Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-10-03

he found his dug.out sa1ey moored, ne
soon was padding across the river to 9
settlement where there were large mum.
Der of whites.
Day had scarcely dawned on the sues
ceeding morning. before twenty miners,
good men and true, were ready to accom-.
pany him across the river. They cared
no more for Dacotahs than prairie dogs,
and acted upon the spur of the moment,
regardless of consequences. Crossing
above his residence, young Bates led
them towards his clearing, but on arrl-
wing there, nothing remained but a
smouldering 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 de-
lighted 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
him in their rough way. He said but
little, but secretly vowed to ayenge his
wife's death, and we'll did he keep his
word. To have seen him, no ono would
have supposed that the mild looking,
slender built Frank Bates was an incar-
nate demon in fight wi1h the Dacotahs.
yet within a year after his cabin was
burnt, he had twenty scalps hanging at
his girdle. vengeance" seemed his on
ly thought, his life's desire.
For some time after this outrage, the
Dacotahs kept away from the miners, but
at last party of them came proving
about. and the miners determined to have
little brush with them-who was SO
competent to head the party as tha
sworn enemy of the ''red SKINS" Frank
Bates ? The party engaged two Winnie
bagos as guides. and then struck into the
forest, following recent trail. The third
night Of their journey, the wary leader
insisted upoh standing sentry, and about
midnight the crack of his rifle awakened
every sleeper. In an instant, every man
was on his feet. rifle in hand, ready to
repel any lurking foe. but 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 alarm. he merely pointed to
what appeared to be huge bear; nea-
rer approach to the object discovered to
their astonishment the grim visage of a
dead Decotah, envelopea in the skin of
gigantic bruin, who thus disguised, had
attempted to reconnoitre the position of
the frontier men.
Frank felt assured that they were near
their enemy, and followed their trail in
silence, on the alert for their foe. On
reaching the summit Of knoll, they saw
the village before them-a collection OF
high conicnl tents, made of dressed butfa>
10 skins sewed together, and ornamented
with rude representations Of the battle or
the chase. On the outskirts were the
squaws, engaged in the laborious occupa.
tions which fell TO their lot. Their in
fants, tightly bound to straight strips of
bark, we're tied to small, bent over birch
es, which gently dance them to sleep, anu
the boys OF the village, with bow and ar
row. were firing at the representation Of
a Kansas hunter. In the centre of the
village, before the towering tent of the
chief, sat the braves, smoking their ton>
ahak pipes with stoical gravity.
The white men looked at the priming
of their rifles, pout their sharp hunting
knives between their teeth, and with a
deafening yell rushed down through the
frightened squaws ere the Dacotahs could
comprehend what caused the alarm
Dashing into the startled group of warr-
ors with fierce war whoops. they dealt de-
struction arund them. The chief was
first slain. bravely defending himself and
encouraging his warriors, who nobly
struggled to ayenge his death, but in
vain.
Frank Bates fought like demon, but
at one time was nearly victim to stalwart
warrior. But glancing at his opponent.
Frank recognized in a gay red handker-
chief around his head, his marriage gift
to his lost wife. This sdded renewed
strength to his body and increased activ-
ity to his fury, as he seized his assailant
with his left arm. lifted him from the
ground. and at the same time with ner-
vous force thrust his knife into his heart.
This decided the battle, for the surviving
DacoIahs, panic struck at the sudden at
tack, rushed TO the spot where theirhorse.
we're tethered. and escaped into the for
est. Upwards OF fifty ueSd warriors re.
manned on The bloody field. and others
grievously wounded, but not a single
white was injured.
The women and children fled TO the
woods and the whites found au abunda auce
of pIunder, comprising blankets, rich furs.
horses, dried meats and tents. But
Frank Bates felt sad at heart, for the sigh'
Of this memento Of his wife made him
fear she had been tortured before perish.
ing in the flames. Night came on. aud
feeling positive that he could not sleep.
he volunteered to keep watch. II was a
bright moonlight night. and as he was
pacing his solitary round, planning ne "
schemes of vengeance. he heard lighl
step approach from the thicket.