M.M. Correll Led Relief Party and Rescued Besieged Danes
Friend Ernest:
As it has been just fifty years since the Journal started, and almost fifty-one since the first time I remember of E.M. Correll, whom I never will forget, it brings me back to the days of the Redskins, and when they made their last raid this far east.
The Sunday before the raid we were going home from church and met five soldiers, hunting as many horses.
They found them the next Tuesday on Spring Creek, near the county line, south of the present town of Ruskin. The Indians fastened them there and when the soldiers went to get them, they hid.
About forty Indians raised the war whoop, and came for them. The soldiers dismounted, led their horses in a circle, and shot them and used them for breat-works and put up a fight with one to eight, killing four Indians. One soldier was shot through the wrist.
They fought the Indians off for several hours until relief came, led by E.M. Correll. He was out with some land hunters and some Danes, who had located west of where the fight was, when the Indians saw the party coming, thinking it was more soldiers or help, they fell back, but followed at long range. They lurked around several days, stealing horses.
One Dane had been to Beatrice for provisions. He got home that evening and found the folks gone. He put two calves in his wagon, tied two cows behind, and started down the divide for the settlement.
It was a bright, moonlight night and as he came to a deep draw he found the Indians were camped within 100 yards of him. Turning the team back, he jumped from the wagon and made for Spring Creek and followed it down to the settlement and joined his folks.
The team was found two days later.
The Indians killed a man by the name of Thane in the same raid, two miles west of the county line, south of the Blue.
One man in the relief party had a new wife at Beatrice whom he was very anxious to see, so after they were far enough from the Indians, he thought he could make the settlement. He was determined to make a run with his team. Mr. Correll told him if he left the party he would never see his wife - he stayed.
The soldiers were camped at the Kiowa ranch.
H.A. Hendershot
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