The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-07-01
A Recent Indian Adventure.

THE hardships and perils of life upon
1 the borders were not all endured by
our forefathers. Even now upon the re-
mote frontier there are people living
through hours of privation and terror,
which we, in our safe and convenient
homes, know nothing of.
The adventure related in this simple
sketch occurred only few months since,
upon the Kansas frontier, during the
late troubles with the Cheyenne In
dians.
Mr.. Hobson, former resident of In
diana, had met with business reverses,
in consequence he determined to begin
life anew in the far West. He gathered
what little household property was left
to him, and in a wagon drawn by two
horses journeyed to his new home.
He selected land far from any railroad
or settlement, because such land was
cheaper, and having built himself log
cabin, he managed in much privation to
live through the first year.
The Indian troubles began during the
second year, and caused the family
good deal of anxiety. They were not
molested, however, and had begun to
feel almost hungry again.
One day Mr. Hobson had gone to his
nearest neighbours, distance of several
miles, with his horses and wagon. Mrs.
Hobson was in the house boiling hon.
my in kettle in a great fire place. She
needed bucket of water, and started to
get it, when, as she reached the door of
the cabin, she saw dozen Indians COM
ing directly to the house.
They did not see her. Without wait
ing to fasten the door, she caught her
baby, an infant of eight months, from
its low box-cradle, and in her fright rush.
ed up ladder which stood in one cor
ner of the house to low loft above.
Laying the baby on pile of quilts,
with desperate strength she pulled the
ladder up after her, and shut down the
trap-door. Then she crouched with her
babe in her arms.
The savages entered the lower room,
and commenced searching and plunder-
ing in great glee.
They snatched the clean blue woolen
coverlets and blankets from the beds
and wrapped themselves in them, threw
the pillows on the floor and sat upon
them, and appeared particularly de-
lighted with the feather-bed, which was
the pride of Mrs. Hobson's heart.
Through crack in the floor, which
was also the ceiling in the lower room,
Mrs. Hobson watched them. Every in
staNt she feared their noisy shouts would
wake the baby; but fortunately the
child was undisturbed by the revel 60
ing on below.
In few minutes the savages discov-
cred the kettle of hominy, and in great
glee it was set upon the hearth, dipped
out into pans, pots, crooks, gourds, any
thing they could lay their hands on, and
devoured. Even in her terror, Mrs.
Hobson wondered what their throats
were made of that they could swallow it
so scalding hot.
lt appeared 10 sharpen their appetlteS,
for they began to search for more food.
Presently one of them found sack of
potatoes under a cupboard.
Paddys paddys ~ he shouted, glee-
fully; "Injun roast paddys make big
fire, get big roast. Big heap paddys i"
Mrs. Hobson knew that many of the
Indians called Irish potatoes ''paddys," I"
so, though she could not see the sack she
knew what they had found.
They returned to the fireplace, and
poured the potatoes down in a heap on
the floor. Then they drew the Goals and
ashes upon one side, and soon had near
ly half bushel OF the potatoes roasting
in the ashes.
They sat down for their expected feast
and as Mrs. Hobson peeped through the
crack in the floor at them, so dirty, ug-
ly and repulsive, a way of escape occur
red to her. What could she do ?''
AS she glanced despairingly round the