Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-31


az the boxes already plundered; their
ponies were caparisoned with CANDY
pieces of muslin, and their tails were
adorned with ribbons Of variegated
colors. The scalp locks of the Indians
were adorned in the same manner,
while hanging over their shoulders
were rich pieces OF velvet.
A DEvILIsH REvEL.
Some of them came across barrel oil
old bourbon whisky. Quickly they
stove the head, and quickly they qus1lea
huge draughts of the tire-water, when
set their brain on fire and rendered
them delirious. A violent war-song
was chanted while they were thus IN
ebriated, with furious gesticulatlons IN
honor Of the victory achieved over the
nale-faces. At daybreak they set lire
to the wreck, taking fire from the FUR
mace and throwing it IN the box cars
and while the flames roared and crack
Iad as the wind came on, and reared
themselves into pyramids and tall spl-
raj columns. the Indians danced and
held high carnival. The dead bodies
we're thrown into the fire. aud terri
lille veil announced TO the scalped ana
trembling man the fate of the engineer
and fireman. IIouder yelled the In
dams as the fire ragged on its terrible
work. and as the stencil of the human
holocaust spread, ii seemed to-glVe m
tense satisfaction TO the tawny devils;
The Indians enjoyed themselves until
thew saw their work fully accomplished,
and then left.
THE sCALPED SURVIVOR.
Tbompson managed to crawl away,
and found refuge at Willow Island sta
hon. until he was taken care ot by
marty sent for him, when he was
brought 10 tins city.
Drs. Peeke and Moore. of this city,
will endeavOr to reset the scalp on ms
head. and they ara confident they can
do il well. As he is a strO0g man, 1t IS
expected that ne will recover health
and strength.
THE BRAEEAIANs STORY.
From Chas. Radcliffe, supernumer-
arv brakeman, who was IN the caboose
of the freight train when the attack
took place. we had the following:
When the train ran off the track, he
was asleep on the bench IN the caboose,
and was suddenly thrown to the floor
,y the conclusion. At the same time
lac heard the yells of the Indians, and
then n volley was fired upOn the peo-
nIe IN the cabOose. In the cars with
him were William Kinney, conductor;
Fred. Lewis, brakeman, and a man who
had been a fireman. The locomotive
was thrown off the track by ties placed
on il, aud ran off about ten feet, when
IL fell into a hollow about four feet;
the tender and the five first ears were
pilsd on top of one another, as they
had been running at the rate of %
miles an hOuT. Looking ont of the
window of our car they cOnld see the
Indians fin strong force on the south
side of the track. shouting andyelling at
something at the foremost end-proba-
bly, the engineer and fireman. They
closed the door, but in a few moments
came out, aud the conductor told the
brakeman To 90 and flag off the train,
which was coming about three miles
behind. The brakeman replied: 81
dare nOt-the Indians are all around
here" TO which the conductor re
pHed: ''D-n the Indians; go and flag
off that train or 10y Cd she'll be into
rs" Still the man hesitated, and the
conductor rushed down the track him
self and the brakeman, Lewis, and the
fireman went after him. Radcliffe hid
himself ON the track under the car. He
had laid there for five minutes, when
he saw an Indian cautiously approach
inc. drawn thither by the light that
still hung in the caboose.
RACE FOR LIFE.
Radcliffe got down from his hiding |
nIace- and struck for the sand bluffs
with the speed of a startled deer. Fear
added wings and he almost flew, but
still he conld hear the footsteps of the
pursner. He was still mile off from |
the train, so he started directly toward |
n. and never did Persian gaze npOn |
the sun with a more loving look than
Radcliffe. the pnrsued, looked upon the |
welcome face of the reflector. 1t was |
TO him an omen of safety, the pledge |
of Guidance. the face o. a deliverer. /
Onward he flew; faster came the pur-
suer. Quicker thrObbed the heart OF
the white man as looking back he saw
two forms bounding after HIM, and
high impetus was given 10 ms limbs.
Nearer came the engine; he could see
the engineer heard the whistle OF
clown brakes" saw the forms of three
men hurrying up to the locomotive; a
few bounds more and he can hear their
voices. He now shouts ont with all
his pOwer-a welcome shOut rs return
eel. One, two, three, aud he ~ saved |
saved from perils nameless and fear
ful, and from a death of agony. He |
was nearly wild with excitement. and /
as the engine slowly started away, and
then increased its speed till the tele
graph poles were flying past aud the
distance between the wreck and them /
was increasing, be laughed and cried /
by turns, shouted, danced aud com
mitted all sorts oft eXtravagancies.
To ELM CREEK.
The engine returned TO Plum creek |
station. On their arrival they switch |
ed off and telegraphed 10 Mr.. Beam,
the master of transportation, for or
ders. The answer came to ''get out of |
the way as soon as possible" They |
therefore came TO Elm creek, having |
persuaded all the families at Plum
creek, save one man-who replied with |
fore" and could not be scared away. -
They reached Elm creek in safety, Is |
miles east of Plum creek.
A SIGHT OF THE CARS.
Next morning they all went to Plum
creek, and with the aid of a spy glass
could see that the cars were on fire aud
the Indians galloping around-some
conveying their pluuder to the Platte
river. A party of twelve Indians could
be distinguished on a bluff evidently
Watching them. Towards evening they