Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-04-24
TRAILED BY INDIANS.
Az OLD HUNTERS STORY.

TRAILED BY INDIANS.
an OLD HUNTERS sToRY.
alt was in IS, and I'd been out
trading 'mongst the Flalheads and The
Nez Perces for nearly two years Off
and on, when one day | caught on to
scheme the Flatheads had got up to
raid the little settlement near to where
Cuaton, New, now stands. There
were three families living there, and
the plan was to wait until the men
went to Carson City for provisions,
when the women and children were to
be killed and the cattle run oil by one
party, while another waylaid the men
on the way back and murdered them.
] was up about Wiunemucca when
got hold of this, and | set off for Can
ton as hard as could 90, but the men
were gone by the time | reached the
settlement, which was called Ridlcy's
Camp. l had reason to fear the lndi-
ans were only few hours behind me,
and we had to move quickly. Our
only chance was to hide in the noun
tains till they left the neighborhood
OF work our way as best we coald by
night to Carson City.
1t was useless to think of saving the
men, SO just kept that part of the
business to myself. There were in all
thirteen of us, two women and their
seven children, and three little chaps
whose mother had died the week be-
fore, and me. The first thing | did
was to stampede the cattle and horses
to keep the Indians from getting them,
possible there before they found otFe'
the people had run away.
We made the little creek called
Snake River by daylight, and, after
reconnoitering, made the whole party
wade out to an island i'll the middle,
which was about 90 by 80 feet, and
covered with flags and rushes and
some stunted willows. Here we lay
all dav. for the most part down on our
stomachs un 'er the brush. OF course
We could build no fire nor move about,
go we ate the cold victuals the women
had brought along, and dipped VI
water in my cap. Twice parties Of
Indians stopped not a hundred yard
below where we were TO water thei
horses, but, juggling from their ac
tons, knew they did not suspect an.
one was near them, but were proba
bly, on their way to Ridley's. The
did not linger, but rode on at once
much to my relief, for all the tim
they were within hearing | am sur
| did not draw breath a minute fe
J fear one of the children would or
out. when we would have all bee
y! !.sss . ss..s.;l ss..s.;l. lsnt the poor s%s1G thing
with the exception of child te
weeks old, were too badly scared
str or speak unless bidden; and as II
the women. they put any man ev
saw to shame with their calmness al
courage.
When night came we struck out
line of hills lying about five mi
away, and where | counted on findi
a cave, or at least a hiding-place.
course and the women and the lare
children could have made it withC
'' difficulty; but Doing'"obfigcd TO W
on the little ones and 10 carry tn
evrey half mile or so, we were nea
all night getting to the nearest h
We'd gone about a in1le,, 'when"- j
down on the horizon saw dull glc
and knew the Indians were burn
the camp and that they'd be on
trail in a little while. When we
to the hill | could see nothing lik'
cave, and, while it was pretty hea'
wooded, there was no place TO
where the Indians would not spy
directly. was looking about
when | caught glimpse of black
running round a rocky spur al
half way up the hiA. ] followed
in time to see her 90 tumbling
climbing down sort of
in the earth, and which / k
must be her den. Without :
ping jumped at her and found my
in little cave. about ten by ten
but with another larger one lea
away toward the center of the
The bear began to growl when
saw me, and / saw, when my eye
accustomed to the dim light that
had Two cubs in the den with
Nv which she was going TO defend.
~ aiming as carefully as | could, l
at her, breaking her skull, after
killed the two cubs and transit
nv party to the cave. The last