The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-06

Day had scarcely dawned on the succeed
ing morning, before twenty miners, good men
and true, were ready to accompany him across
the river. They cared no more for the
Decotahs than for prairie dogs, and acted
upon the spur of the moment, regardless of
consequences. Crossing above his resi-
dence, young Bates led them towards his
clearing, but on arriving there, nothing re-
mained but a moulderiny pile Of ashes. His
beloved wife had evidently pcrishcd in the
flames, for among the ashes and charrcd
beams in the cellar they found some black
cncd 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 find Frank alive, for they had
feared that the column Of smoke that had
arisen from his cabin WAS his monument: Lut
now they did their best to condolc him in
their way. lIe said but little, but secretly
vowed to avcnge his wifc's death, and we'll
did hc keep his word. To have seen him,
no one would have supposed that the mild
looking, slender built Frank Bates was an
incarnate demon in a fight will, the Deco
tabs; yet within a year after lis cabin was
burnt, lie had twenty scalps hanging around
his gildlc. "Vcngcance" seemed his only
thought-his lifc's desire.
For sometime after this outrage, the De-
cotahs kept away from the miners, but at
last party Of them came prowling about,
and tho miners determined to have a brusl,
with them. Who was so competent to head
the party as that sworn enemy of the rcd
skins, Frank Bates! The party engaged
two WinneIagoes as guides, and then struck
into the forest, following recent trail. The
third night ofthcir journey, tho wary leader
insisted on standing as 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 rcpel any
lurking foe; but a low whisper from Frank
announced that there was no danger. Nor
ming came, and as the party crowded around
the sentinel to learn the cause Of the alarm,
he merely pointed to what appeared to be q
huge bear; nearer approach to the object
! discovered to their ;.stonislIment the grim
visagc of Il dead Decotah, enveloped i'll the
skin of gigantic Lruin, who, thus dis
guised, had attempted to reconnoi,re the
position Of the fronticrs-mcn.
Frank now felt assured that they were
near the enemy, and followed thor trail in
silence on the alert for their Coe On reach
ing the summit of knoll, they saw their
village before tl,cm-a collection of high,
conlcal tents, made of dressed buffalo skins,
scwed together and ornamcntcd with rude
representations Of the battle or the chase.
On the outskirts were the squaws busily cr-
gagged in tine laborious occupations which
fell to their lot. Their infants, tightly bound
to straight strips of bark, were tied to small
bent-ovcr birches, which gently danced them
to sleep, and the boys Of the village, with
bow and arrow, were firing at the represen-
tation of Kansas hunter. In the centre Of
the village, before the towering tent of tile
Chief, sat the braves, smoking their toma-
hawk pipes with stoical gravity.
The white men looked at the printing Of
their rifles, put their sharp hunting knives
between their teeth, and with deafeninr
yell rushed down through the frightened
squaws, ere the Decotahs could comprehend
what caused the alarm. Dasliing into the
startled group Of warriors with fierce war
whoops, they dealt destruction around them.
The chief was the first slain, Lravely de-
tending himself and encouraging his warri-
ors, who nobIy struggled to avenge his
death, but all in vain.
Frank Bates fought like demon, but at
one time was nearly q victim to n stalwart
warrior. But glancing at his opponent,
Frank recognized in u gay red handkerchief
around his head, his marriage gift to his lost
wife. This added new strength to his body
and increased activity to his fury, rs lie Sci
zcd Ills assaiant with his left arm, lifted him
from the ground, and at the same time with
nervous force thrust his knife to his heart.
This decided the battle, for the surviving
Dccotalls, panic struck at the sudden attack,
rushed 10 the spot where their horses were
tctlered and escaped into the forest. Up.
wards of fifty dead warriors remained on
the field, and others grievously wounded,
but not single white man was seriously
injured.
Tie women and children fled to the
woods, and the whites found an abundance
OF pIunder, comprising blankets, rich furs,
horses, dried meats and tents. But Frank
Bates felt sad at heart, for the sight of this
me,nento of his wife made him fear she had
been tortured before perisliing in the flames,
Night came on and feeling positive that ho
could not sleep. he volunteered to keep
watch. 1t was n bright moonlight n;oht,