Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-26

sFhere II q spade. Dig q grave Close To
the house for my dead sister. We may
be cooped up here for three or four days
yet"
It was the thing to do, but neither of us
would have dared suggest it. While Bill
used the spade brought more water from
the spring and drenched the house and the
short, dry grass around it. Everything
which would burn was thoroughly soaked.
Applegate sat on the floor with a chaif
acting as q prop for his back, while the
boy watched through . portfolio at the
other end of che cabin.
Henry" said she girl as she beckoned
us to enter the cabin. I'VE arc going to
bury Della just outside. Charlie TO the
boy), 60 and kiss your mother"
We helped her to wrap the body in q
quilt, and then we carried it to where the
husband sat, and he kissed the dead face
and covered his own with his hands.
Lucy's face betrayed the torture Of her
soul, but she shed no tears. IL was a shall
low grave. aud the body was soon hidden
from sight. When the earth had been
trodden down the girl said:
Nv bile am preparing breakfast do you
men tear down that stable and bring up
such material as we may want to
strengthen the cabin"
IL WAS a rough shed of poles and thatch,
but good portion of it was of value to
the logs, made new portfolios, and when
through with our work we had made a
fort of the shanty. As we snatched a bite
to eat the girl stood at the door and
watched. We had not finished when she
stepped back and quietly said:
''They are coming-a full 2OO There
is no hurry yet. While you eat will
distribute the guns and ammunition.
Henry, let me draw you back little. You
cny 1no1 = tpa fort T,ar ~
Charlie, take this Indians Winchester in
place of the carbine. I'li put the car
tridges here beside you. One of you men
take the front door, the other the rear.
Now. then, we are all ready for them
There were, as was afterward known, 23s
Indians in the force which appeared.
Within twcnty-four hours they had mas
sacred about twenty white people and
burned two stage stations. Our force, so
far they knew. was composed of only
two men and II young woman. Their con-
tempt for us was shown in their first
movement. Twenty young bucks, anx-
ious to distinguish themselves, were Sc
lected to. attack. They divided to take
the shanty front and rear. They laid their
rifles on the grass. drew their tomahawks,
and at signal came rushing upon us
with the usual accompaniment of whoops
and yells.
In case either of you need fresh gun
call out" said the girl Bill and / stood
waiting.
AS Bill always asserted when relating
our adventure around the campfire. it was
like sitting down to a good dinner. We
began firing as soon rs they were in range.
Each of us had dead rest, and it was no
trick at all to send bullet where you
wanted to. Not one of them on my side
got nearer than twenty feet. The fire was
so hot that those unhurt SHE'D Off.
-Four down on your side and five on
his" said the girl as she came over to me,
land think they are all dead. That's good
shooting. They will now make n general
attack. Charlie, be ready there, and will
take this other side. You men keep your
places You are"
By calling out to each other we all kept
informed as to the general movements OF
the band. They held council and then
divided into four bands. That meant an
attack on four sides of the shanty at once,
and we placed the spare arms where they
would be the most convenient. Each band
marched off to it's station, and men from
each gathered bundles of dry grass. As
the signal for rush was given these bun
dies were ignited. just what happens at
such time is hard to remember and de-
scribe afterward. The din made by over
200 redskins, each yelling at the top of his
voice, was something awful. Each had
his rife and kept firing, and there was nc
checking such rush / thought they
would lift the shanty high in the air "a
they swept up. They pulled at the logs,
battered the barricades and mounted to
the roof. but our steady fire was too much
for them. When they fell back "A score Of
bundles of hay were burning against the
logs and they dou btless thought us
doomed. The water / had thrown about
saved us, however. Each bundle burned
out without damage TO the shanty. When
the smoke blew away the sight Was one to
be remeIn bered In retreating they had
carried off their dead and wounded far
as possible, but there were twenty-three
dead still lying around, and the dry grass
was so stained and smeared with blood
and there were so many bloody trails criss-
crossing that it seemed like map drawn
in red ink. In that five minutes we killed
and wounded more Indians than the Sew
enth cavalry could show for "A year. Bill
and were shaking hands and yelling when
we suddenly discovered that Apologize
was dead. A stray bullet had entered the
room and passed through his head. AS
we looked about we found the boy Charlie
on the bed with the girl binding up a
wound in his cheek
1T isn't very serious" she said, as we
came forward, but will disable him for a
time. We have given the redskins a bad
dose, but they may come again"
Did you know that-that he was deads"
L asked as | pointed to the body of Apple
gate.
Yes, some time ago, poor fe!iow!' she
answered What are the Indians doing
nowa'
No band of redskins ever suffered as
great 4 loss at the hands of four people.
The rapidity of our fire led them to believe
that there were score of soldiers in the
shanty and that they had been tricked.
After about an hour a warrior approached
with flag Of truce and demanded sur
render. Our reply was bullet, which
w hizZed close enou oh to scare him hnut