The Dickinson press., 1883-12-01
A Western Mans Presentiment.

"Do l believe in presentiments7 Well,
you can bet I do! I'll relate some of
my experiences, and then you may see
something in it too"
The above was pant of the converse
ton I had a short time ago with an old
frontiersman named George w. Pack
ard. The following is just as he related
his experience to me.
am a 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 ujy
being the care o frelays 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 a circle about where I intended
to lie down, near the trail, as was my
custom, 80 that I might hear the next
passenger, should he chance along be-
fore d%aybreak, and also hear any dis
turbance of my stock. This being done,
/ wrapped myself in blankets and lay
down on my "ready;made" bed (the
bare ground). Around me all was still
as death, save the movements of my
took and the rustling Of the branches Of
e rank sage brush, which in that coun-
feet fee s''"' ~ 'l' ''e'sn' u 'nfee . 'oof
Above me the stars shone out. in all
the brightness this western country can
show. But sleep would not come this
night try as 1 might. I lay during what
seemed hours to me, yet l could not
Presently my stock seemed fret
full, just as they would do when a storm
vas coming on. Again and again 1 tried
to sleep, until a dread came over me,
from which I became quite nervous.
1 arose, taking my rifle, and went all
around for 2OU or 800 feet, but not a Iiv-
ing thing could I see or hear. The still
ness was not broken even by a coyotes
howl. So I went back, and, wrapping
my blanket about me, l lay down again,
laughing at my nervousness, determined
to sleep; but instead of sleep a feeling
took possession OF me such as l cannot
describe. Something seemed to be tug
ging at me and drawing me toward my
stock, which still seemed fretful.
loosened their lariats and led them, as
the impulse led me, Into the sage brush
some distance from the trail, all the
while calling myself a coward, and using
all my will power to overcome the
strange feeling which seemed to possess
me; yet 1 picketed my 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-
trolled me. I lay there only a few min
utes thinking Of what the expressman
would think of me in case he came
through before daylight, when the air
was rent by the most hideous yells that
aver escaped from the lips of a redskin.
I crawled out from my stock, and look
ing out from the brush, could family see
the outlines of dozen Arapahoes. They
had found the clearing where / 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. Imag-
inc my feelings as they struck off the
trail west. Ny ''lucky star" shone that
night surely.
Daylight came at last, but no express
men yet. l waited until half the fore
noon was gone, when I became alarmed
for his safety. With more or less fear,
yet knowing my duty, l mounted my
pony and started west on trail to see if
he was in sight. I rode on for about ten
miles when my pony gave a snort. Allat
once the truth flashed upon me-. The red
devils had met and murdered him. Rid
ing a little further 1 came upon his body
lying in the trail, scalped, robbed and
horribly by their tomahawks,
and his pony lying dead at his side.
"Lueky star" ''luck ,""presentiment,"
call it what you may. It was just that
which saved my scalp that
night and l don't forget it.