The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-11-17
An ExoitfbE S0sng.

An Excitibg Seems. sr~n
From gentleman Just arrived
from Sioux Falls City we learn the
following particulars of au exciting
affair which occurred ut that place a
few nights since: ed
The prairie had been burning id
the nsighborhool all tho .aftorn0on
snd es ar Ave aipa ne lnnt1N or
ne lkpJ lid 9of . rlv5 vs. seers|
~ be 1bla1 ana The vino I'D thx "
rest ard val Nd SsdenSS cl0Ud "a
smoke and ashes... t5Nards the city
As night drew % the lnrid flames r. /
Illuminated the streets casting Grim
son light upon the windows Of tho
buildings, and causing . wierd cx-
preston to overepread the counter
ances of the citizens who were
'congrcgated upon tho street corners,
watching the leaping flames as they
wlithed and twisted like souls il
purgatory, on the opposite side of
the river. All was still and no sound
was to be heard save the occasional
cracking of the tall bunch grass as it
struggled and fought with the fiery
serpents that attacked the stems.
The citizens gazed with ave upon
the grandest of western sights, and
Though gathered together in little
knots and groups, near each other,
the sublimity and grandeur Of the
immense panorama overpowered all
speech, and all stood silent and
motionless, Watching the approaching
fires.
Hank what means the rumbling
sounds that, borne upon tho night
winds, break with such dismay upon
the oars of the affrightod spectators?
Men look into each others faces, and
though their lips move not their eyes
strive to seek the cause OF these
strange noises. Uneasily they gaze
along tho banks. The river is not
rising, so it is not from thence the
sound proceed. No hurricane is felt,
so the winds can furnish no solution
to tho mystery. What can it DO ?
Soon the noise Of rolling thunder is
mingled with other sounds, appear
ing like the click of bride BITS or
sheaths Of swords, and, anon, the
snorting, putting, breath of animals
can also be clearly heard. Can it be
that the savages have fred the coun-
try, and with this fearful ally, are
coming to destroy the settlements
The knots and groups of citizens be-
gin to move uneasily towards their
homes, as if. feeling that their strong
arms would soon be needed to WELL
the knife and rifle for the protection
Of their thresholds.
Now strange, exciting cries are
heard from those who have remained
the last upon the streets, and the cry
Of "Buffaloi The buffalo are cross
ing the river T. was echoed by many
mouths. s
Men hurried out of their houses
women appeared in the doorway,
and windows, their night garments
giving the appearance Of the iuhabi-
tants of the sepulchre. Rifle barrels
cleaned and shonc with crimson
Iustre in the light OF tho fires which
wore having theirserpent tongues
in the waters Of the river edge.
| Heavens! what was that !? a huge
body rushes past tho frightened wo,
men, and like q demon incafnatc
dashes up tho street. Then another,
and still another, then tho place re
sound with clicking boots, and a sea
Of moving hair and glistening horns
fills the streets and sidewalks. Crash
crash crash! The rifles resound
upon thestreets. Crash crash and
heavy bodies sink to rise no more. A
moment ofhorror and bewilderment,
then the town is quiet-the streets
empty. and the thunder Of receding
hoofs comes almost inaudibly to the
ears of the citizens who now eau
tiously sally forth. In tho streets
and cutters dark, shaggy masses are
dimly to be seen by the light Of the
now dying fires. They struggle and
vainly strive to rise to their feet, but
soon sink back and beat their huge
heads against the hard roadway, and
as the crimson. life stream pours from
mouth and nostril, roll their eyes in
the death agony. By the morning
light naught is to be seen but the
CORY pools which lay like miniature
lakes upon the streets.-Siour CITY
Tines. -