Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-22
GRIGNON.

1t was pleasant event in my life when
I was thrown into the company Of Grgnon.
I was on my way to California, and had
taken the overland route in preference to
any other. 1t was on my journey across
the plains that made his acquaintance.
Our party overlook a single wagon. 1t
contained solitary man. The horses were
dead, the man nearly So. This man was
Grignon. | paid the utmost attention to
his wants. Being a medical man, | gave
him all the benefit of my skill sand care
As he recovered, he naturally Entertained
a strong friendship for me. His wagon
had fallen behind the train to which he
belonged, and they had been compelled by
their own necessities to desert him.
The conjurer, however, was destined for
far more glorious fate than to die miser-
ably in the desolatc American desert. lie
was to become an astonisher to the natives
Tndians), a savior to civilized lives, and a
lion in California
We resumed our journey. We had
started, however, like many others in those
days, with insufficient preparations. AS
soon as we found out our mistake, we had
W Uc very cCOuuiulCdi III Jul ptoNlSiouS.
We killed buifalocs whenever we found
them, aud always rcplcnishel our water
casks at every stream. At length, howev-
er, VIC came to dry and parchcd waste,
where there was scarcely Il drop Of water,
scarcely blade of grass, and not living
animal of any description.
And now began the troubles of our
journey. We had come into the country
Of the warlke Indians, and they were not
slow to acquaint us with the fact. Every
day they prowled around us in great num-
bers, threatening and insulting us. Occa-
sionally they used to snatch up something
aud dart away on their fleet horses. We
did all we could to be friendly, and deter
mined to avoid an open rupture as far as
possible, for there were. .ony twelve on our
side, and on their side apparently twelve
hundred.
Every day, however, only made matters
worse. In spite Of our precautions the
indians grew more and more abusive and
insulting, VIC became watchful, and tried to
be more forbearing, but our forbearance
was taken for cowardice and the savages
began to think they could do anything with
us.
We held council of war and detormin-
ed to bring matters to a crisis at once.
The crisis soon came.
One day big Indian came riding along
by US. He began talking in contemptu.
Gus way, and gesticulating furiously. At
last, he asked one of our men for his gun.
The man refused The Indian repeated
his question, and attempted to take the gun
from his hand The man drew back. The
Indian sprang forward, Aourishing his
knife and threatening. At this the man
calmly levclled his piece and shot the In-
dian through the heart.
AS tho wretch fell shriekiug from his
horse, the plain seemed to be alive with
other Indians. From behind every cump
of trees, every hillock, every rock, and
every rising ground, they poured forth in
countless numbers We had never before
seen SO many assembled together as now.
And now our companion, the conjuror,
came out conspicuously. He had been
once in the French army, he said, and un.
derstood all its admirable discipline. A
few words of warning aud a short explana-
ton suHiced to make US form circle of
the wagons, and draw up behind them,
with baggage heaped up for breastworks
There VIC waited for the savages.
But they did not come just then. With
loud whoops and screams they gathered
upon the plain at distance from US. The
wretched towards, as soon as they saw our
slight preparations, were actually afraid to
attack.
They waited till night.
Night came. Our defences we're made
Our wagons were arranged more closely,
and the barricade was made higher, deeper,
and more effective. In the centre were
our cattle. Behind this little for.ica.iou
We awaited our foe.