West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-02-09

with org auger.
We carried in ali the provisions in the
house followed by the clothing and the
bedding. While wc worked we kept
our eyes open for sight of Indians, but
1t was i o'clock before we saw them
coming. They were not more than n
mile away when we retired to our fort
and barricaded the door. All the live
stock had been turned loose and driven
away, while the fowls were flying 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 oil them Miller made no reply,
except by laugh. He had been work.
ing Ly himself all the forenoon, digging
hoies and running trenches, but / had
oeen TOO busy to notice just what he 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 had plinder of some sort from
Inc settlers cabins, and two or three ap.
peafcd much the worse for liquor. They
had probably seen us enter the milk
mouse, Tor they rode right up to the
capin without fear. We could see them
very plainly, and among the gang we
p'cked out several who had often been
supplied with food and ammunition.
ihere were yells of rage from those who
uismounted and entered the house TO
una u stripped, but presently council
was heid In the one big room. After
lew minutes an Indian appeared around
the corner OF the house with white rag
n x.-l,. l.. l.. Il
1t lew times he called out that he
wanted talk Miller shouted TO him
TO come on, aud he advanced to within
fifty feet of the fort before he stopped
and called out:
"All come out. Indians no hurt
Dutchman"
rs there warr' shouted Miller.
mo war-no wari Young men get
drunk and ride around. but no war.
Indians all like Dutchman."
IF you like us, then go away and
leave us alone" shouted Miller.
"Will you come outl'
'No.n
cattlcl"
The indians were too anxious to ret al
their bloody work to waste much time in
parlcying. The messenger was no sooner
under shelter than the gang began TO
howl and whoop, and while some opened
ire on us from the windows, Others made
preparations for bonfire. In about ten
minutes the house was on fire, and the
Indians crowded together on the far
side. IL was log house, and the roof
fell IN before the sides were hardly abIazc.
The slight wind blew the smoke and
sparks directly over us, so that we could
not see five feet. The Indians continued
to yell and dance for time, but sudden
ly there was terrific explosion and a
dozen screams OF terror -. was looking
into the smoke cloud, which how and
then lifted for an instant, and saw the
burning logs of the house scattered to
the four winds by the qfaIosion. Miller
knew the reds would seH building on
fire, and he had placed of the kegs
of powder where it wd&l do the mo It
good. We counted five warrioSs killed
or disabled by the explosion, and Miller
killed two others before the-ervwd got
out OF range. The house was the best
shelter from which to worry us, and they
had lost by destroying it.
The strength of our fort could be seen
at glance. The Indians were wise
enough not to attempt rush. and the
whole party were also impatient to push
on to other scenes. Six or eight more
arrived soon after the explosion, and
presently we saw them making ready to
move OFT. A general volley was fired at
us, the war whoop was sounded, and
the brief siege was raised. Ii was half
an hour before we ventured out, and not
an Indian was in sight We could, how
ever, see tall columns OF black smoke
whichever way we looked, and il was
plain that the whole section was in the
hands of the Indians. We could not at
first make out why they had left us, but
Miller soon concluded that they knew
what they were about. We had no
means of escape left to us. The savages
were on every side, and IL we attempted
TO leave the neighboihood we should fail
into the hands Of some of them 1t was
quite safe to leave us there while they
pushed on TO butcher the defenceess
ones.
An hour after dinner we were Joined
by three young men who had been hid
ing, lodging and travelling since the
evening Lc.ore, and who had come dis.
tancc of twenty miles. They were
bachelor homcsteaders. and all had rifles
revolyers and plenty OF ammunition. IL
was welcome addition to or party, for
we now felt that we would haze TO stand
siege. Mrs. Miller brought oat the
pot and Kettles, and cooked dinner on n
fire in the open air, and after II was eaten
shc began to prepare food for the siege
Pork was boiled, -four stirred into cakes.
coffee made and put into Jugs, and before
night she had enough food 10 last dozen
men u week. Meanwhile the rest of us
had not been idle. Some large 20 ts were
sunk in the earth before the door, leav-
space enough for only one person to come
al us nj q time that way. -Four more
loopholes were made in the walls, and
then the plankinQ Of tho roof was loop
holed by means OF the auger in at least
twenty places. ] now saw what Miller
had been up 10 the day before. lie had
put in no le than three powder mines
in the vicinity. running slow match TO
each ono. The only cover the Indians
could have in the neighborhooP was in
the rear of the fort. where we had mined
the rock. We had left a big hole, which
was n natural rifle pit. and our loopho,ey
did not commaLd IL. They would be
sure to occupy this place, and tho men
prepared atorpcdo holding fifteen pounds
OF powder, and hid IL under the rocks
and dirt on the brink OF the pit. A trench
was then dug 10 and under the wall Of
the milk house aud bv ncans Of hoard