The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-28
TRAILED BY INDIANS.
A THRILLING Tale OF EARLY
DAYS N NEVADA,


Women and c lLdren Escape the
Reds xins-aou=ed-up in a Cave for
Days - Discovered - The Terrible
Fight for Lifs-Couraze Of the
Women-Victory!
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
The old Indian hunter laid down his
paper, saying: "pve been amused nightly
to hear some folks discussing the threatened
outbreak among the redskins, the GOODNESS
with which they talk of sech and the sneak
ing sympathy they've got with the devils.
I'd just like to take such and give them lust
a months residence on the plains, when the
Indians are holding councils and breathing
out fire and murder and worse. I tell you
I'd hear mighty little talk of sympathy
then, and see precious little GOODNESS.
But it takes US, who have gone through
such, to know the horrors Of an Indian war
the terrors, threatening not men alone. but
women and children; aye, the very babe in
the cradle. l don't believe in peoples hair
turning white with trouble or anxiety, for
mine would be as white as cotton if such
would do it. Especially once did have a
fearful experience with redskins. Want to
hear about it!
well, it was in '48, and I'd been ont
trading 'mongst the Flatheads and the NeZ
Perces for nearly two years off and on.
when one day caught on to a scheme the
Flatheads had got up to raid the little set
Element near TO where Canton. 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 off by one party.
while another waylaid the men on the way
back and murdered them. | was up about
Winnemucca when | got hold of this, and L
set of for Canton as hard as | could go. but
the men were gone when reached the set
tlement, which was called Ridley's camp.
had reason to fear the Indians were only
a few hours behind me, and we had to move
quickly. Our only chance was to hide in
the mountains till they left the neighbor>
hood or work our way as best we could by
night to Carson City.
1T was useless to think of saving the
men, so Just kept that part of the bust
less 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 BEFORE and me- The first
thing did was to stampede the cattle and
horses TO keep the Indians from getting
them; then, as we started, l shut UP the
houses to keep the redskins as long as posi-
people had run away.
I'VE made the little creek called Snake
river by daylight, and, after accommodating,
made the whole party wade out to an
island In the middle, which was about 20 by
81 feet, and covered with flags and rusher
and some stunted willows. Here we lay all
day, for the most part down on our stomachs
under the brush. OF course we could build
no tlre nor move about so we ate the cold
YlCtnalS ha toIC o,,I
dlpped up water 10 my cap. Twice parties
OF Indians stopped not hundred yards
below where we were to water their
horses, but, Judging from their actions, |
knew they did not suspect any one was
near them, but were probably on their way
to Ridley's. They did not linger, but rode
on at once, much to my relief, for all the
time they were within hearing am sure l
did not draw breath minute for fear one
OF the children would cry out, when we
would have all been massacred but the
poor little things, with the exception of
child few weeks old, were too badly scared
to stir or speak unless hidden and as for the
women, they put any man l ever saw to
shame with their calmness and courage.
Nv hen night came we struck out for a
line of hills lying about five miles away and
where counted on finding a cave, or at
least hIdingpla OF course | and the
women and the larger children could have
made it without difficulty; but, being OBJ
hged to wait on the little ones and to carry
them every half mile or so, we were nearly
all night getting to the nearest hill. We'd
gone about mile, when low down on the
horizon saw a dull glow and l knew the
Indians were burning the camp and that
they'd be on our trail in a little while.
w hen we got to the hill | could
see nothing like cave, and, while it
was pretty heavily wooded, there was no
place to hide where the Indians would not
spy US directly. | was looking about me
when | caught a glimpse OF black bear
running round rocky spur about half way
up the mill. | followed just In time to see
her go tumbling or climbing down a sort Of
cash IN the earth, and which | knew must
De her den. Without stopping jumped
after her and found myself in little cave,
about ten by ten feet. but with another
larger one leading away toward the center
OF The hill. The bear began to growl
when she saw me, and saw, when my ewes
got accustomed to the dim light, that she
had two cubs in the den with her, which she
was going to defend. So, aiming as care
lully as could, | fred at her, breaking her
Skull, after which killed the two cubs and
transferred my party to the cave. The last
oL Inc cold meat and bread were then eaten,
ana the women and children, creeping into
the larger division, " hich was, however,
but was too anxious to sleep, tired as |
was, SO hoisted myself out of the cavern and
climbed to the top Of the hills to see if
could see aught of the Indians.
Several times it seemed to me that saw
band moving along the line of the horizon,
ana, while the specks might have been cat
Tie, thought it best to stay where we were
al that day, that night and the next day.
Our great trouble was water. which had to
oe brought from a spring on the other side
OF the hill. and as only q small quantity
could be brought at time-my cap being
the only vessel we had-the children es>
peclally suffered a good deal. At last one
OF the women discovered fiat rock with
hollow dip in the middle, which would hold
ABOUT two quarts or so, and kept this
hlIed as a cistern. l ventured that night to
roast piece of the bear in hole in the
ground, which change Of diet was welcome
one. lnever passed such time since | was
born, for | dare not sleep an hour for fear
OF a surprise, and the weight of response
ollity felt, with those poor, helpless Great
lures on my hands. was simply awful
Late on the second day, when | climbed
The bill for a last look, | saw a small band
OF Indians not more than an eighth of mile
away. They did not number more than
seven, but were armed and in full war
dress, and were heading straight for the
I'LL. Dropping on my all fours |
ran as fast as l could for the
mouth of the cavern aud scrambliuR