Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-24
WAR ADVENTURE OF a WESTERN
SCOUT

'sIt was in '61, when guided de-
tachment of cavalry who were coming in
from Camp Floyd. We had nearly
reached the Kansas line, and were in
South Nebraska, when one afternoon |
vert out of camp to 60 to the cabin of
an old friend of mine, Mrs. Walthan.
l took one of my revolvers with me, for
although the war had broke out | didn't
think it necessary to carry both my
pistols, in all ordinary skirmmages, one
is better than a dozen if you shoot
straight. | saw some wild turkeys on
the road as | was going down, and
popped one of 'em over, thinking he'd
be just the thing for supper.
Well, l rode up to Mrs. Walthan's,
jumped off my horse, and went into the
cabin, which is like most of cabins on
the prairie, with only one room and
that had two doors, one opening in
front, and 'tother in the yard, like.
"How are you, Mrs. Walthan ?" I
said, feeling as jolly as you please.
The minute she saw me she turned
as white as a sheet and screamed: "Is
that you, Bill? Oh, my God. They
will kill you! Run! Run They will
kill you n'
"Who's goin' to kill me ?'' said I.
"Tbere's two that can play at that
game
ats NJ Kandlas and his gang. There's
ten of 'em, and you have no chance
They've jes gone down to the orn-rack
They came up here only five minutes
ago. M'Kandlas was dragging poor
parson Shipley with lariet round his
neck. The preacher was most dead
from choking and the horses stamping
on him. M'Kandlas knows yer bringin
in that parts of Yankee cavalry, and he
swears he'll cut your heart out. Run,
Bill, run! But it's too late; they're
coming up the lane"
While she was talkin' | remembered
that | had but one revolver, and load
gone out of that. On the table there
was horn of powder and some little
bars of lead. / poured some into the
empty chamber and rammed the lead
after it by hammering the barrel on the
table and had just capped the pistol
when | heard M'Kandlas shout:
"There's that id Yankee, Wild
Bills horse; he's here, and we'll skin
him aliven
If had thought of runnin' before it
was too late now, and the house was my
best holt-a sort of fortress, like. |
never thought I'd leave that room
alive"
The scout stopped in his story, rose
from his seat, and strobe backward and
forward in state of great excitement.
81 tell you what it is Kernel" be
resumed, after while, 81 don't mind
a skrimmage with these fellows round
here. Shoot one or two Of them and
the rest run away. But all of M Kan
dlas's gang were reckless, blood thirsty
devils, who would fight as long as they
had strength to pull trigger. l have
been in tight places, but that's one of
the few times said my prayers"
Surround the house and give him
no quarter p yelled M Kandlas. When
l heard tina. felt as quiet and as cool
as if [ was agoin' to church. l looked
around the room and saw Hawkins
rifle hanging over the bed"
'Is that loaded ?" said 1 to Mrs.
Walthan
eyes," the poor thing whispered.
She was so frightened she could hardly
speak out loud.
care you sure ?" said I, as I jumped
to the bed and caught it from its hook.
Although my eye had not left the door,
yet l could see she nodded yes again. [
put the revolver on the bed, and just
then M'Kandlas poked his nose inside
the doorway, but jumped back when he
saw me with the rifle in my hand.
"Come in here, you cowardly dog !"
| shouted. "Come in here, and fight
me ~
MKandlas was no coward, if he was
a bully. He jumped inside the room
with his gun leveled to shoot but he
wasn't quick enough My rifle ball
went through his heart He fell back
outside the house, where he was found
afterward holding tight to his rifle,
which had fallen over his head
His disappearance was followed by a
yell from his gang, and then there was
a dead silence. l put down the rifle
and took up the revolver, and said to
myself: "Only six shots and nine men
to kill. Save your powder, Bill, for
the death hugs comm p 1 don't
know why it was, Kernel, continued
Bill, looking at me inquiringly, "but at
that moment things seemed clear and
sharp. | could think strong"
"There was a few seconds of that
awful Stiffness, and then the rufiaus
came rushing in both doors. How wild
they looked with their red, drunken
faces and infamed eyes shouting and
cussing. But l never aimed more
deliberately in my life.
"One-two-three-four and four
men fell dead"
"That didn't stop the rest. Two of
them fred their bird guns at me. And
then 1 felt sting all over me- The
room was full of smoke. Two got in
close to me, their eyes glaring out of
the clouds. One | Knocked down with
my fist. you are out of the way
awhile" I thought. The second 1
shot dead. The other three clutched
me and crowded onto the bed. l fought