Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-03-29
THE PONY RIDERS MISSION AC-
COMPLISHED.
Potter's American Monthly.

1IltTsOil =. IlC t''1,
had arrived with bullet in his leg, and
reported that the Pawnees were of
their reservation and were advancing
on the settlement He had met them
between the last station and McPher.
sons, and they had given chase. Nc
Pherson's could boast Of but seventy
five souls ut that time, before the rail.
road came and there were but forty
men capable Of defending the place,
Whatever was to be done had To be
done quickly. Fort Grattan was eighty
miles northwest, and u rider wis dis
patched i'll haste. Fort Kearncy was
seventy miles southeast, and who would
summon aid from there? IL was q
dangerous undertaking. The route lay
right through tie hostile country, and
the messenger would be almost sure to
meet tic Indians. The pony-riders, Us
general thing, were fearless men,
but this proposition was fraught with
50 much danger that they were 10th 70
undertake IL.
"Ef Sladc WIS only here" erred mn
old man. therc'd be no hesitation
while wmcn am children were IN dan
ger"
ri golp and bright-cycd, fearless
looking young fellow stepped forth.
"GoolW said the old man, pressing
his hand; old Jim johnson SCI 50!
old Jim johnson! You hear me!
There's more sense in Esscx's cazeba
than the hull lot Of you. Pick your
hoss, boy, and ride for your life. See,
there's Nelly lookin' ~ you; For her
sake, Willy, Of no ones clsc. Thirty
five helpless wimcn m children; think
-of III Ride your bcst I'M when you git
to the satlon you may git II relief lost
2cm there, and when you git to the fort
tell the commandment to send on some
cavalry as soon rs possible. Fetch the
soicrs, M wen send the reds 10 Cali
forny! Nelly Johnson's your'n as soon
as you iii buck. Good-by, boy, an
God speed We.
There was II spring, u rush 81 hoois,
and The ride To Koarncy had begun.
Right calamity the horse sprang away
III his riders bidding, and the eyes Of
sweet Nelly Johnson kept upon them
tntil horse md rider faded away upon
the horizon,
Love was one incentive for the pony
riders mission, and the desire to save
The people Of Mclhorsons from \
bloody death was the other. Did man
ever risk life III Il better cause On
ward swept the little horse, her lying
heels throwing mp il cloud of dust
which lowered III the air for hundreds
of wards behind her. 10 the left Of
them glided the still waters Of the
Platte, and on the right stretched the
boundcss green Of the prairie. The
rider sat firm us ii rock, his dauntless
facc looking straight ahead and wear
ing IN mir which seemed to say il was
MI for the sake Of Nelly Johnson.
You may tulk of the Nlamelnkcs. the
Tartar horscmen, tho savage l}odonins
and I'LL the wild riders, but whit are
they "a compare with Our Ameri-
can pony-ridcrs men who were lenr-
less, and brnved every danger; who
ran the risk of life III every mile they
dnshed over. men who We're expected
to do fifty miles top speed in daylight
or dark, rain on shine, hot or cold but
the railroad Inns done away with the
ponoy-rider, and We hear no moro OF
such exploits us that of the renowned
Jimmy Moore.
Onward swept the bravo little horse,
and Mt last the station came III view.
A minute moro and horse and
ridcrWpre 1T tho door. No relay
was there to meet them. Not sign oi
life was To b seen, but there were hooi
tracks on the ground IN every direction
showing That the relief had He'd. Civ
ing the horse drink, the rider mount
I'd, and again they were on the way tu
kcnrney. Further OH they came upon
lnrge object III the centre Of the trail
Ii was the western-bound stage with
horses gone, the driver between the
fore-whccs with il bullet III his head
the passengers lying about the road
and thc conductor inthc boot, wounded
unto death. Ono Mortified look, 4
pallse. and faster He'd the horse. Mile
after mile is left behind, station after
station il passed and no relief. VII
they ever get 70 kearney2
TIN the prairie to the right Of them
appear il host Of mounted mon. They
are the pets Of the Peace Commission
on thernnnual muraul. Turning Will,
triumphant yell they speed to head
the rider III, Narrower grows til,
space between them, and the gallant
horse rcdoubles hls eNertions In th,
van Of the snvnges rides II tall chief
mounted upon powerful horse, lis
plumoS streaming III the wind rs Il,
urges the noble animal he hestrldes
Young EsseN can escape if lie turns
hack But no The sweet face u
Molly Johnson and the shrinking foam,
OF dorrneeless little ones como hofur,
his view, and dashmg the perspiratiol
from his brow, the pursued dashes on
ward, But il few miles nlorcanl suceOl