Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-05-21


There was something a heap bigger
waitin' Crack. crack. crack. came
the sharp report of several rides OF
ON his right; there was a singing OF
bullets about him. so close that one
passed through his hat; and there arose
hideous yelling outcry. which made
his flesh creep and for moment weak
ened him so much that he nearly
tumbled from fright
The symptoms OF returning courage
and presence OF mind manifested
themselves first in Joe's legs and with
no loss of time he ran away as fast as
he could making down the valley to-
ward the foothills A shot or two
more whistled by his ears as some In
dams a half-dOzen or so in number
leaped up and started after him as
fast as deer.
If Joe had kept straight on down
the valley the Indians would soon
have overtaken and killed him. Fortu-
nately. he had good start OF them
and was luekier still in knowledge of
a narrow path--stumbled upon during
previous hunting xpedition-which
followed the bottom Of a fissure leading
up the face of Cliff on the side o, the
ridge that separated this mountain
park from the canyon. The opening
to this assure was hidden by wild
vines; a turn in the winding valley
served to hide his movement from his
pursuers-and as they dashed round
the rocky promontory and kept on
down this valley Joe was crawling
sidewise up the narrow cleft which
took him after much difficult squeez-
ing and climbing. TO q rocky nook near
the summit OF the ridge so out OF
view OF any one a few feet away.
Joe was in no hurry to quit his
place OF refuge. but after a time.
when all was quiet he crept out from
his shelter to look about and SEQ X
the coast was clear. No Indians were
in sight and he crawIed TO the sum.
NIT OF the ridge and over the other
side until he reached a point which
commanded a view Of the canyon and
the Great Cinch mine. There. in full
possession of his camp were seven
painted Apaches the same ones uu-
doubtedly that had Jumped" him so
recently.
Joe who had hoped that his IN
/ pleasant visitors had gone away for
4 good was far from pleased to see the
/ enemy established in his camp. Peer
/ ing between the side OF the boulder
/ aud a spanish bayouet plant which
effectually screened him. the Missouri
boy watched the performance Of the
red men. who were making themselves
wholly at home They had killed his
\ burro. and the choice parts OF his
carcass stuck on sticks. were roasting
about fire made OF poles torn from
| the sides Of the shack They had up
set and overhauIed the valise and
pretty much everything else in camp
In search OF ammunition. whisk. y
tobacco. and less valued articles OF
plumber The dynamite they perhaps
deemed bad medicine. for it lay in
the box on the Hat rock where Joe
had left it when the squirrel had lured
him from the camp.
What specially grieved Joe's heart
was their killing o. hts burro the
only possession he had 10 the world
except the tattered clothes he wore.
Now. that after all the fuss he found
himself alive the boys courage came
back sufficiently for him to get very
angry over his loss. As a relief e
his feelings he cooked the ride and
sighted it at different members of the
group thinking, as he dallied with
the trigger. what pleasure it would
, give him to send a bullet among them
as a sauce TO their meal. For a youth
of Joe's capacity for doing the wrong
! thing. this fooling with the trigger
] was most unwise as was shown pres.
| emily when he pulled triae too hard
| the hammer fell, and the heavy army
} piece. pointing into the midst of the
Indian group went of with louder
} bang and more emphatic rebound
so it seemed to Joe-thau ever before
I The vicious kicking OF the gun
| against his shoulder the noise anC
smoke OF its explosion. and the feel.
} ing OF establishment at its unexpected
. performance. occupied Joe's thoughts
. for an instant Before he had time Il
be frightened at what he had done hi
/ was Jared and shaken as IL th,
: mountains were rocking. and wa
stunned by deafening roar that rem
} the air Loose rocks went rolling
down the slopes trees were rushing
I to the earth, and Joe saw. as in
i fantastic dream, the top of gian
pine that had overhung the min
j high aloft and still going as II /
. never would stop. Everything in tn
: canyon seemed 70 be in the air hyiDl
: away from the spot where the cam
r had been After the dust had some
: what settled Joe, looking down up7l
7 the site Of the shack. could see Their
t only great hole In the ground Will
( heap Of earth had taken the plac
/ of the great Cinch tunnel The sho
fired by mistake had missed every In
n dian and pumped straight into tn
a box Of dynamite.
D At the time when Joe's shot wa
y fired Peg Leg Crawford. riding
G burro and driving his pack animal