The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-23
A HAND ON HIS BREAST.
TERRIFYING ADVENTURES OF A
NEWSPAPER MAN.

ened From Sleep by a Dismembered
Hand Lying Over His Heart.
From the Philadelphia Tines.
In the early part Of June, 1876, during
the Sioux warm which few weeks later
on June rs, Gen. Custer and all of his men
were massacred-four men were making
their way toward the front, hoping to come
MP with Clusters command in time for a
battle. Three of US were journalists, the
other was cowboy guide.
We missed getting an eyewitness story of
The battle of Little Big Horn, and it was
well that we did. or our enterprise would in
every probability have furnished unfinished
posthumous stories of much interest to the
Indian literary circles.
We bought horses at Rawlin's station, on
che Union Pacific, and started on what we
estimated would be 400-mile ride. Part
Of the riding was very rough. We were
three hrst-class specimens of a genus homo
known out west as "tenderfootn and the
second day out Ne made very little progress.
Our saddles seemed harder than polished
granite. We did not sit down to our meals,
but ate them standing-up fashion.
We soon got used to it though, and aver
aged twenty-five miles a day during the
remainder Of the trip. On the oath we left
the Big Horn mountains we'll down to the
west and spent the night on the banks of the
Tongue river, near the Wyoming Montana
dividing line. We follow ed the east bank
the next morning and crossed the river at
an easy ford about 9 o'clock.
The guide told US that we we're lust nine
teen miles from old man Birney's camp,
where we could learn the latest news and
where we would have one good nights rest
The river looked so nice, and as it was but
O'Clock, suggested that, since we'd be at
Birney's by o'clock at latest, a swim and a
trout fish would be just the thing, allowing
TO reach the old mans by dark
No, that didn't suit Higgins. an old maid
ish kind OF fellow who could not swim and
didn't care to fish. Jones was fond of both
but he was not for taking chances in an
Indian country. so l was in the minority. |
was young and headstrong aud dead set on
having try for the trout, and said that l
was going to stay, Indians he banged lyon
buffers go on" said ], land have supper hot
for me.h
took the course from the guide: due
north about fifteen miles to big tree: then
three points east Of north" | upsaddled
my roam mare Nellie, as game a piece of
horset1esh as ever straddled, hobbled her
ana turned her out TO Craze on the grass
growing luxuriantly on the river bank. l
had fine swim, imagining all the while
that could feel the speckled beauties brush
ing me as ] swan up stream and floated
down.
l felt 100 per cent. better when dressed
Putting snack in my belt, l adjusted nv
rod aud flies and started up stream until I
came to likely-looking spot. So it proved.
for in abJut an hour and half had landed
thirteen Of the gamest fish | ever reeled. |
was not bit superstitiouS or / might have
thrown back the thlrteener, but | didn't +:
on the contrary, L dressed two of them.
broiled them and enjoyed my lunch i'm
mensely.
Who wouldn't, with some hard tack and
flask to help along? l had couple Of slices
OF bacon, which generously threw to the
dshes-the ones didn't catch. When l got
back to my saddle it was Just noon, Hey-
Ing yet plenty of spare time filed by pipe
and threw myself full length under the
shade Of the bushes l couldn't help think
ing what a stupid time the other fellows
must have had riding in the hot sun, while l
lad had such fine sport, good rest and
7ould have the cool of the day for my ride
l dozed off; it seemed but moment
when was awakened by hearing q sharp
whinny from Nellie. sprang to my feet,
ran to the clearing, and Just caught a
glimpse of what L took to be a dog sinking
into the bushes. / didn't like that: il looked
nightly as thoughthere were Indians some
where
looked at my watch. Great Scotti it
was o'clock, and / bad been asleep six
hours. wasted no time In getting awake,
keeping sharp lookout for that dogs
owner. Itcould not have been old Birney's.
nineteen miles from his eating place.
Kept my Winchester handy, and was soon
on the open prairie and out of RuDshob from
the river. knew the redskin would have
TO have first-class horse to catch Nellie.
Night soon set in, cloudy and dark
had to strike match whenever | looked at
my compass The moon was up and made
1t little better, SO that 1 could see the
ground fairly well, otherwise should have
been In bad way. pushed on, keeping a
sharp lookout for that tree. A tree Of any
size is a rare thing on prairie. Sometimes
you may travel days and not see one
had about made up my mind to change
my course, thinking l had passed the tree,
when right ahead of me doomed up-black-
ness-the tree. | looked for match and
found that | had but one left. Fellow
smokers have you ever discovered your
self miles away from everywhere with but
one match in your clothes and stiff breeze
blowing2 If not. wait until you do, then
think of me. Unless | could from time to
time see the compass it would be folly to
go on.
One match aud four miles to go. stayed.
OF course, l didn't know whether l was
being followed or not after dark came on.
took off Nellie's saddle, inspiring the bit
tied the lariat halter-wise around her neck
and fastened the end to one Of the over
hanging boughs so as to give the mare
good range and at the same time have her
handy in case of need. In an Indian coun-
try man never takes the bride off his
beast
gathered some dry grass and dead sticks
for fire and went through ali the agonies
Of the last match; however, being some
thing of an Irishman, l succeeded, and
soon had three trout cooking, which / en-
loyed in spite Of all.
After supper gathered up Ii pile of wood,
hlled my brier, strolled around to see il all
was quiet, had little chat with Nellie and
settled myself TO make the best Of my bad
bargain. spread my blanket, made pill
low of the saddle bags and saddle, chunked
up the fire. and lay down on my back for a
good night puff.
wasn't a bit sleepy. l tried to be less
lonesome by looking up into the foliage of
the tree, but might as well have attempted
reading minion print without light in the
Black Hole OF Calcutta. The soughiug Of
the wind through the branches was all l
could bear, and it reminded me not of sweet
music from the harp of Eolus but Of the dis
maj moaning OF HagRr in the wilderness.
ign! 1t seemed to me that could make
out the shadowy procession of phantoms
moving along through the inky blackness