The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-09
BEsIEGED BY UTES.

The long lances Of the western sun
Just tipped the far away, snowy crowns
of the range, twenty miles to the east
and the gloomy shadows were begin
ming to creep from the canons and
gorges, and empurple the ragged sides
of the great mountains, sweeping about
them as with kingly cloaks.
All day long Tim Houlihan had lain
hidden in the nest-a bit Of rock, hun
dred feet above the surrounding timber,
and watched lest the fierce Utes. who
were driving the miners to the north
ward, should come upon US unawares,
and slay US at our work.
All day long Jim Mccarthy had sat
ut the plymouth, rifle in hand, while
Charlie Murnan, Jack Scott and I had
delved beneath with our gang of 'chop-
sticks" urging forward the drifts al.
ready begun, and opening more and
more of the precious ore vein which we
had found. We were working in dan
ger, but tomorrow that danger would
be past, for already the troops were NOV
ing and swinging in between our camp
and the Indians, and in one day more
we should be safe. But this one day we
couldn't afford to lose.
The twenty Cinnamon had gone aloft,
and only Charlie, Jack and l remained.
From our position at the foot of the
shaft, where we waited the buckets last
trip, we could see the evening stars far
above US, and family hear the voices Of
our companions.
Another days work done," said
Jack. dropping his rifle into the hollow
of his arm, for we all carried weapons
with US in these troublesome times
"another day gone without an attack o
the copper-noses. Eff the cusses will
keep away twenty-four hours more
we'll be-"
He paused suddenly, his bronzed face
blanching with sudden emotion.
our ears-a wild, blood-curdling yell.
shrill war-whoops, and the sound o,
rushing feet, mingled with rife-shots.
And the same instant the rattle of the
bucket-chain above caused us to shrink
against the side of the shaft and gaze
quickly upward. The bucket was
coming for US, but too late. There was
no one above to hold the crank!
With a hoarse rattle, the iron chain
ran humming from the windlass above;
with a heavy, clan ging sound the great
metal pail swung from side to side, as
it shot downward toward US. 1t was
coming at last, but not to rise again.
We shuddered, then crowded into the
narrow mouth Of the drift lest we
should be crushed, when Charlie sud-
denly grasped my arm and pointed up
ward, with cry.
Twenty feet above the bucket and
clinking to the chain, with face white
asa corpse, and eyes almost bursting
from their sockets, there clung nAn-
our comrade, Jim. shooting downward
TO death!
For one brief instact this horrible
sight flashed before us-for q single
thoughts space our eyes were fixed
upon his; then came sudden shock,
dull roar, a wild, despairing shrek,
and the bucket was down!
With tender hands we lifted the
broken, bleeding body, in which the
breath of life still fingered, and laid it
gently upon the earth within the mouth
Of the drift.
As we did 50, poor Jim groaned lit
tie, and the blood trickled in slow,
black drops from his lips as he strove
to speak.
We bent to listen.
"A complete-surprise! Tim and
all the Cninamen-murdere | tried
to-escape-but-hurled me down! A
hundred red"
ais voice broke, then came a long,
sighing moan, a quiver of the suffering
frame, the shadow of a great agony,
and Jim was at rest.
We raised our eyes, blood-shot with
horror, and looked each at his mate.
"A hundred red-skins!" muttered
Jack, and his lips grew white beneath
his beard. .. thirty to one, and we in
this gravel"
They may not know-"I began.
when I was interrupted by the roar Of
guns and the rattle of ball and arrow
against the walls of the shaft without,
followed by chorus Of fiendish yells.
They do know!' said Charlie
grimly; "and they will be down pres.
emily"
"And theap" said ].
did you ever kill bar in her denp'
growled old Jack; "an' wasn't il
bloody work? we kin fight snug h er p
And he touched his knife-hilt as HI
spoke. deadly gleam lighting his eye
shuddered; then the courage of m,
companions swept through my veins
too, and the experience of years upol
the border brought the color back to m,
cheek and the strength to my arm.
'' We three can defy a thousand here,
said, cycling the opening before us, 81
our cartridges only hold out. and W
can"
shut again interrupted me, and, wit
rifle at poise, crept forward.