Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1856-06-04
Sdttt StlistcIlanp.
An Adventure on the Plains

Comma
was composed of nine persons. Amono
number was Bill Johnson, formerly bunter =
o. trapper of the West
At the close OF a beautiful day in Nav. ,
iouhd ourselves seated around n blazinr IN -,
"re upon the banks of the Little Blue Rive
some Two hundred miles from ST. Joseph. Mi
S"uri' Some OF the company had spread
niSpket upon the grassland were busilv enror,
III "a game of cards, while myself and Bill Io6I
son were eagerly discussing the proprletv
having an antelope hunt on the succeeding ia,
we soon came to the conclusion that We woni
sPehd the day IN hunting, as our train was o,
S " Stop mere several days to recruit our an
h l cannot say that | enjoyed a SCUM
a.. iuilocr 'lat night, because | was anxious tina
F. morning should arrive, for expected m ro snor
on the coming day. The much wisbnd, 10
morning came at last and after despatcbing
nasty breakfast, and informing our comr,1o
'llat we would return by sunset, we departe,
WIN our rifles on our shoulders
TOT three hours we travelled in a southerl,
direction from the camp, without seeing any
%"hs al all and being somewhat tired and
disappointed, we concluded to seek shelter from,
inc rays OF the burning sun, and take n sLor,
rest Following up a ravine n short distance
we came to sink, or hole, some twenty feat
uesp; the sides, which were of solid rock were
almost perpendicular. Carefully examine
thIs curious spot. we at length discovered an
excavation In the wall, just large enough TO
admit man with ease. This WINS soon 49,,
P,isneu' ana we found ourselves in an apartment
aoout nine feet square, with walls of solid rocl
This we thought would afford us the desired
shelter, and we were Just comfortably snotod
when my companion hastily sprang to his feet
saying: - "'' ieet'
| " be silent hear a rustling in the grass
winch Is probably caused by an elk or anteIono
lou stay here;" and Selling his rifle, he stole
cautiously down the ravine.
lie was soon lost 10 view among the shruh
berry which skirted the ravine. leaving me olono
TO mediate upon the probable cause of the noise
we had just heard. But | was soon startled
ana surprised by seeing my companion come
running towards the cave, with anxiety and
alarm plainly depicted upon his countenance.
IhJlhs !! he exclaimed, as he rushed into
the cave. ''''o
Then he commenced blocking up the entrance
WIN loose stones and fragments of rock which |
lay scattered around. This awakened mo o..
sense OF the danger we were in, as at tLattimo |
The Pawnee Indians were known 10 he hostile |
10 the whites, butchering all who fell into their
hailds. 10 my inquiries of how many there |
were OF our enemies, my companion replied:
mere are two, mounted on fleet horses
armed with rifles and bows and arrows and
most hideously painted"
Our enemies were probably aware of our
place of refuge, for instead of coming nm in
front of the cave, they crept cautiously around
10 the edge ofthe sink, and stationed themselves
out OF the reach of our rifles but so as TO COM
lahd The entrance to our subterrancau retreat
heir persons were out Of our view, but by
their shadows upon the opposite wall we could
note their maneuvres
They evidently thought there was but one NJ
US; but at that they did not deem il prudent 70
make bold attack in front, for, by so doing
they would expose their persons to danger
therefore they chose the less dangerous plan of
starving us TO death, compelling us to surren-
der' OF shooting US If we attempted to escape
nus III manner we were completely in the
power OF THESE savages, unless by some strata-
gem we could manage to escape. But soon
night set in, and spread her mantle of darkness {
over the land, making our situation more dismal
than before. My companion took his station at
the entrance ready to give the savages warm
reception 1t they made an attack:
was not capable of enduring such hardships ?
Is my companion, therefore he advised me TO b
seek that repose so much needed, while he ?
watched the manGuvres of the enemy. | laid |
Town upon the hard floor of the cavern. and \
'oon fell asleep. INTENDED to relieve nv com 4
'anlon IN guarding about midnight, but so g
'oundly did | sleep, that the dawn of the day il
was Just breaking in the east when | awoke. a
still at his post stood the old hunter, without n
visible trace of fatigue or suffering upon his n
manly countenance. With the exception of 4
ne lone shrek OF the coyote in the distant hills
VI was silent without, and !, thinking the coast
lear, was about to pass out, when nv compan. \
on pulled me back, and in a low whisper said a
" DO not move; now is our most dangerous f
line but | will foil 'em yet, damn EN- - Il
ana immediately placing his hat upon the muz- ii
.le Vi hls gun, he slowly moved it through the is
'n.fahce. The Indians, who were on the look
'ut' Percelvlng It, mistook it for his head md n
lred, two balls piercing the crown of the hat t,
Dropping 1t, we supposed the Indians would n
how themselves. But not SO. My COMPANION
eeIng this scheme was about to fail, Commenced
making horrible groans, as one in mortal apo- c.
~. This the savages took to be a sure ndca- n
ION that their balls had taken effect, and giving
yell of triumph, which demons might have ii
nVied, they rushed out in full view. c.
Sire y cried my companion, and the next Il
moment the sharp report of our rifles rang 81
trough the cavern, while our enemies, giving m
simultaneous bound, fell with a CRUSHING a
ound upon the bottom of the sink-cach one a
orpse ELS ~. $50
Placing the dead bodies in the cave. we f
mounted our enemies horses, and were SOON b
,alloping into camp, to the qualification Of our h
riends, who supposed we had fallen into the G
lands of the mercless Pawnees. Il
And now, though years have passed, and the p
manly form Of Bill Johnson is laid in the silent
yraye, | respect the memory Of him as true e
rlend and brave man in the hour Of peril.
CgRIous.-L Lewis Gaylord Clark, editor of n
ne hntcAerbocher 1fagazin and inventor Of Er
he Bacli-Action Hen-Persuader,' has invent Ii
d curious hydrometric pantaloons suspender n
rhe 'galIowsesr 10 question are So suscentiblo /,
o moisture, that, on your approach 10 wafer :
hey contract, lift you over and drop YOU nthel Z
,tker side.