Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-06

rait. but 10 not 1ehi II,
r.od hands again will press,
pn5s thew love, in ~blessedness.
Wis.
TRAIN WREckERs.
captain JAMES MoNTFoRD.
. tbe winter Of 1862 a continual
|yos kept up in Missouri with the
ore the most terrible pests of q
oven when anxious to defend it,
ordinary guerrilla is q friend to no
himself.
often out upon the chase, and sew
ne skirmishes took place. A band
Elias had taken possession Of the
Railroad, and burned the bridges,
the rails, and brought about a
Rn that half O dozen battles would
caused.
/ with an adventure at this time
yidences the bloody and ruthless
Of these outlaws.
* it was about the last of Decem-
started from the command for q
alton some twenty miles distant.
business with q gentleman in the
and rode across the country, in
to leave my horse-I owned q good
the time-with my acquaintance,
urn with the supply train, which
eeted at that time.
day was as bad q one as I could
il chosen; the bleak air swept over
chilling horse and man to the very
ould have waited for a fairer day;
train was expected up in the
g, | was anxious to go, and had al
cen delayed several days.
l started early, and rode along
lily enough for the first five miles,
genuine Western storm arose, and
to rage with the fury that is only
ed in those treeless districts.
IS soon soaked through to the skin,
b beat upon my face fiercely, and I
myself back at camp, or anywhere
! Of the storm.
lieye we were five hours travelling
ceeding five miles, and at the end of
he l was nearly frozen.
fear Of losing my way added still
o my distress, for there were no
or other landmarks, and the ground
ing fast covered by the beating snow,
Iucceeded the rain.
clothing was frozen stiff, and the
pd breast of my horse was covered
lets Of frozen breath and blood
bad oozed from his swollen nostrils.
pst find shelter, I thought, OR perish
most horrible manner.
Eaenly I noticed smoke arising in
lance. No house was visible, and it
med remarkable to me that I OBJ
the smoke; q fortunate chance was
Sc, perhaps.
house was to be seen, the place was
hollow Of the prairie, and I rode
twenty rods of the door ere I saw
Ting off the horse with difficulty, my
bad become stiffened with cold, I was
to approach the house, when it &C.
to me that it would be as we'll to
otter a little.
and of outlaws might be harboring
and then 1 would wish myself out
kain, cold as it was.
Eaking kindly to the horse, who
Jed his nose against me for warmth,
Rned the bride to a shrub and stole
lsly toward the house.
King a circuit, l approached from the
! the building. It vas a poor affair,
bitationo of prairie farmer, evidently;
Pre- was shelter for man and beast.
/ came up the door at the side
+. | had but time to escape around
fner when three men issued out.
ey were rough looking fellows,
y clad, and I at once concluded to
Dem q wide berth.
tn some imprecations at the weather,
uried to the stable, which fronted
ad.
pen they reappeared it was upon feet
8 horses, and they then rode away
the north.
PATCHED them out of sight, and then
a,ched the cabin again. Listening,
hear no one. and conceived that the
was untenanted.
essolved to take advantage of the shell.
"a Fastening back to my poor horse ]
left him munching hay in the little
and myself hurried on to the house
'as nearly ready to drop with fatigue
old' and, waiting for no ceremony, ]
q the door and entered.
pre- was burning on one side of the
furnished apartment, and hurryine
Fo l spread out my person to the
laa seen no one as yet, but a voice
eu IRON a back room a moment later
mat You, Carl?" asked q woman
fAplalned that I was q traveller, nearl,,
!, ana had taken the liberty to ente.
puse, as l saw no one about.
'ail, wrinkled old woman, with a yer,
carnage, came in from the kitchen.
looked at me searchingly, as l mad
(r tes and I thought a sad expression
Ael upon her face. What could i
VI was l mistaken?
ueelaed that the latter was the case
ane back in the hard chair, l enjoyed
at as a man only can when he ha
vn5lied through to the bone.
uozlng was broken by the sound o
UPSIDE; men were approaching tn
n old woman seemed to shrinl
Stat as she heard the sound.
I'M to my feet, expecting some dis
paced my hand upon my pistol ant
~ 0a aoor opened, and twenty men,
[Ee mem as they came in singly, flee
Icy We're all armed with rifles, and al
in "tt te of small arms, and I knew :
L 'he presence of q band of guer
6,d ie was no help for it, however, tn
useen my horse, and doubtless knew
o Up Your shooter and surrender,
~A!, .red-headed man, who seemed