Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-11

of the presence of Indians in the woods
about. Yet there they must have been,
their painted bodies cleverly concealed
behind logs and clumps of bushes waiting
for the hour to strike.
Some distance from the fort lay the
cornfeld which had been planted in the
spring, and was now lit for hoeing, and
on this fateful day the three men set out
for the field accompanied by two little
boys, sons of Mr.. Howe, not yet nine
wears old, but able to help in the rude
labors of the fort and clearing. They
left behind TO guard the block house only
the women and children, amply armed
for its defense by day.
The Indians were known to be in the
neighborhood. Eight years before they
had burned the first Bridgman's fort
and q few smaller huts clustered about
it. France and England were at war,
and the reward was set for scalps AMI
prisoners. But there was the corn to be
hoed and winter was coming, when food
must be had, no matter what the danger.
So, all day the men and boys cut away
st the thick weeds, keeping close to-
gether, their weapons at hand, and one
of them constantly on The watch TO see u
uuivering bush or hear a dry stick crack
ing. All day, IN the house, the women
worked ut their household tasks, and the
merry laughter of children at play stole
out through the thick log walls and
reached the ears of the skulking foes
without.
Just before sunset the toilers left the
field and set out for home along the we'll
worn trail, Howe leading the way,
mounted upon n horse, and his little boys
trottiug along by his side. Within q few
minutes they would be behind sheltering
walls The ever-preseut sense of danger
bore lightly upon them, and the boys
talked merrily as they ran along of the
squirrels, the birds fitting about IN the
trees, and the welcome awaiting them.
Suddenly a murderous volley was fired
from Just ahead and savages seemed to
start up from the very earth on both
sides of the path. Howe fell to the
ground wounded, and without an in
stant's hesitation Grant end Garfield,
who were unhurt by the volley, ran to
gain the shelter of the thicker woods.
The Indians dispatched and scalped the
wounded man and bound the thoroughly
frightened little boys, pitIfully weeping
over their fathers dead body. Mean
while Grant had escaped, but Garfield
was chased into the river ana drowned.
Day paleu TITO uush huu uuSh ueep-
ened into darkness while the women and
children in the fort wondered at the long
absence of their defenders. They did
not greatly fear the worst, however, as
no Indians had been seen about. As
they sat and waited they heard upon a
sudden the familiar tread of footsteps
outside, and in moment came the sig
nal agreed upon, sort of telegraphio
knock upon the heavily barred door.
= ''There they are at lastl" cried the
women, aud more than one rushed TO
unbar the door. In a moment they stag
gered back from the entrance and the
room was filled with Indians. What al
most incredible patience they must have
shown, thus TO lie in wait night after
night until they had learned TO initiate
not only the signal knock, but the very
step of the fort . defenders.
Resistan ce was ussless. The women
were spec Oily secured snd the scream
ing chi dren terrified into silence by the
msnaces of the saYages. whom the If