White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-11-12


the voice of her husband. a-' :
4 All night Col Zebulon Butler and his men-sai
up making strong their defence, running bullets,
doing everything which human foresight could,
for safety.
Weak and worn they were. butresolved to sell
their lives dearly; and they waited for the com
ing conflict with unAinehing nerves.
The sun had risen high above the fort, and
stood out in the cloudless atmosphere like red
ball Of fire; not leaf auttered, not zephyr
Irippled the surface effhs cleaSl calm susque-
hanna; ths.d dried grass serasked under the feet
Of the kline; the dogs dug holes in the earth and
lay half buried there. Mature herself seemed
awed by some dark fore-shadowing, and held her
hot deep breath in fearful anticipation.
can officer and guard" said the men in the
lockout; "John Butler" they continued as they
drew nearer, and new hopes sprang up in many
a despairing heart; so slowly and silently they
came; surely their visit would be peaceful one.
L Hating, they sent messenger to say that il
Col. ZebGlon Butler would come out to meet his
cousin, he would propose terms of capitulation.
UnsusPiciOus, not thinking in his own honest
heart that one of his own knsman could be a
very fend, he, accompanied by four hundred
men, went out 70 meet him. H..
In the meantime, John Butler and his party
had moved back towards thicket, and Zebulon
and his men followed. .......
"They will halt just within the wood" he
said, "the extreme heat Of the day causes them
to seek the shade; let US ventare yet farther my
friends" and they pressed on. till startled by e
wild demoniac yell; an ambush was upon them.
Bewildered, oyerpowered, were shot, stabbed,
scalped; few only escaped by swimming the
river; none remained to tell the tale at the fort.
"They are long gone" said the lookout
." long gone," said Cot. Denison, who was left
as commander; "long gone" was passed from
lip to lip, with fears for their safety.
The soldiers gazed upon their families with
deep yearning tenderness; and mothers upon
their blooming daughters, with the fear which
only mothers can realize; for John Butler and
his tory band were known to be more brutal than
savages.
"They come" said the lookout; sour friends
are safe, responded all below.
Z" Not Zsbulon, but John Butler; not oul
friends, but the tories,'' and then went up wal
of grief and despair, and low undertone o.
supplication to Heaven.
Col. DenisOn realizing the weakness of thu
force within, taoasiisit buspTudcni to send ou
a flag Of truce, inquired upon what terms they
might capitulate.
"The natchet," replied John Butler.
" God's'will be done;scan't we at least die
bravely," he said mournfully.
xiii them to the last man; kill kill" shou
ted the demon Colonel, throwing reeking scalp.
over the walls Of the fort, and with laundering
cry they rushed to the attack. It was hot
fierce onset, with guns and slaves, and all The
implements Of war, and then they commenced
escalading the ramparts- The little band Tough
well and desperately, but what could they DE-
against such fearful odds~
One after another they dropped away from the
side of their Colonel, until hope was folly, ant
valor madness. and then he surrendered at dis
cretion. History tells the rest. The men wer,
all murdered; women and children burned; the
country was devastated, crops destroyed, grana
, ries and dwellings reduced to ashes, and tina
beautiful valley, which few weeks before wa
a miniature of paradise, became but one wide
scene of desolation.
Through all that night Of gloom and day o
horrors, Mary Ryerson sat on a low pallet, be
side her babe and Margaret, hardly caring fo
her own safety since the fate of her beloved ont
was unknown. But when the heavy bolts wer'
at last unbarred, the doors swung open, and thu
greedy enemy rushed in, she was startled b.
the cry of her servant, and the terrified vail o
the babe. Springing from her seat, she caugh
up the little enc, Rugged it to her bosom, anC
started for the door. Pressed down on all side
she fell A coarse tory bent his loathsom'
glance upon her face, saving, !" fear nothing,
will save you; will you lore me if will, prett.
oner"
As he stopped to lift her, a tall Indian pushed
him aside, and caught her up in his arms, saying
" hold baby tight"
Close upon their tracks followed squav, lea
ding Margaret BY the hand; nOne opposed them
none questioned.
r Sometimes said the Indians gravely, as the,
passed, I" she isyours, Eagle-Eyer'
"She is mine," was the laconie answer.
"Whither away with the white squaw, my fin,
fellowi'' said John Butler, as he bounded pas
him, "put her in place of safety, and com
: back: the frolic is not over"
{ "Take it." said Eagle Ere putting the bah,
into the arms of Margaret, the mother resigninI
: it without opposition, and looking up with
2 strange bewildered air. Oh the traces of tina
f days butchery. Here hat, there shoe, her
), torn garment, there the red, red hair Mere
: veil the sight
6 Close under the shelving bank of the river la
q light canoe; Eagie-Eye loosened it and spranI
e in with his charge, the women following. Tn
T barque shot away like an arrow down the stream
!. The sun was lew; a cooler breeze swept viii
lazy wing over the water, and often, as they pad
e died away, Blue Bird, the squsw. dipped up
: handful of drops and sprinkled them in Mary
: face. Baby laughed to see the bright shower
g as they fell; and even his mother returned hi
: salutations with mournful smile.
e Eagle Eye turned the canoe, and shot unde
: the bank; they disembarkedin silence, and walk
n ed on, crossing narrow strip of land betWee
n the mountain and river, and at the foot Of tn
= hill they all sat down to rest
e The Indian put down his BURDEN few mo
S ments, straightened up his tall figure, snufed III