The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-03
BRIM STONE.

tween Kansas City and Denver, near the
dividing line between Kansas and Col
I orado; the time, the summer Of 1866
when the Plains Indians east of the
Rocky Mountains were in general out
break against the whites. A large wagon
train under charge Of that veteran and
noted freighter, Pete 0urAy, was on its
way westward Ia salt Lake City.
At that time the plains stretching be-
/ tween Eastern Kansas and the Rocky
Mountains were a barren waste, unbrok-
en- by the abodes of civilized men save
an occasional 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 tit home only for
the Indians, buffaloes, antelope and
cayOtes
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 eoroinous
enough. But two or three days before
the freighters had come up with wagon
train which had left Kansas City little
ahead ofthem.
1t was dismal sight The mules were
gone, and the wagons plundered wreck.
The teamsters lay about dead, all sealped
and mutilated with every freak of savage
barbarity.
1t happened that on this June day. af
ter the MONDAY halt, three men whose
duties did not call them 10 the wagon
seats fingered after the train moved on to
let their horses graze on the luxuriant
new grass.
have said horses. To be exact, there
were two horses and a mule. The mule,
an 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 Birthstone >
the animals name, indicated both the
quality of its temper and its peculiar yell
low color
Birthstone had joined ;he expedition
in this wise A lank, discouraged looking
Missourian brought him TO the wagon
train as il was about leaving Kansas City.
The man wanted badly to sell, and offer
cd the beast far below his seeming value.
He showed proper vouchers for his own
ership, and Pete ouay bought the ami
NAL for mere song.
When Pete tried to use the mule he
thought that he had paid far too much.
lie nrst haTnessed him in team, but
no sooner did the traces begin TO draw
than the beast fell to kicking and plung-
ing, and finally turned short round and
faced the wagon. lie 50 mixed up the
entire eight-mule team that parts of the
harness mad to be cut 10 get them clear.
lie was excused from further services as
a draught animal, and remanded for the
time being TO halter.
He kicked, struck and bit at whom or
whatever was about him. There seemed
to be no bounds to the reach of his hind
legs and his accuracy in locating his hoois.
IL was commonly believed that he could
kick round a corner. That he was worse
than useless, Joe Dubbs was free to assert,
as he came limping from the coral. hold
ing his knee with both hands and hunt
ing for a revolver he was vowing, in
the first transports of pain and rage, to
kill the malevolent brute, which had as
sumed q look of extreme innocence TO
lure him near enough for telling kick
bat birthstone lived and kicked on Sc
renely. He had destiny TO fulfill that
no blusterings of infuriated teamsters
could avert.
Bagspur Bill, who claimed TO be bron-
eho breaker, offered to ride him. g IN
make a saddle mule of him, or git broke
up tryin'," he said, with an air of deter
mination, as he posed heroically in Mex
lean pantaloons, set off by spur like ris-
ing 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 go.
Bnmstone'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-
manned astride the high corral fence on
which he had fallen and which he seemed
to prefer to his seat in the saddle. Brim-
stone kicked for him hopefully, whereat
Bill slipped down on the other side, ard,
with clanking spurs, made rapid strides
for safety.
For time afier this no one undertook
to handle the yellow mule, which lived /
at ease, toiling not in the long march OF
the day, except to follow leisureIy the