The father thinking that the boy was having trouble with his load started home to see, but when he got in the house he found his wife lying on the floor, shot dead. She had been down cellar after something for dinner, the trap door stood open and a boy about ten years old old was shot and fell in the cellar, having been shot in the shoulders. A little babe of six weeks old was in the cradle unhurt. The rest of the children were hid around the house, so he wrapped his wife in a blanket, buried her side of the house, dressed the boy’s shoulder, took some bedding, the children, some cows and started for the Fort, arriving there with out seeing an Indian.
Father said let us drive down the hill where the Indians ascended, so we came just ahead of Mr. Hayden’s team, and father stayed back and they planned what to do. When we struck the road which come from the agency, the dead body of Mr. Manly lay by the side of the road, bare headed and bare footed, shot in the breast. Just then three Indians came up the road, one came to our wagon, one to Mrs. Kirchines, and the third stood back with his gun. Father had reached the wagon as the Indian got there, and he shook hands with father. The other Indian wanted to take Mrs. Kirschnes’ gun she refused, so he pulled his gun to shoot her when she threw the gun down and left the wagon. Meanwhile the Indian at our wagon told us all to get off. My brother nine years old refused, whereupon he hauled up his tomahawk, but father jerked him away, the tomahawk skinning about an inch in the side board of the wagon box. I asked the Indian to let me have the Bible and he threw it towards me and the bread, I reached for the knife, but he would not let me have it.
Now Mr. Hadens had stopped their team and watching to see how we were getting along, so the Indians told us to take the road, but we turned and took the hill again. Now the other team was with Mr. Mike and John Haden and five children of the neighbors by the name of Eicenrich, the parents driving their cattle, a herd of 22 head. When we got about half way up the hill we heard two shots…to be continued…
Events for July
Thursday and Friday July 26 and 27 Root Beer Floats for $2 on Main Street in front of Eco Water during Crazy Days.
Sunday July 29 Civil War Sunday from 1 to 4 on the front lawn of the museum weather permitting, will be held inside if it rains. Meet and talk to Union Soldiers. Find out what they carried and learn about their lives. Biscuits, Lemonade and Root Beer Floats will be for sale.
Monday July 30 Program by Dean Urdahl “The Dakota Conflict” Meeting at 7 PM Program begins at 7:30 PM
