The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-04-02

at once, under. the direction of M
old soldier, put their wagons in a cir
Gle and began to make a barricade
behind which they could protect tn,
women and children. They started
couple of men on horseback bacl
on the trail to call the soldiers t
their help. We had hard time
We only saved two teams and int
these wagons we had put the few
women that were in our division, ant
leaving the dead who fell under the
fire. we managed to reach the barri.
oade that had been prepared. We
would not one of US have escaped
had not the Indians stopped to catch
our teams and to plunder our wagons,
When we reached our refuge we got
over our fright little, and when the
Indians came up we were ready tc
make a good fight. After some OF
them had been shot they pulled of
and began to fight at long range.
We noticed that their leader was
urging them TO charge us, and twice
he got lot of them and came UP
very near, but we made it hot for
them and they fell back, not, how
ever, before we had seen that the
man leading them was a white man
with a long red beard. We had been
mad before, but we were a hundred
times madder at that white fellow.
-Four times in the fight l fired at
him and missed him, and l had had
good chances, too, so l was vexed
and puzzled. About 4 o'clock one of
our men yelled soldiers and we
cheered as We saw the body of troops
off in the distance. The Indians
stopped their firing and seemed about
to leave, when the fellow with the red
beard got them to try once more, but
1t was no go; we were encouraged and
fired faster and sharper than ever.
AS they turned to go. they fell back
slowly, yelling and firing. 1 said to
those around me, 4 am going to try
one more shot at that red-whiskered
fellow 1T amt any use,' said the old
soldier, he is Mormon, and he has
got suit of clothes on that will turn
any bullet 'Well,' says l, we will
See,' you had better hurry up, then,'
says he, for he is going off with the
rest of them Let him CO. ! said, as
carefully fixed the sights of my rifle.
Il am going to take him as he comes
up on that knoll, for 1 can calculate
just how far that is got my gun
liked. Hurry up says the old soldier,
and as the others had stopped firing,
hey joined in the cry. 'You be equiet,'
says to them; when he comes up
here l will try him, 1 will try his
lead and have the whole body to drop
'n.' He had kind of rested in the
hollow, and when he came to the top
II the hill he stopped, as though he
lated to give us up. Now 1 was not
gwen to prayer in those days, but I
hut my eyes for moment and asked
he Lord to help Inc shoot straight. as
le did David, when he hit the giant.
20 1opened my eyes and took careful
light and fired. They were all quiet,
nd for a moment after the report
here was not sound, and then there
vas a wild cheer as we saw the man
pring into the air and fall fiat on the
round. Somehow we all felt the
anne, for at once we began to climb
ut over the wagons and start for that |
ody. The Indians had partly turned
ack, as if to get the body, but when
ley saw us coming they turned and
an. l got to the body first and
lrned it over. and there l saw the
ullet hole. [ had hit him in the back
his neck and killed him instantly.
S the old soldier came up he said. He
Mormon, sure. and he must have
# his underclothes off or you could
ot have hit him. With that he be.
IN to strip him, but when he got
'wn to the underclothes we found
at he had the Mormon fxings on.
'ell, said !, what do you think of
at? L don't know said the old SOL
er; it seems it amt true, but all
EN- Mormon fellows think that they
e bullet-proof when they have them
othes on, and they never 60 without
EN-. 4 tell you,' he said. they stick
use to them things and have to be
ried in them. so as to be all right on
e other side Well said 1, Il will
him on that so 1 stripped the ,
ings off of him and carried them TO !,
lere the wagons were still shoulder
and burned them up. The soldiers
me up and helped us bury our dead.
vas cleaned out of all my goods. but
lid not care then, l only cared for l
, loss of my chum. 1 had learned S
love him. The soldiers stayed by G
for week, and we had no more f
'uble. This is a good deal more r
nfortable travelling than it was in t
em days. Somehow, though, have t
IN a-living it all over again today.
$, gentlemen, that was my last shot n
a fight. but if this Mormon trouble o
er comes to ofighting. you may count a
in for another shot. / haint for !,
my poor chum, and l haint forgiv- b
them for burning my wagon. In Il
ms, did you say" he said, turning to "
of the passengers who had sug- a