Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1888-03-10


with big augcr.
We carried iii ali the provisions in the
house followed by the clothing and the
bedding. While we worked we kept
our eyes open for sight of Indians, but
1t was IL O'Clock before we saw them
coming They wee not more than a
mile away when we retired to our fort
and barricadod the door. All the live
stock had been turned loose and driven
away, while the fowls were tlying about
on the prairie. There was very little
left in the house, and the worst they
could do was to burn it, When we shut
ourselves up missed two of the kegs of
powder, but TO my query as to what had
become OF them Miller made no reply,
except by laugh. lie had been work
ing y himself all the forenoon, digging
holes and running trenches, but l had
been too busy to notice Just what lie was
up to.
There were thirty-two mounted
Indians in the band which came up, and
among them they had five fresh scalps.
Every one Lad plunder of some sort from
the settlers cabins, and two or three ap-
/ peared much the worse for liquor. They
1 had probably seen us enter the mix
house, for they rode right up 10 the
cabin without fear We could see them
very plainly, and among the gang we
| picked out several who had often been
supplied with food and ammunition.
| There were yells of rage from those who
dsmOunted and entered the house to
find it stripped, but presently council
was held in the one b e room. After a
few minutes an Indian appeared around
the corner of the house with white rag
tied 10 a stick, and when he had waived
it a few times he called out that he
wanted talk" Miller shouted to him
to come on, and he advanced to within
fifty feet of the fort before he stopped
and called out:
"All come out. Indians no hurt
! Dutchman.'
''Is there war2" shouted Miller.
''No war-no war! Young men get
drunk and ride around, but no war.
Indians all like Dutchman."
IF you like us, then 90 away and
leave us a!oncw shouted Miller.
"Will you come Out!'
"No.n
"Then VIC burn house and kill all
cattlem
The Indians were too anxious to get at
their bloody work to waste much time in
parleying. The messenger was no sooner
under shelter than the gang began TO
howl and whoop, and while some opened
fire on us from the windows, Others made
preparations for a bonfire. In about ten
minutes the house was on fire, and the
Indians crowded together on the far
side. 1t was log house, and the roof
fell IN before the sides were hardly ablaZe.
rne slight VIM blew the smoke and
sparks directly over us, so tT1rt wct>,-A 4
/ not sec five feet. The Indians continued
to yell and dance for time, but sudden
ly there was a terrific explosion and a
dozen screams of terror. was looking
into the smoke cloud, which how and
then lifted for au instant, and saw the
burning logs of the house scattered tc
the four winds by the explosion. Miller
knew the reds would set the building or
fire, and he had placed one of the keg:
of powder where it would do the mos
good. We counted five warriors kil!ec
or disabled by the exp 'osion, and Miller
killed two others before the crowd go
out Of range. The house was the bes
shelter from which to worry us, and they
, had lost by destroying it.
, The strength of our fort could be seer
at a glance. The Indians were wis
, enough not to attempt a rush. and thu
, whole party were also impatient to pusf
on to other scenes. Six or eight NOR
/ arrived soon after the explosion, an6
. presently we saw them making ready t.
, move OFF, A general volley was fired a
| us, the war whoop was sounded, anC
, the brief siege was raised. 1t was hal
: an hour before we ventured out, and no
an Indian was in sight. We could, how
= ever, see tall columns of black smoke
9 whichever way we looked, and it wa
e plain that the whole section was IN tn
= hands of the Indians. We could not
4 first make out why they had left us, bu
|, Miller soon concluded that they knew
9 what they were about. We had M
| means of escape left to us. The savage
I were on every side, and if We ATTEMPTED
to leave the neighbol hood we should IA
into the hands of some of them. 1t wa
I. quite safe to leave us there while the
= pushed on to butcher the defencelcs
[ ones.
C An hour after dinner we were jOine'
C by three young men who had been hid
c ing. dodging and travelling since III
. evening Lelorc, and who had come dis
tance of twenty miles. They wer
r bachelor homestcaders, and all had rifles
G revolvers and plenty of ammunition. i
4 was welcome addition to orr party, fo
C we now felt that we would have to stan
I a siege. Mrs. Miller brought oat tn
1 pot, and kettles, and cooked dinner on
fire in the open air, and after 1t was cate
4 he began to prepare food for the sleg
o Pork was boiled, flour stirred into cake;
e coffee made and put into Jugs, and befor
night she had enough food TO last doze
!. men week. Meanwhile the rest OF u
c had not been idle. Some large po Is wei
sunk in the earth before the door, leaN
|. space enough for only one person to com
n st us at time that way. -Four mo;
8 loopholcs were made in the walls, an
X then the planking of the roof was loop
v Nholed by means OF the auger IN at lea
t twenty places. | now saw what Milk
d had been up to the day before. He ha
G NIT in no le than three powder mine
: in The vicinity, running slow match
n each one. The only cover the lndlar
could have in the neighborhood was
/ the ,car Of the fort, where We had mine
the rock. We had left big hole, whlt
e was natural rifle pit and our loopho;, :
J, did not ComnaLd it. They wou