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of Messrs. Thomas and Wheeler for mutual protection. Two messengers were sent to Fort Ridgely for aid. For seventeen days the settlers at Springfield were kept in suspense, hourly expecting an attack from the Indians. There were sixteen men, women and children at the Thomas house when the attack began. Most unexpectedly to the Indians, they found the people prepared to give them a warm reception.
The cowardly savages dressed one of their number in citizen’s clothes, and he approached the Thomas house in a friendly manner, calling the people out upon a cunning pretext. The remainder of the band was concealed behind trees in the forest surrounding the cabin. They opened fire upon the settlers who had been decoyed outside. The volley mortally wounded William Thomas, a little boy eight years old, and severely wounded Mr. Thomas, David Carver and Miss Drusella Swanger. There were but three men now left in the house unhurt—Morris Markham, Jareb Palmer and John Bradshaw. Hastily barricading the doors, the three men, assisted by Mrs. Thomas and Louisa Church, Eliza Gardner* and Miss Swanger, prepared for a vigorous defense.
All of the wounded had now succeeded in reaching the house, except little Willie Thomas, who had fallen outside, and was overlooked in the excitement until after the doors were barricaded. It was then too late to rescue him without endangering the lives of all. His father was severely wounded and his mother begged piteously to be permitted to open the door and bring him in; but the others felt it would be certain death to all and he was left to his fate. The Indians gradually crept nearer the house while keeping up a constant fire on the besieged settlers. They, however, kept in shelter of the log stable and large trees. Eliza Gardner and Miss Swanger cast
* Eliza was a daughter of Rowland Gardner, who with his family had been among the first victims of the massacre of the lakes. She was visiting Mrs. Church and thus escaped the slaughter of the family. Mr. Markham had brought the terrible news to her a few days before the attack at at Springfield. She did not know that her sister Abbie was alive.
