Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-03-07

verge from the track, but only to take
1t up again mile or so in advance
; The Captains intimate knowledge ol
the topography of the country, enabled
: him to anticipate what points they
would make. Thus he gained rapidly
) upon them by proceeding more nearly
IN straight line toward the point at
which they aimed to cross Beaver riv-
er. At last, convinced from the gem
eral direction IN which the trail led,
that he he could divine with absolute
certainty the spot where they would
ford the stream, he abandoned it and
struck boldly across the country. The
accuracy of his judgment was vindicat-
ed by the fact, that from an elevated
crest Of a long line Of hills, he saw the
Indians with their victims Just disap-
pearing up ravine on the opposite
side of the Beaver. He counted them
as they slowly filed away under the
rays of the declining sun. There were
thirteen warriors, eight of whom were
mounted, another woman beside Gray's
wife, was in the cavalcade, and two
children besides his, in all five chill
dren.
The odds seemed fearful to Biggs
and Bevington, although Brady made
no comments The moment they pas
sed out of sight, Brady again pushed
forward with unfagging energy, nor did
his followers hesitate. There was not
man amorg them whose muscles were
not tense and rigid as whip cord, from
exercise and training, from hardship
and exposure. Gray's whole form
seemed to dilate into twice its natural
size at the sight of his wife and chill
dren. Terrible was the vengeance he
swore.
Just as the sun set, the spies forded
the stream and begant to ascend the
ravine 1t was evident the Indians
Intended TO camp for the night some
distance up small creek or run, which
debouched into Beaver river, about
three miles from the location Of Fort
Mcintosh, and two below the ravine.
The spot, owing to the peninsular form
Of the tongue OF land lying west of the
Beaver, at which they expected to
eneamp, was tull ten miles from that
fort. Here there was a famous spring
so deftly and cunningly situated in
deep dell, and so denseIy inclosed with
thick mountain pines, that there was
little danger of discovery. Even they
might light fire and it could not be
seen one hundred yards.
The proceedings of their leader,
which would have been totally inexpIi-
cable TO ali others, were ptrtially, if
not fully, understood by his followers.
At least they, did not hesitate Or ques,
ton him. When dark came, Brady
pushed forward with as much apparent
certainty as he had done during the
day. So rapid was his progress, that
the indians had but just kindled their
fire and cooked their meal, when their
mortal foe, whose presence they dread
ed as much as that OF the smallpox,
stood upon huge rock looking down
upon them.
HIS party had been left a short dis
tance in the rear, at convenient spot
whilst he went forward to reconnoitre.
There they remained impatiently for
three mortal hours. They discussed in
low tones the extreme disparity of the
force. the propriety of going to McIn
tosh to get assistance. Bot all agreed
that if Brady ordered them to attack,
success was certain. However impati-
ent they were, he returned at lastr
He described to them how the wo-
men and children lay within the CEN
tre of crescent formed by the savag>
es as they slept. Their guns were
stacked upon the right, and most of
their tomakawks. The arms were not
more than fifteen feet from them. He
had crawled within fifty feet Of them,
when the snortngs of the horses, oc-
casioned by the approach of wild
beast, had aroused number of the
savages from their light slunibers, and
he had been compelled to lie quiet for
more than an hour until they slept
again.
He then told them he would attack
them. 1t was impossible to use fire
arms They must depend solely upon
the knife and tomahaaek. The knife
must be placed IN the left hand and the
tomahawk in the right. To Biggs he
assigned the duty of securidg The arms.
He was to begin the work OF slaughter
upon the right, Gray upon the left, and
Bevington in the centre.
After each fairly understood the du-
ty assigned, him the slow, difficult. haz-
ardous approach began. They contin-
ued npon their feet until they had got
ten within one hundred yards of the
foe, and then lay down upon their bel
lies and began the work of writhIng
themselves forward like a serpent ap-
proa ching victim. They at last
reached the very verge of the line,
each man was at his post, save Biggs,
who had the farthest TO go. just as
he passed Brady's position, twigg
cracked roughly under the weight OF
his body, and huge savage, who lay
within the reach OF Gray's tomahawk,
slowly sat up as if startled into this
posture by the sound. After rolling
his eyes, be again lay down and all
was still.
Eull fifteen minutes passed ere Biggs