Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-13
A Daring Deed.

It was sultry morning in the month
of August, 1882. Freshly green woods
waved around the little settlement 0!
Bryant Station, pitched in the far west.
ern wilderness near the shining Ken
tueky river.
The previous summer party of set.
tiers from Lexington had built their
cabins ct this place. and surrounded
them by fence Of logs, called stock.
ade. A deep, narrow ditch was dug,
and large, long logs were planted in il
upright and close together, wien the
soil was filled in around them.
Such fence, or pslisade, was usu-
ally fifteen or twenty feet high, aud an
efficient fertilization against an enemy
who had no cannon with which to de-
etroy it. It was built with crooks or
angles, called bastions, and was pierced
with many loop-h"les, through which
those inside could discharge their rifles
at q foe outside.
Ingress and egress were afforded by a
heavy gate of logs. swinging on huge
wooden hinges, which. when closed,
was as strong as any part of the walls.
There were about fifty families living
within Bryant StOckade, one hundred
and fifty souls in all. The men were
principally farmers, and their beautiful
farms lay without the fort, covered at
this time with corn, potatoes and Ak
ripening for the harvest.
On those green, growing crops, the
settlers were depending for their win
ter's support, and they guarded them
with watchful eye. There we're labor
and care in it, for daily the husband man
worked in the field with his trusty rifle
beside him. and night and day guard
stood sentinel in the little watch tower
on the walls to prevent an Indian sur
prise.
II was perilous time on the frontier.
Incited BY English agents, the western
savages we're waging fierce war against
the encroaching whites. The red men
were carrying devastation far and near,
burning cabins and hamlets, and put.
ting their prisoners to death with cruel
fortunes. APPLY was Kentucky termed
the dark and bloody ground.
Upon this particular morning, there
was unusual stir within the StOokade
All night long, the men and women
had been molding bullets, and making
preparations for an early march to H., :
6tockade. near which they lad Just
heard Captain Holder had been defeated
By the ssvages. At sunrise the whole
garrison stood on the parade ground,
al armed and equipped, and their
knapsacks holding food for four DAYS.
The women and children were all
out saying goodbye. Captain Rey.
nolds had issued his last orders. and
the gale Was about to be opened for
their departure, when suddenly every
lace paled, and the little children began
70 cry with fear at the sound of horrible
war-cries from Iydian throats.
There was rush to the picketing,
and through portfolios the settlers Ga "
ON the hillside. among the stsndin 3
corn. forty or ffty savages brandishine
their tonahawks, firing guns and utter
ing fearful whoops.
Lets out and at them, )" cried one OF
tbs young men. 1--WE outnumber and
can beat them in open fight" Instantly
thirty OF the pioneers rushed to the
gate; there they we're stayed by some
of the elder men. Versed iu back
woods life, they knew Indians too well
. thus venture their lives by leaving
ths fort.
"0o not out for your lives" said
Captain Reynolds, an experienced
tronticssman. Yonder band of yell.
ING Indians is only q decoy party to
draw - ont where some larger con.
eoatod force would destroy us,"
30 nome left the Stooksde at that
ome. put Afterwards, when it was quite
certain that larger body of savages
vere gathered in the surrounding
woods, tho settlers determined to send
some ono to Lexington to warn the peo-
PIE there and to obtain assistance.
Two Of the garrison volunteered to
undertake tho dangerous mission.
There were horses in the fort. and
mounting two Of the sviftest. Tho brave
men darted out OF the opened gate and
rode - fast ~ they could down the
Lexington road.
Everybody in the Stocksde looked TO
- them fall. shot dosn by Indian bull.
lets. but the concealed enemy remained
perfectly quiet, thus showing that they
counted on their presence being unsus-
pected. and were also numerous enough
not to fear any reinforcement that
might be sent from neighboring sta
Hons.
The Indians among the corn were moi
u sight OF the gate or the road, and
they etili continued to make their hor.
Ribie noises.