Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-04-21


their peaceful possession, but the willy
savages had kept constant watch upon
their movements. Perhaps, had they
confined themselves to agricultural la
bors, the intruders might have gone un-
molested, especially as the Dacotahs
wished to conciliate the United States
government into profitable treaty, but
when pick-axes were welded in search
of lead ore, the destruction of the pale
fac's was resolved upon in council.
The first object of savage vengeance
was the Oldest son, Frank Bates, who
had built him cabin about FIVE hundred
yards from 'head quarters" despite the
warnings Of old Joe. Frank, however,
had no fear of Indians, and lived with
his wife and their babe in great happi-
ness, until one summers night, when he
was awak' ned by the loud barking Of
his dogs. Springing from his bed, he
looked through an opening in the logs,
and saw to his horror, at least fifty Da-
cotahs, infull war costume, evidently
seeking The easiest way to force an en-
trance into the cabin. Arousing his
wife, be raised cellar trap-door, and
was about to send her down, when the
child she had left in the bed began
to cry.
cannot leave my babe" said she.
Nay" he exclaimed, "I will take
care of the boy" ami almost forcing her
down into the small cellar, he closed the
unhinged door, over which he drew
large chest Then, seizing his rife and
hatchet, he took the infant and ascend
ed to the loft of the cabin, pulling up
the ladder after him. A moment more.
the door was forced from lis hinges and
the Daco abs entered, eager for their
prey. But Bates did not remain to
watch their movements, for lashing his
boy to his shoulders, he cautiously jump
ed 10 the ground, rife in hand
Ere he had traversed his tile garden,
the air resounded With blood d-chiling
tones of the war-whoop. and a volley of
arrows rain.d around the fugitive Hap
PLY but one strucl him. and that in the
he>hy part of the arm, so that he kept
on, strainlng every nerve to reach the
stockade around his fathers cabin. But
ere he had gone many PAGES gigantic
Indian overlook him. Turning, like a
stag at bay. he faced his antagonist,
knocked him down with the butt of his
rife and then sped on his way. But
now, to his horror, he saw large body
of the Dacotahs around his fathers
dwelling as he approached, firing over
on the roofs of the cabins with arrows
to which burning tow was attached.
He paused-but the cries of his boy
aroused him to a sense of his own dan
ger and his wfe's perilous situation. Di.
recting his steps towards the river,
where he found his /" "dug-cut" safely
moored, he soon was padding across
the river to a settlement where there
were a large number of whites.
Day had scarcely dawned on the sue
ceeding morning, before twenty miners,
good men and true, were ready to ac-
company him across the river. They
cared no more for Daeotahs than for
prairie-dogs, aud acted upon the spur of
the moment, regardless of consequences.
Crossing above his residence, young
Bates led them towards his clearing, but
on arriving there, nothing remained of
his house but mouldering pile of ashes
His beloved wife had evidently perished
in the flames, for among the ashes and
charred beams in the cellar they found
some blackened bones. Just then they
were joined by old Joe Bates and two
of his younger sons, armed to the teeth.
They were delighted to see Frank alive,
for they had feared that the column of
smoke that had arisen from his cabin
was his monument, but now they did
their best to condole with him in their
rough way. He said but little, but Sc
cretly vowed to avenge his wife's death,
and well did he keep bis word. To
have seen him, no one would have sup>
posed that the mild-looking, slender
built Frank Bates was an incarnate de-
mon in fight with the Dacotahs, yet
within year after his cabin was burnt,
he had twenty scalps hanging at his CIR
die. Vengeance" seemed his only
thought-his life's desire
For some time after this outrage, the
Dacotahs kept away from the miners,