The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-22
Thrilling Adventure With Indians,

A California paper tells the follow
ing story:
Several years ago there lived iE Trim
lty County q man named Ross He
was a great hunter, his favorite hunt
ing ground being over the hills and
valleys on the head of Eel River. 1t
was his ambition to kill an elk. and
never having come across any in his
rounds, he one day asked an Indian.
whom he supposed to be friendly, if he
could show him one. The retlskin said
he could, but would have to go home
first, and would return at the end of
five days, and lead him where he would
find the coveted game.
At the end ofthe appointed time the
elk-tinder returned, and the pair set
ont on their hunting expedition. On
they travelled till nearly nightfall, but
not even Il track did trey see. The
day was foggy, and orr hero was,
therefore, unable to tell in what dircc-
ton lie was going. but rs light drew
near he told his guide they had better
return home, and come again some
other time.
Accordingly, as Ross supposed, they
began to retrace their steps. Before a
great while he fDnna himself in q very
steep, rocky, unfamiliar country. La
ter still, and some time after dark, they
came to ridge overlooking a noisy
mountain torrent, foaming along at IL
great distance below.
Here they began to descend. The
side OF the ridge down which they were
making their way WAS thickly covered
with loose rock and exceedingly steep.
The aborigines, now ever, had rolled
the rocks aside and made a narrow
trail, which could be travelled in sim.
pie file, but no otherwise. When some
way down, the hunter saw at distance,
through the fog, q number Of blazing
camp-tires.
Like fash he realized that he was
betrayed. Well he knew that if he
ever reached the foot of the hill he
never would return. Bnt what to do
was the question He dare not shoot.
because it would it would alarm the
comrades of the treacherous villain who
had misled him. He could siay his be-
trayer in that way, but his own life
wonld pay the penalty. The sounded,
who thought he was leading an nnsus-
pecting victim to certain slaughter,
must be put out of the way, but silent
iy.
1t was a case of life and death with
both of them, and white mars in
tellect against an Indians. Laying
his hand upon the copper-colored rns-
calls left shoulder, Ross insisted upon
going slow, saying that he was afraid
of falling down the hill. Keeping hold
OF his guide, he managed to slip his gun
under his sHspenders. so that he could
carry it that way. Then drawing his
knife Ia very large ohe) he dropped his
lift hand down to the Indians back, to
feel where his heart ought to be, and
upon finding the spot struck for dear
life. His ann was true, and being a
powerful man, the knife went from one
side to the Other, through the body.
cutting the heat in twain. Mr.. Bad
Indian never groaned or kicked, but
giving one short, almost inarticulate
gulp, fell forward with his life blood
flowing in torrents.
Our hero was not yet safe. Dark as
it was, he dared not attempt to find
his way up the hill. Besides, in the
the red tiends would discover
what had taken place, aud track him
wherever he might be.
Sitting down in his footsteps, he
waited for daylight. At the first
glimpse of dawn, he was on the alert,
aud tumbled the corpse out of the path
down the hill. Then, finding his way
to it, lie covered the dead man with
stones, hiding him completely. With
water carried from the brook in his
hat, he washed away the blood that APP
pe;red along the trail then, with the
first beams of the morning sun, he as
cended the hill and fastened home.
Telling the adventure to his neigh
bors, they organized and made raid
upon the camp he had discovered. The
Indians were surprised, many of them
killed, and the contents of their wig
vans captured. /
About year and half before the
occurrences we have detailed, dentist |
started from Weaverville to go to
but never reached there,
and was never heard from. Among
the plumber obtained by the avenging
of which we speak, were |
gunlocks, mainsprings, files, etc; in
fact, everything necessary for the re-
pair of firearms, and full set of den
lists tools. This left but little doubt
that the unfortunate professor of den
tistry had been murdered by these
fiends in human shape.