The remainder made their escape
back to Chippewa and reported to the harvesters the event just
described. They hurridly loaded the few things necessary to
them and again drove to Alexndria. The result of our decision
was to make a trip in the night on foot to save the property
of Mr. Austin. For the details of that trip and success pardon
me if I refer you to S. Thompson or J. F. Dicken. My own account
might not be altogether unprejudicial, anyway it is something
no man can lie about. Having secured our property, as best we
could, we again started for St. Cloud. When we reached Sauk
Centre, it happened to be on of those days when the immortal
Sauk Centre militia were, wont to fall in, and they pressed
this young man's team. And soon one of their number was mounted
on his favorite for St. Cloud with dispatches to tell the powers
there residing of the heroism they had displayed, I presume (and
get a drink.) If ever I had murder in my heart it was then. I
have thus, in a disjointed way told only of our trouble during
that time, but of the incidents of that trip language fails me.
The manliness of nearly aIl, the sneakishness of a few were
exemplified to perfection as perhaps no other test could. When
I have time I shall tell you some of the incidents attending
our return, the inconviences under which we labored, etc. But
this I insist upon, no kinder or manlier set of men ever
became neighbors.
Joe.
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
December 17, 2003