The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-04-05
INDIANS BAFFLED.
white Man a Heap SmRrt-He
Talks With Lightning"


A few fictitious names have heen used
In this sketch. bot the events occurred
substantially as narrated:
The Cheyenne Indians are a restless
turbulent race. Ever since the re
mOval Of portion Of the tribe from
their reservation in DakOta TO the In,
dian Territory. there have been heard,
almost yearly. The deep mutterings Of
discomfort Snd the oniinOus threaten.
ings Of an outbreak. On one Of these
occasions dark words gave place tC
murderOus deeds. and the wild, half
incOherent chant Of the scaln-danee
was succeeded by the deadly raid and
the torch Of the incrndiarv This was
in the year 1876 A portion Of the
band in the Territory. by prrcon.
certed movement. stole away from theiI
reservation. eyaded the notice IT the
United States troops. and. ere the Of
hcials became aware Of their absence,
were carrying Consideration and death
into the peaceful homes uf the settlers
Of Western Kansas They Travelled
with almost incredible speed. leaving d
lurid trail Of burning dwellings. and
were half way scross the State before
they encountered any organizrd re.
Bistance
Near the line Il the Union Pacific
railway a half-rquipped militia com.
pany. sent out hastily from Topeka.
threw itself acr'>- their path. \ sharp
contest followed. aud the Cheyennes.
doubtless fearing they would be cut oH
by troops from over the Santa Fe,
abandoned their evident intention OF
penetrating t0 Dakoia. aud began =
hasty retreat. They were well mounted.
and. ~ the militia COMPANY had mo-
serviceable horses. 10 wIS impossible "a
follow them. In their flight they drove
of the ponies nf ranchman named
Watson; numbered Watson, his wife
and two sons. aud made caDtives Of his
two daughters.
The inhabitants of the little town Of
Percy. which nestled quietly in the
bluh-prOtected valley Of the Arkansas,
were filled with the deepest dismay
when. one pleasant afternoon. this
horde Of painted Cheyenues leaped
suddenly from the ravines TO the
northwari and dashed into the streets.
After some sharp but desultOry fight
ing, they fell hack to the bluffs, and
the citizens Of the town took shelter
in y strong adobe. Seeing this, the
Indians again advanced. and, shelter
ing themselves behind the deserted
houses. directed rapid hut Intellectual
fire against its bullet-prOof walls
Bafiled in this, they applied the torch
TO such Of the houses as they did not
require for purposes Of cOncealmenL
and then began shooting burning ar
rows at the roof of the adobe. in the
hope Of setting il on fire.
All this time the people crowded
within the little structure were not
idle. The best markSmen among them
posted themselves at the small. square
windows. screening their persons as
much as possible. aud. whenever =
feathered head-,lress appeared, a bullet
was sent ia uncomfortable proximity
20 IL Among the inmates of the
adobe was Sydney Realf. youth Of
about seventeen. the son Of ranch
man. Young Realf had for some time
been studying ielegraphy in the Office
Of the railway operator At Percy. and
he had made such rapid progress that
be bade fair sOOn To become an expert.
At the first onslaught Of the Indians
the operator had abandoned his Office.
and when the short fight ended. hur-
ried. in common with the other citi-
Eens Of the town. 10 the protection Of
the adobe. utterly forgetting. in bis
excitement, To telegraph for help.
There Werr only two trains day. one
each wnv. and they had passed hours
before the Indians made their appear
ance. The people now began TO real
iEe the possible consequences Of the
operators neglcr;. Cnuped uD in
narrow quarters. with scarcely
enough food iur one familv. with only
one bucket nf water. snd surrounded
by band Of relentles. amd blnodthirsty
Indians. the situation could scarcely
have been worse. The telegraph Office
could only he reached BY penetrating
the ranks Of the Cheyennes. and this
seemed certain death 70 whoever At
it. A dash in force might
have accomplished the object. but Il
would have bern at the expense Of
many lives.
After discussing the matter fully, L
WAS decidrd that lhe oHly thing posi-.
bic 20 insure the safety Of all was to
remain in the adobe aud stoiesilv en-
dure the consequent hunger and thirst
until the arrival Il the Eastern-bound
train. on the following morning. which
hey hoped would bring aid
The hide depot in which the telegram
1fics was situated was some distance
nom the other buildings and to one
Iide, and on account Of its position was
rot used BY the Cheyennes for pur.
poses Of shelter. They had been seen
% enter Il aud then retire. sud since
hat time had not visited q. When the
'ther buildings were given 90 the torch,
{ Was not disturbed. The eause Of this
singular action can scarcely he eompre-
lended by one who Il not intimately
acquainted With the PeouiaEities Of In |
Ian superstition. Il lies at the very |
Oundafion of their character. To TIE !
minds Of the CheyeHnes. those queerly-
licking instruments were the white |
mans medicine" aud might bring |
IntOld Ills % whoever meddled with |
hem. A medicine" may Be any
hing which is supposed to bring luck
tts wearer or pOssessor. Il may Be
'gooa" OF ''bad. and what is ''good