Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-17


prison-room the first faint pencilings of
the dawn were just visible when one of
the Pueblos stepping noiselessly to the
heavy door which opened into the guard
room, where the guard Oft duty slept
soundly on their hunks, gave quiet
knock, the usual signal given by prison
ers when wishing to communicate with
the sergeant of the guard This door
was incautiously opened by young and
thoughless corporal, who had seen
through the bars that one Of the Pueblos
whom he knew were only in tempo
rary durance-was the applicant for
speech.
No word was spoken, but with the
force and quickness of an electric shock
the three Pueblos darted into the outer
room, and rushing straight for the outer
most door would have succeeded in pass
ing it but at the moment the outside
sentinel hearing scuffle quickly closed
this main entrance, and thus prevented
their escape. Disappointed, they turned
with the fury of tigers upon the guard,
and in few minutes had almost over,
powered the large but drowsy body of
men who opposed them. A Ratchet lay
near the guard fire; one of the Pueblos
seized it and killed the sergeant at one
blow; another soldier was stabbed to
death with knife. seven were wounded
seriously and all seemed demoralized.
The Indians had again gained the outer
door, and had it partially opened, when
the relief guard, returning from patrol,
intercepted and caused them to seek the
shelter of the inner guardroom from
which they had emerged.
The entire garrison was by this time
fully aroused, and in an irregular man
ner had surrounded the guard-house,
keeping up desultory fire, but certainly
doing as much to injure friend as foe
since though many score shots were
fired not one struck the Indians. In the
same room with them were the rest of
the prisoners previously mentioned, all
OF whom seemed too paralyzed by the
recent events to be capable of taking any
part in the combat, and they kept them
selves well out of it by crouchlng behind
obstacles.
Not so the Pueblos. Nothing could
exceed the courage and energy with
which they exposed themselves at the
moment in which they discharged their
sure-aimed arrows. Springing from
the ground, they would shake
their buffalo robes before the window
to draw "a shot, and in an instant
an arrow would find a victim. With
certainty and rapidity far surprising the
possibilities OF evolvershooting these
men, cool in their desperation, emptied
their quivers so etfectually that thirteen
of their outside assailants were carried
off helpless before al the arrows were
shot. But this was their last possible
effort; nothing now could save them;
hundreds of men surrounded the guard
house, and their capture was sure. An
officer now stepped forward and asked
them if they would surrender; they made
no answer. He then called out to the
other prisoners, "All you who wish to
save your lives come out at once" To
this appeal all but the Pueblos responded
by coming to the door and surrendering
to the guard outside.
Preparations having been made for a
final attack of conclusive character
upon the desperate men, another appeal
was made: Come out who choose; re-
main and you will die" Then came back
in loud and ringing defiance these words
the only words yet uttered by them:
" va uerenos! entire, 50 quiers! Pin En-
glish, "We shall see. come in, if you
wishw Again they were asked. "Will
you come outS" but there was no reply,
and the preparations for their death
went on.
The desperate resolution of these I'M
fortunates to kill and be killed had rem
dered the mode of their death very sec
ondary matter 1t was indispensable
that they should be deprived quickly of
hn IL, oh nf hot
no more lives should be exposed to their
skill and courage. sergeant of ord
nance was therefore sent for, with in
structions to bring twelve-pound shell
to the guard house. He soon arrived,
and, mounting the roof of the building,
removed some of the 0sg0S or joists which
supported the adobe roof. A sufficient
hole was thus made, the fuse was lit and
the shell thrown in, its explosion caus-
ing the instant death of two of the Pu-
eblos and wounding the third. That the
remaining one should be quickly dis
patched, the Sergeant presented mus
ket to shoot him, when the Pueblo, firing
an arrow, struck him in the face, through
lip, nose, and skin of the forehead, caus-
ing the rapid retreat of the sergeant.
Another man with IA musket now
mounted the roof, and, raising his weapon,
fired; the Pueblo fired at the same time,
but it was his last effort; his previous
wound had weakened him, the arrow flew
wide of the mark, and he fell to the
ground, shot through the body. His fall
was but momentary; quickly springing
to his feet, he shook his bow in defiance
of his enemies; then holding it alott he
pointed to where the last musket-shot
had broken it, threw it and his last arrow
to the ground, then closing his eyes and
sinking his head to his breast he began