Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-17

IhHOwl0g me nelptec4 moo On to0 HtOohe
huge warrior was about 10 give them their
coup de grace when his weapon dropped
from his hand and be fen 9 corpse on the
body Of bis intended victim.
WAh ysllo terror and cries of spirit
RiHer' the remaining Indians turned and
fed, hut not before another had fallen BY
the hands Of the mysterious msrksmsn.
After considerable effort Sam succeeded
in loosenipg his bonds and releasing bus
companion Gathering up their weapons
which had been left behind BY the-saysges
in their fight, they set out again for the
fort
Blessed Saint Peter be praised" piously
CALCULATED Mike. "but didn't the hsythen
runG'
peter be bowed was the irreyersnt re-
ply; IF it hadn't been for Spirit Rifle re
would have seen Pete afore this"
can who is Spirit Rife and who made
the red nsgurs run il it wasn't Saint Peter
or the blessid mother herselfT' demanded
Nike.
Its more than can tell who Spirit
Rife is, replied Sam. "An can say its
a queer sort Of critter that's never been
seen, but who kills iDjuns and makes no
noise about it the reds cali him Spirit Rife
or Medicine Gun,' and the whites hsv no
better name for him. he is friendly to the
whites as We know, but take it he don't
want to be seen, 80 hurried away to give
him q chance to mark his meat; he allus
puts a crop on the forehead of every red he
kills and when an injun finds dead one
with If, there's bowling, kin tell yer.
Faith, be must be good Catholic, re-
Piled the soldier.
Like as not, but you see injuns are al
ways afraid Of what they cant understand,
and instead Of waiting and watching for
Spirit Rifle to show himself as white man
would do. they run like rabbits when one OF
them tumbles over ike he was struck BY
lightning. ] reckon if they saw him nov,
and knew he was Q man, they would think
him q crazy one and not hurt him.
"An'it' crazy I'll be the mkt time I'm
caught" muttered Mike IS the two relsPsed
into silenc, Sam refusing to indulge further
his companions curiosity, PROBABLY for the
good reason that he nothing more to tell
and "speechifying," as be termed it not be-
ing in his line. Mike learned afterwards,
however, that their unseen friend had been
known by his works for about year. that q
few of the settlers had seen q man the sup
rosed might be him, but no proof or oppor-
tunity to enter into conversation with him
had been obtained. -.
In a couple of hours the two men reached
the fort, and Hunt having related their sd-
ventures, the soldier received merely rep
rinand for his carelessuess in getting lost
instead of the more severe punishment he
expected.
Another confirmation of the existence
of some mysterious Nick Of the Woods
doctor" exclaimed Colonel Fitch at the sup
per table the evening Of the arrival OF the
scout, here's Sam Hunt, and Nike McCst-
ferty one OF our men, Eesr losing his scalp,
only saved by she interpoSition OF this silent,
unseen friend whose existence you seem to
doubt"
Il overheard Mike discoursing his adven-
lures shortly after his return. 1t appears
they had q scrimmsge before being taken.
Hunt laid Black Eagle out he tells me;
probably the shots attracted the notice OF
this mysterious being whose existence do
not doubt, only his ghostship. 1t is my
opinion that it is some halfersEed victim OF
savage barbsrity who, having seen his family
butchered By the Indians, has perfected some
noiseless weapon and takes pleasure In STAY
ing them whenever he IS able.
There may be something in that, but he Is
a wonderful shot, never seems to miss.
No one would be aware OF 1t but himself
ifhe did" replied the doctor with laugh.
That is so did not think Of that
What is more to the point, continued
the doctor, mo one has ever examined any
Of his victims except to notice that they
were marked with crop on the forehead,
and that there vas no flow Of blood.
should Ike to hold an autopsy on one.
al will detail squad in the morning to
bring you in one of those killed to day, re
Piled the colonel. " "
AN do yez know phwat the dochtor is
afther wanting wild the dead haythenY
aueried Mike, who made one Of the party the
morning after the rescue.
ITO make castor oil of, as the nlggers
believe down south, replied his companion.
Quit bothering Mike It's to find out
how Spirit Rifle killed them" replied the
corporal, and giving orders to quit talking
the squad entered the forest.
On arriving at the scene OF the resue the
bodies Of the mysteriously slain ssVages
were found as they have fallen the day be-
fore, and with the exception of rudely
made crop gsshed in the forehead OF each,
no sign existed OF their having been dis
turbed. The bodies OF Black Eagle sId the
other Indian shot by Sam were unmolested.
The party bearing one OF the victims OF
"Spirit Rifle" returned 20 the fort without
oncountering anything TO interest or alarm
them.
About twenty miles from the fort there
stood a singular looking building formed Of
mud. stones and turf, somewhat after the
STYLE Of the Mexican adobe houses, but
adapted to tie difference Of climate snd the
choice OF materials. 1t WAS fire proof and
could apparently have repealed any attack
made upon it bg the savsges as easily ss the
fort itself Much merrimsut was occasioned
BY It's erection, as It's occupants instead OF
being q family consisting partly OF weak
women and children, were all men, who, by
the rough Judgment Of the backwoods,
should be able to guard their scalps without
a resort TO such defenses. The occupants,
koweve, although not lacking in personal
courage, were not what would be called
fighting men, but party Of scientists from
the Eastern States, all possessed OF abundant
means, and anxious to examine for them
selves the fauna fora and mineral treasures
of the great northwest Becoming pleased
With their wild, independent mode Of living,
even with their Crusoe-ike privations, they
had remained longer than they had at first
intended and consequently provided many
comforts, and made some additions to their
building; they numbered five in at, and
every branch of science seemed to be a
hobby with one or another of them, nor were
the deficient in the requirements Of the
backwoods, no better shots, or successful
trappers could be often met with than one
or two of these same scientific fellers at
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