Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-09-19
We'll Tom, bows your luck said g

come ever with me. sl5sss=
Very poor at present, i replied. III
dust ct poker is better than digging
joined the game and played for
awhile. At last one Of the players threw
up his hand, and said he was cleaned out
so, thinking it might be my turn soon, l
stopped. I finished my glass, and pre-
pared to leave the room. Just as got to
the door burly digger came rushing in,
almost upsetting me, and nttering the
most frightful oaths. The entire saloon
was in an uproar in an instant. Revolt
Vers and knives were drawn, and q doz
envoices shouted out, What's the mat
ter2'5 !. se.,.:.s..=. 5..ts'. .s,....3r.
!" Matter enougni' cried the invading
digger, with another volley Of expletives
The escorts been attacked, and the gold
is gomez ia f..>< ..... ~ ~. r.,
"Words fail to describe the scene that
ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced and raved like madmen. When
the tumult was somewhat subsidized, I
managed to make out that the wagon
! had been attacked in the dead of night,
| by party of armed rangers A fight
had taken place, not a trooper had been
killed, and the gold had been taken.
The attack had evidently been pre-ar-
ranged, for half Of the troopers had been
found drugged, and were consequently
unable to fight. Three of them were re-
ported missing, Mapping Bill amongst
the number. I went off to our tent and
told Sandy. you're right about the vii
lain, but we'll be even with him yet
"We went back to the saloon, where
we found all the diegers assembled,
listening to an account of the affair from
one of the troopers. 1t appeared that
shortly after leaving the camp the axeltree
of the wagon broke, necess;tating a stop.
page. Ms ht came on, and found them
still DELAYED by the booker wagon. Rain
fell, and some Of the troopers took little
spirits to keep out the cold. About mid
night, the troopers who were acting as
sentries were alarmed by the rush OF half.
a-dozen mounted bushrangers. They en-
deavored to wake up the others, but
they were overpowercd and fastened to
the trees. The contents of the wagon
were divided among the gang, and they
soon rode off, followed by Mapping Bill
and the three troopers. In the morning
the bound troopers managed to wake the
Others by thtir cries, and then it was
found by their condition that the spirits
must have been drugged; hence their in
ability TO offer any resistance.
1--WE held hastv council, and decided
to send to station four miles away for
fresh troopers. By means of feet mes
senger, search party was organized, and
they left the camp two hours later, pre-
coded by the black crackers to point out
the trail. Luckily, I managed to be en-
rolled among the party, much to my salts.
faction. bad score to settle with
Mapping Bill, and I intended to give
good account of him if we met. We
numbered twenty resolute, well-armed
fellows, carrying revolvers and knives,
whilst the twelve troopers with us had
rifles in addition.
"We proceeded first to the scene of the
encounter. We found the wagon drawn
off the track and overturned. The black
crackers soon took up the trail, and we
went into the bush in Indian file. Our
progress was necessarily slow, but We
were quite certain of coming up with the
rangers at last. We followed the blacks
for couple of hours, then one of them
set up warning cry, and we rushed for
ward. In the centre of an open glade we
saw the body of man laid upon the
ground. Scattered around were bits of
canvas, and grains of gold glittering in
the grass. Examining the body, we
recognized it to be person some Of US
had seen hanging about the camp for a
few DAYS previous to the starting CT the
escort. A small blue hole in his forehead
told what had happened. Evidently
dispute had arisen among the rangers,
and this poor fellow had been shot for
his obstinacy.' We again took up the
trail and proceeded. The bush now be-
| came less dense, and we made greater
progress. About mile farther on one of
the blacks, who was some hundre yards
ahead, suddenly drnpped fiat on the
grass, and gave us warning signal. Ad-
| vancing cautiously to mis- side, we peered
through the bushes. Down in a hollow
| we're six rangers, seated around small
| fire. Their horses were tethered near
them, and various packages were scatter
ed about. Our plans were soon laid. We
made detour, and completely surround
ed them. I crept quietly THO gh the
underwood, intending to reach a tree
which grew about twenty yards from the
fire Of the bush-rangers. Suddenly hand
was laid on my shoulder. l hastily
turned, and saw tall ranger close by
my side. He grasped me by the collar,
and presented revolver to my fore
head.
"'One sound, and I'll blow your brains
out he Kissed.
Resistance was useless, so I submitted.
he disarme1 me, flung me on the ground,
and fastened my hands behind me with a
cord he pulled from his pocket. He then
went a few yards away to warn the rang
ers, suppose. I heard ringing cheer,
shots, oaths, and all the usual NJ Use of q
hand-to hand encounter. Giving shor
and sudden wrench, I got lose, and rush.
ed forward to see the result OF the tight
Just as I advanced heard two shots
fired almost simultaneously, and a bullet
shaved past my head. I clappcd my
hand to my left ear. Heaven! the lobe
was shot away. Another inch, and
should have been killed. e..
"'Rather a narrow shave. that said
one of the troopers, coming forward. i
just saw the fellow drawing bead on
you when / dropped him. .
II went forward, and found the victory
had been ours. Three of the rangers had
been shot down, one of them Mapping
Bill. Two were wounded. and lay on the
ground, whilst one had escaped. Judge
Lynch soon settled the two prisoners.
I'VE recovered all our gold. and made
preparations for our return. We gave
the dead . hasty burial, easing. them, of
course, of all valuables, etc. I found a
pocket-book on the body of my would be
slayer, and from it I cleaned full &C.
count Of the gang. From information
therein contained, Sandy and !, some
weeks later, made little expedition of
| our own to place in the brush, where
we found quite q collection. of nuggets
and dust-the result of many months of
bush-ranger's life. As it was impossible
to restore the treasure to its lawful own
ers, we were obliged to keep it. We re-
turned to the camp; and, in consideration
of our successful efforts, we received a
Il share IF rho ua1d Snme rnOntha 1ator