The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-25
COOP STORIES OF TIE PRESENT DAH.
The Heroias of the Cabin ON the Smoky
NIL Fork OF the Kansas River.

uuu LA Aopt tlo iouihi huh-
dreds OF scattered rnnchmen and pioneers to-
tally unprepared for either resistance or flight.
The red mnn had no mercy In his heart for old
or young. He took no prisoners-men. women.
and children were t~omahawked and scalped
as fast as they fell Into his hands. From the
Niobrara River. in South Dakota. to the imar-
ron, 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 Hill fork Of tho
Kansas River. on tho Overland trail. He had
two bullets in his body, and he fellt to the earth
as he was challenged by our sentinel. but he
had a story to tell before no 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 tho family consisted OF himself.
wife. a son IA years old. and a s~ister-in-law Of
1S. 1t was almost criminal on his part to thus
expose their lives. but the frontiers OF the
West witnessed thousands Of such instances.
The family had remained too long. When It
was decided to abandon the claim and seek
safety the country was full Of war parties
thirsting for vengeance. Tho wounded man
was a land locker. who was Just riding away
from the cabin OF the Applegates when fred
upon. They might be able to defend tho cabin
for a fow hours. but unless help was sent them
sASs - ~ VAiSN " pohSho Az
We were only a detachment Of a regiment
with work enough on hand for a regiment. and
no force could be spared. The Captain in
command shook his head as the story was fin
ished. and the shadow Of death fitted over the
face OF the man who had como riding through
the darkness to toll It as his life ebbed away.
His entire force would not have been strong
enough to attempt . rescue. even II at liberty
to move. He did not return to his sleep, from
which he had been aroused. but sat moody
and silent by himself. and not moro than
twenty feet away was the dead man covered
with a blanket.
Look here. Captain" said my fellow scout
as we moved up to him after a brief talk be-
tween ourselves. while you amt got force
'nuff to drive these reds off and bring tho
amlyo out. 1t seems as II a couple OF mon
might help to stand tho Injuns of till Custer
comes up with the rest OF the command"
How would you do it 2" asked the Captain.
WAL. pard and l kin make the distance
afore daylight. II the family has bin wiped
out we'll como back: il not we'll try to git In
and help 'em hold tho fort till the reds git tired
or Custer drives 'em or"
The Captain took Ave minutes to think 1t
over. and then gave us permission to 60. Tho
Indians had overreached themselves in their
attack on the c~abin-that is. they had betrayed
wave eA>SNANS ~ AAih6 aBoi tho Iahu loohtl
too soon. AS his horse dashed Off with him
the Applegates barricaded doors and windows
and prepared to fight to the end. The cabin
was constructed Of logs. sods. and stones-a
temporary shelter to be replaced the next year
by something more pretcntious. 1t stood on
. Knoll. with clear ground all around it. Fifty
feet from the back door was the spring from
which water was obtained.
mile from the house wc turned our horses
loose to find their way back to camp and then
crept forward. We felt certain that Indians
seeing or hearing from them. Lying fiat upon
the earth thirty feet away. we cautiously Sig
aware OF our presence. They were naturally
suspicious OF trickery. and it was a quarter Of
an hour later before we got into the house. In
we found that Mrs. Applegate had been killed
by a bullet which had entered one Of the port
the feshv part OF the leg and inflicted a painful
wound. In the darkness we could not see each
%hispsrs saeS Wiheenn a de agh fahe esme the b %ss t IT
Mrs; Apologize was laid on the bed and coy
Els ar pp; q Ssns WS d T5s sist tae mans ninw w w snnmt to
Lucy Rogers. She was a surprise to me-. She
had the voice and bearing Of a born lady. and
ought to have been lying in q dead faint or
walking about and wringing her hands and un-
ne,ryin ~. the eS others ona Instead rnshn. %, Of that she was
charge Of affairs. The boy was only a boy in
years. but when l looked him over | knew that
we might soon look for.
Nov; here's the situation" said old Bill as
are five Of us here. We've got three WinchSs-
tiers. n. cavalry carbine., and three revolvers.
and plenty Of ammunition; We kin stand
need DO scarf; How's the grub and water %
in out to ,h th Sa spri rs a4 wiih c the two am pai hsw you sHi
two scouts must cover me with your rifles"
hesitation. She made her first trip without
incident. As she Was alling the pals q second
Of our, presence. four warriors rose up from
behind a ridGe forty rods away ana ran to cap;
h fufs way b etys anu the eo house istes snd the the spP r
She heard the redskins yell and she knew they
were coming for her. but she filled the pals
iH5y n She was s"s'G on her Way " back K" to
the house, and the nearest Indian was
tered behind the ridge. A!iwere moving down
upon up,, her when a We Jumped u up tell You only
ofthe six Off ha and wounded a nth, though
the night. PROBABLY. rs we saw no others:
While the girl was carrying water we stripped
s sns d ena q W fhsi1 afms and and a thrae norsassi ms
@yolyer: Everything that could be spared to
liSi2 "h'V u ''ipNs Nv 90. ALi'ia Nto W.
be seen at this time. hut We had no idea OF
leaving tho place. 1t might BIO an hour before
any force showed up. but we would have our
hands full then. AS the girl finished her task
sho came to us atthe door and said,
ho ~Thf ERE Is a ssnd s,st Rie u W GRAVE w,S sl Los st to sss
w here for three or four days yet"
1t was the thing to do. but neither OF us
the spade ! brought more water from the
dry grass around it. Everything that would
burn was thoroughly soaked. AppleGate sat
on tho floor with q chair as q prop for his
back. while tho boy watched through a port
hole at the other end Of the cabin.
Henry" said the girl. as she beckoned US
to enter tho cabin. we are going to bury Della
Just outside. Charley" to tho boy. go and
kiss your mother
We helped her to wrap tho body in n quilt.
and then we carried tito whore tho husband
sat, and he kissed tho dead faco. an, covered
his own with his hands. lucy's face betrayed
the torture Of her soul. but, she shed no tears.
1t was a shallow grave. and the body was soon
hidden from sight. When, the earth had been
trodden down the girl said:
While am preparing, breakfast do you men
tear dow that stable and bring nm such mate;
rial as we mny want to strengthen the cabin
1t WAS a rough shed OF poles and thatcl. but