The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-01-18

1t was nearly ten o'clock when Harry |
exclaimed excitedly:
There come some of the villains!
When the little party OF whites smut
in their fort, the Sioux were
tearing along over the prairies not
mile away.
Grasping their loaded guns, they
awaited the coming of the red men.
They had not long to wait.
From the loop-holes the white men
counted twenty-seven Indians, all
mounted on good ponies. Every one
carried something which he had plum
dered from the settlers cabins, and
few had fresh scalps at their belts.
The rode up to the little store boldly.
Evidently they had seen the hasty flight
to the milk-house, but gave no hint OF
having done so. Among the band, Mrs.
Harvey recognized several whom she
had kindly supplied with food and other
articles not many days before.
Wells of savage indignation came from
the Sioux who entered the cabin and
store, to find them already stripped OF
their most desirable contents. coun-
Gil was held Immediately.
They expected every moment to see
the flames devour their buildings. But,
instead. an Indian who had been in the
settlement often and had picked up
little imperfect English, left the coun-
Gil and approached the retreat OF the
whites, giving the peace sign.
He stopped when within hundred
feet of the fort, and called:
s'Runnin' Dog want talk with store
man." meaning Harvey, who had built
up considerable trade with the Indians
in his little isolated rural store.
ssWhat do you want to talk about?"
Harvey shouted back through one of the
loop-holes:
..Runnin' Dog and braves want heap
powder-shotr'
ssTo kill the whites?'' demanded Har-
vey; -, x,.. s,o,x t,;o,a,v +.
replied the willy Running Dog.
'.What do you mean, then, by riding
around this way?"
"Some braves get fire-water, drink
heap, make heap noise, ride over white
mans settlement; but no kill white
man. answered the Indian.
..Then ride away if you don't mean
fight" -.
ssWhy whites go into store house?"
asked Running Dog.
"We thought change might be good
for our health"
"Will store-man come out?"
"No, the air outside isn't good for him. "
"Then Sioux burn store and cabin"
answered the Indian.
'.That is what we have been expecting
ever since your bloody gang rode up. So
pitch in!''
And SO the conference ended.
Running Dog returned to his fellows,
| to whom he lost no time in fully trans
lating the dialogue between himself and
the settler.
With whoop and howl some of the In.
dams opened fire on the fort, while
others prepared for great bonfire.
The shots against the fort had nc
effect whatever. Very soon store and
cabin were wrapped in wild flames, and
the Sioux began little war-dance
around them, leaping and yelling II
flemish glee.
The store being log structure. the
roof fell in before the walls. AS the
Sioux leaped and chanted wildly abou
their bonfire, suddenly there was grea
explosion, followed almost instantly b.
shrieks of terrible agony. Burning log
were hurled in every direction, and in
tense excitement reigned among the req
war-dancers.
Harry Grey only gave grim smile a
his companions looked inquiringly a
him.
Il merely placed a half-keg of powde
where / knew it would do us friendl,
turn if the Sioux burned the store" HI
said.
The smoke somewhat subsiding ate
the explosion, the besieged were able +
count eight Indians killed and severa
badly mangled. Among the slain wa
Running Dog.
The buildings consumed were the onl.
shelter from which the Indians coul
attack them, and they were now lost +
them. The gang clearly realized tn
strength of the little garrison, and pos
sessed caution enough not to attempt
rush upon it.
The band soon rode off, taking thei
dead and wounded with them. Thi
gave the besieged whites an opportunit
to leave the milk-house, kindle fires
and prepare food enough to last severa
days. Harvey and one of the settler
attended to strengthening the fort an
perfecting arrangements for Ion
siege. There was no telling when r.
lief would reach them.
The shadows of evening were length
ening across those sadly desolated pra
ries, when the whites beheld long lin
Of Sioux steal out Of the forest and rid
like demons toward them.
Quickly entering their fort, they ha
: the door barricaded, and every gun read
for use when the band, which at thi
time numbered forty-one, rode up an
halted just beyond rifle range.