The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-14


brought in by this last arrival. The
Indians finding themselves closely
pursued, had abandoned everything
Businesses. 3ApprehensioHs for the
safety of the third party had begun to
Dervade the camp, so that their arrI-
val as vietors was doubly gratifying.
But when the story of their adVen-
ture was told. and the eongregated
emigrants saw the mysterious appari-
ton again before them, bleeding,
dying ally, their wonder knew no
bounds Hundreds visited the tent
where a couch had been prepared for
him the observation-disclosures?
No, the hero, but still the same I'M
solved enigma-and curiosity became
even more than ever intensified Capt.
Truckee was an inseparable attendant
at his bedside, and under the grateful
effects of such anOdynes as the medi-
cine chests of the emigrant afforded,
the sufferer became sufficiently easy
to conveF,e with the few with whom
he seemed disposed to communicates
But il was evident that life was ebb-
ing. and that a few hours at most
would close his earthly career. He
was fully conscious of his condition
and asked for a priest; unfortunately
this desire could not be gFatified, but
kind sympathizing hearts supplied, as
well as could be, the place and Offices
of the sacred minister. From habits
of reticence his story was brief, and
he spoke In a mixture of French and
broken English, but during the mar
rative stout hearts melted and manly
cheeks were wet with tears. "a
Gabriel Renae had fulfilled his vow.
The details of his solitary experience
in the Humboldt Mountains after the
sorrowlul night of massacre, need not
here be related. Suffice If to say that
| Heaven directed him to a place of
security, and though starvation at
times stared him In the face, his bold
heart continued steadfast to the pur-
pose to which he had solemnly de-
voted himself, and be levied a fearful
| tribute on the miserable race of be-
ings that had placed themselves under
his ban. Providence sent helping
| friend In the Piute< Chief, Captain
Truckee, who became a sharer In the
inequalities of his hiding place, and
more than once preserved his lite by
| a timely and unexpected appearances
with burden Of antelope meat.
The first day Gabriel attempted to
follow the trail Of the Indian assas
sins he found the mangled body of
/ his infant which had been inhumanly
/ dashed against the rocks. Months
I rolled by and many an unwary savage
/ was sent to the spirit land by an .un-
/ seen hand, still there was no traces of
her for whom his soul yearned-for
whom he offered the sacrifice. Winter
brought additional hardships, and but
I for the kindly Offices of Capt Truckee,
who lowered about him like guar
dianmangel, Renne would doubtless
have y5erished, and the sad story been
covered with oblivion. ln the Spring
he. renewed his efforts and his CAM
paign. i Ris u 49, rsi .i3rrb
One .day--it must have been In
/ j une-Gabriel had followed an fOld
/ trail many miles and halted for rest
/ at a place where there had evidently
been al Indian camp. A low pile Of
stones racted his attention, and IN
doubt neither it might not be a cache
cont64ning Indian stores, he set about
opening it. A partial removal of the
heap. regeRled human remains, and
supp % b e grave of an In
dian in, it a part of his
revenge 70 Neatter even the dust
of their 1dead. A few more
stones Wefes thrown asid6 and
Gabriel fouRae woman-his wife.
i There was enough. left of that poor
Outraged form flor Identification and
to testify of the cruelties she hadasue-
Feumbed to. The man fell upon his
] face and wept bitterly. om this
nQoment forward he lived only for re-
7 veRge. He replaced the stones and
returnka to his lonely domicile. Sub
sequently he removed the remains to
i spot near IT'S cave, where he had
/ previously gathered and buried the
bones of his Murdered children, and
marked their resting place with a rude
monument. 1T this altar he again
| and again rs6ewed his VOW of ven
geance, and the fidelity with which 1t
was kept made the supeFstitiOus saw
ages believe that an unappeasable
4 devil lurked among the defles and
crags of those mountains. 3 @ laa
After Gabriel had closed his narra-
ton, he exacted promise from the
! emigrants that upon arriving in Cali
forEia they would have a mass said
for the souls of bis family and for
himself. To this was added a request
that his remains might be buried with
those of his murdered wife and little
ones. He wished for nothing more,
and receiving from the good emigrants
an assurance that these dying iBjunc-
Al tions shonld be complied with, a new
4 light illuminated his cOuntenanee as
4 if the departing soul, looking forward
to the threshold OF the future, had
caught a glimpse of dear spirits wait