The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-07-24
RRIMsTONE.

between Kansas City and Denver,
the dividing line between and Col
orado; the time, thesummerof 1866,
when the Plains Indians east of the
Rocky Mountains We're in general
outbreak against the whites. A
large wagon train under charge OF
that veteran and noted freighter,
Pete Ooray, was on its way west
ward to Salt Lake City.
At that time the plains stretching
between Eastern Kansas and the
Rocky Mountains were barren
waste, unbroken by abodes of civil
lied 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 fit home
only for Indians, buffaloes, antelope
and coyotes.
The train had proceeded SO far on
its journey without misadventurc.
The grass was good, and there had
been no Indian attack. Signs OF
the hostiles, however, were not
wanting, and some were ominous
enough. But two or three days be-
fore the freighters had come up
with wagon train which had left
Kansas City little ahead of them.
1t was dismal sight. The mules
were gone, and the wagons plum
dered wreck. The teamsters lay
about dead, all scalped and mutila
ted with every freak of savage bar
barity.
All this tended to produce reflec-
tions the reverse of cheerful in the
minds of the finders. After burying
in one grave the mangled bodies,
the teamsters returned to their wag-
ons, and the train moved on.
But scenes even as appalling as
this do not long depress men accus-
toned to ever present dangers
The expedition was strong in men
and equipment, and, to guard against
surprise by Indians, vigilant watch
was kept night and day.
1t happened that on this June
day, after 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.
have said horses. To be exact,
there were two horses and mule.
The mule, an important figure in
my story, was the specialsaddleani-
NAL 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 expedi-
ton in this wise: A lank, discoura-
ged looking Missourian brought him
to the wagon train as it was about
leaving Kansas City. The man
wanted badly>to sell, and offered the
beast at a price far below his seem
ing value. He showed proper
vouchers for his ownership, and
Pete Ooray 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 a
team, but no sooner did the traces
begin to draw than the beast fell to
kicking and plunging, and finally
turned short round and faced the
wagon. He SO mixed up the entire
eight-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, and re.
manded for the time being TO hal
ter.
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 hooffs. 1t was com
monty 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
corral, holding his knee with both
hands and hunting for revolver
he was vowing, in the first trans.
ports of pain and rage, to kill the
malevolent brute, which had assum.
ed look of extreme innocence to
lure him near enough for telling
kick; but Birthstone lived and kick.
ed on serenely. He had destiny
to fulfill that no blusterings of infu-
rated teamsters could avert.
Bigspur Bill, who claimed to be
a broncho breaker, offered to ride
him. "I'll make saddle mule OF
him. or git broke up a tryin',n he