The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-09-01
the SOCK AeEM.
An Adventure Among the Indians with
Roman CandlaA

gan the book agent, as the others
settled into their seats more COM
fortably. well, about eight years
ago carried a pack of novelties,
such as you frequently see exhib-
tied on the street corners and pre-
sided over by sunburned Italian.
With another man and a young fell
low of eighteen / travelled through
Kansas to the Colorado line, selling
and trading our wares to the Indi-
ans for anything marketable in the
cities. About the time of our ar
rival in the western part of Kansas
the memorable Indian outbreak was
terrorizing the country. From the
south and west came reports OF the
terrible outrages perpetrated by the
Indians and greasers. Houses were
burned, the inmates were killed In
stantly or tortured to death, and all
the cattle were driven off and scat
tered. You may be sure l felt con-
siderable solicitude concerning the
safety of my little party, and took
extra precautions to find secluded
spots when camping. Of course,
under the conditions, I deemed it
advisable to get out of the neigh
borhood 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 de-
termined to make the attempt. AT
ter a long, hard days tramp we en-
camped for the night in one of those
small canyons so prevalent in Wes-
tern Kansas. 1t was an excellent
place, too. Our backs were effec-
tually protected by a 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 bright
young fellow, and very familiar with
the tactics of Indian warfare. Just
before lying down / noticed him
untying a good-sized bundle of
sticks resembling short broom ham
dies. He placed them within easy
reach and tumbled down to sleep.
I had also noticed him fumbling
around the bushes short time be-
fore, 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 excel
lent place. / don't know how long
we had slept when we were awak-
ened by Sam shaking US slightly
and whispering:
BE quick, now, the Indians are
getting ready to slip in on u.s.
By this time we were both wide
awake and ready with our rifles.
"Listen, whispered Sam; hear
the dirty scamps slipping up. Put
down the rifles. I've got something
better
He handed US each four of the
sticks mentioned, remarking:
"'Them's roman candles. I've
got pile of whoppers along. and /
think we can scare these scamps
clean out O. their hides
Il caught the idea in a moment
and strained my eyes to listen for
further demonstrations from the at
lacking party. We could hear them
creeping here and there through
the bushes, scarcely making a noise,
but easily distinguished in the 81
lence of the night.
"Now,' whispered Sam, take
two in each hand, and I'll light
them"
"Suiting the action to the word
he contrived to light them in rapid
succession. Then we turned them
into the bushes, and heavens what
a sight was revealed as the candles
flashed. About fifty villainous-
looking savages and greasers were
STOPPING and creeping toward us.
At the first fash they stopped as if
spellbound. 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 independent of human aid
was enough to terrorize any one.
Our assailants wavered a moment,
then, with terrible yell, bounded
away toward high ground as if the
devil himself was in pursuit. We
could hear them scrambling up the
hillside. mount their horses and
gallop away. Sam afterward ex-
planned that he had brought the
candles along as side speculation,
and he also explained that he had
arranged system of strings among
the bushes so that no one could
approach very close without meet
ing the obstruction and alarming
him. 1t is needless to state that
we reached safe ground in due time,
without further molestation.
When Deacon POpram visited the