Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1856-07-30

An ADVENTURE On THE PLAINS.
In the year IS, undertook the perilous
journey Of crossing the Plains, on my way
from the Atlantic States 10 California Our
company was composed Of niue persons
Among tie number was Bill johnson, formerly
"a hpniefsRd trspper of the West
At the clostGa beautiful day in Nav. We
found osrs<ives seated around blazing camp
|. IRE uPoD {1sf taf-ks Of the Little Blue River.
some,2p1qpsies from 81. Joseph. Missouri
Sors1 800 company had spread blanket
! upon The -crasss and we're busilv engaged IN 4
game. of cards. whi.e myself and Bill Johnson
were eagerly discussing the proprefy Of hav-
tina.n antelope hunt on the succeeding day
We soon came TO the conclusion that " would
spend the day ia hunting. As our Irain was
going 10 stop here several days 10 recruit our
animals. ] cannot say that enjoyed a sound
slamber that night. because / was anxious
! that morning should errive for expected rare
! sne<t on the coming day. The much wished
| tok~morning came at last. aud after dispatch
/ ing hasty breakfast and informing our cenl-
rades that would return by sunset we
departed with our rides ou eur shoulders
For three hours wetrsseled in southerly
direction FROM the camp. without seeing any
game at al . and being somewhat tired and
disappointed, We concluded - EEK shelter
from the rays Of the blrning sun and take =
short rest. Following up aFAvine a short dis
lance. we came 10 = sink. or akole, some TWEEN
/ ~ feet deep the sides. which were uf solo
rock, were almost Perpendicular. Careful,
examining this curious spot. We a. length dis
covered excavation ia the wall. iusi large
enough 10 admit a man With ease This was
soon accomplished. and we found ourselves ia
an apartment about nine feet square with
walls Of solid rock This We thought would
afford Us the desired shelter. and were la-.
comfortably seated. when my companion sud
denly sprung to his feet. saving
BE silent I hear a ra,-flfn- IA tho c~asS
which Is probably caused by an elk 81 aniei-
ope. You stay here" and Seizing his rife ne
stole cautiously down the ravine.
he was soon lost to view among the shrub
berry which skirted the ravine leaving me-
alone TO mediate upon the probable cause of
-the noise we had Just heard But Wa soon
startled aud surprised by seeing my eompan
ion come running tow ards the cave with anxi
ETY. and alarm plainly depicted upon bis coun-
tenancs.
"Injins, by CD he exclaimed. a. b.
rushed into the cave
Then be commenced blocking up the entranc,
with loose stones and fragments Of rock which
Law scattered around This awakened me IL a
; sense of the danger we were IN. a. that time
the Pawnee Indians were known 10 be hostile
TO the whites. euichering all who fell into Their
hands. To my inquiries II how many there
were Of our enemies, my companion replied
? There are two. mounted on fleet horses
most hideously painted"
Our enemies were probably aware Of our place
Of refuge for instead II coming up front oft
cave, they crept cautiously around 20 the edge
Of the sink, aud stationed themselves out of
the reach Of our rifles but 20 a. 10 command
the entrance 10 our suhterraneau retreat. Their
persons were out of our view. but by their
shadows upon the opposite wall We could note
their man9uyres.
They evidently thought there was hnt one
OF Us but at that they did not deem IL pro.
= dent TO make bold attack IN front Tor by -
! doing they would expose their persons 10 dan
ger-therefore they chose the less dangerous
plan Of starving "a % death. compelling az 20
surrender. or shooting a. if We attempted 10
escape. Thus IN manner we were complete
ly in the power Of these sayages unles, hy
some stratagem we could manage 10 escape -
But soon night set in. and spread her mantle
| Of darkness over the land. making our situa
ton more dismal than before. Nv companion
took his station al the entrance, ready 10 give
the savages a warm reception II they made an
o attack.
! was not capable Of enduring such hard.hips
a. my companion. therefore he advised zoe 60
. seek that rcpose 20 much needed. while b.
= watched the manWavrcs 81 the enemy. laid
Q down upon the hard door OF the cavern. and
soon fell asleep. I inisn 10 relieve ny
= companion in guarding about midnighi. but -
q soundy did sleep that The dawn ~ day was
. i.et breeh .ay "a the East whom ! awuke
). Still at his post stood he Old hgi ter. with
, out visible trace Of fatigue or~uileung upon
his manly countenancc. with the exception
Of the lonely shrek 81 the coyoie IN the a..
. tant hills. all was silent without aud / think
= Ing the coast clear was ABOUT 10 pas. out.
when ny compahion pulled oba1k. aud Ia a
low whisper said
e DO not move now Is our most dangerous
}. time but will foil EN- yet damn EN- =" And
!, immedif tely placing b.. hat upon the mGxxl.
e trance. The Indians. who we're CA the feok
), out peroeiving IL. mistook IL for his head. and
fired. two balls piercing the crown OF The hat.
Dropping II. We supposed the Indians would
n show themselves But not 80. Ny companion
!, seeing this scheme was about 10 fail commerce
A ed making terrible groans. a. one "a mortal
agony. This the saVages Took 10 be sure
indication that their balls bad taken effect
and giving yell Of triumph. which demons
II might have cnvied, they rushed oat ia fol-
view.
Fire - cried ny companion. aud the mex
J. moment the sharp report Of our niles ran,
O through the cavern, While our enemies. giving
/. simultaneous bound fell with crashiul,
sound upon the bottom Of the sink-cach ouc a
corpse
d Placing the dead bodies ia The cave. we
y mounted our enemies horses. aud were soon
1. galloping into camp. 10 the gfailhcailon 0t our
friends. who supposed w bad fallen lnfo The
}, hands Of the mcfciless pawnccs
= And now. though year have passed. aud
. the manly form Of Bill Johnson h laid "a the
silent grave. respect the memory Of INN as a
: true friend aud brave man pa time III peril. -
San FRANCHISE Golden Era
=