The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-17

He stopped when within hundred
feet of the fort, and called:
"Runnin' Dog want talk with store
man," meaning Harvey, who had built
up considerable trade with the Indians
in his little isolated rural store.
"What do you want to talk about?'
Harvey shouted back through one of the
loop-holes:
"Runnin' Dog and braves want heap
| powder-shOt!''
''To kill the whites?" demanded Har-
"No kill pale-faces; Sioux friendly, y
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.
sThen ride away if you don't mean
| fight"
"Why whites go into store Lo': Sc !"
asked Running Dog.
1--WE thought change might be COCO
for our health"
LII SGOrc-udu COm0 OuGg
'No, the air outside isn't good for hi,n. ~
"Then Sioux burn store and c&s,sssss, -
answered the Indian.
"That is what we have been expecting
ever since your bloody gang rode No. So
pitch IMP
| 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 no
effect whatever. Very soon store and
cabin were wrapped in wild flames, and
the Sioux began a little war-dance
around them, leaping and yelling in
fiendish glee.
The store being log structure, the
roof fell in before the walls. AS the
Sioux 1eaped and chanted wildly about
their bonfire, suddenly there was great
explosion, followed almost instantly by
shrieks of terrible agony. Burning logs
were hurled in every direction, and in
tense excitement reigned among the red
war-dancers.
Harry Grey only gave a grim smile as
his companions looked inquiringly at
him.
81 merely placed half-keg of powder
where knew it would do us friendly
turn if the Sioux burned the store" he
said.
The smoke somewhat subsiding after
the explosion, the besieged were able to
count eight Indians killed and several
badly mangled. Among the slain was
Running Dog.
The buildings consumed were the only
shelter from which the Indians could
attack them, and they were now lost to
them. The gang clearly realized the
strength of the little garrison, and pos
sessed caution enough not to attempt a
rush upon it.
The band soon rode off, taking their
dead and wounded with them. This
gave the besieged whites an opportunity
to leave the milk-house, kindle fires,
and prepare food enough to last several
days. Harvey and one of the settlers
attended to strengthening the fort and
perfecting arrangements for a long
siege. There was no telling when re-
lief would reach them.
The shadows of evening were length
ening across those sadly desolated prai-
ries, when the whites beheld long line
of Sioux steal out of the forest and ride
like demons toward them.
Quickly entering their fort, they had
the door barricaded, and every gun ready
for use when the band, which at this
time numbered forty-one, rode up and
halted just beyond rifle range.
Harry Grey had counted them from a
loop-hole. Suddenly his ruddy face grew
pale, and he was observed to tremble as
if an ague had seized him.
"The fiends!" came from his ashen lips,
"What is it?" cried Harvey.
"Look!' and he pointed toward the
band of Sioux.
Harvey sprang to loop-hole and sur
veyed the object of Harry's emotion. He
started greatly as his eyes fell on lovely
white girl, with plump, graceful figure,
long golden hair streaming wildly away
from her scared, cOlOrless face, and with
her arms tied cruelty behind her back.
She was a captive in the midst of band
of merciless Indians!
"Heavens!" CALCULATED Harvey, sit is
Daisy Murdoch"
"Yes, and she is captive in the hands
OF that fiendish band. Heavens! what
can do?" he cried, in wild excitement.
Daisy Murdoch was the only child of a
settler who had taken "a claim about
fifteen miles south of Harvey's store.
The Murdocks and the Greys had been
old neighbors in Illinois, and had come
to Minnesota together. Daisy and Harry
Grey had been lovers from childhood.
and the coming Christmas had been an.
pointed as a suitable time for celebra.
ting their nuptials in good old-fashioned
frontier style. Harry had intended BY
then to have is own farm out on Cedar
Creek sufficiently improved to install
Daisy as mistress of home of their own.
After considerable parley among them
selves, the Sioux marched the captive
toward the fort. The Indians halted and
babe her proceed. at the same time keep
ing her covered with their rifles. This
was intense torture to Harry, and, had
ne not been restrained, he would have
rushed bodily to his death in the attempt
to rescue the girl whom he loved.
The captive was allowed to come up
within twenty-five feet of the barricade,
then the Sioux called to her to halt. In
q voice which she strove In vain to rem
der steady the captive told them she
had been made to come and demand
thOir surrender. But, in lower tones,
she warned them against doing so, say