The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-05-23

blown or by the wind When they
reached CO ND their wagon was in ashes
and all Of their provisions gone except
few scraps of bacon In their eagerness
easerness for pluuder the Indians had
scattered the -four over the ground for
long distance. The prospect was enough
| to sicken the strongest heart, but it was
| finally resolved &c push on and take the
I chances of falling in with other travellers
They rode the OK by turns, and when the
bacon YVES gone they shot prairie dogs,
and occasionally few antelope with their
revolvers. IN this way they travelled
until they overlook widow woman with
five children " no were going to the gold
mines Each of them carried a wash
pan and pick They had been out OF
provisions for two weeks but as the chill
dren were splendid shots, they found no
trouble in supplying their mother with
prairie-dog steaks, and other kinds OF
meat. She said that they were attacked
by Indians twice in one night, but the
| children fought so bravely that the saw
ages were glad to retreat. She then
opened large band-box which was fas-
| tened with straps to the wagon, and
| proudly exhibited thirteen scalps which
her darlings had taken from the tops OF
her blood thirsty enemies, She regret
ted that her bonnet had been badly soil
ed with blood, but when she considered
how bravely her children fought, she
forgot all about it.
The next story was of an Indian fight
in the Green River country, but, as the
speaker was at the point of being roasted
aliye, the train stopped at Cheyenne, and
we hurried out to dinner.
1t is said that some of the kindest-
hearted and most Christian miners, tell
the biggest yarns when among strangers.
Our friend, who called himself Thomp-
son, proved to be man of this class. |
noticed from the time we left Omaha,
that he was continually buying candy,
and fruits. and nuts for the little ones,
and when | came out from the dinner
table found him talking with an old
grey-haired woman who sat crying on the
platform. She was thinly-clad, and the
two little girls who stood near her. looked
as if they had been born with the ague.
She told pitiful story; how she had
come long way with her grand children
in search of their father how that al
though she had through tickets, the bag
gage could not be found The mother
of the children had been dead only a
month. The old lady said that she ex-
pected to find her son. the father, at
Cheyenne. but no one had seen him for
year and she had spent several days
looking for him. Her last dollar was
gone and the children were suffering for
| food. At this juncture rough, red
whiskered man intimated that he knew
all about her. He had been around rail
roads too long to be humbugged by beg
eing ''Shut that trap of your n or I'll
trot bullet through it for all Eternity"
broke in Dick as he touched the trigger
of his revolver. The man skunk away,
while the children ran screaming down
the platform. The passengers gave her
some money and resumed their seats
in the cars. The eastern and western
bound trains were about leaving, and the
Denver train would start in few min
utes. I rushed to the telegraph office
with an important dispatch, but when [
returned the woman was gone, and | had
just time to jump into the rear car See
ing Thompson by the stove [ went over
to him and asked what had become of
the old woman. ooh, she is all right
over yonder," he said, you see stranger
she had no money except what the pas
sengers gave her, and she has no home
out here, so I paid the damages for three
tickets to Denver, and shall see that
the whole outfit is properly corrallcd:"
took his hand, but before 1 could utter
a word, the old lady walked up to us,
and looking in Jims eyes moment she
said:
aren't your name Richard Thomr-
son ?"
ut generally ar, woman
"Well, Richard, as sure as live, I'm
Old Aunt Polly who used to carry you
in my arms
, The man jumped up as If he were shot
. DO you tell me, on your sacred honor
that you are the genuine Polly of old
Watertown?'
Yes be, and God bless you Richard,
thought the Indians had killed you
years ago"
You bet they didn't, said the strong
man wiping his eyes, and kissing her like
girl; 'tand," he continued, "you never
mind about cousin JIM don't want to
hurt your feelings, but he's gone into
summer quarters
He is dead?'
''There now don't take it too hard,
auntie. Partner Jim was the best friend
, L had, an9 L m going to stand by you.
You shall never be poor any more. Why
didn't you give a fellow the gripe at
Cheyenne? l would have known you the
first time sure. There is nice big
house Down in Denver with nice red car
pets. and lots of soft rocking chairs
which me and Jim dug..out of old Greg
DRY, you and the children arc welcome
to them all
And so the great miner tried to COM
fort the grey-haired woman of ''pardner
JIM" No lover could be kinder than he