The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-20

the uniform of the United States had come
up, and had dashed into the very camp be-
fore their approach was noticed.
A loud bugle call from the head Of the
troops was the first token the emgrants
received of the new arrival.
In moment the combatantS were
loosed, and all eyes turned to the new
corners.
The disguised Lieutenant Falon looked
and turned faint. lie knew what this visit
meant, if no one else did.
Conductor, shouted the leader Of the
troop, 1--WE are here in search Of Blue
Jack, the noted desperate, accused of the
attempted murder of Lieutenant Fallon, of
the United States army, whom he brutally
attacked and flung into the Deep Canyon
as dead. The Lieutenant is now at Fort
Kearney, in critical condition, and we
demand his would-be murdererp
The emigrants had listened with breath
less amazement to the announcement Of
the officer in charge of the small detach-
ment of troops. They were actually SPELL
bound. Not so the person most interested
in the announcement-Blu Jack himself.
The desperate had comprehended the en-
rand of the troops in the first moment Of
their appearance. After his first sensation
of faintness and terror, he had recovered
his GOODNESS and courage, and was himself
again. --....
AT the very commencement of the of
ficer's announcement, Blue Jack exchanged
glances with the terrified and covering
Burk. The latter pointed one trembling
finger over his shoulder to spot at little
distance, where Blue Jacks horse stood
grazing, saddled for use.
In an instant the chief desperate darted
under the wagons toward the waiting
horse. lie reached him aud leaped upon
his back.
And in the next moment that desperate
rose gracefully in his stirrups at the dis
lance of a few rods, and with the fierce de-
fiant yell of wild Indian, dashed his
spurs into his horse's side, and was away
like the wind.
The troops gave an answering yell of sur
prise and anger, and the officer in command
led the swift pursuit.
Blue Jack had the advantage of good
horse start, and was splendidly mounted,
his horse being seasoned animal, born
and bred on the plains, and endowed with
great life and spirit.
Blue Jack laughed aloud as the
strong animal bore him onward as if he
had been feathers weight. He rose again
in his stirrups, and shouted back ,efiantly !:
"Comc on. Take Blue Jack if you
can !" ..#
The pursuing officer shouted to the out
law to surrender, but the only reply was
hooking laugh. The officer then fired a
shot at the fugitive, but the bullet missed
its mark, and Blue Jack, bending low to
his horses neck, and digging the spurs in
to the ANIMALS sides, swept on and away
with the rush of tornado.
| And after him swept the pursuers.
The emigrants watched the pursuit with
breathless interest until the foremost figure
upon the powerful Indian steed had passed
beyond their line Of vision.
During the confusion Burk escaped also.
AT nightfall they halted upon the south
bank of the Platte, and were at supper
around their fires when the troops were
seen to approach, weary and dispirited-
without their prisoner.
"The fellow has escaped us,o said the
officer.
"You held on to the chase well, Lieu.
tenant" said the conductor.
81 can't bear to 60 back to the fort with.
out him." was the quick reply. "There'S
excitement all through the fort. Poor Fal.
lon was nearly murdered, and was left fol
dead. He was flung over into Deep Can
yon, and happened to lodge in a clump o
bushes. There he came to himself, an houl
or more afterward, and more dead than
alive, he climbed up to the ground above
and fell down in dead faint. A party
was Immediately organized, and sent il
pursuit of the outlaw"
The next day they encountered the party
of soldiers that had been sent in pursuit 0
Blue Jack. They had found no trace o
the desperate or his companion.
"No use looking for Blue jack" sale
the officer in charge of the party, address
ing Landlord. "There has been party O
Sioux about this quarter for few day
past, and no doubt Blue Jack has fallen il
with them. The party is hardly largc
enough to attack your train, and | under
stand they have gone up toward Dakotah
Blue Jack has an Indian wife somewhere
up there"
Upon the second day after leaving For
Jefferson, the emlgrants made thci
midday halt in grove of cotton-woods up
on the bank of the south fork of th
Platte, at its junction with a wide, tree
fringed river which descended from tn
northward' and here they concluded to set
tie.
The site of the village was selected eS
actly at the junction Of two rivers, upon
low bluff overlooking the two streams.
Then public square was carefully lai
out with mathematical eXactness.
Then each mans lot was assigned him
Mark Heber's lot was next to Whitman's
on the eastern side of the square, facin
west, and his future garden ran back to til
edge Of the low bluff.
Mark Heber did mans work, and frol
, the first day of this hard toll Whitma
! ceased to class the youth among the boy
! In the course Of week, eight stror
Lighthouses, each story in height, an
! pierced with loop-holes, and each provide
With single capacious chimney, we
finished Nd fronted the little make
i square. s;,,,,,y =
/ Mark Heber's house :, " ' IslT adoT
ran. ed, built upon the plan genera. =
ed bv he settlers. There were but :,
rooms, one being entered through the Other
The inner rom was to be Gays. Th
outer room was to be parlor, dining-roou
kitchen, library, and Marks bedroom.
"The house is your province, Gay,
said the youth, upon the morning after til
house was finished. s. shall leave you t
furnish it and transform 1t into HON,
while | work upon the stockade. If yo
need nv help when the stockade and blocl