Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-11-02
A THRILLING INCIDENT.

In the summer of 1851 our party
was crossing the great plains en- route
to California. We numbered thirty
eight men in all, and our outfit, with
lis eight wagons, teams and ueceS-
sary supplies. was Il very valuable
one. In those days overland emi-
grants had literally 10 fight their
way. Eternal vigilance was the price
at which life and property were pre-
served.
Nevertheless We had reached well
into Arizona without serious mis-
hap, having lost neither Il man nor
all animal on our long journey.
one day we were toiling along be
tween Mogollor mountains and Black
Butte, when far away 70 the lefr, rid
ing diagonally across our course, we
saw a single horseman whom, even at
that distance. we knew to be white
man.
Splendidly mounted on iet-back
horse, he was making rapid progress,
but we could not a first imagine why
he pressed on SO furiously, nor why,
as he could plainly see our white
topped wagons. he did not make di-
rectly for Us. Oar surprise at his ap-
parent avoidance Of Us was increased
when our guide, Joe Carroll, riding
in advance Of the train, presently
called out
Close up, boys, and form corral
Wen likely have fight before long.
There's sixty or more Apaches chasing
that lone rider, and they'll have him,
sure. See how they're spreading out,
the murderous villains They know
the ground ahead of them.
Sure enough, we could now see, just
coming over the ridge of n distant
rise in the plain, band of mounted
Indians, WHO, as they advanced, grad
ually extended their line as il to pre-
vent the hunted man from swervinS
to the right or left.
WHY in thunder don't the blamed
fool ride straight for Us - inpatient
" exclaimed Tom Ross, our captain.
For n mighty good reason re
piled Joe. Between u aud him
right in the middle of that smooth
looking plain. and running square
across his path, lies Devils gu!rh. It's
more than thre" miles long very wide
in places, and no living tang has ever
seen the bottom OF IT, Ine reds say
it has none. There no ri-e on either
side of it. and 1t can be seen 'i'I one
gets close up; but those devils ana
that poor fellow. too, know its
there He's opposite the center OF II
now. and the bloodthirsty brutes sea
that he won't have time to clear either
end before they overhaul him. 50
they're sure of his scalp, but they il
have to ride around the guIch TO get
~ us"
They'll pay dearly for that scalp,
then savagely shouted Capt. Ross.
Grab your rifles, boys, and thirty OF
you come along Let the o'herS SUCK
to the corral III afraid we can
save the man, but If lot OF you can
get to the eEuIly before the reds retreat
beyond riile-shot well have revenge,
anyhow"
We had no saddle horses except
three ridden by Ross and Carroll, and
as we were barely q half mile from
the rayine, no time would be gained
by embarrassing and mounting the
draught animals. So our leaders
spurred on ahead and we followed on
foot as fast rs our legs could carry us.
At the moment we started the beset
horseman was about "a Tar from one
side OF the gulch as We were from the
other. He was still riding at top
speed, but to our amazement, as we
judged within four hundred yards OF
the barrier he brouShtthe pace OF MS
horse down to hahd-gaIIop' thuS
enabling the Yelling eHu'taht saVa8eS
to gain rapidly on him.
1t seemed strange that the apPar-
emily doomed man should deliberate
ly, in this manner, shorten MS prleI
span of life. 1t must be, we conJect-
ured, only because he wished 70 sell !,
more dearly, Tor now we saw MN nan
turn in the saddle ana thro" up MS
rifle. a pun OF smoke a report al
most Inaudlole 70 Us, ana tue lore
most warrior, VINO had come "i'HiH
hundred ana nt'y !arus o' MS IoPeu,
for prey reeled III his seat ana p''c"eu
headlong to the earth Ms 'ralneu
pony remaining mouoh'e'S oy '"e
dead body
Never checNih8 Ihe cas-! iope 81 MS
morse the Wnlle Ludu IelOdNSN win IA