Show A bencan bican d by omo elmo scott watson L 1 A frontier paul revere AMES WATSON WEBB was the P famous editor of the new york courier and enquirer who also had a career as a politician and diplomat but he deserves more honor for a daring exploit which he per formed as a young oung y man on the jill illi nois frontier the scion of an old new york family webb ran away from home at the age of 17 and went to washington where he persuaded john C calhoun secretary of yar war to give him a commission in the army in october 1821 young lieuten ant webb was sent to join the garr garn son at fort dearborn in the mid dle die of the winter john kinzie the indian agent at chicago re to the commander that the sioux and foxe indians were plotting to surprise and massacre the garrison at fort snelling the next spring 1 colonel mcneil immediately called tor for volunteers to carry the news of the plot to fort armstrong near rock island so that word could be sent up the river to fort for snelling webb offered to make the journey accompanied bi b a sergeant and a pottawatomie guide he set out early in february he intended to go first to the post of a french trader on the rock river and there secure a win guide but when he reached the post he be found the Winne bagoe bolding war dances so webb ano and the sergeant cautiously circled around the camp and headed toward fort armstrong the weather was bitterly cold anc the two men faced the danger oi 0 perishing in the raging blizzard but bui in spite of this they reached for fon armstrong in safety As a result 01 0 their trip the commander at fort fon snelling so reinforced his post thal tha the indians did not dare attack and a possible massacre was averted |