Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-10-25

cure the booty which ne was coInPelieo W
leave behind. He therefore went very
understandingly to work. He arranged
seven-minute slow match, which he
connected with the bung-hole of the keg
of powder The train was once more or
dered to get under way.
In the distance, just out of rifle range,
the redskins were to be seen in full force,
but afraid to approach within range Of
those deadly Spencers. They had lost
eleven of their fighting men, besides
several who had been left wounded far
behind. This was a losing game, for
they knew that they had inflicted but
comparatively slight injury upon the
whites.
Once more the Lode Star train was
gradually got on its way, moving slowly
forward
After it was fairly in motion Captain
Goss himself returned to the wagon which
was to be left behind and applied the
match, then dashed off after his train.
Rapidly as he rode away upon his little
white pony the Indians more rapidly came
on to secure the booty which was about
to fall into their hands. 1t seemed to be
a general race among them to see which
should reach the prize first.
There were forty redskins engaged in
that mad race toward the deserted wag-
on.
In the meantime Captain Goss had
Joined his command, and the train was
urged forward by his orders with in
creased speed, until at last half mile or
so had been placed between them and
the abandoned wagon. Then the train
was halted.
The whites were now all watching the
headlong rush of the redskins in their
race for spoils.
They swept down nearly together and
surrounded the vehicle on all sides, sew
eral dismounting, endeavoring to effect
entrance beneath the canvas covering,
both by the front and rear. They
swarmed like bees about hive, and at
the distance of half a mile looked like
one solid mass.
Hark! The catastrophe has occurred !
The whites saw a cloud of smoke and
debris rise hundred feet into the air and
spread hundred feet in all directions
laterally, then came shock that made
the earth tremble under their feet as
though an earthquake had occurred.
1t was holocaust of men and horses.
Limbs and bodies cast in separate direc-
tions, heads and trunks severed. Twen-
ty lives were sacrificed in one instant of
time and twenty more of the Indians
were burned half to death A few of
the horses, which had escaped, were seen
dashing over the prairie mad with fright
and riderless.
A few of the wounded were seen es-
Gaping on their hands and knees away
from the terrible spot.
''Let us return and finish them, " said
one of the frontiersmen to Capt. Goss.
"No," was the reply. "They have
been awfully punished; our way lies to-
ward Denver"
''But there are six or eight of the red
skins crawling away; they couldn't show
fight"
''For that very reason l would not at
tack them, p" said Capt. Goss.
"Chivalric feelings are thrown away
upon such vermin," said the frontiers
man.
'Forward with the team," replied the
Captain, sternly, pointing to the west.
This terrible experience by the Com
al ches occurred about twenty-five years
since, but its effects upon the tribes were
lasting, and they rarely thereafter en-
gagged since in attacks upon the trains of
miners crossing the plains. They will
long remember the running fight with
the Lode Star Company and its awful
ending York Meaos.