Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-03-26
INDIAN JOE.

In tbe summer and autumn OF 1868
was the operator in charge OF the
Overland Telegraph Company's Office
at Plum Creek Station, Neb, about
dAy miles west of Fort Kearney'
Before took charge at Plum Creek
company Of soldiers had been sta
toned there to keep the uufriendly In
diaus in subiechon and to subdue any
outbreak on the part Of those who pre-
tended to be on good terms with the
Government. But affairs on the plans
being quiet, The presence OF the troops
yos considered no longer necessary and
tbey were ordered into Omaha
Every one else out there being SO
confident that no danger threatened
t,or went to work without any ap'
rreboasion myself of coming troubles.
The company furnished me with gooo
horse Two navy reyolvers, ana car
hipe. and my quarters werein an adobe
bnildjpc. called in the parlance oil inc
,,;os y .dobey.' The walls were built
ocsod and the roof was built OF strong
cot,onwood logs in the place Of ratter'.
and covered with the same material
,h,, the walls were composed ot' In
tno summer time grass and flowers
crew IN on the sides and top oil the
dobey.' and made it a very pleasant
place Of abode.
NV communication with the people
o,he world was rather limited, the on
ly ncrsons I eyer saw being travellers
in fine overland stage, movers IN OK
,rocous bound for the Pacific slope ana
- occasional visit from a ranchman oi
tue plains.
Far = while the novelty Of being al
most entirely alone and free from the
restraints that civilized life imposes up,
on rs was very pleasant, but when l
became accustomed to this, the silence
oftte desert during the daytime was
almos, overpowering, and there were
,iroe. when almost sighed for sight
.,.o q hostile Indian. The ship
wcoclcd sailor who is cast away IN MID
oooon alone IN a boat, finds some escape
tran, the lonesome stiffness in the soiI
s,,lasbino Of the waves, but man alone
49, five Mains has not even that much
no;.e to break the dead monotony.-
There were no birds there to charm the
o,r and lend an air Of life to the scene'
evc,nt low and tLen the screen ei 'he
desert hawk could be heard, the notes
of which were rnmuslcal and tar apart
Sitting in my little office some days
everything WAS so hu8hed and stll l
could almost imagine that everybody
also in the world was dead, and thal
had been left behind as sentinel guard
;n, ,beir tombs. l often found myself
morderino what the feelings OF a man
would be if he knew there was not d
byino beipc in the world beside himself
and he was destined to live through all
70 come surrounded by an everlasting
silence. At night the scene from my
orre window was weird and ghost Ake'
hrt the ravonous coyotes broke the
Stiffness that reigued throughout the
1av by swapping and snarllng at eacn
o,Ier until the morning dawned'
For the sake Of passing the tlme' !
cot to firing at the creatures with my
rarhine and revolvers, and it was aston
i.bing to note how quick they would
devour Que when he fell, pierced oy
bullet. Some nights l would XII loul
or five. and in the morning wheh !
wont ont 20 see what remained VI theh
c.rcases not a bone would be iounc
loo hchind. In time l discovered tha'
,hey would tear the flesh from the oohe'
and Then carry them to their lars u
pick during the day. killed b"halos
aptelopes and jack rabbits until l wea-
fried ofeyen that kind Of sport and st
lad was | 10 see any human, the ugll
o.t and most isuorant man on the gloo'
would have been an honored and wei
con,e Guest. After remaining mon'l
in rbat vast solitude, resolved u
throw up ny position although 1t wa'
lucrative one-and go where coul'
n,yo the company of at least one hu
non bcing. but an incident occurred
;u.t At that time which caused me Il
alter my determination.
Sitting one day in the do" ol ID!
dobey peelins some potatoes lOr uiii
NV 7 was startled by the appearance
If q shadow but little distance IRON
me. Glancing up suddenly, 'Lo! tn
noor Indian was standing few lee
f,em the door with lordly mien and al
air which l thought denoted an inten
ton to possess himself OF my scalp
Not desiring. however, to part with II
I sprang from my seat and had hin
covered with my carbiue before he ha'
lime to get the drop on me.
pale face no shoot. Heap goo'
friend said he. Me good lnjun' ant
do heap work for pale faces. CooK!
and wash good. Pawnee brave-uSn
AT first was under the impression
that there was more Than one present
Int when [ discovered my mistake
nat down my carbine and felt no iurthe
alarm.
He told me he had been captureu D.
the Sioux from the Pawnee irioe, pu
had escaped from his caplors' ana II