Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-01
ESCAPED WITH HIS LIFE.
TOM ALIENS ADVENTURE WITH
INDIANS IN MONTANA.

- OAA eNAN Oe~N>--
and Burn 1t to the Ground, but Tom
Fools Them by Slipping Away in a Log
Ducout Covered with Brush.
One of the earliest settlers in Montana was
Thomas Allen, who owns a ranch about TWEEN
ty-five miles south of Livingston, toward the
National park.
Allen and several other young men migrated
to the west during the gold excitement at
Enigrant gulch about the year 1867, and,
after meeting with considerable hard luck,
finally took up quarters for the season near
the foot of the Snowy Range mountains and
close to the banks of the Yellowstone river.
Here they built small fort and provided
it with loopholes for defense in case of an
attack by Indians, as the latter frequently
came that way while on their raids up and
down the valley, and might be expected at
any moment.
The little log hut of these pioneers also
stood close beside a swift mountain stream,
and in quite a secluded spot, and the three
men who occupied it, though very brave and
fearless, grew extremely fearful and constant
ly exerted the greatest vigilance to prevent
surprise.
ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT.
AnE strange 1lOlS0 was d LII IL uSp
to their guns, and the slightest cracking of
twig near by found them instantly ready for
action. Numerous times they had observed
war parties of the Sioux or Blackfeet on the
opposite shore of the Yellowstone, but as yet
only once had the red men made a pretense
of attack, and that was apparently to brighten
the inmates of the hut SO that the former
could pass by in safety.
in yr1,j fhTQa
lived were it fully written, would present
rather strange culinary problem. Gener-
ally speaking, their diet YVES confined almost
exclusively to venison or elk steak, and this,
of course, had to be obtained by hunting.
When Indians were SO plenty in the valley
as to make it dangerous to venture out the
trio of squatters would use extra precautions.
Two of the men would leave the hut at the
approach of daylight andrepair to the noun
tains, and there wait until deer or elk came
along and shoot and dress it, and after taking
the choicest and best portions cover up the
balance to secrete it from the wolves or
mountain lions, and then return to their hut
in stealthy manner.
Oftentimes, to avoid any chance of a sur
prise, they would remain away until late at
night, thus entirely escaping observation
Then of course, at such hazardous times
they dare not make much fire, as it might
lead to q surprise and perhaps to their de
struction.
Meat straight was therefore not an IN
common diet, and they took turns doing sen
tinel duty for six months at one stretch,
being ceaseless in their vigilance.
But one night two of the hunters, on re
turning with their accustomed load of provis
ions, were astonished to discover that theil
hut was missing. It had been burned to the
ground during the day, leaving nothing only
some live embers, nor could they find any
trace of their companion.
So they concluded that he certainly must
have persisted, as traces of Indians were dis
tinctly visible in many places. showing con
clusively that they were the incendiaries
After several hours, however, their compan
ion put in an appearance, he having been con-
cealed over mile away and among some cot
tonwood bushes
The account which he gave of his escape
was so very strange as to almost seem lncred-
ible. He had observed the Indians when they
were at quite distance from the hut, and
reasoned that with so large a force of say
ages defense would be entirely useless.
So he abandoned the little log structure
and, with gun in hand, fed down rayine
toward the river, thinking to avoid discov
cry But the keen, sagacious eyes of the
Sioux discerned him and they gave pursuit.
They endeavored to prevent his reaching
the Yellowstone, but as the distance was short
and Allen was fleet of foot that was impossi
BILE. Confident, however, that his scalp was
theirs, they followed him with great eager
ness. making the most terrific and hideous
yells.
Their ugly shouts made Allen somewhat
panic stricken, and yet he did not entirely
lose his presence Of mind, but kinder felt
that providence would open lead by which
he could escape"
HOW HE ESCAPED.
On reaching the river it instantly flashed
to his mind that there YVES sort of log dug
out moored to the bank and fastened by
means of c small rope, and which the three
men had often used for crossing the Yellow
stone.
Running to this he drew his knife from his
pocket, severed the rope, and catching up
quite large limb of cottonwood bush that
was full of leaves he threw it over the little
craft, entirely concealing the latter from
view Then he put i'll his gun. and a moment
later crept into the boat himself, pulling the
limb of the tree closely over him.
In less than two more minutes the boat had
reached some deep rapids and was descending
the river with considerable rapidity. He had
gone but few rods ere the Sioux appeared
upon the bank, but never, perhaps, were In
dams more greatly nonplussed.
The white man had completely disappeared,
been spirited away as it were, and even the
floating limb failed to attract their attention,
and it was not until the bush was far out of
the reach of their rifles that they discovered
the manner in which the pale faced hunter
had escaped.
The tracks leading to the water and the
drifting limb We're too plain to be misunder-
stood even by the least intelligent of the war
riors, and they gave vent to their feelings in
many ''ugh" of despair. Being fully as
sured that their prey had escaped, they re-
paired to the hut, and after taking all that
they deemed of any value out of it, they re-
duced the building to ashes, sending up the
most savage hurrahs of glee and pleasure.
Allen had by this time steered his little
craft to the shore, and was again on land,
but the Indians passing on down that way he
was once more compelled to secrete himself
from their sight, which he did by crawling
into beaver hole, and afterward returning
to his companions when danger seemed over.
The three men now went to work again,
and in few days had another good strong
hut on the site Of the former one, and equally
as substantial as the first. Fortunately they
were not again molested by Indians.-St.
Louis Globe-Democrat
Grim Humor.