The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-08-19
THE PONY-REDER.S MIS-
Sion.

station at MCPHERSON The west
ern-hound rider had arrived with
bullet in his leg, and reported that
the Pawnecs were off their rescr-
vation, and were advancing On the
settlement. He had met them
between the last station and Nc.
Pherson's, and they had given
chase. McPherson's could boast
Of but seventy-fve souls at that
time before the railroad came. and
there were but forty men who were
capable Of defending the place
" hatevcr was to to be done had
to be done quickly. Fort Grattan
was eighty miles northwest; and a
a rider was dispatched in haste.
Fort Kearney was seventy miles
southeast, and who would summon
aid from there? 1t was a danger
ous undertaking. The route lay
right through the hostile country,
and the messenger would be al
most sure to meet the Indians
The pony-rlders as a general thing,
were fearless men, but this PROPOSE
ton was so fraught with danger
that they were 10th to undertake
it.
EFF Slade was only here p cried
an old man, "there'd be no hesita-
tion while wimmen and children
were in 0angerp
"1'll go!" and bright-eyed,
tearless-looking young fellow STEP
ped forth.
"Good !" said the old man, press
ing his hand. "Old Jim Johnson
sez no! Old Jim Johnson! You
hear me-! There's more sense in
Essex's Cazeba then the hull lot
OF you. Pick your hoss, boy, an
ride for your life. See! three's
Nelly lookin' at you. For her
sake, Willy, eff no ones else.-
Thirty-fve helpless wimmen and
children; think of it! Ride your
best, an when you git to the sta
ton you may git a relief. Post
'em there, an when you git to the
fort tell the commandant to send
on some cavelry as soon as posi-
bic. Fetch the sojers. an we'll
send the Reds to Californy! Mel
ly Johnson's yourn as soon as you
git back. Good-by, boy, an God
speed ye."
There was a spring, a rush Of
hoofs, and the ride to Kearney
had begun. Right gallantiy the
little horse sprang away at her
riders bidding, and the eyes Of
sweet Nelly Johnson kept upon
them until horse and rider faded
away upon the horizon.
Love was one incentive for the
pony-rider's mission, and the de.
sire to save the people of McPher.
sons from bloody deatt: was the
other. Did man ever risk life in
a better cause? Onward swept
the little horse, her flying heels
throwing up a cloud Of dust which
lowered in the air for hundreds of
yards behind her. To the left of
them glided the still waters of the
Platte, and on the right the bound
less green of the prairie. The
rider sat firm as a rock, his daunt-
less face looking straight ahead
and wearing an air which seem
ed to say it was all for the sake
Of Nelly Johnson.
You may talk of the Mamelukes,
the Tartar horsemen, the savage
Bedouins, and all the wild riders,
but what are they to compare
with our American pony-riders-
men who were fearless and braved
every danger; who ran the risk
of life in every mile they dashed
over; men who were expected to do
fifty miles at top speed in daylight
or dark, rain or shine, hot or cold:
But the railroad has done away
with the pony-rider, and we here
20 more Of such exploits as that
of the renowned Jimmy Moore.
Onward swept the brave little
horse, and at last the station came
| in view. A minute more anc
horse and rider was at the door
| No relay was there to meet them
not a sign Of life was to be seen
but there were hoof-tracks in ev
cry direction, showing that th'
relief had fed. Giving the hors
drink, be mounted, and again
they were on the way to Kearney
Further on they came upon a larg
object in the center Of the trail
It was the western-bound stag
with the horses gone, the drive
betw cen the fore wheels with
bullet in his head, the passenger
lying about the road, and the cor
ductor in the boot wounded unit
death One Mortified look
r pause, and faster fed the horse
Mile after mile is left behind, sta
8 ton after station is passed, an