Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-06-02
A NIGHT UPON THE PLAINS.

| NV name is Jack Ward. I am an
old man, now, and many years have
come and gone since the time of which
write; but century could not blot
from my memory the fearful scenes
through which l passed on that terri
BILE night, twcnty-one years ago. Nv
father and mother were residents of
Kentucky, and it was in this proud
old State that I first started on the
journey of life; but at the age of 33 l
was married, and removed to tie Far
| West.
1t was a new experience to Laura and
me-this living among the savages, but
my little blue eyed wife never showed
; by word or action, that she was tired
of the great garden of nature, where
human life has no higher value than
that of the brutes. We were very hap
py in our new home; the Indians ap-
peared to like us, and for FIVE years
we lived in peaceful contentment with
nought to mar our pleasure, save an
occasional report of Indian hostilities
These never troubled us, however, and
during this time others settled near us
and with them We kept up a neighborly
friendship.
Thus time went on until, as / have
said, we had been living in the West
for about five years. The Indians had
never molested US, though they came
to our house very frequently. Among
those that came was a chief who called
himself Rolling Thunder" he was a
veritable savage. wicked and malicious
with not a particle of good in his com
position. He was thief by nature, and
anything that he wanted he never hes
itated to appropriate to his own use
After he took to coming to our house
We missed sundry articlesfr our side
board, and at last resolved to put a
stop to this petty thieving.
Among other things that we missed
were several bottles of wine Of an ex-
cellent quality, which / had bought for
our own private use. knew, of course,
that Rolling Thunder had stolen my
WINE. so one day drugged some with
ipecac and placed it where knew the
Indian would get hold of it, In short
time missed the bottle. and after that
it was some time before Rolling Thun-
der paid US another visit. He came at
last. however. and there was a look of
suspicion on his ugly countenance that
made him u.lier than ever He said
nothing about the wine, but T could see
that he suspected me of having played
n trick on him, and from that time on
ward he appeared to hate me. As time
! h. T,1,oy, S.,1 r.,
together. and had almost forgott en-
the incident when it was again brought
to nv memory in a manner never TO be
forgotten.
One beautiful moonlight night in the
latter part of September, my wife and
l had started to visit one of our nea- st
neighbors, a Mr.. Thompson, who re.
sided about mile from our house. We
had gone about half the distance be-
tween our house and Thompscn's when
q large body of Indians suddenly rode
up and surrounded us. They were led
by Rolling Thunder, whose hideous
ceuntenance looked more hideous still.
as he dismounted from his horse and
commanded his braves to make us
prisoners. In less time than it takes to
record the fact we were bound hand and
foot. Then their chief came forward
and said:
i Let the dog of white man pale and
tremble. for the chief Of the Pawnees is
great and powerful; the white traitor
gave Indian poison, much poison, make
Indian heap sick, but Indian got well
10 take vengeance on the white man.
: Rolling Thunier has spoken; let the
white man hear ..r,ts,'f 7r-t
Having said this, the Chief comunan.
ded that we should be placed on horse
! back, and this having been accomplish.
4 ed, the whole band mounted and struck
!. out over the plains, taking US with
: them. Not once did they halt until
they reached point about ten miles