Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-30
A Western Mans Presentime MT.

Silver Plume {Col,) Correspondence.
do I believe in presentim ents2 Well,
you can bet I do! III relate some OF
my experiences, and then you may see
something in it too.'
The above was part of the converse
ton had short time ago with an old
frontiersman named George ". Pack
ard. The following is just as he related
his experience to me.
anu native Of Ohio, but came west
n 1858, and entered the employ of the
Overland Express company as station
agent, my post being in Utah, nv d uty
being the care of relays of stock.
One evening just as twilight was gath
ering, the day expressman having
changed horses and gone. ate my
supper, then brought my stock in,
which consisted of two ponies
and two mules. After 'hob-
bling" them securely. I "picketed''
them in circle about where intended
to lie down, near the trail, as was my
custom, 50 tbat might hear the next
passenger, should he chance along be-
fore day break, and also hear any dis.
turbance of my stock. This being done,
| wrapped myself IN blankets and lay
down on my "rea 'y made" bed (the
bare ground). Around me all was still
as death, save the movements of nv
took and the rustling o. the brancbes Of
rank sage brush, which in that coun-
try grows to the he light of three or four
feet.
Above me the stars shone out in all
the brightness this western country can
show. But sleep would not come this
night try as I might. lay during what
seemed hours t. me, yet l could not
sleep. Presently my stock seemed fret
full, just ~ they would do when storm
Was coming on. Again and again tried
to sleep, until dread came over me,
from which I became quite nervous.
/ arose, taking my rife, and went all
around for 20 or 800 feet, but not liv-
ing thing could l see or hear. The still
ness was not broken even by coyote's
howl. So went back, and, wrapping
my blanket about me, lay down again,
laughing at my nervousness, determined
to sleep; but instead of sleep feeling
took POSSESSION OF me such as I cannot
describe. Something seemed to he tug
ging at me and drawing me toward my
stock, which sill seemed fretful.
loosened their lariats and led them, as
the impulse led me, ito the sage brush
some distance from the trail, all the
while calling myself coward, and using
all my will power to overcome the
strange feeling which seemed to possess
me; yet picketed nv stock, went back
and removed my entire outfit to my
new quarters
Then again lying down, intending to
sleep, a feeling OF satisfaction seemed to
replace the dread which had so con-
troIled me. law there only few lin
utes thinking Of what the expressmAn
would think of me in case he came
through before ayiight, wher the air
was rent by t'e. most hideous yells that
ever escaped from the lips Of a redskin.
l cravled out from my stock. and look
ing out from the brush, could family see
the outlines of a dozen Ara pahoes. They
had found the clearing where T had
been in camp, and finding my fire out
and everything deserted, they left, after
looking around in some of the brush, at
times being close enough to me to
have shot them with my pistols. Imay-
inc my feelings as they ruck off the
trail west. My "iucky starr shone that
night surely. s>
Daylight came at last, out no express
men yet. / waited until half the tore
noon WAS gone, when became alarmed
tor his safety. With more or less fear,
yet knowing. my duty, mounted my
pony and started west on trail to see ii
he was in sight. rode on for apout ten
miles when my pony gave snort. All at
once the truth flashed upon me. The red
devils had met aud murdered him. Rid
ing little further came upon Ills body
lying in tine trail, scalped, robbed and
mntilated horribly by their tornal,awk s,
Lucky star" :iucE ".sp rssentinent, 3
something which saved my scalp that.
night and don't forget it. III.