Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-02-06

In the rear OF the team a party ~
mounted Indians dozen in number
dashed into view round turn In tba
long valley trail nearly mile behind
the blackboard and came onward AT the
TOP OF their speed. John WardrOp in
stantly perceived them and knew that
now the race for life had begun. As
ne gathered the reins and lei the whip
lash fall upon the backs OF the mules
on IN the mountains the flying scud-
clouds borne upon upper currents OF
AR ABOVE the masses Of vapor inter.
mingled, and then with sudden dark
ening OF their pearl-gray tints the two
great clouds merged into one, their
blaekness was broken by vivid
lightning fash and tremendous thun
der peal, aud then the dense, heavy
cloud-burst settled down as If sucked
into funnel down into the head of
Pimaya canon.
Gould he reach the gulch before the
cloud came down its channel? John
Wardrop piled the whip and shouted
to the mules which bounded onward
with the blackboard rolling as lightly
behind them as il they did not feel It's
weight From the brink OF the valley.
down the steep descent TO the bottom.
the blackboard wrenched and zigzagged
upon the winding trail cut and quilted
by the frclghting outfits. in manner
that would have shattered less sub.
stantial vehicle. But the sure.footed
beasts kept ahead Of il and did not
stumble; gallopiDg across the level
space they shot down by the narrow.
sliding wagon patch into the channel
OF the guleh. just as the Apaches
whooping and firing. came over the
valleys brink
Absorbed In watching his team and
In handling his reins in the difficult
descent John Wardrop hearing the
shots and whistling bullets that came
after them. had eyes only for the path
Of flight that lay across the channel
and Ia the opposite narrow trail. wind
ing up from the bottom sands 10 the
top Of the bank He heard his wife's
scream. ns she caught his arm and
cried Look up the channel"
With the wide sheet OF dry sand be-
fore IT, II cloudless sky above aud sur.
rounding landscape wholly arid. there
Was coming down the broad waterway.
extending from bank 10 bank. muddy
Hood ten feet high. rolling like AN un-
doriow the swift upper waters moving
.gs,er than those beneath. and bearing
along great logs and trees. which up
reared and tumblcd and tossed like
siraws The mules seemed fully TO
realitc their danger and their quick
feet threw clouds OF sand into the
blackboard "a, they dashed FOR life
across the channel The front Of the
food WIS bow shaped. bending so far
10 advance that IA the mules feet
struck the foot Of the opposite bank
the center Of the advancing tumult OF
waters covered the tracks Of the buck
board wheels in the mid. channel. while
stlll there was little space left al the
point where the trail rose upon the
bank
Tho trusiy beast, sprHng up the trail
like cats and then rs they tuggcd with
NtFNAA F'tt ~ ANt lhH ~ tue tlthEA "a
carry along the blackboard. half way
mp the bank there came about the We
hiclo q great surge OF waters partly
uprai-ing il and nearly sweeping Il
away For a moment all seemed gone;
but the mules straiuing and struggling.
kept their footing and did not lose
their way TIE harness held and the
blackboard, with water pouring from
between It's bottom stats came up on
the bank As the yellow Hood swept on.
making an impossible wall Of water
between the little party and their pur.
suers.
Leaving the bafllcd Indians uponIh,
further banl; helpless TO reach their
intended victims John Wardrop with
his family rode safely and comfortably
into Silver City there TO await the
coming Of peaceful times when they
might return In safety 10 the Amigo
ranch Times Star.