The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-17
BESIEGED.
A Thrilling Incident Of the Sioux
Outbreak of 1862.

right and the left, far away, arose great
columns of smoke, which seemed to as
cend to the very heavens.
Presently, Mrs. Harvey came up from
the spring with bucket of water. She
paused at the store door and asked:
Joe, what is the meaning of all that
smoke west of us?"
''That's what Pve been puzzling my
head over" he answered.
SIT can't be the prairie. for that is too
green to burn"
NO" replied her husband; ''besides,
the smoke would be more scattered if
it came from prairie-fires.'
At that moment, Harry Grey, the
handsome young brother of Mrs. Harvey
dashed up on his pony. The young mai
showed evidence of great excitement
while the pony was covered with foan
and seemed ready to fall to the group .
from extreme fatigue.
"The Indians!' he shouted, pointing
toward the columns of smoke in the
west. ''The Sioux have made an out
break and are butchering the settlers
and burning their cabins"
"My Cod" cried Mrs. Harvey. "What
will we dO?"
There is only one alternative" re-
piled her husband.
What is that?" she asked, with
blanched face.
Hitch to the light wagon and drive
for our lives to the next settlement east
Of u.s." he said.
''Stop, Joer' cried Harry, OBTAINING
him as he started toward the little shed
where the horses were kept. THAT is
the worst thing you can do. The In
1ians are all around us. Bloodthirsty
bands are guarding every pass and road
leading from our settlement
''What do you advise?''
Flight the red Williams right here, -
answered Harry.
But won't that be foolhardy?"
Not half as much so as driving right
into one of their traps. The Sioux are
in every direction"
"Well, I'm no coward" said Harvey.
"When have to fight will fight. But
how are we to fortify ourselves here?'
"Have you plenty of arms and am
munition in the store?" asked Harry
Grey, his keen, dark eyes surveying the
premises.
"Yes. just got in a supply"
'"Then why not turn that milk-house
into fort?" suggested Harry.
''The very placer calculated Harvey.
"We'll try it, and may God help us
against the red fiends."
The milk-house was a low, stone
structure, built over spring of excel
lent water. 1t had just been finished,
and was strong, roomy cave, the floor
and wall of which were thick and solid,
made of rock which Harvey and Harry
had blasted from the open ground around
the milk-house. The roof was strong
and well-sodded.
The milk-house would be a capital
place to use as fort, for the ground on
every side around it was smooth, offer
ing no opportunity whatever for their
enemies to creep up.
They wasted no words in getting their
fort ready for a siege.
While Mrs. Harvey and Harry hast
ened to convey food, bedding and goods
from the store and cabin, Harvey, with
a strong iron bar, made loop-holes in the
stone walls. He had muscular arms,
and in short time he had made several
of them; with huge auger he then
bored three more in the heavy oaken
door,
AS they were busily preparing their
fort for the expected attack, they were
Joined by two young settlers, who had
claims three miles away. They had
been in the woods hunting stray cattle
and had had very narrow escape from
band of Sioux, who had given them
long chase.
These young fellows needed no invi
tation to help, but began work with a
will. The little party did not forget to
keep their eyes open for the Indians,
however.
Sooner than is required to tell it, the
best that was in the cabin and the little
country store had been transferred to
the milk-house. The stock had been
driven by one of the. men into dense
timber short distance beyond the store,
where the Sioux would not be likely to
find them.
Harvey and one of the settlers had
prepared barricade before the door.
They drove several stout posts, which
had been we'll soaked in water to pre-
Won't their taking fire, into the ground
before the door, leaving only space
enough for one person to pass at time.
The Indians would have a poor chance
to come at them from that way.
Meanwhile Harry Grey, with the as
sistance of the other settler, had pre-
pared torpedo holding several pounds
of powder, which they skillfully con-
raaled under rocks and dirt on the brink
of deep hole that had been made by
blasting out the rock. This hole was
not commanded by the loopholes and
would be sure to afford the enemy an
excellent point of attack. A rude
trench was rudely dug from the milk
house. and by aid of some long planks.
q train of powder was arranged. Then
the earth was put back so carefully as
20 leave no suspicious Of what had been
done.
1t was nearly ten o'clock when Harry
exclaimed excitedly:
There come some of the villains!'
When the little party of whites shut
themselves in their fort, the Sioux were
tearing along over the prairies not a
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 a