The morning call., 1891-08-09


Wards log house was we'll adapted for de-
Tense, having been built for that purpose OF
heavy hewn logs tightly fitted together,
with no windows in the lower story, and
with heavy doors with bars across the in
side. 1t was built in two separate parts,
connected by the roof and upper story,
while underneath a passage or rude hallway
ran between the two lower rooms. 1t stands
to-day in Humboldt County, just as it was
then, and with its bullet-holes in wall and
door is silent but very eloquent witness
to the truth Of
ALL THAT IS RELATED HERE.
On that day the two families gathered in
one apartment and made such preparations
for defense as they could.
At about o'clock in the morning, Just as
the inmates of the cabin were congratulate
ing themselves over the thought that per-
haps the Indians had given up the attack,
bang went rifie-shot, striking dog in
the yard, that ran under the house yelping
and whining In its death agony. These
sounds Of the poor dogs misery were greet
ed oy oaths and laughs Of deriSion from the
Indians.
Then followed fusiIlade upon the be-
sleged cabin. Seventeen shots were fired at
the house, only two of which perforated the
wall
Every one in the house kept perfectly still
The only remark made was by one OF Mrs.
Bowman's little boys, when a bullet came
through the logs and rolled upon the floor
close 10 him. He said-referring to the man
who had built the cabin-'I do wish 'Milt'
had made these walls little thicker"
The silence in the house led the Indians
10 believe that every one was killed.
80, emboldened by this conviction, one
1halln ana MS Squaw ventured into the hall
way between the two rooms, trying the
doors and entering the vacant room.
Alter little time they returned to the
other door and attempted to break it in, the
Indian putting his knee against it, Mrs
Bowman and Ward had crept up to the door
and, aiming the best that they could by the
sounds outside, both fired at once, Mrs.
Bowman using the Russian pistol. Her shot
certainly
STRUCK THE sQUAW,
As the Indians afterward told when caught
and identified by the soldiers aud the affair
was beinginvestigated. One of them said one
OF the squawS was shot on that day with SIX
uucksHot, and as the pistol held seven and
one was found imbedded in the wall Of the
hallway, it WAS very evident where the other
six went.
WaId, being more nervous. or not aiming
as well, his bullet ranged low, tearing
open the pocket OF the Indian and also
wouhdtug him. The contents of the pocket
fell In the hall way; additional evidence
that 1t was reservation Indian. They con-
sisted of Il double handful Of United States
government caps, a pair of bullet mods
aud a pocket-kuife. His bloody neither GAR
about 200 yards away, the blood stains and
shot-torn pocket attestiBg to their identity
and his hurt.
After these two shots the Indians raised
the death cry and made off with the
wounded. Still fearful of an ambush or the
return of taedndians. none of the inmates
OF the cabin dare cross its threshold. even
tor water, for the want of which they were
suffering. They remained thus until noon
OF the second day, when Mrs. BOwman's
NJ ri r. =
STOOD on the porch with his gun to guard
her from attack.
About o'clock on the afternoon of the
second day it was decided to start little
Andy on horseback to the cattle range 10
take the news of the attack and bring help
to his mother, whose
HERoIsM
Had to be thus further and sorely tested by
trusting her Child upon this dangerous and
uncertain errand. The camp was about
eight miles away, which he could only
reach by narrow mountain trail, through
an uninhabiied Wilderness. He might find
the men murdered and the camp In the pos
session of the Indians He might be killed
on the way, or taken prisoner and subjected
to torture
Not one of the children in their flight had
taken hat or shoes And for ANDY TO wear
handkerchief over his head, as he YVES
compelled TO do, was unsafe, for he could
have been taken for an Indian by the
whites, and just then it meant certain death.
Young as he was, he realized his danger. as
dld his brave and suffering mother. The
hurSe was good one, fairly fleet of foot,
and this intrepid child of noble mother
was equal to his task. He made the Journey
IN safety, although the dust of the trail was
thickly marked with Indian tracks. When
he came 10 sight of the camp lie took off his
handkerchief and waved it to show them
that he was not an Indian. His brother
and two men returned to Wards with him,
while messenger was dispatched to
AydeSvile to bring doctor to his mother.
Or. Feldt reached her on the third day
after she was shot, and then, for the first
time after being wounded. she believed that
she could live. And feeling that she was to
be spared to her helpless little family, ex-
hausted nature at last prevailed over the
heroic spirit that had sustained her through
those long hours OF vigilance and trials,
AND SHE SLEPT.
As the news of her misfortunes. her suf-
fering and heroislu spread over Humboldt
County, contributions of goods and clothes
and messages of sympathy reached her from
every quarter. The people of Humboldt
presented her with beautiful rifle, as a
tribute to her bravery and skill in the use of
firearms.
During the healing of her wound she
sewed day after day, making up the goods
that had been given her to clotte her chill
dren. She continued to occupy Wards
must Will lct y, anu lie DuiIJ another
for himself near the river, in open ground,
with walls made double and filed in with
sand. He would no longer stay in the
house where they were attacked; but there
guarding her children with ceaseless vigil
lance both night and day-sometimes sitting
all night by their bedside, with her rifle
across her lap-this brave, good woman
made determined effort to keep the land
and home for her children. From March
until July she stayed, hardly daring to take
time for sleep. as rumors of danger from
Indians came to her continually and
finally, convinced that the murder of herself
and children, or the losing, at least, of what
they had left, was imminent, she left her
home.
The place that she was thus forced to
abandon cannot be bought to-day for SO,
600, ana the land that she used as a cattle
range has also grown valuable. Being COM
PEELED
TO GIVE Up HER HOME,
Together with the loss of her property, on
that 25Lh of March. namely, house and out
buildings, one ton of butter, ammunition,
coal oil and provisions sufficient for year,
large sum Of money, clothes. bedding, fur
niture, pictures, keepSakes of friends and
relatives, silver. jewelry. books, etc, she
and her children were literally turned out
as 6eggars upon the world; But her in
to Mendocino County and made
| new home nine miles from
the toan Of Laytonville, but at what cost
Of labor and self sacrifice is only known to
those who know her bes:. Her trials and
priyatiOnS have been many, and since the
experiences of that awful time she has suf-
ftred more or less from heart troubles and
her wound.
Every one who knows that heroic, honest,
good woman devoutIy hopes that her claim
will receive the justice that it deserves
That it should is tine earnest wish, not only
Of the writer. but Of every man and woman
aud they are not few-in Northern Cali
fornia who is acquainted with the history
of her herOisIn. ANNA NJ. REED.
LdVtoautle, Augusf, 1891
BOB BURDETTE BUSHES.