Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Three Sailors Repulse Hundred
Desperate Savages.
Under Pretsxt Of Friendship the Blood
thirsty Demons Get Alongside a Help
less Schooner-Aid From an
Unsxpected Quarter

the pioneers in the settlement of Vic
toria. Vancouver Island. At that time
the remote region swarmed with saw
age and hostile tribes in frequent and
sanguinary conflict with each other.
He and his partners were the joint
owners of a fine schooner called 1.-The
Golden Gate" which piled between
San Francisco and Victoria A skill
full navigator. the command of this
vessel naturally devolved upon Web
tier. his partner remaining on shore
end running their large general store
1T Victoria erg So
It was early in the month of May
that the Golden Gate left the port of
San Francisco. bound for the new set
Element with general cargo. She
bad on board as crew two men, Chi
nese cook and the captain In add1-
ton to this complement, she carried
with her as supercargo young ma
tive, the son of friendly chief. This
Francisco, and was then returning to
his tribe. ALI went well until within
fifty miles of the Straits of Juan-de-
Fuca, when. being we'll in with the
land. it fell q dead calm Captain
Webster was a little nervous about
their growing proximity to the
shore. the food-tide setting the
schooner slowly but surely in that
direction. He was well aware of the
presence of fierce and hostile tribe IN
that district, accustomed to range the
whole length of the coast, penetrating
even to the waters of Puget Sound in
their swift war-canoes, and oftentimes
creating. by their sudden onslaughts in
nexpected quarters. the utmost panic
n the peaceful and, at that time.
sparsely -peopled settlements. This
pOnees. had proved themselves. both
on land and sea, doughty opponents,
and had in years before been one of
the most formidable obstacles to the
founding of the city of Victoria. To-
ward noon the captain, seeing that it
still held calm and that the schooner
was approaching the shore, distribut-
ed revOlvers and ammunition to his
two men and saw carefully to the con-
men he knew he could thoroughly
rely. California Ben was an excep-
tional shot with pistol; his COM
panion. Bill Graves. an equally excel
ent and reliable marksman. Hon Pee
was simply instructed to heat all
the boiling water possible, and
have it ready to repel board
ers- There now only remained the
native boy. OF this young fellows 10y
atty the captain entertained some
doubts. Notwithstanding his protesta-
tions of friendship. therefore. while.
for appearance sake, he intrusted him
with an old muzzle-loading gun, he
took good care that powder alone went
into it. The young fellow. however.
who had witnessed the loading of the
weapon, unbeknown to the captain
slipped into its large single barrel
nearly a handful of rusty nails.
The Apponees and his tribe were not
altogether ON friendly terms. and they
would have killed him just as quick as
white man.
Every thing being now in readiness,
the captain took a survey of the situa-
ton. The Golden Gate had ridden in
on the flOodtide to within half q mile
of the low coast. and that her presence
was perceived by the natives was evil
dent, as they could be seen running
along the shore, evidently in great ex-
element In few minutes they OBJ
served two large canoes putting out
from the shore and heading for the
schooner. Determined not to provoke
hostilities, Captain Webster instructed
his two companions to keep their
weapons well out of sight, at the same
time placing his own rife behind
the rail of the schooner where
it could not be seen. As the canoes
approached it could be seen that they
were crowded with natives. One
canoe took up position on the star
board side of the schooner, about
twenty yards away, its companion as
Stunning a similar position on the port
side. There being no steerage-way on
the vessel, Captain Webster directed
his two men to watch the movements
of the canoe on the port side, whilst
he gave his undivided attention to the
board, in the center of which stall
wart native now stood erect and hailed
them in broken English. Whilst the
usual parley for gifts of blankets. -four
or any thing the captain might have to
give away, was progressing. Captain
Webster had time to notice that the
center of each boat was occupied by a
suspicious-looking heap. snugly COW
cred by a blanket. He also counted
the men in the two c0noes. There
were ninety-six natives in all. The
spokesman, who at first had put his
requests for presents in civil language,
on meeting with quiet but determined
refusal to be allowed to board the yes
sci. soon changed his tactics. and be-
came iusolent and overbearing. Cap
tain Webster sternly pointed to the
shore, aud babe them return whenc<
they came.
The words had hardly left his lips
when the chief. putting his fingers in
his mouth. blew . shrill and piercing
whistle. simultaneously the blanketl