Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-01
SURROUNDED BY INDIANS.
BY RALPH WILX.
Waverly Magazine.

Many thrilling tale has been told of
frontier life by those who belonged to
orr early settlers The savage tribes
that once possessed those portions of our
country that are now the most populous
and wealthy did not give up their rights
to the "pale faces" without making at
least some resistance.
The superiority Of their more highly
favored brothers has at last crowded
them into the territory that embraces
our" Western plains, and the unsettled
tracts that lie west Of the Mississippi,
and east of the civilization on the Pacific
coast. Here they are hemmed in, and
watch with jealous care the soil that Is
life and everything to them.
This latter circumstance renders it not
only difficult but dangerous to travel
those wide wastes, and few have ever
done it without, at some time in their
journey, having their blood quickened
by one or more exciting incidents
To be sure, this has all been changed
by the introduction Of railroads but
this only renders those bygone days, with
their slow moving trains Of canvas-cov-
cred wagons all the more interesting
and romantic. They have history
peculiar to themselves, and one, too, if
it were written out i'll full, that would
abound in instruction and entertain
ment
Several years before the railroad was
completed that now binds our continent
together from ocean to ocean, formed
one of party that was then crossing
our Western plains" One month had
passed since We last saw the limits of
civilization, and everything during that
time had gone on SO pleasantly that we
began to think we should not be troubled
by Indians at ALL
But our leader was a man OF large ex-
perience, and always insisted upon our
keeping guard both day and night, as
We had done from the first. Accord
ingly, while daylight lasted, two of our
company generally rode in advance, and
the same number kept short distance
away on either side of the train. At
night We camped on open, elevated
ground, If there was any near, placed
our wagons in circle, and, usually, after
our jaded animals had been allowed to
S'"HN tNiiit, tiiSN WHY All ullNCli Wllil-
IN the circle and fastened to the wheels
or to stakes driven into the earth.
The first week we had found it neces-
Sary to watch them closely, to prevent
Their returning but after that they be-
haled so well that we ceased to feel I'M
easy about them. and often left them to
iced at will. We learned ere long, to
to our interest had we placed less conf
dence III them and allowed them less
freedom. After the third week we sell
uom even drove the horses all inside of
me circle. We put those left out upon
ther good behavior with some degree of
hesitation, at first, but, finding that they
were not disposed TO stay out of sight, we
dismissed our fears, little dreaming that
'ucil course was soon to cause us Sc
nous embarrassment.
twas not long after this period in our
journey that We arrived, early one after
noon, after slow and monotOnous days
travel at place where We concluded to
NIop and rest. A small brook was near
a. hand, and abundant pasture for our
'"iiis ana saddle horses. Arranging our
wagons as usual, we turned our animals
nose to Craze, and then proceeded to at
'eild to our own wants.
About sunset, the oxen and part of
We horses We're driven in and tied the
liners were again left outside, as we had
''eh trusted them before As dark
''NN came on we selected our watchers,
Facet the first set on duty, and then
Wv rest OF us spent the evening, until
W. Ieit weary enough to sleep, in chat
~.S around our large camp fire, Before
ven clock all was quiet, and nothing
."uUI be heard save the occasional
.o'ement Of some of our fastened
..i.l'Ihals, and the light tread of the sen
~ midnight | was reused from nv
2uhl S!umbers, and called to take my
g'rA in standing guard, with one other
oo'hPany. Two hours was the time
tI,shed to us. The sky was beauti-
"'.{ clear, and the light of full moon
s'"Ne IL possible for me to see far out
'it our camp. could not distinguish
H. horses We had left to take care of
,' ,'i5,sel'es, but, Judging from their past
dUc'' dld not believe there was any
So OF their leaving us of their own
.oIu; AT two o'clock nv place was
4 again. anu ie'iieu u resi-
nh IN the morning | was awakened,
n. .oia that the horses to whose fidel-
We mad trusted were nowhere To be
did not then feel at all anxious