The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-12-04
A WILD RIDE FOR LIFE.
How a Man on a Santa Fe Trail Was Snatch
ed as a Brand from the Burning.

''Some twenty-four years ago." said
an old pioneer yesterday. Il was in the
employ of the Overland Stage Company.
Reports came in that the Sioux were on
the warpath, and had been seen in
large numbers near the Santa Fe trail,
the route pursued by our stages. Twas
stationed at the time at Fort Dodge,
and had a general supervision of the
stages and live stock. Feeling some
what uneasy, as several coaches loaded
with passengers and treasure were on
the road, / selected one of the best
horses in the stable and started west on
the trail. The afternoon of the third
day. upon reaching the top of low
sand dune, L saw at a distance of per-
haps three miles at least score of red
skins filing over a small rocky bluff.
Putting spurs to my animal | start
ed on the dead run. not having much
fear but that could escape. l had not
proceeded many miles before a bullet
whistled past my ear. This was fol-
lowed by perfect volley. At the mo-
ment some cottonwoods several hum
dred yards to the right seemed sudden
ly to become perfectly alive with Sioux.
Dashing forth with a wild whoop, and
mounted on fresh horses, while mine
was considerably jaded, the distance
was soon lessened nearly one-half.
Squirting my animal to almost incon-
ceivable efforts | soon had distan.ed all
but three of the murderous gang, who
We're slowly gaining on me, keeping up
an almost constant fire meanwhile.
Turning in my saddle l fired at the
nearest foe, who rolled from his saddle,
and his body was hidden in the high
grass, which here grew in wild prairie
abundance. This caused momentary
pause on the part of the other two, but
instantly, however, they were again in
full cry.
AT this moment I for the first time
became aware of new danger. | had
for some time detected the odor of
smoke, and looking up saw the lurid re-
Election of a prairie fire reflected on the
sky. The sun had gone down, and the
shadows were fast lengthening on the
plain Almost maddened with the ter
rors of my position, | urged my ex-
hausted animal to the utmost possible
speed. Soon the hot breath of the
flames seemed to lick the very eyeballs
with their fervid tongues. In thinking
of this new horror had almost forgot
ten the scarcely less terrible Sioux.
Glancing hastily over my shoulder l
saw that the two Indians were close be-
hind me, evidently thinking that fear
of the flames would make me an easy
prey.
Il was at this time on the very edge
of the ocean of fire, which was kissing
md cracking around me with contin-
uous seething roar. At this moment,
upon turning, | discovered one of the
redskins Immediately at my horses
heels, with tomahawk raised to cleave
my skull. As quick as thought l rails
ed my rifle partially and put bullet
through his brain. We were then just
within the edge of the flame, as he fell
headlong [ could imagine the odor of
burning flesh sizzling in the fierce blast
Wrapped in perfect sheet of fire, my
maddcned animal made last desperate
leap and we both fell. How long | lay
there | know not. The sun was high in
the heavens when | regained conscious
ness, and, opening my burning eyes, l
saw a group standing around me. One
glance. and | saw they were friends.
1T was months before | entirely re-
covered from my terrible burns and the
fearful shock my system had sustained
from the combined horrors through
which | had gone. ."-Rocky Mountain
Ne,CS