Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-26

Striking away; one of the blows fell on
knot in the plank, and the knot fell in at
the woman's feet while hole as large as
mans fist was left in The door. Encour-
aged by this, the Indians we're chopping
away, when the grandmother seized the
revolver, took swift aim, and q horrible
yell mingled with the report. The In
dams then fell back TO where they had
left their prisoner and were ont Of range
grandfather had his arms tied behind
him, and after few minutes walked out
few feet IN advance of his captors, He
looked nc she house, then looked back,
and refused 10 obey the commend given
him. The Indians advanced, drew their
tomahawks, and then the captive shouted:
Nancy Nancy unbar the door leave
the rifle IN the house and come out here.
They won't hurt your
The wife heard every word of it, and
the trembling tones of the old mans
voice made her heart ache. But she
knew that the Indians had forced him 10
make the appeal and that it was only a
ruse for them TO get another prisoner.
She made no reply, and directly the red
skins forced the old man 10 speak again.
Nancy! he called, "the Indians say if
You don't come out they will murder me
right here
1t was the hardest struggle of her long
life, but grandmother realized that both
would certainly be murdered if she com.
Piled, and that II she held out there was
hope that help might come from immi
grants or hunters before night. Tears
came 10 her eyes, aud she could not
choke down her sobs as she thought of her
husbands fate; but she was determined
to Resist 20 the last As she did not re.
ply, one of the Indians, who could speak
English quite we'll, stepped ont and
shouted;
Come, hurry up, quick. You no come
ont we kill old nanw
Peter Barnes shouted gradmother
her mouth at the knot hole IL know that
you don't want me TO come ont, and
shall not come have the rifle and re-
vover, and | shall defend the house 70
the last! Be on your watch foi a chance
20 break away and run 20 the house,
The Indians understood Sufficient OF
the speech 10 know that the woman did
not propose 70 surrender, and they
gathered around the prisoner and held a
consultation. 40 length, leaving two of
their number TO guard him, thN others,
fifteen in all, made detour and collected
on the north side of the house. They had
no arrows 60 fire the house from die.
lance, but gathered brush and piled it
against the north door 60 force the woman
to come ont
She had no loopholes on that side, but
going up stairs she softly removed a
strip of "chiukingn from between two of
the logs, thrust through the hand holding
the revolver, and shooting by guess badly
wounded one of the savages.
With great whooping and yelling the
rascles drew out of range ano hold an
other consultation. In few minutes
they ali reappeared on the south side,
gathered about grandfather, and directly
struck course for the woods from which
they first issued grandfather being led
along behind. The woman watched them
with the greatest anxiety, believing that
they had abandoned the siege aud she
should never see her husband again.
She watched and waited for about half
an hour, and was just thinking of open
ing the door when faint whooping
reached her from the woods. a moment
afterwards grandfather came fl wing across
the fields, waving his hand TO her as soon
as leaving tho woods. Two or three
minutes later the Indians burst out OF
the woods in full cry, but forty rods be-
hind the fugitive.
Grandmother realized that al escape
had been made and she laid down the re-
volver and stood ready to open the door.
As the fugitive got within twenty rods, she
began to unbar the door. She had only
touched it, when some one leuped against
it--rc. one but four or five. Finding
1t fast, the savages, for such they were,
set up howl OF rage and retregted out
Of range. Grandfather wac standing
still. about fifteen rods from the door, |
and the woman did not have TO look twice
TO see into the game. One OF the In
dians had donDed the prisoners clothing, |
jammed the familiar hat over his fore
head, and the pursuit was all snam. !
Before he had left the woods, foue or five
indiana had made a detour aud softly
approached the house. 30 as 20 be ready
10 leap in when the bar came down from
the door. II was not grandmother's wit,
but their own haste ia leapinR out, which
had prevented the capture Of the house
and her death.
ne bhFhRth bltH lIlAu hiAbbubT Hlhus
They brought the old man oat OF the
woods, naked except his shirt, tied him
TO a wild plum tree just out OF rife range
OF the house, aud then SET about mel
treating him, hoping TO work on the
woman's sympathies. GRANDMOTHER
could see every movement made, and she
was nearly crazed TO see them assault the
old man with knives and clubs. They
pricked him until he was covered with
blood, though not seriously wounded in
any spot. and cutting number of
switches from the hazel bushes, they
whipped him until they were tired Of the
sport. The old man groaned little, but
they could not make him cry out, as they
hoped to do and IN his heart he hoped
that grandmother would not be impru
dent enough 20 attempt interference. Her
heart big with sympathy and distress add
her eyes full OF tears, the woman allowed
the sayagss TO get ahead Of her.
Several Of them moved back out of the
range of the knot hole, skulked around
70 the north side of the cabin, aud grand
mothers G-st intimation Of their pres
anoe was Vhen sne heard the cracking OF
flames in the brush which we're previously
piled against the north door. AZ soon as
the flames were lighted the sayages drew
30 r.u, rnds gud commenced shooting