The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-29
BRIMSTONE.

Inc scene is Ine Olu wagon ITall Ue-
tween Kansas City and Denver, near the
dividing line between Kansas and Colo
sado; the time, the summer of 1866, when
the Plains Indians east of the Rocky
Mountains were in general outbreak
against the whites. A large wagon train
1nder charge of that veteran and noted
freighter, Pete Ouray, was on its way
westward to Salt Lake City.
At that time the plains stretching be-
tween Eastern Kansas and the Rocky
Mountains were barren waste, unbroken
by abodes of civilized men save an oc-
easional military or trading post, and the
stations of the Ben Holiday overland
stage line. Civilized men might cross and
even hunt on its dreary expanse, but it
was regarded as fit home only for In
dians, bufaloes, antelope and coyotes.
The train had proceeded so far on its
Journey without misadventure. The grass
was good, and there had been no Indian
attack. Signs of the hostiles, however,
were not wanting, and some were omi-
nous enough. But two or three days be-
fore the freighters had come up with a
wagon train which had left Kansas City a
Ettle ahead of them.
It was dismal sight. The mules were
gone, and the wagons plundered wreck.
The teamsters lay about dead, all scalped
and mutilated with every freak of savage
barbarity.
All this tended to produce reflections
the reverse of cheerful in the minds of the
finders. After burying in one grave the
mangled bodies, the teamsters returned
10 their wagons, and the train moved on.
But scenes even as appalling as this do
not long depress men accustomed to ever
present dangers. The expedition was
strong in men and equipment, and, to
guard against surprise by Indians, vigi-
hnt watch was kept night and day.
It happened that on this June day, af-
aer the MONDAY halt, three men whose
duties did not call them to the wagon
seats fingered after the train moved on,
to let their horses Craze on the luxuriant
new grass.
I have said horses. To be exact, there
we're two horses and mule. The mule,
m important figure in my story, was the
special saddle animal of Frank Sanger, a
daring young rider, who was making his
third trip across the plains. "Brim-
stone" the animals name, indicated both
the quality of its temper and its peculiar
yellow color.
Birthstone had joined the expedition in
This wise: A lank, discouraged-looki
Missourian brought him to the wagon
train as it was about leaving Kansas City.
The man wanted badly to sell, and Of
fered the beast at a price far below his
seeming value. He showed proper vouch-
CTS for his ownership, and Pete Ouray
bought the animal for a song.
When Pete tried to use the mule he
thought that he had paid far too much.
He first harnessed him in team, but no
sooner did the traces begin to draw than
the beast fell to kicking and plunging,
and finally TUNED short round and faced
the wagon. He so mixed up the entire
sight-mule team that parts Of the harness
had to be cut to get them clear. He was
excused from further service as a draught
animal, AID remanded for the time being
10 halter.
He kicked, struck and bit at whom or
whatever was about him. There seemed
10 be no bounds to the reach of his hind
legs and his accuracy in locating his
hoofs. 1t was commonly believed that he
could kick round 4 corner. That he was
worse than useless Joe Dubbs was free to
assert, as he came limping from the cor
1a], holding his knee with both hands
md hunting for revolver; he was VOW
ing, in the first transports of pain and
Eage, to kill the malevolent brute, which
had assumed a look of extreme innocence
10 lure him near enough for telling
Gck; but Birthstone lived and kicked on
serepely. He had destiny to fulfil that
no blusterings of infuriated teamsters
could avert.
Bigspur Bill, who claimed to be a
A=onco breaker, offered to ride lin. ''I'll
make saddle mule of him, or git broke
up tryin'," he said, with an air of de-
termination, as ne posed heroically in
Mexican pantaloons, set off by spurs like
Hsing suns.
All hands turned to and helped, and
Birthstone, with much ado, was saddled
and bridled. Four men held him. Bill
got in the saddle.
''Now turn him loose, boys" he said.
The men at the mules head let 60.
Brimstone's head went down to his fore
legs, his back rounded and he went into
the air. When he came back to earth,
Bill, who had gone some feet higher, re-
NAMED astride the high corral fence On
which he had fallen, and which he seemed
10 prefer to his late seat in the saddle.
Birthstone kicked for him hopefully,
whereat Bill slipped down on the other
ade, and, with clanking spurs, made
Eapid tracks for safety.
For time after this no one undertook
10 handle the yellow mule, which lived at
ease, toiling not in the long days march,
except to follow lcisurcly the wagon to
which he was tied. Pete Ouray became
disgusted. II don't know what to do
with the BRUTE" he said. II hate to
give up for useless Il young mule with as
fine p'ints as he has"
He made this remark to Frank Sanger.
The two were looking at Birthstone, who
stood tied to wagon, and with head erect
and white CLEAN in the corner of his eye
was waiting for whoever might come near.
A beaten path which circled behind him
at least ten feet beyond his heels was re-