The National tribune., 1891-01-01

/ N3#H MMTkM hrst efforts against the
M !. ] j. J. ]. ! . !. ].
XA u iELSefl white man. lt was a
EFl Nh az&p,e great experience TO me,
VI 1YttF ~ whatever it might have
~ ~ ia WHyI A been 20 Sitting Bull.
ENHikYA I'm the Spring Of 1867
! AZ F1 EiHI4 kAlFt found myselfat Horse
1 VIZ E shoe Creek, in Wyom-
] kzsSA VA ~~ ing, 40 miles north
- ~ west OF Fort Laramie,
/ on the old Salt Lake wagon-road, engaged in
the stock business. j had a partner named
! Smith, and a genial good soul he was, too,
during the brief period il was my fortune TO
/ know him. He had served MS a private in the
/ llth Ohio Cav. while this regiment was
stationed at Fort Laramie but further than
this must confess ] knew nothing, save that
he was an Englishman of the true Saxon type,
and from London.
At Horseshoe" there was an abandoned
stage station, which had once been garrsoned by
adetachment Of the llth Ohio Cav, and rs Smith
had been o member OF the detail he naturally
laid claim to il as its most rghtful owner. 1t
was built Of adobe and covered with poles over
which was a layer Of grass and q thick cover
ing Of earth. Around this was palisade Of
pine logs, with bastious at two Of the angles
commanding both sides and ends Of the in
closure, while on the side near the road was
ponderous gate, which required the strength Of
two men TO open aud close. IL had once con-
tanned a telegraph Office, and several rolls OF
wire had been left behind unused. 1t was a
stronghold for a squad Of soldiers, yet as there
were only two 10 defend IL now we made ad-
ditional improvements by digging trenches con-
meeting tie bastions with the inside Of the
house, covering them with thick slabs and
earth.
in laying In our supplies we purchased sew
eral boxes Of crackers, canned goods, and
notions, which we expected 10 sell to soldiers
or tcamsters Of Government waggn-trains
which might be passing, thereby making little
to pay expenses while our herd was increasing,
Three miles south Of us was Twin Springs"
Ranch, where two mammoth springs furnished
the pUrest Of crystal waters, and then scattered
their life-piying qualities through an extensive
field OF grass, making a verdant contrast in its
gray surroundings Of sage brush. By pre-
vi0us arrangement a Frenchman by the name
Of Rochon was TO occupy this place, which
would not only give us neighbors but additional
strength in numbers.
ROehon was a "squAw man." having two
children-Baptiste, a boy Of l6 aud Marie, a
girl of 10. lie was soon Joined by man by
the name OF Martin, who had been left behind
10 bring mp their supplies, among which was
keg Of whisky that be had smuggled through
Fort Laramie. This gave US Eve in numbers,
including the boy. We had each a Henry rife
and good supply Of fixed ammunition, which
we expected 10 use an supplying our table with
game there being an abundance Of deer, ante
lope and sage fowl within easy reach; an Oc-
casional bear, too made known his presence by
leaving his monster tracks in the sands Of the
creek while in nightly quest Of the choke
cherry and wild currants.
Smith was an excellent shot and prided him
self on being able to bring down a sage hen on
the wing with his rifle, feat which could
never hope 10 attain. We had but few cattle 10
begin with, yet we knew that should we be IN
disturbed in this locality, the rich grasses aud
excellent waters would soon yield Us an in
crease equal 10 that ascribed 10 Job of UZ. The
whole road had been abandoned owing TO the
building Of the Union Pacific, aud now there
was only an occasional squad Of soldiers pass
ing 10 and from Forts Laramie and Fetterman,
or train Of Government supplies, over what
once had been the great thOroughlare for the
Pony Express, the overland mail aud the con-
slant stream Of emigration 10 the Rockies and
beyond.
After helping Rochon put some needed re-
pairs on his sod house, we had nothing TO do
but roundup our little herd, 90 in search Of
game, or visit with our nei ighbOrs. The Spring
aud early part OF the Summer had passed with
about the same daily routine; il was now nearly
September, and we were engaged az Rochons
putting up our Winters hay.
On returning from the hayfeld late one day
we discovered that our milch COW, which we
kept lariated out some distance from the house,
was iuls@lHWg MlllG an examination showed LIlG
trail Of what seemed 20 be about 100 ponies
going in the direction Of the Platte River and
following closely in the thicket which grew
on the margin OF the creek.
Regular thicying band Of Sioux" ex-
claimed Smith. Soc ow they try 70 'ide them
selves"
We followed them until safety demanded our
return 10 the stOekade. Setting off AZ q brisk
Rallop, we arrived Just as the sun was setting
.gadlHg upft5gE frefAa MA cfa F1.a
and made il additionally secure by wrappngs Of
wire. Alter preparing a hasty meal and feed
ing the ponies, We made preparation for watch
ing the Enclosure. The moon, which was near
ing It's fu.lDess, gave sufficient ight from clear
sky 70 sec the movements Of objects at some
distance Smith occupied the bsstion com
mandIng he back side and west end where the
sage brush, waist high. grew close TO the in.
closure, while j held the one overlooking the
side whore the gate was.
Although accustomed 20 frontier life / con-
less ] felt loneliness come over me which /
could not suppress when / entered the bastion
FOR that drsary watch. Poering out of the
portholes could sec the graveyard, where the
rude head boards noted the deaths Of some eni-
grants away back in the sos ere they reached
the land Of gold, or still more recently where
members Of the llth Ohio Cav. had been
killed BY Indian" while others bore records
OF deadly encounters between Slim Jim or Bull
Whacker JOo. Thoughts OF all these things
were anything but soothing 10 q man OF
highly nervous temperament.
A mile away was visible high sandstone
cliffs, with their dark shadOwy caverns,
crowned here aud there by stunted cedars
standing out against tie sky like crOuching
sayages An occasional howl OF the coyote,
mingled with that mouniul cry of the owl
I perched on the rim Of some prairie dogs hole,
/ broke the stiffness Of he night and echoed far
away IN the canyons beyond. The hours passed
] slowly hs j kept my silent watch, until the
moon. which had SO generously lighted IN the
whole surroundings was just disappearing be-
/ yond Laramie's Peak Of dark pines as the
clock struck 3. A drowsiuess came over me- aud
! ] sat down 10 rest, drawing my blanke well
around me, for the night was cool.
How long had boen In this position can.