Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-11-26

! pair of old birds had been gwen to the
child by friend of the family, and she
, had named them Postum ana 1lPPee
She had raised two young ono CHIP
and Spark, and all were great pets with
her. When she was at an Indiana
school she had used Postum and Tippet
for sending messages home, and on
that account they had been priced by
her parents nearly as much as by her
SELF
The Carriers moved to their new home
in the spring. and it happened that be-
fore they had settled down in the new
house some Sioux who had been re-
moved to the Indian Territory became
dissatisfied with their location. broke
out, ant started toward their old North
ern home. plundering and numbering
as they went.
A report of this raid reached the
Carriers, but too late to enable them to
seek safety in flight, and when they
were "struck" by the hostiles there was
nothing for them to dc but defend them
selves as best they could.
This seemed to be an almost hopeless
task, as there were but three fighters at
the homestead-Jacob Carter. his near
" grown son Harry and Andrew
Patchin. the hired man. But they bar
ricaded the doors and windows OF the
cabin, seized their rifles, and fought for
dear life.
1t was a small party of Sioux that
made the first attack, and they were
easily repulsed; but others arrived, ana
the situation became more serious
Angered by the desperate defense of tie
cabin. the Indians showed determina-
ton to- stay right there and capture 1t
at all hazards.
When Andrew Patchin was severely
wounded. Mr.. Carter began to despair,
and he sadly told his wife and Bessie
that he saw no chanes to- escape from
death or capture.
IF it comes TO the worst he said,
..vou two must die rather than fall INTO
the hands of those fends.. There is ne
hope of help and no one of us could
pass the Indians to take a message to
the fort. even' if they had not gst our
horses"
There is enc that can 60, pa"
spoke up Bessie:.
What do you mean. child? Who
can go? Not Harry?'
Not Harry. pa. but Chip or Pos
sum-
MIR. Carter had not thought Of the
pigeons, and he eagerly seized the idea
''Do you think; that either'of. them
would fly to the fort?" he asked.
Eyes. sir. We were so long at the
fort and the birds have not yet got 10
think of this place as home. L am
sure they would do it."
"Get one of them. Bess; ard: q will
write message"
Bessie had brought her pigeons into
the house for safety; and it was easy to
secure Chip. The message was fast
ened to him. and he was let loose.
After circling in the air for a. minute or
SO he settled upon his course. and! flew
away in the direction of the fovt.
Another message was. sent by
Postum. and then they waited. They
had to fight, too. as wei As wait. and
Mr. Carter and Harry continued TO
make their rifles crack in the hope of
keeping the Indians away fran the
house as long as possible:
The hours of the afternoon were.i6ng
and painful. and it could be seen that
the Sioux were only delaying deir at
tack until darkness should; puS the be-
sieged party at their mercy,
Darkness came. and they started to-
ward the house yelling and firing. But
other shots were quickly heard, and the
galloping of many horses. and a we'll
known cheer. as the bIue-coated cav
airy dashed down upon the red raiders
and scattered them.
Captain Morris, Mrs. Carriers cousin.
had caught sight OF Chip when the bird
flew to his old quarters at the fort. and
he at once secured him and found the
message.
In a very short time the men were
mounted and speeding away over the
prairie, and so the Carter family we've
saved by Ressie's pigeon. --Edwasd
Hillett, in Harrer's Young People.