The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-29


dresses tossing from side to side. Some
Of them wore cruel Spanish spurs with
which they goaded the little beasts be-
meath them, and all came on pellmell,
thirsty for paleface blood and traders
Outsiders from the camp on the Ar
kansas met the ro-enforcements two OF
three miles out on the prairie, and evil
IDENTIFY recounted to them the situation
Of the foe. A council of war was held,
and in less than another hour the most
damoniscal whoops and yells broke upon
the cars of the listeners, and the Indians
started toward the corral.
II is well known that for long time
back in the history of the west tho wild
Indians have been as well armed as any
white men who encounteredth them. These
bands were no exception. They carried
exactly the same kind Of rifles and many
Of them had revolvers. The only differ
ence between the arms Of the men in
Jose Valdez corral and those Of tho In
dams outside was that the Indians car
ried bows and arrows in addition to
their other weapons. The men in the
corral were well supplied with ammuni-
ton. but 1t was not to be wasted, and
Captain jose cautioned them to make
every shot count.
It would seem to ono Unfamiliar with
Indian tactics that the corral had greatly
the advantage, but it must be remem-
bered that the instant the advancing line
was within rife shot every Indian threw
himself on the side of his pony, hanging
there out of sight with a bullet proof
breastwork between him and his foe.
The Indians fired under the horses necks,
and whenever apainted face or leather
fringed leg was visible sure shot from
the wagons struck it and its owner rolled
over into the grass. A little nearer and
little nearer drew the death dealing
coil as it circled around and around. The
Indians were frenzied by the sight Of
their own dead, who had lain near the
wagons since early morning, but they
could not make break in the. barricade
through which TO rush upon the handful
Of men inside. That was what they ex-
pected to do and that was what the men
in the corral feared they would do.
Whenever an Indian fell another took
bis place, and if possible he was carried
away. There was a considerable force
In reserve, about two hundred Indians
In all, Captain Jose thought. But for
the overwhelming numbers of the In
dians and one other consideration the
men in the corral would have been or
dered TO shoot the ponies and afterward
their riders. This they could easily
have done for o time, but they feared
that such o course would make the saw
ages FIRE the prairie. That, they knew,
would DO the last resort. The Indians
wanted to preserve the grass in that vi
cinity Of their camping grounds, and
they especially wanted to secure the
powder belonging to the trains. AT that
time each wagon carried one or two
twenty-five pound kegs. There was
policy, too, in deceiving the Indians in
regard to the supply Of ammunition. u
the men were reckless in firing and
wasted bullets on ponies unnecessarily,
it would Immediately make known the
fact that they could hold out long
time, and the Indians would accordingly
husband their resources.
The sun rode high in the heavens, and
the blue sky of the morning turned to o
white heat. The cattle in the corral
bawled for water In every lull Of the
firing, and raised their great horns and
looked with dumb wonder out of their
CLASSY eyes when the noise began again
and the sitting smoke pulled in their
nostrils A detail Of the drivers stood
guard over them to prevent them from
stampeding from side to side of the cor
raj Once in awhile one Of the beasts
fell over with bullet hole in his hide.
The strntegy Of the hour was to gain
time. II was folly 10 think of weaken
ing such band of Indians 80 that they
would abandon the siege. The raid had
evidently been well planned, and the
savages were doubtless well aware of the
value Of the booty. Constant vigilance
on the part Of every man in the corral
was maintained for hours For a long
time the two women obeyed orders and
sat in barricaded wagon that had been
retained within the inclosure for their
use, but the excitement was too great;
they could not endure the inactivity
besides the wagon masters wife could
load q gun as well as any man, and she
Ind been In more than one Indian fight
They climbed down cautiously and she
was assigned q position where she could
load for o shaTIshooter, so that he might
not lose o single opportunity to hit a
redslin.
Just OF that moment two Of the men
IN the corral fell over, one MORALLY hurt
and the other with a shattered arm.
Then tho woman from st. Louis had
something to do. Both the men were
borne into the shade Of the wagon, and
IN q very few minutes the sergeant who
lmelt beside the unconscious man pro-
nounced him dead. A few gentle but
hurried movements Strengthened his
warm limbs, an army blanket was spread
over him and all that part Of his being
that could fear an Indian passed beyond
the corral. The sergeant had at ono
time been detailed on special duty with
an army surgeon and had picked up q
little knowledge that now proved to DO
Of value TO the man with the wounded
arm. That member was dressed and
bandaged, and the quiet woman very
naturally assumed the place Ct nurse.
But the motionless form lying there
under tho blanket-that was the awful
presence 10 this besieged company. Who
would lie next beside him? tho question
would arise In every mans mind.
As the day wore on toward its close
the only hopeful sign the caravan could
see was that the Indians in the camp by
the river were growing restless They
a..