The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-23
MACK'S ESCAPE.

h the town in which hive theirs 10 AZ
Old frn0tiersman whom every ono calls
Squire Mack" In the early days he
went to California. and had many curl
Gus adventures there which he delights
IN recounting
At the breaking ont Of tho civil war
he WA making shingles near some min
ing town in the Sierra Nevada The
news from home filled him with patriot
ic fire, and with several comrades no
turned his face eastward and travel
I'd - rapidly a. possible toward tho
''t3tates."
Arriving at Salt Lake City. he learned
that Indians had been raiding the trail
ahead. firing upon wagon trains and
burning express and stage stations
This news disheartened his companions.
who resolved to stop ut Salt Lake City
until the trouble waa over
Not 40 with Mack. He was of the sort
of men who are bound to go through
whsn they have begun q thing. He
pressed on. taking his chances. on the
Cherokee trail"
Mack had been wagonmaster along
this trail. and knew the ground well
BE had heard that the Indians were raid
mG about Green river, but he knew that
Ut the crossing of the trail over this
scream he had good friend In the per-
son Of Bat Lavigne. an old French Cana
dian trader who lived here.
7 Lavigne had great deal Of influence
among the surrounding tribes Of Utes,
Uintahs, Cheyennes and Arapahoes. &c
was married to an Arapaho woman, and
was reckoned member Of that tribe.
He must tx. aware Ut the movements Oh
the Indians;
10 Mack. riding an excellent cayuse
and leading good sized pack mule
pushed boldly on to Green river cross
ing and brought up at Bat Lavigne'l
adobe dwelling one evening at shutdown
Lavigue made him welcome heartily.
The trader told him that q big wal
party Of Arapahoes had mixed medi
cine" at Green river two days before
and had Get ont from there upon an ex
Z. petition to the east. He had been will
them during the powwow, but did no
know whether they had excepted whit
blood" in mixing their medicine or not
n they had not. the trail would be ex
tremely dangerous
But there were no other indians to b
feared Ut present. he said. II one KEEP
straight upon the old Cherokee trail
which passed over y line Of neutra
ground between tho mountain tribes.
The Arapahoes were again to 60 plum
dering and killing whites, - they ha'
done q few weeks before, they woul'
keep to this trail to avoid other enemies
Mxck's strong desire to get forwar'
upon the way homo got the better OF hi
prudence. and he again took tho trai
eastward.
AT about noon on the third day b
came upon the srnoldering ruins OF .
old freight or way station.
Mack knew very we'll, from certai
dgns which he aaw In the neighborhood
that tho building had been fired by Il
diana II people had been living In
they had probably bssn killed or take
pEisonerA
whittier tho Indians had gone Mac
cuuld not determine. The ground va
hard and baked, and no tracks OF IN
eost could b discovered. but the part
eould not b. far distant.
Mack ptckstsd biz animals anon
= eune sngs brush near ct hand. and o.
~ noon lunch while considering WHISTLE
4 waa bsat u 60 back or 90 ahead. d
j .AaA now no doubt that the building ha
lssI hesn burned BY the Arapahoss. and "a:
taey hsd not ''sxceptsd white blood"
naktng up their protective medicine
A 30 at In this msaatadve mood q
1zayolsr. happsuing p eags ID q