Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-10-18
FIGHTING THE SIOUX.
An Exciting Adventure in Nebraska.
BY w. L. FRENCH.

It was the year 1868 that the incl
dents narrated below TRANSFERRED in what
is now known as Dodge County, Ne
braska. With the completion of the
Union Pacific Railroad, many people
had been led to emigrate to what was
then known as ''the far West" In the
belief that their financial condition
would rapidly improve as the county
became older and richer.
A party of twenty families from the
came neighborhood in Ohio came to
Omaha, and from thence they struck
boldly out toward the northwest,
finally locating in the beautiful valley
of the Elkhorn River. They were all
moderately well of in worldly goods,
and so were able to take large tracts of
land. There was one drawback to
this; it scattered the cabins, which they
built from logs cut in the timber that
fringed the banks of the Elkhorn, over
more territory than was safe In case
their war-like neighbors, the Sioux In
dams, should attack the settlement, as
they we're very likely to do.
With two of these families in partic-
Mar we alone have to deal One was
that of George Marwood, which con-
sisted of himself, wife and daughter,
Bessie, a maiden of IL years. The
other was that of John Frazier, COM
posed of himself. wife and son of %
Jack Frazier was Bessie Marwood's
,betrothed husband, and it was their in
tention, as soon as the elder people were
fairly settled in their new homes, to
we'd and commence the battle of life on
their own account.
The land of the Marwoods and Fraz-
iers lay side by side along the river,
while the rest of the party had scattered
about over a tract some five miles
square. About month after these pio-
neers had located in the valley party
of Sioux Indians came sweeping down
on the settlement one pleasant April
evening. They had divided into three
parties, the better to conduct their saw
age work, and so stealthy had been
their approach that no one was aware
of their proximity till their fierce yells
of attack warned the settlers of the
danger that was upon them.
One party attacked the inmates of
the cabin just west of the Fraziers and
massacred them before they could at
tempt anv defense. They paused to
plumber the cabin, and then set it on
fire before assailing the Fraziers, and
this gave time to prepare for their COM
ing.
The Fraziers had constructed an IN
derground room by making an excava-
ton near the house. The sides and
ends were built up with logs and the
top covered with heavy timbers, and
over the whole had been filed some
three feet of earth. It was intended
to serve the double purpose of cellar
and place Of refuge in case of an Indian
attack. They had not yet finished the
heavy puncheon doors for the entrance,
but, realizing that they could make
more effectual resistance there than in
their cabin they at once retreated to the
cellar, with all their more valuable pos
sessions.
As soon as Jack saw his father and
mother safely installed in the cave he
babe them a hurried and affectionate
farewell and fastened to their half COM
pleted stable, where he released three
of the horses, mounting the fourth, he
dashed away toward the Marwoods',
driving the three loosened horses be-
fore him. The Indians were coming
rapidly toward the cabin and he had
no doubt but that some of them would
Immediately pursue him, but in this he
was mistaken, for they all joined in the
attack upon their cabin.
1t was less than half q mile to the
Marwoods' and the distance was soon
travelled. Jack drew up before the
door of the cabin In which stood Mr..
Marwood, gazing anxiously toward the
burning cabin beyond the Fraziers'.
is it the Sioux, Jack ?" he asked
nervously. as young Frazier refined in
bis horse
sit is. came to warn you, and then
I must hasten on to warn the other,
though should think those yells would
be sufficient to alarm any one,' replied
Jack.
Good 'God!" exclaimed Marwood,
and his face grew pale as he heard the
confirmation Of his worst fears. Bessie
has gone out alone along the north side
of the river In the direction of the
Mspes place; I fear she viii be lost,
and cannot go to her rescue
But I can, and viii, replied Jack,
~and will save her or perish In the at
tempt. It may be that can find and
bring her here before the Indians at
tack you, and it may be that even now
she is q captive. In any event, take
courage and the two mems hands
closed In friendly grasp for an instant,
then Jack wheeled his horses head to-
ward the river and dashed away.
There was ford straight north from
the Marwood cabin, and toward this
Jack headed. Five minutes more and
he had crossed the stream, cautiously
assembled the bank, and was gazing out
over the broad expsnse of prairie. Not
an Indian was In sight on either bank
of the river, the timber conceallng
them from view, yet there whereabouts
,ouId be easily determined by the
shouts Of the savages and the crack OF
the settlers guns. As only q few OF
the Indians possessed fire arms, he
could tell pretty well how the fight
was progressing by the sound OF the
guns.
TL. IL l.a - A.