The Osceola times., 1886-03-20

1
white handkerchief in his hand As a fac
OF truce. Approaching within revolver
shot, he halted and called out:
Indians no hurt; Indians want din
nerln
! The quick eye of the ranchman de.
| tected two dismounted redskins lodging
from cover to cover to gain the rear OF
ine house. The idea was to parley un-
I'll they were in position.
| indians 60 way after dinner-no
hurt anybody-no take hosses.m shouted
the flag bearer.
with movement so quick that the
other had no time to prepare for it, the
ranchman brought his rifle to an aim.
There was loud report, and the buck
iell from his horse. As he tumbled
from his saddle the pony made jump
OF tWo,' but there was another report,
and the beast rolled over. Next in
stant there was shot from the cabin,
and one of the pair of skulkers uttered
his death yell. When the smoke rose
| the ranchman was no longer to be
seen. He had retreated to the house.
Filled with chagrin and desire for
vengeance, the Indians now dismounted
and crept nearer, and in few minutes
the cabin was being assailed from every
point of the compass.
within there were two pale-faced
women and grim, determined man.
The Structure was roughly built of
planks and logs, undivided by partitions.
There We're only four windows, and
these were protected by stout shutters,
which were pierced with loopholes. The
weapons were two Winchesters and two
revolvers. The ranchman's first move
after getting inside was to divide his
force so as to cover the windows. He
then pulled out the chinking at the cor
ners Of the cabin to make other loop
holes, and each one of the trio took q
post of observation and defense. Scarce
ly word had been exchanged since the
| arrival of Mrs. Roberts. Each one rea-
sOned out for himself or herself: "a
gang of Apaches have broken loose
from their reservation and are on the
warpath. They will burn and slay I'M
til force can be raised to overpower
them. 1t may be week before that
force is in the field. Surrender means
to be burned at the stake. A desperate
resistance may drive them Off "
There was Roberts, the husband of a
year, lying dead and scalped, and hor.
ribly mutilated on his freshly planted
field. His stock had been shot down or
driven off, and the red flames had licked
up his cabin, but there were no tears in
the blue eyes of the wife as she peered
from one of the loopholes. Tears would
have dimmed her vision, and watchful
eyes were needed there.
For an hour or more the Indians
maintained an unceasing fire, but with
out iniiicting the least damage. They
were then joined by party of seven,
coming from the east, and it soon be-
came evident that some decisive step
was to be. taken.
IL know what they will do, said the
ranchman, as the reports of rifles died
away. They will divide into three or
many aides. II they can't batter the
doors down they will try to set the
house on fire. Each of you take re-
volver and will use the rifles. Be cool
we can drive them back
The three had been waiting at their
stations ten minutes when the rush was
made. The sixteen Indians divided in
TO bands of four, and one in every band
carried lighted torch. The ranchman
broke one band by killing the buck with
the torch and wounding one of the
others. From the loopholes the women
Wounded two more, but presently the
two doors were vigorously attacked,
while the torchmen ran from point TO
point with their blazing brands In
bodies of four or FIVE the redskins threw
themselves against the doors, but it was
vain effort. Each had two bars across
the inside. The attack did not last
three minutes. As the Indians retreated
the ranchman flung open II door and
rushed out and seized the only torch
which threatened damage, and he was
under cover again before shot was
fired at him. In that attack the Apaches
lost two killed and three badly
wounded.
After rest of half an hour number
of redskins crept near and began to
fire blazing arrows at the roof. A few
struck, but no damage resulted. Then
the rifle firing recommended. and il
was while peering through a loophole
that McGlipin received a ball in the eye
and fell back dead before he reached
the floor. A woman's shriek-a wo-
mans wail-that was all. For ten Sec
onds the widows were women again.
Then came shout which warned them
that they must be herones while red
devil fingered. There was second
rush at the house. The revolvers
cracked as before-the whole house
shook as the doors received shock after
shock. Yells, whoops and screams, and
report ofiirearms loaded the air for three
minutes. and then deep silence fell upon
the ranch. The Apaches had been re-
pulsed again. Each woman sprang the
empty cartridges from her revolver and
replaced them, and continued her
watch. BY and by they looked out, to
see the band at full gallop two or three
miles away.
Geronimo was there in person. His
bucks were the red devils of the West.
Two women had beaten them off. Five of
his men had been killed and five Others
so badly wounded that they were forced
to return to the reservation and lie hid
den, while he continued the raid, which
was brought to close only few days
ago.
AT sundown an officer and escort with
dispatches drew rein at the ranch.
There was no one to answer the hail.
The men dismounted and looked in. In
the center of the room lay the ranch.
man, cold in death. Beside him-eacb
with her face hidden in her hands, each
rocking her body to and fro-were two