Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-07


but had placed in his hands weapon
to enable him to take my lifo. lie
could not help but, suspcc. some du.
plicity on my par, until turned and
rode away. did not look back a,
him. but know that no was on his
feet and following my progross with
wondering eyes.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon Of
the third dag when returned to the
water hole, aud failed to fad my young
warrior there. l waited for full hour,
bu: he did not show up. was going
away feeling very bitter toward him.
when discovered a trail showing tina.
n large war party hal pa,sci there the
day before, aa;l | knew then that he
had either j,incd it or been driven
away. The scene of war was shifting
every day, and by tho mex. spring
had almost forgotten tho incident. Tho
facts leaked out in one way and al other,
and for tim, l was the butt of r;d;cuc
Of all the officers AMI scouts. Ny
srccnncss in supposing an milan had
any gratitu lie was bal enough, they
said. but the idea of my giving him
food and weapon brought down the
house.
During tho carly part Of summer OF
the next year 1 was detailed as Que of
tho guards to accompany the stages
over a certain distance on the Smoky
Hill route. There wer, from thrco 10
six of u' with each stage, according to
the dcmcanor OF the Indians, who, Il.
times. seemed determined to p-cveat
all travel. A skirmish Of some sor.
was an everyday occurrence; but ono
afternoon, AZ three of u3 were riding
ahead of a stage in which were three
civilians, We were ambushcd from n
cut or ravinc The party of 1ians
numbered 2l, and they did very
singular thing. My two companion
were shot dead at the first vollcy, while
my horse was killed. They did not
modest tho stage at al, although it
could have been easily captured, but
let it so and turned their attca-
ton TO me. Whom my horse
went down l took his body for a breast
work and opened rapid fire gu the adj
vancing Indian' while the stage driver
whipped up his horses and was soon
out OF sight. No one MAJ, no matter
how brave aud we'll armed, could be
expected to stand off SUCH band of
Indians very long. killed one AMI
wounded another. and thea they scat
tered and ciEcled me. This deprived
me OF the protection of my brca,twore,
and, knowing thai l had no show
whatever of rescue, I stood up and sig
nailed the fact of mr. surrender. 1t was
taking Il chance, but it wa, tho only
thing left. had reason to believe
that they would hold mo prisoner for
few days before disposing Of Inc, aad
it was between suicide or hoping for an
opportunity to escape.
The band came crowding up AZ sur
rendered, and my first rcca ption was
better than had hoped for. They did
not, rs rl!c, feel "a bitter against the
stag people and guards rs they did
against the soldiers l handed out mr.
wcap ,as, submitted to be bound with
OFT Il worl, aad was thea mouatcd Oh "A
pony and stationed in the centre OF the
bind rs it role OH to the northwest.
This was about two hours before sun.
down. After riding for an hour, dlr.
ing which sev:rll Indians questioned
me in rcyar - III, soldiers, wo uni;el
with aanthe: bad Of eighteen, who
w-rc hidden away in dry run about
three miles OF the stage route. We had
scarcely come up whca I recognized in
one OF the warriors the young back
whom 1 had cared for at the water
hole The year previous. lie gave me
sign OF recognition, and with it a
signal that We were to be sran.
gers. lie was one of the first to
declare my identity Al Govcrnmcn.
scout and to argue that ought to b,
put to the torture AZ once. Severn!
other young man. ag7cod with him. but
the older heads would no. listen to
anything of tho kind. was greatly
shocked to find tina. this second ban |
held az prisoners whita man named
Cooper and q boy uamel Peters. Tncy
hal been captured together thirty miles
away while looking for lost horse
The man seemed Invited, and did
not apparently reaiiz, whit wa, in
store for him. Tho by, on the con.
irary. keenly appreciated his danger,
! and was all unnervc1. II, was oaiy
, & VtnrS old t,,io onI c;c,1.,, ,,,j