The Opelousas courier., 1892-12-31

women, and children were tomahawked
and scalped as fast as they fell into his
hands. From the Niobrara River, in
South Dakota, to the Cimaron, down in
Southwest Kansas, he desolated the land
with torch and tomahawk.
At midnight one night a wounded
man rode into our camp on the Smoky
Fill fork OF the Kansas River, on the
Overland trail. He had two bullets in
his body, and he fell to the earth as he
was challenged by our sentinel, but he
had a story to tell before he died. Ten
miles to the north OF us a pioneer had
staked out his claim and set up his home,
in defiance of all dangers. He had come
from the Missouri River, and the family,
consisted of himself, wife, a son four
teen years old, and a sister-in-law of
eighteen. It was almost criminal on his
part to thus expose taeir lives, but the
frontiers of the West witnessed thou,
sands of such instances. The family had
remained too long. When it was de-
c1ded to abandon the claim and seek
safety the country was full of wal parties
thirsting for vengeance. The wounded
man was a land locker, who was just.
riding away from the cabin of the APP
plegates when fred upon. They mi0ht
be able to defend the cabin for q few.
hours. but unless help was sent them
they would be wiped out before noon
day.
We were only a detachment Of q regi-
ment, with work enough on hand for q
regiment, and no force could be spared.
The captain in command shook his head
as the story was finished, and the shadow
of death fitted over the face Of the man
who had come riding through the dark
ness to tell it as his life ebbed away.
His entire force would not have been
strong enough toattempt a rescue, even
If at liberty to moye. He did not re-
turn to his sleep, from which be had
been aroused, but sat moody and silent
by himself. and not more than twenty
feet away was the dead ma covered
with a blanket.
Look here. cap.ain,ns said my fellow
scout as we moved up to him after a
brief talk between ourselves, q while
you amt got torce huff to drive these
reds off and bring the family out. IL
seems as If a couple Of men might helm
stand the Injuns off till Custer comes
up with the rest of the commands
.How would you do it?'' asked the
.aptain.
"Wall, pard and I kin make the dis.
lance afore daylight. If the family has
bin wiped out we'll come back; if not.
wen try to git in and help EN- hold the
tort till the reds git tired or Custer
drives 'em off.
The captain took five minutes to think
It over, and then gave us permission ID
go. The Indians had overreached them.
selves in their attack on the cabin-that
:, they had BETRAYED their presence byi
firing upon the land locker too soon.
As bis horse dashed off with him the
barricaded doors and win
lows and prepared to fight to the end.
Inc cabin was constructed Oh logs. Soda
nd stones-a temporary shelter to be
'eplaced the next year by something
more ~pretentious. It stood on 4 knoll
With clear ground all around it. Fifty
leet from the back door was the spring
rom which water wa obtained.
a mile from the house we turned our
aorses loose to find their way back to
amp and then crept forward. we felt
certain that Indians were abnnt huf NC
cached the cabin without seeing or hear
ng from them. Lying fat upon the
thirty feet away, we cautiously sig-
Sailed and repeated until those inside
Fere aware Of u presence. They were
aluraily suspicious of trickery, and ii
Tas q quarter of an hour later before ne
o. into the house. In addition to what
ne land locker had told us, We found
nat Mrs. APPLICABLE had been killed by
bullet which had entered one Of the
ort holes, and another had struck the
usband in the feshy part of the leg and
q painful wound. III the dark.
sss ne could not see each others faces.
our conversation was in whispers.
hen daylight anne the body Of Mrs.
pplegate was laid on the bed and Gov
ed up, and we dressed the man. wound
his great benefit. The sister-in.law.
named Lucy Rogers. She was d
rprise to me. She had the voice ana
airing Of q born lady, and I nsver saw
hanasuEaeF sirls Such 4 gisl enRhs b