Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-23
tn can never tc whittier than it was

death can never he whittier than it was
then.
For heavens sake, Joe, what's the
matter" he exclaimed.
Matter enough" replied; 'sLizzie
and Ruth are dead!''
'Dead?"
'Yes, dead! murdered! and by In
dams"
Good God, you can't mean It,"
Too true, my boy, too true. Go to
Brownville and tell Bob as quickly as
you can. shall take the trail and
never leave it until [ have avenged
their terrible death. 1 did not even
particularize to Charlie, but took him
hurridly by the hand, pressed ft good
bye and bent my steps toward the Big
Blue to the south and west. BY this
lime the sun was high in the heavens.
The rain had ceased to fall,
and the chirping robin and sprouting
grass would have lightened my heart
under ordinary circumstances. AS it
was, was bitter and longed for re-
venge. My time came much more
quickly than l expected. / had walked
rapidly, and as the sun was disappear
ing for the day, my eye caught unmis-
taxable evidences of trail, and before
darkness mantled the earth l spied
party OF five Indians in bivouac, on the
Big Nemaha, not far from the present
site OF Tecumseh. / dropped to the
ground undiscovered and laid there un-
TIL long into the night, but L never lost
sight OF a movement. / was so sure
that had struck the right party that
| did not consider uncertainty single
moment. Well, / did the work, no
matter how, and before the dawn of day
| had scalped my first Indian, not only
one, but five of them, and was ready
to meet Bob at his desolate home.
No doubt at all boys, but what had
struck the right party, and l tore their
reeking scaips from their heads because
found Lizzie's and Ruth's, and did
not think OF barbarism even once. Oh,
we'll, If you must know, l did the work
with my hunting knife, and did not
have to call my trusty rifle iuto play.
The ''red devils" did not sleep very
close together, and | found speedy re-
noon, the following day, | sighted
Bob's cabin, now known as the old Nc
Cam place, but he was there before me.
Our meeting was touchingly sad. The
overflow OF the river had greatly sub
sided, and the south bank of the river
could be reached by wading here and
there. Together we performed the last
sad rites Tor the dead, but we separated
within month and l have never met
him since"
This, in word. is the story OF the
most memorable event of remark
able mans life. Soon after, Downes
answered his country's call, and enlisted
in the First Nebraska for three years,
or during the war. At the close OF his
service, distinguished for its valor, he
returned to Nebraska City, and often
made "the trip OF the plains" as guide
or scout for some freighters. His bouts
with border rutiians and Indians, OF
whom he was an implacable enemy,
would fiji volume as wierdly interest
ing as the life OF Boone and Carson. He
know no fear and considered no COM
promise with what he believed to be
wrong. In '73 or IA he returned to
friends who still live in the vicinity of
Talmage, and continued with
them until his death, which oc-
CURED about three months ago.
He lived TO be over sixty years
OF age. During the winter months he
would trap along the Little Nemaha,"
and would occasionally take a trip into
the mountains, where he would remain
for several months at time. He found
a congenial spirit in Uncle Fred
Deutsch, who also died within the past
year, ana they often joined in hunting
and trapping expeditions. Uncle