Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-28

mountain during some terrible convul
.ion of nature. Among these rocks thou
sand Indians could secrete themselves anC
with their rifles hurl Z shower of dealt
down upon anyone passing through The
CANYON Posey was halfway up the noun
tain when deafening and blood-curdhnE
veil arose high above the innocent prattlC
of the children playing about the spring
| The opposite canyon wall caught the sound
waves and hurled them back in a thousand
echoes A hundred painted Indians leaped
from their hiding places there was con
fused rattle OF firearms, shrieks, groans
curses, screams. Posey saw that the emf
grants were attacked by an overwhelming
force, and he sank down among the rocks
with a shudder of apprehension.
Suddenly woman's scream rent the air
and he started to his feet and peered down
i the arroyo Alice Joyce was struggling up
the rocky defile, closely pursued by two
Indians. Fer long, golden hair streamed
behind her. and her face was white with
terror. Posey determined to save her. He
raised his Winchester, took quick aim at
the foremost Indian, pulled the trigger,
and instantly covering the red mans COM
panion fired again. Both of the bucks
dropped down among the rocks dead, and
| Posey ran toward the poor fugitive, who had
| fallen TO the ground overcome with fatigue
and terror. He raised her up and whis-
| pered few encouraging words into her
| ear
IF we can only reach the top of the
mountain" he said, we can escape. Lean
on me and will help you"
The trembling girl obeyed, and they
reached the top of the mountain without
attracting the attention of the Indians. who
were busily engaged in the canyon below
scalping the slain and plundeTing the wag-
ons. Posey and Alice Joyce had alone es-
capped massacre. Together they struck out
across the mountain, and eventually after
many privations and much suffering,
reached Fort Davis. Posey reported the
presence of Indians and party of soldiers
started out, under his guidance, to pursue
and punish the red murdererS When he
returned to the post, after an unsuccessful
search for the Indians, who had hidden
themselves among the rocky canyons of Ell
Sierra Diabolo, Alice joyce received him
iOyfully as her rescuer from fate horrible
to contemplate. The rough scouts heart
was touched by her beauty and helplessness,
and in his bluff, honest way he asked her to
be his wife. She consented and the post
chaplain married them. After a brief
honeymoon the couple returned to Fort
Conch, and Posey built iaca! for his bride
on the right bank of the middle fork of the
Concho. Very much to everybody's sur
prise, he stopped drinking and cursing and
was altogether changed man. He de-
voted himself to his little wife, and by dint |
of much hard work made the surroundings |
Of their humble home very bright and |
pleasant. One of Posey's neighbors was q
man named Ike Henderson. He was |
married, had one child-a little girl years |
old-and lived about a half mile above |
Posey. Henderson had a bad reputation |
He was confirmed rustler, was suspected |
of being COW and horse thief, and had |
killed several men in bar-room difficulties
Several years before Posey had killed one !
OF HendersOn's partners and the latsE
longed for revenge. So far wholesome !
fear Of Kansas Kits deadly six-shooter had |
deferred him from openly declaring his /
enmity. About two months after the
scouts marriage, however, both men were
in Bentcklin together and Henderson was
drunk. Meeting Posey on the street he /
openly and grossly insulted the scout. Sew
eral saw the insult and expected Kit to
shoot the reckless rustler down in his
tracks To everybodv's surprise Kit turned
or his heel and without word walked
away. This seeming cowardice strength
ened Henderson's courage and he followed
the scout up.
we're id coward Kit, be cried,
u an ye're ateared ter face me"
At this imputation of coward &c Kit
turned quickly and faced the rustler The
latter drew his six-shooter, but Kit was too
quick for him. He sprang forward, seized
the weapon, wrenched it from Henderson's
hand and tossed it into the street
Look hyar, Ike" he said his voice
trembling with passion, while his gray
eyes fairly blazed "ye lie when We say
l'm a coward, an ye know hit. l fear no
man, an least ct all you. I cud kill we
~har ye stand, but l promised my wife
hat I'd take no mans life 'cept in self
license, an Pm going ter stand by that
Henderson was amazed, and the crowd
which had gathered, expecting g tragedy,
urned away with audible sneers.
Kits tied to eT woman's apern-strings,"
vas one of the bystander's comments, but
Sit turned upon him fiercely
Ye lie" he cried, and the man shrank
'ack among the crowd. I'm er free man,
nut made !er promise tew ther best little
woman God ever created, an Pm going ter
tand by hit
Most of the men present remembered
When Kit was the terror of the town"
nd no further remarks were made,
Though the crowd whispered among
themselves as Kit walked away The story
vas noised about the town and comments |
n his strange resolution were varied. The .
letter class of citizens commended the 1
rave scout, but the bad element sneered at
is wo1nanishness, and some Of them were !
ound bold enough TO declare that Kit had j
cen running John Branch play all {
hese years. Fortunately for the utter t
rs these remarks did not reach I
its ears. He went about his bust 9
ess as usual, and devoted himself more q
losely to the little tule-thatched lone ]
ouse " on the river bank Henderson c
oasted that he would whip the scout on '
ght and compel him TO beg for his life c
Ike dog but he never did it. Two f
cars passed away, and Kit, true to his |
romise, never drank nor quarreled. Hen v
erson, who at heart feared the brave scout, O
Oasted among his friends and charged Kit a
18th cowardice; but the two never came I
zee TO face. In the carly part of Septem- t
ar, 1892, heavy rain set in along the Ii
'uthwestern frontier, and an unusually q
rye quantity Of water fell in the ConchO /
alley. Those that were wise took warning il
Y the rising flood, and, deserving their 1
lbins on the river bottom, made camps p
q the high ground. Henderson and POsey L
manned. On the night of the 18th Of a
9ptember Kit retired as usual. Late in fl
e nlShl ne was aroused by hearing the b
p, lap of water, and when he leaped out k
bed there were six inches of water on O.
e cabin floor. He aroused his wife, and. "
Ithering together their more valuable pos il
ssiOns, they sought safety in fight BY h
Mt Of much wading they finally reached g,
gh ground and Posey started q fire V,
'esently man and woman approached Al
e fire. 1t was Henderson and his wife II
le woman was crying bitterly and wiring d,
2 her hands n,
" What's ther matter?n asked Kit, 81
ndy. W
% Nettie our little girl sobbed the /
oman. III
" What of herr"
- Their water KUN or boomin' over our
bin" said Henderson, an we jest barly
{ ont with our lives. Nettie was washed
ray an hit hez broke der ole woman up 81,
werful" eS
Poor little Nette," said Kit and his pr
ice softencd pc