Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-05

then struck into the forest, following recent trail.
The third night Of their journy, the wary leader
insisted on standing sentry, and about midnight
tho crack Of his rifle awakened every sleeper
In an instant, every man was on his feet. rife in
hand, ready to repel any lurking foe, but a low
whisper from Frank announced that there was no
danger. Morning came, and as the party crowded
around the sentinel to learn the cause of the alafm
he merely pointed to what appeared to be huge
bear; nearer approach to the object discovered {,
their sstonishment the grim visage of dead
Dacotah, enveloped in the skin of gigantic brnin
who thus disguised, had attempted to reconnoitre
the position oft the frontier-men.
Frank felt assured that they were near their
enemy, and followed their trail in silence, on the
alert fnr their foe. On reaching the summit of a
knoll, they saw the village before them-a collec
ton of high conica tents, made of dressed buffalo.
skins sewed together and ornamented with rude
representations of the battle or the chase. On the
outskirts were the squaws, engaged in the aborlous
occupations which fall 10 their lot. Their infants.
tightly bound to straight strips of bark. were tied
to snall, bent over birches, which gently dance
them to sleep, and the boys Of the village, with
bow and arrow, were, firing at the representation
of Kansas hunter. In the centre of the village.
before the towering tent Of the chief, sat the
braves, smoking their tomahawk pipes with sloi
cal gravity.
The white men looked al the priming of their
rifles; put their sharp hunting knives between
their teeth, and with deafenng yell rushed down
through the frightened squaws, ere the Dacotahs
could comprehend what caused the Alarm Dash
ing into the startled group OF warriors with fierce
war. whoops, they dealt destruction around them
The chief was the first slain, 5ravely defending
himself and encouraging his warriors, who nobly
struggled to ayenge his death but all in vain.
Frank Bates fought like demon, but at one
time was nearly victim 10 sfalwart warrlor.-
But glancing al his opponent Frank recognized in
a CAV red handkerchief around his head, his mar
riage gift to his lost wife. This added renewed
strength to his body and increased activity to his
fury as he seized his assailant with his left arm,
lifted him from the ground, and at the same time
with nervous force thrust his knife inio his heart
This decided the battle, for The surviving Daco-
tabs, panick struck at the sudden attack, rushed
to the spot where their horses were ethered and
escaped into the forest Upwards Of fifty dead
warriors remained on the bloudy field, and others
grievously wounded, but not single white man
was seriously injured. .
The women and children fled TO the woods and
the whites found an abundance OF plunder, COTE
and tents,. But Frank Bates felt sad at heart, for
the sight of this menento OF his wife made him
fear she had been tortured before perishng in the
flames. Night came on, and feeling positive that
ne could not sleep, he volunteered To keep watch
Ii was bright moonlight night, and as he was
pacing his solitary round planning new schemes OF
vengeance, he heard light step approach from
the thicket.
Frank at first raised his rifle to shoot down the
Intruder, but secret influence led him to call out:
who comesP
Are you white man q was the reply. in tones
that produced an ndescrbable effect upon the
stout hearted pioneer.
yes, and you?'
i am Frank Bates wife who was taken
prisoner over on the Mississippi, and as she spoke,
she advanced
The rifle fell to the ground, and Frank stood as
if under the influence Off magic SPELL His hands
were convulsivey clenched, his hair stood erect on
his head, shver ran through his frame and he
tottered back several PAGES. But not SO the female
who had recognized her husband as she drew near
and now exclaimed as she threw herself into his
arms.
Frank my own Frank Do you not know
your wifeP
Yes, II was his long mourned bride her features
stamped with SORROW, but still retaining her early
beauty Mutual explanations followed, and when
the delighted vile learned the safety OF her boy,
all her hardships vanished. II now appeared that
when the Indians had entered Bates house, they
found keg Of whiskey which they drank freely, /,
aud then pundered everything. removing the
chest ia their researches. Soon two OF them
quarreled for the handkerchief Bates had seen
the day previous, and drawing their scalp knives,
une speedily received a mortal stab. and fell
directly upon the trap-door, through which his
blood ran upon the hidden wife. She believing
that it came from the veins Of her husband. shreked
aloud, thus betraying her place of concealment,
drags ing her forth her captors bound her, Then
riflng the cabin, applied the torch The body OF
the slain Dacotah was consumed. and over his
bunes Bates had mourned as for those of his vile.
That day they packed the plunder upon what
horses the Daeoiahs had LETT, and started tur their
homes, which they regained In safety. lhe
proceeds of Frank Bates share OF the spoils
enabled him to rebuild his house, but this time
close to that of his father and enclosed with
high stpckade. The Dlcotahs. however. never
returned, and in course of time were driven to
the far WeSt Frank Bates is, nav Que ofthe
weallhiesi land huders in Iowa, member OF the.
State Senate, Judge of the county court, and
NldluE Ocitldl w Nltutid' ""S, NN'-'- :
lenienlly with him and his wife but aeither orgets
her captivity Their san never passes the scene
of his fathers fl ght on that memorable night
without feeling renewed sense OF his hial ooli-
gatons, and deeper love fur his boyhood's home.
LIVING IX THE WnrE HoUsE.-A Washing
ton letter s:-Many imagine that the expenses
of the White House are partially, if not wholly,
defrayed by the government, aud that The large
number of servants necessarily employed receive
their pay from the Public treasury. Error. AL
though The President is expected 10 give public re-
cepiions and banquets, entertainments 10 distlp-
ruished visers and dinners to every political
friend who may come here, everything is paid for
out of The Presidents pocket, excepting few
vegetable decacies raised ip the garden. Until
last year, no appropriation was made Tor iuel. ei
lher for the barn like rooms and saloons OF the
White Huuse, or fur the guard and green houses.
to beat which it costs nearly S2,00O-and the ap'
psosriation made last year was only ST .OO0, leav-
ing nearly 81 900 for the President TO pay So
with the servants. The only ones paid by the
government are dooi keeper, who receives SoOo
per annum au assistant door keeper,w receives
1920; aud furnace keeper, who receives $500,
All the other dcmeslcs required TO keep this ex-
tepsve establishment ip order are paid by the
President.
The NATIoN's ExraAvaGANCE.-Fort the year
ending August 81, 1855. we Americans imported
from Europe. for our own heads and those OF our
wives aud daughters. 81 ,9o2, 500 worth Of bonnets,
Of silk, straw. and leghorn. and of hats aud caps.
Yet how few Of the head pieces one sees give
evidence of having been sent for 8, 1000 miles away.
All are seemingly homemade. p that same year,
Young and Old America treated themselves 10
So, 732, $50 worth of watches. chronometers and
clocks, of European make. Their appetite, too,
for foreign jewery, was bated with $974,l20
worth OF the article, upon whch,Yithout signing,
they paid duty Of thirty per cent. Ofleather to
cover their hands and their feet, they sent across