The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-06-29


who wears store clothes. No, I'll go
alone, and if you hear a wildcat yell
three times, then look out for danger,
for you may know the redskins are
near"
Saying this he sprang from the coach
and almost instantly disappeared up
the winding road in the intense dark
ness. 1t was impossible to prevent the
rumbling of the coach wheels, and they
could be heard for considerable dis
| tance.
1t was not five minutes after Mason
| disappeared before we heard the signal,
| followed by a succession OF rapid shots,
| and then the voice of our scout cry
ing, They are coming. Give 'em
thunderv'
By the fierce yelling of the sayages,
| which made the mountains ring again,
we knew that our enemy were in con-
siderable numbers, so each nerVed him
self for the fierce struggle which mnst
follow, as they came bowling down the
declivity.
It was deemed best for the women to
remain in the coach; one of them, how
ever, refused to do so, lest the horses
should take fright and dash over the
cliffs, which were ragged and steep,
thanking the road to the south. The
other lady passenger had become thor
Oughly frightened and was almost help
! less.
On came the Indians, hut they were
| received with such YOlley that they
paused in utter astOnishment. Still
they were not at all inclined to give
way.
At this moment the horses took fright,
and in their struggle backed the coach
directly over the chasm. Never before
nor since have l experienced such feel
| ings, for | saw that the half-fainting
woman had struggled to the window,
| with the child in her arms, and was
| trying to ESCAPE. sprang forward, but
| l succeeded only in reaching the in
fant as down the cliff the vehicle thun-
dered, carrying the mother with it.
| At the same time felt myself falling.
With one hand l clutched wildly above
me, but 1 still clung to the child. Then
l experienced sharp pang, and all be-
came dark.
| must have remained unconscious for
some time; and when l awoke it was
with difficulty that l could move. l
could see that was on a shelving rock,
| and behind me was a sort of cave.
heardithe dripping of water, and, crawl
ing to the spot, quenched my thirst
and washed the blood from my head.
l thought of the child, and twisted
! about for it. Poor little thing; 1t lay
stiff in death and was badly mangled.
| Now rose a question as to what had
| become of my fellow travellers. could
| hear nothing Of them, and almost be-
| gan to believe that was the only sur
YivOr. I began an examination of my
position. l dared not venture to stir in
| the darkness, lest l would fall and en-
counter some of the sayages. And yet
my situation was terrible. Below me l
| could Lear the bowling of wolves; and
one or two of them were evidently en-
deavOring to reach my perch, no doubt
scenting the blood of the dead infant.
| And there was still another cause of
alarm. Back in the cave l could see
fiery eyes and hear the sharp rattle
which can not well be mistaken. | was
near a serpent's den, and could not
tell at what instant one of the venOmOus
reptiles might spring upon me aud
fasten its fangs into my flesh. And yet
1 could not escape.
| Presently l saw a dark form just be-
low me, moving steadily up. In mo,
ment more the fact was revealed that II
was a savage. l found my revolver
lying beside me, but 1 had discharged
every chamber. HOwveer, l clutched
the weapon firmly, and, stepping for
ward, struck him a terrific blow on the
head. He fell, and his cry rang back as
he went whirling down.
Immediately after there followed sew
eral shots and yells, which told me that
the enemy was still about, and that
some of our party were yet alive and de-
Tending themselves to the best of their
ability from their hiding places among
the rocks.
And so the night passed on. At any
moment 1 might be discovered by the
Indians - at any moment serpent
might spring upon me, for they were
evidently becoming more restless. The
wolves were raving like fiends, in their
| thirst for blood, and several times l saw
their fiery eyes flashing on the rocks
some twenty feet above me; and if at
tackled by them my resistance must
necessarily be feeble one, for 1 had
nothing to use in self-defense but my
unlOaded revolver.
And when daylight came, what could
| | expectP If l succeeded in leaving my
hiding place, would not be discovered
and mercilessly butcheredP 1 was not
inclined to despair, but my wounds were
very painful, and my throat and brain
burned with feverish thirst, and dared
not approach the water region, for that
was within the cave, and nearer the
serpents.
At length 1 saw the morning was
dawning. Oh, how welcomed it, for
it wOnld decide my fate. And how
dOubly welcomed another sight which
met my gaze. Down in the valley saw
a company of cavalry winding along the
road. Onward they came, and the battle
WBs renewed. But 1 could hear the
yells Of the Indians, as they retreated
back among the rocks where theiI
enemy could not follow.
After a time l managed to make my
situation known, and was assisted tC
reach the road. Joe Mason was there
wounded, but still with enough life left
in him to make a good fight.
Then began search for the remainder
of the party. The two soldiers had fall
en-, fighting to the last. The driver was
seriously hurt and one male passenger
died shortly after being found. Al
those living had found shelter amOn(
the lodges, and thus saved themselves
The woman who had jumped from tn
coach was uninjured, but the mother o
the child could scarcely be recognizes
as human body. Everything of Valu
was taken from the coach. We were &C
cOmpanied back to Fort Sedgewick b,
the cavalry, where we procured anothe
coach and fresh horses.
Fear Not.
All kidney and urinary complaints
| - ., nfonoaa h1ko