Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-08-25

driver Of the stage, and Fastening 10
Cedarville gave the alarm.
The town constable summoned a
posse of fearless citizens, who mounted
fleet mustangs and went in pursuit OF
the savages, whose trail they picked
I'D at the scene of the massacre. They
quickly discovered that the fleeing
Modocs were pushing toward the lava
beds. .
The lava district is a succession OF
gulches and crevices ranging from a
few feet 10 one hundred feet in height.
some have subterranean passages
which lead for miles under the rocks.
One of the posse was directed by
the constable to go with all speed to
Fort Bidwcll and notify the command
ing officer of the massacre, while him.
self and the others would follow the
trail of the Modocs to their lair.
Whom the messenger reached the
fort and notified the commandment, he
was asked if among the murdered ones
there was not a young women. Upon
being answered in the negative, the
commandant replied: "Then Miss
Henderson must have been taken cap
tive by the savages."
"Mr. Messenger, on your way to the
quarters | have assigned you, be kind
enough to send my orderly to me-"
Orderly" said the c~ommandant,
'.fiud Sheet-Iron Jack and send him
to me-"
Knowing that Jack, when not on
duty lounged about the store OF Tim
Henderson, father Of the captive girl,
the orderly fastened thither and inter-
rupted Jack telling of the time when
he ran away from his Quebec home,
during the civil war, when only IA
years of age, and as a recruit enlisted in
Meagher's Irish brigade, arriving at
the camp in time to tax part in the
desperate charge on Fredericksburg
heights, ordered by Burnside; that
while the gallant Irishmen were driven
back from the very top of the heights
by confederate thousands, and while
sullenly %retreating with front to the
foe down the hills, through the town,
across the river, "a shot," he said,
''toro the middle finger of that hand
away" holding up his left hand, land
took n chunk of flesh out of my left
side, but"
Hello, Jack! the colonel wants you,"
cried the orderly.
"Ah, there, orderly, I'll be with you
in a jiffy."
Entering tho commanders head
quarters, Jack, a fine specimen of the
frontiersman, confronted his chief.
He was about the average height;
square shouldered and dcep-chested;
sturdy-limbed, head held high, crowned
with long. light hair. His sharp, de-
termined features were lighted by a
bright pair of gray eyes.
Jack" said the colonel, 1.-THE Mo-
docs have raided our valley, and after
killing tho driver aud passengers of
the stage that left here this morning
for Cedarville have made captive Ida
Henderson. Tn afraid the sad news
will knock old man Henderson out. so
l want you To accompany Lieutenant
- and his detail of troopers in their
pursuit of the devils and bring back
Miss Henderson at any cost"
"FIl obey orders, colonel; but NAV l
make n SUGGESTION"
As Jacks suggestions in matters of
this kind were always listened to, be-
cause of his known experience and
courage. the colonel replied:
600 Il head. Jack"
Colonel, as you well know this en-
tire country is a succession of hills.
mountains, and valleys. as we'll as
rocks, it wouldn't be advisable to send
a troop of cavalry in command of a
lieutenant, as they couldn'tma much
Roadway, and besides they would only
be q givcaway to the Modocs."
well, Jack, what do you propose?
I'm exceedingly anxious to restore Miss
Henderson TO her home, and then some
time in the future I'll Try and punish
her captors.m
Colonel let me have a couple of
the boys and I'll promise you that I'll
not return till Ida Henderson accom-
panics me-"
"All right. Jack; have your way"
Over the Warder range of mountains
sped swiftly Jack and his two troopers
on their wiry mustangs to the Hot
Spring valley, where the hot springs
throw mp the water six feet high, and
where the trail of the fleeing Modocs
was picked up and closely followed
without a wavcr by the skilled and
fearless scout to the entrance of one
ofthe many subterranean passages that
led for many miles under the rocks of
the laVa-beds. Here the scout and his
companions left their mustangs, tight
ly tethered, to continue the pursuit,
Night came upon Jack and his troop
ers while traversing the subterranean
passage, and while his comrades
shnnUht III tvnnll ha p-,11 =. -.
Jack persisted in still pursuing the
villains, as the trail and signs were
exceeding fresh.
Alone, Jack moved rapidly forward
in pursuit, and his fidelity and courage
were soou rewarded by observing at
no great distance ahead of him the
faint flicker of light not much greater
tina the light from the fire-fies that
are so plentiful in that region. Still
the fearless scout advanced, spurred
Dy the nobility of his undertaking, and
thlrsting for the praise that would be
given him by his commander and his
troops, the father of the captive, and
the joyous people of the whole u
try about.
In a ind of ''crib" fashioned by the
hand of nature, in one side of the ma,
sage Jack observed the silent forms of
i've Indians in a sitting posture round a
small lire with their blankets wrapped
about their heads, while in the inner
angle of the "crib" sat a fearful eyed
glri with her wealth Of golden hair
hanging down about her shoulders,
Her hands and feet were securely
bound.
AS soon as the scouts face appeared
at the entrance 10 tie ''crib' he OBJ
served that the fearful blue ewes Of the
captive girl noticed him, and a clad
l'ght came to them. Fearing that She
might alarm the sleeping Modocs, for
getiui at the moment, perhaps. of the
girls courage, Jack raised a finger of
warning.
Drawing from its sheath his sbarp.
oroad-bladed hunting-knife the scout
crept toward the nearest Modoc. and
with a strong upward shove at the
Dase and back of the skull pierced the
Indians brain. Not a groan was heard
nor q moan uttered by the victim. He
silently did likewise to two Others of