News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-10-21
QUEER AMMUNITION.
RepulsIng a Party of Indians With Roman
Candles.

Zone of nv adventures, Ell q began
the book agent, as the others settled IN
to their seats more comfortably. "Weli,
about eight years ago | carried pack
of novelties, such as you frequently see
exhibited on street corners and presided
over by a sun burned Italian. With an
other man ana young fellow OF elgh-
teen, travelled through Kansas to the
Colorado line selling and trading our
wares to the Indians for anything mar
ketable in the cities. About the time
OF our arrival in the western part OF
Kansas the memorable Indian outbreak
was terrorizing the country. From the
south and west came reports OF the ter
rible outrages perpetrated by the INDIANS
and greasers. Houses were burned, the
inmates were killed instantly or tortured
to death, and all the cattle were driven
off and scattered. You may be sure
felt considerable solicitude concerning
the safety of my little party, and took
extra precautions to find secluded spots
when camping. Of course, under the
conditions, deemed it advisable to get
out of the neighborhood Immediately.
To do so we found it necessary to pass
through the country most likely to be
infested by Struggling bands of Indians.
Despite the risks we determined to make
the attempt After long, hard days
tramp, we encamped for the night IN
one of those small canyons so prevalent
in Western Kansas 1t was an excellent
place, too. Our backs were effectually
protected by natural cave in the side
OF the bank, the entrance to which was
concealed by brush and tall grass. Sam,
the boy OF the party, was an unusually
b. light young feSo =, and very familiar
with the tactics of Indian warfare. Just
before lying down l noticed him untying
a gOod-sized bundle of sticks resembling
short broom handles. He placed them
in easy reach and tumbled down to
sleep. had also noticed him fumb!ing
around the bushes short time before,
but didn't pay much attention to his
actions. The other fellow and myself
concluded not to set a guard, as we
were in such an excellent place. don't
know how long we had slept when we
were awakened by Sam shaking us
slightly and whispering:
BE quiet now, the Indians are get
ting ready to slip in on US
by this time we were both wide
awake and ready with our rifles.
1" 'Listenp whispered Sam; hear the
dirty scamps slipping upl Put down
the rifles. I've got something better
He handed US each four of the sticks
mentioned, lemarking:
"'Them's Roman candles. I've got a
pile of whoppers along, and think we
can scare these scamps clean out OF their
hides
Il caught the idea in moment, and
strained my ears to listen for further
demonstrations from the attacking party.
We could hear them creeping here and
there TIL ough the bushes, scarcely max
ing a noise, but easily distinguished in
the silence of the night.
Now, whispered Sam, take two IN
each hand and III light them
''Suiting the action to the word he
contrived to light them in rapid sue
cesSion. Then we turned them into the
bushes, and heavens, what sight was
revealed as the candles flashed About
fifty villainous-l looking savages and
greasers were STOPPING and creeping
along toward US. At the first flash they
stopped as if spell-bound. We turned
them so the green and white balls would
strike them in their faces. The candles
were tremendous affairs, and eight or
ten Of them popping away apparently
human aid was enough
to terrorize any one. Our assailants
wavered q moment then, and, with
terrific yell, bounded away toward high
ground as if the devil himself was in
DurSuit We could hear them scramble
up the hillside, mount their horses and
gallOp away. Sam afterward explained
that he had brought the candles along
as a side speculation, and he also ex-
planned that he had arranged system
of strings among the bushes so that no
one could approach very close without
meeting the obstruction and alarming
him. it Is Eeedloss to state that we
reached sale ground in due time without
further moIestation. p Omaha Herald