The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-03-28
Grignon, the The, Conjtlr'er.. l'.

i was GDTOWll HUI Tile GOupuuy oA oiis,
non. the Conjurer. I was on my way tc
California, and had taken the overland
route in preference to any other 1t wa:
on my journey across the plains that ]
made his acquaintance. Our part,
overlook a single wagon. 1t contained
solitary man. The horses were deae
and the man nearly so. This man wa:
Grignon, i paid tue utmost attention tt
his wants. Being a medical man | gave
him all the benefit of skill and care. Al
he recovered he naturally entertained |
strong friendship for me. His wagor
had fallen behind the train to which he
belonged, and they had been compelled
by their own necessities to desert him
We had come into the country of war
like Indians, and they were not slow il
becoming acquainted with the fact, Ev
cry day they prowled around us in grea
numbers, threatening and insulting US.
Every day made matters worse. W.
did all that we could to be friendly. ant
|determined to avoid an open rupture as
far. as possible, for there were twelve on
our side, and on their side apparentl,
twelve hundred.
We, held council Of war, and deter
mined to bring matters to crisis a
once. The crisis soon came. 5 s
One day big Indian came riding
along by us. He began talking in q con
temptuous way, and gesticulating furi
ously. At last he asked one of our mer
| for his gun. The man refused Tht
Indian repeated his question, and at,
tempted to take the gun from his hand
The rDan, drew back, The Indian sprans
forward, hourishing his knife and threat
ening. At this the man calmly leyeled
his piece and shot the Indian through
the heart. Al, .t.asgf.t9 es
As the wretch fell shrieking from his
horse the plain seemed to be alive witt
other Indians. From behind every
clump of-trees, every rock. and every
rising ground, they poured forth il
countless numbers We had never be
fore seen so many assembled together
as now. s.s, = a..
And now our companion. the conju-
rer, came out conspicuously. He had
been once in the French army. he said
and understood all its admirable disci
pline. Al few words of warning and .
short explanation sufiaced to make Us
form a circle of the wagons, and draw
up behind them, with baggage heaped up
for breastworks. Then Te waited fol
the savages .9s se afag
But they did not come just then they
waited till night a,e
Night came. Our defenses were made,
Our wagons were arranged more closely
and the barricade of baggage was made
higher, deeper, and more effective.
Shorty after dusk the tramp of thou
sands of hoofs shook the plain Down
upon us thundered the Indians. Shouts
and yells burst around. eas IS
At last our yolley burst IN thunder
upon them sssa
The effect was terrible. Many mus,
have been wounded orkilled, judging b.
the awful uproar that arose. For tims
there was confused hubbub Of sounds
Horses were trampling men calling;
groans were mingled with cries of rage
During all this time we fred at intervals
whenever ne heard sound, outstanding
our ammunition,and not willing to waste
shot
at last there arose a wild tramp OF
horses, the sound moving away from us,
and seeming to show that our enemies
had retired baffled from the assault.
Yet we were afraid of some plot.
Grignon made us keep our watch, and
all that night we lay on our arms, s,expect
ing every moment to hear the Indian
yells which announced the assault of the
sarages.
After hong night, which seemed in
terminable, morning dawned. As the
light llumined the plain We looked
around arixiously for the enemies but
saw none whatever We took hasty
breakfast, and then deliberated on what
we ought to do. Grignon gave it as his
opinion that the Indians we're yetin the
neighbortood and we're watching to at
tack us on the march, He thought it
would be better to wait at least another
day. We all yielded to his opinion, and
waited as best we could.
After a few hours,at about 10'o'clock.
ten or dozen horsemen appeared over
a hillock in the distance, riding slowly
toward US.
"They wish to have parley," said
Grignon. ssSome Of you step forth and
see what they want wish to have a
little to say, but will wait"
One Of our men was selected, and went
outside Of our inclosure to meet them. {
Meanwhile Grignon lifted a trunk out
of the wagon which belonged to him.
drew it outside, and busted himself cool
" in arranging and turning over the
things.
Our representative stood outside wait
ing for the Indians Ten OF them dis
mounted and walked towards us in a
friendly manner, while the rest held the
horses. ~ s.
One Of them addressed our man in
broken English. g 9
The Indians, he said, did not want
our lives. They wanted powder.
They were very muchin want of bull
lets. s9s s
One OF US said in a low voice that bull.
lets were the only things they would get
from rs, hut the Indians did not hear
him. Our representative refused very
mildly. 'e9l'5 5s 81
The Indians stood talking with one
another. Grignon advanced towards
them. He whispered something in a
low voice to our representative who iiu
mediately withdrew -is ,ssls
Grignon then stood facing the Indi
ans. = - e z. z 2 =
aAre you the captain ?" said the
spokesman Of the Indians, suddenly, as
he noticed Grignon. 8 q e
mo; I'm the medicine man. You
cant shoot these men, or these horses
| will save them, 80. -, 5,as, S.
The Indian translated this to his com
I,anions, who burst into roars OF laugh