The Nevada journal., 1855-01-05


most daily murdered passengers who had
occasion to pass through the 'Indian Ma
tion.'' Many considered it hazardous to
pass over the road without a strong
escort The day previous to our starting,
the mail stage had been stopped, the pas
sengers all murdered, and the stage burn
ed, the driver escaping almost by mira
Gle. 1t was with much trepidation that
we determined upon incurring the risk
Our chief hope was, that owing to the
large number composing our company,
and the Indians being scattered in small
bands, cur appearance would be too for
midable for them to risk an attack We
all armed ourselves with guns, pistols,
bowie-knives, etc., and started on our
journey.
None Of US felt ashamed to acknowledge
that we dreaded to incur the risk, except
Vivalla. He was probably the greatest
coward amongst US, but like most of that
class when they feel pretty safe, he swag-
gered and strutted about with much APP
parent Importance, laughing at US for our
fears, and swearing he was afraid of moth
ing, but if he met fifty Indians, che should
give them one devil of good licking, and
send dem back to de swamps in no time" p"
The cowardly little bragadocio yexed us
much, and we determined if we ever got
through to put his courage to the test.
The first day we travelled thirty miles
without seeing any Indians, and before
night came to halt at the house of a
cotton planter, who kept US safe till morn
ing. The next day we proceeded safely
to Tuskeega, small village where there
was an encampment Of fifteen hun dred In
dians, including squaws and children
The third day we arrived at Mount Megs,
where there was another 'Indian camp"
containing twenty five hundred Of The red
skins. We were now within fourteen
miles Of Montgomery, and felt out of all
danger. But being determined to play a
trick upon the courageous Vivalla, We
informed him the next morning that we
had to pass over the most dangerous por-
tion Of the road, as it is said to be infested
with desperate hostile warriors. Vivalla,
as usual, was all courage saying, che on
H ly hoped he should see some Of the cop
per-colored rascals; how he would make
dem run" When we had travelled about
six miles, and had come to a dismal look
ing, thickly wooded place, a large fox
squirrel crossed the road, and ran into the
adjoining woods. Vivalla proposed pur-
suing it. This was just what We wanted !;
SO giving hint to several who were in
the secret, we halted, and they went W ith
Vivalla in pursuit of the squirrel. In the
meantime Pentland slipped on an old In
dian dress with fringcd hunting shirt and
moccasins, which We had secretly pur-
chased at Mount Megs, and coloring his
face with Spanish brown, which we had
obtained for the purpose, and mounting
his mead with cap of colored features,
he shouldered a muSket and followed the
track of Vlyalla and his party, looked as
much like real Indian as any we had
seen the day previous in the camp When
he had got near them, he approached
stealthily, and was not discovered till he
leapod IN their very midst, and uttered =
tremendous ''whoop."
Vivalla's companions, who were all in
the joke. instantly fed in the direction of
the wagons, and Vivalla himself, half
frightened to death, exhibited great swift
ness OF foot IN his endeavors to take the
same route, but the artificial Indian be-
trayed extreme partiality and malignity
IN allowing all the others to escape, and
deyoting his whole attention to "heading"
the Italian. The poor little fellow yelled
Ike a Wild man whc he saw the musket Of
the Indian pointed towards him, and found
there was no possible means of escape,
except by running in the direction oppo-
: site to where VIC were waiting. He ran
E like deer, Jumping over fallen trees and
stumps with remarkable quickness, not
daring to look behind him. Pentland,
who was the most nimble on foot, allowed
the Italian to keep about 4 rods ahead,
while he followed, gun in hand, uttering a
horrible indian yell at every other step.
The race confined nearly a mile, when
the Slgnor, completely out of breath, per-
coiving his red skin adversary fast gaining
on him, stopped throwing himself on his
knees, begged for life. The Indian, pre-
tending not to understand English, level
led his gun at Yivalla's head, but the
poor fellow writhed and screeched like a
panther and carrying on pantomine,
gave the Indian to understand that life
was all he asked, and if that was spared,
every thing he possessed was at the SER
vice OF his foe. The savage appeared to
relent, and to understand the signs made
by the Italian. He took his musket by
the muzzle and rested the breech upon the
ground, at the same time motioning to
his trembling victim to "shell out"
Quick as thought, Vivalla turned his
pockets inside out, and the Indian seized
his purse containing eleven dollars. This
was all the money he had about him, the
rest being deposited in trunk in one Of
our wagons. Gloves, handkerchiefs,
knives, etc, were next offered up to ap-
pease the wrath Of the savage; but he
lacked unon tho ofarinrc with disdaln -