Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-12


in the evening,
1t was apparent from the first that
the characteristics that had made
Davis conspicuous figure in academi-
cal days had not forSaken him as he
had grown older. He began leaning
from the moment he came into camp.
After futile attempts upon myself, he
transferred his weight TO a man from
kentucSy-a demonstrative, devll-may'
care fellow, who was his opposite IN
every respect. The first days drive,
too, revealed the fact that, whatever
may have been his capabilities as n
district school teacher, they did not as
sist him in the driving of mules. More
than once he involved the leaders in u
hopeless tangle with the wheel animals,
and his complications with the harness
were pathetic mixture Of helplessneSS
and ignorance. As to his helplesSneSs,
it was unique and complete in its way.
He seemed utterly incapable of doing
anything without advice and assist
ance.
Ii is, perhaps, needless 10 say that
these characteristics, however original
III amusing in themselves, were not
such as to elevate their poSsessor in the
esteem Of the party. la less than u
week from the day OF the departure the
man from Kentucky had warned Davis
not to come near him again ut the risk
Of being crippled for life. At the end
OF Il fortnight, grieve TO say. he had
oeen Kicked by m ascible member of
tive party and the propriety of deserving
him on the plans had been seriously
discussed Hardly Il man spoke TO
him. and he seemed Il very pariah in
the camp.
After We had been three weeks out
there We're not wanting signs of the
proximity of hostile Sioux Signal
smokes were seen in the evening, and
small clouds of dust low down upon the
horizon indicated the presence of scout
ing bands. LII tine mld-afternoon of
sunny Sunday, as we were slowly
ascending Il low Ridge III the prairie the
advance scout came galloping in with II
ball through his arm, and u moment
la'er a yelling band of Sioux began 10
circle about the train. To dlsmount
and form the three wagons into q
triangular barr,cade was the work OF
buta few minutes. Most of the men
knew their danger and how to meet it.
The Sioux were in large force, and
narrowed their circles in the assurance
of an easy victory. Their bullets began
dropping i'll almost Immediately. In
three minutes after the ball opened
several of the animals had been killed
Il Lob Inv,
wagon with II bullet through his head
As said, all the party We're heavily
armed. But should have excepted
Davis, who not only was unarmed, but
from his general character was deemed
quite capable of groveling in the dust ut
such time. In the hurry of the mo-
ment he had been lost sight OF and now,
when he slipped forward to possess him
self of the dead mans gun, the man
from Kentucky told him with an oath
to drop it, or give it to some one who
would use it. Davis did not drop il,
however, but took his station at the
rear end of one OF the wagons. In II
moment more the the spiraily decreas-
ing circle of sava2es broke suddenly,
aud swept III wild charge toward the
train. And as we turned toward the
point of attack TO see two of the advanC-
ing warriors drop TO the quick report Of
Davis rifle, think surprise and aston
ishment would have rendered lis in
capable of resistance, had not the In
dians swerved from their course and be-
gam clrcllng again rs they did.
But the man who had turned the
attack never stirred from his post lii,-
slouching aspect seemed somehow to
be shaken of, rs he stood there erect
and as firm rs a rock His intirm I'M
der lip closed up like n steel trap into a
hard straight line. His pale blue ewes
wore cool, decided look. The man
from Kentucky looked Mt him a mo-
ment and went back to his post with a
muttered. "Wel I'll be blanked!" The
guide tying his wounded arm in a sling,
said he'd give it up The whole party
breathed freer.
But the whistllng Of bullets aud the
yells of the Sioux continued. In Il short
time the canvas tops OF the wagons look
ed Ike gigantic sleeves. The circles of
the savages widened only to contract
again. Whenever reckless brave
approached within fair range, the sharp
crack of the Winchester from the rear
ofthe wagon sent ball into his paint
ed body. There was no random firing
from that rifle; every shot brought its
man. The repeated charges of the
Sioux grew less frequent from the fact
Of the loss of two or three Of their num-
Der under the deadly aim Of those pale
blue eyes. 1t was after the fifth or sixth
of this kind that the man from Ken
lucky expressed the unanimous senti.
ment ofthe party when he said:
Hadn't yer better get further under
cover Davis? It's purity open thar
But Davis shock his head without
changing position.
The evening wore slowly away. The
minutes went by to an accompaniment
of shot and yell. Some OF the animals
we're lying dead beside the wagons. The
suokes Of the wheels and the beds Of
the vehicles were riddled and spintered
with bullets. Charge after charge had
been repused. Three men were lying
badly wounded Inside the triangle.
The victims Of the deadly Winchester
formed a struggling line almost from