The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-11

assigned an office With . princely salary,
but had 10 find a substitute before he
could leave or be relieved and but q few
men cared to volunteer, but had 10 be
pressed into service One operator at
Plat Ridge on the North Platte, bad
been a prisoner in that Office for five years.
His term OF enlistment had long since ex.
pired but he was still held-partly by
force, and partly by increased pay, and the
many opportunities for making "mtl'
lion"
The next morning We move again and
seon reach the foot Of the Dry Ridge, or
Alkih Desert. Here we were ordered to
fiji our canleens with fresh water from q
bright clear spring near the roadside, and
givH our ponies all they could drink Tor Il Is
7iy mills across the desert and not dtop
o "a ar in al that distance. Over this vast
1T field but lit le vege'ai grows 4 DIT 9
air Is dry and salty, parcung tho lips and
Creating an unnatural thirst which nature
has Ut elected 10 provide for. All along the
entire distance the way is strewn with the
carrasses of cattle and mules which have
died OF Thirst or heat Although many oil
them had lain here fer many years they
were In comparatively well preserved
state the coyotes had eaten out the inside,
leaving the frame and skin IN dried ana
perfect condition.
1t was common thing TO sec two or
three wolves crawl out Of these carcasses
aud run for life across the prairie generally
followed by doz.n or more soldiers all
shooting revolvers at them at once. We
passed poor old OK, who had given out
on the way and had been turned out TO die:
A gang OF coyotes bad attacked him and
were about 10 wind up his suf rines when
we came in sight, aud they fed, and we
ended his misery by shooting him on the
spot.
We bad iourneyed on slowly all day long,
the sun had dropped low down IN the
western horzln and we presented the ap'
pearance OF having passed through q
shower OF foe salt. Horses and riders were
all one coler-white.
We had been riding along for hours 10
utter silence wondering II the desert would
never end. Oar canteens bad long since
been emptied and our ponies began to show
signs OF thirst and exhaustion, when just
beyond US suddenly looms up Ikea vision,
what appears to be a gigantic house with a
tall spire pointing far up into the clouds.
An exclamation OF wonder burst from
the whole command. Never were men
more surprised. II was diversion which
served at once 10 relieve the monotony and
help US forget our sufferings. Il
swell stop at that house Tonight" said
one OF the boys. Il
at can't BIZ but few miles away" said
another.
''Boys," says Lieutenant Brazie, "that is |
,,E 10
distant. Well campunler the shadow Of
that rock tomorrow night, II the Indians
don't head US of"
Thirty miles awayl 1t can't be posi-.
ble," said several OF the men, who would
have bet on their carbines shooting into
the very dome Of the great sham Court
House."
ayes, it is a big days march for u.s." re.
piled the Lieutenant who had been post
ing himself as to the scene along the road.
Several men wanted to bet $50 and give
their note payable ION or before NEXT pay
day." that he was mistaken on that point,
but the Lieutenant already held their
papers for all money due them from the
United States, so no bets were taken.
As the great rock disappeared in the fast
approaching darkness, little light CLEAN.
I'd forth away down in. the little valley ut
our feet and thrill Of joy shot through
every breast, for we knew we were up.
Willow Springs and would soon
battle in the clear sweet waters OF the lit
tie stream which flowed through the val
ley. This was the scene OF the fight de.
scribed above.
This blockhouse was fac smile oil all
others along this route and description OF
1t will suffice for them all. 1t is Of pine
logs, built IN q hollow square and about
50A75 ieet. 1t has two rows Of hunks in.
side, one above another, with two rows OF
port holes. Each man has number which
corresponds with the number oil his port
hole, which s just above his bunk, hi6
gun is kept in the rack over this hole ami |
ID ready for useat q moments notice. On
top is watch tower" low structure |
where guard is kept on duty day and \
1t is us safe there as inside the building. At |
signal OF danger from the guard in his
lofty position, every man Immediately
rushes 10 his port hole and in an instant
the yawning muzzle OF mnsket bristles
forth from every opening This was the
reception we met with on our arrival on the
evening III q lestiUn. As soon as.we could
make IL appear to the satisfaction OF these
soldiers that we were not redskins, but
friends, they drew in their guns, aud
threw open the large gate Of the enclosure
aud gave Va cordial welcome. Here We
found some OF the Gu Michigan Cavalry,
lib OHIO Cavalry, 81 US Infantry and
lew OF our Wiuebago scouts who had left
US on our arrival at Julesburg.
Early next morning few Of us went up
the creek short distance to see an ancient
Sioux Cemetery, or place where the In.
dians had used to deposit their dead. We
found q beautiful little grove Of scrub oaks
and cottonwood trees, which looked grand
TO our eyes after being so long out OF sight
OF timber.
The grove had been held sacred by the
Sioux as a burying place, and 1t was told
us that they used 10 convey their dead up
on the BACKS OF ponies for u hundred milea
IN order to give their dead warriors good
send of to the happy hunting grounds,
from this charming spot.
But there had been no interments here
for some years, owing to the fact OF the
blockh0use being built so near. On the
limbs OF every tree were the remains OF
those who hsd long ago gone over the
clark Indian river" The place had about
it a certain gloomy aspect rs the wind
sighed through the leaves and RULED the
old rags and tkins, which hung III shreds
from every limb. These were the winding
sheets and shrouds Of the dead, whose bod.
les had long since been devoured by the
long winged raven which sailed around
the spot adding to the scene certain mel.
ancholy and gloom. Under the trees, tho
ground was strewn with bones OF eve'y
part Of the human body. CHASTITY skune
with urturned faces, stared at US from
every side. Then too, there were many
curious relics under the, trees, such as bows,
arrows, old gun barrels, and stone pipes,
many OF which. with bones for making
fiagtr rings, the boys gathered up and car:
ried of.