Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-19

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can evx foxnee - rn.Gntoennt tesrosss
ysal sna imng1n1xyR k1f ooyn g -
hpxix0n deuss v0tnmeg ~ om1ks with .
brssxy cIsre bide IT, ssys 2. sne az
Wills 80 ~ day y youne- Noon np-
rals hide ths Rod 81 day ~ Il eome h1oe-
Gus monster VA SPREADING . dreadful
pal over the face Of nature, making Tie
midday seem almost - twilight, bnt
with none Of fhe heaveuly p1sneta to|
cheer the dismal seene- Nearer and
nearer comes the dread sppaEiti0n- and
q The Iong-hidden sun sinks 10 the west
. crimson glow lights she heavens from
zenith 20 hofixou; h0<, sickeu1nR biae<A
from the roaring monster almost st1l1e
tine awed and fF1xht1n0d behoIder whlte
yet miles away; urging his fflRhfsneo
skeed onward, he ices on IN h1s race Tor
life. lucky IL be reaches tho far-dfstant
river. toward which he Il flying, ere be
n folded IN The ez0brsce Of the merry
demon
such was my experience.- "a i'd an
old plsneer: has with the added hor-1
ror Of the fear Of falling into t1e hands
Of some red demoas who we're on the
var pash. and Who, although pursued
likeu1se BY the dreaded fire fiend. still
maintaiusd their bloodthirsty instincts
ana desire for white mems scalps, seem
inQ5y unappAiIed by she common aar-
ger which threatened every living thing
animate and inanimate, In its course.
The circumstances we're these o. aid the
narrator.
q some twenty four years ago vas
in the employ Of the Overland Stage
Company. Reports came in that the
Sioux were on the war-path and had
been seen in large numbers near the
Santa Fe trail, the route pursued by our
stages. was stationed at the time az
Fort Dodge and had general supsrvl-
sion Of the stages and 1--we stock Feel
Jag somewhat uneasy, as several coaches
loaded with passengers and treasure
we're on tae ror d, selected one OF the
best horses In the stable and started
west on the trail. The afternoon of tbe
third day, upon reaching the top Of q
low sand dune, ear ~ distance OF
perhaps three miles at least SCORE Of
redskins fling over small rocky bluf.
| would have retraced my steps 30 avoid
being seen, but discovered that was
too late. as the Indians had changed
their course and were charging directly
| for me.
.Putting spurs to nv animal started
on the dead run, not having much fear
but that / could escape. At first, how
ever, the race seemed . pretty even thing
between the two foremost of my pursu-
ers and myself. Soon, however, the DIS
tancs between M was heightened, and.
after riding hard for q couple Of hours,
my enemies had disappeared. knew.
| however, that was not out of danger.
and anticipated that every moment
would meet others Of the mereiless foe
| In this was not mistaken, as had moi
proceeded many miles further before q
bullet whistled past my ear. This waf
followed by perfect voliey. At the
same moment some oottonwoods several
hundred yards TO the right seemed sud.
denly 10 become perfectly alive with
Sioux. Dashing forth with q wild
whoop, and mounted on fresh heroes
while mins was considerably jaded, the
distance between as was soon iessened
nearly one half. Squirting my animal
to almost inconceivabie efforts. soor
had distaaced ell but three Of the mur
dsrous gang, who were slowly gainins
ON me, keeping mp an almost constant
FIRE meanwhile. Tarning 10 my saddle
I fired at the nearest foe. who rolled
from his saddle, and his body was hid
den in the high grass, which here grew
In wild prairie abundance. This caused
momentary pause ON the part of ths
other two, but instantly, however, they
we're again In full cry. At this momeu
/ for the first time became aware of Z
new danger. had for some time de
teOted the odor of smoke, and, looking
up. saw the iurid reflection of prairi,
FIRE on the sky. The sun had gone dowr
and the shadows were last lengthenins
on the PLAIN. Almsst maddened witt
the terrors of my position, urged m,
exhausted animal To the utmost possibl'
speed. soon the hot breath of tn
flames seemed 10 lick my very eyeballl
with their fervid tongues. In thinking
OF this new horror had almost forgot
ten the scarcely less terrible Sioux
CHANGING hastily over my shoulder,
saw thai the TWO Indians We're close be
hind me, evidently thinking that fsa
of the flames would make me an cas-,
prey. l was at this time on the yer,
edge of tho ocean of fire, which wa
Kissing and cracking around me with 1
continuous ssething roar. At this mo
ment. upon turning, discovered one o.
the redskins immediately at my horse
heels with tomahawk raised 10 cieav,
my skull. As quick ~ thought raises
nay rifle partially and put baiie
through bis brain. We were then jus
within the edge of the fame, and, as b,
fell headlong, could imagine the odol
of burning flesh sizzling in the fiercs
blast. Wrapped In a perfect sheet o.
FIR. my maodehed animal made las
desperate leap, and we both fell. How
long laid there know not. The SUI
was high IN toe heavens when l regainec
consciousness, and, opening my burn
ing eyes, l saw q group standing AROUND
me. Que glance, and saw they wer,
friends.
"It seems TO me that my course Of
the night before bad taken me bacl
again to the stage trail, and the eastern
bound coach had found NE lying there
apparently only oharred remnant Of
humanity, beside my dead horse. A
cluse examination, however, shoSed tha
was not dead, and, restorstives havins
been applied, WAS soon recovered SUIT
6cientiy to be placed in the stage. II
Vas months before entirely recovered
from my terrible burns and the fearfu
shsck my system had sustained from
the combined horrors through which
had gone"