Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-03-21
AT FORT BOBOLINK.

AT FORT B0BOLINK.
proctor and Tecumseh have abandoned
the siege Of Fort Meigs, and their forces are
coming this wayl'
These words were shouted by man who
rode through the Maumee forests one day
in the summer Of 1873 They blanched the
cheeks of every listener.
The rider bestrode feet horse, whose
tanks gave evidence Of hard riding, and as
he galltped from cabin to cabin with the
terrible announcement mothers seized
their children and involuntariIy pressed
them to their bosoms.
For some time large force Of British
and Indians under the joint leadership Of
General Proctor and the cruel Tecumsch
had besieeed Fort Meigs on the Maumee,
but the gallant defense made by General
Harrison had shown the allies that it was
not to be taken by either assault or strate-
gem.
Now that the seige had been abandoned,
the allies would turn back enraged over
their discontinue, and the tomahawk and
scalping knife would devastate the Mau.
NEE country.
Proctor and Tecumseh coming?" cried a
boy who heard the news from the mounted
messenger sent ahead to alarm the frontier.
II will run down to the fort to see if it is
in trim for siege"
The fort" mentioned by the backwoods
boy was log cabin which had been aban.
doned by its original builders. Owing to the
presence OF bobolink's nest near they had
called it Fort Bobolink, and the boy settlers
were determined to defend it to 1.-THE last
extremity" When Ned Talcot reached
Fort Bobolink. the sun was setting, and
after brief inspection he ran back to the
settlement, where he found all in state Of
alarm.
A hurried council Of war between tho
seven boys of tue settlement ana the wom'
en- was held.
1--WE can't defend the scattered cabins.
We may altogether defend Fort Bobolink, y
said Ned. "There is no telling how soon
the allies will show up in this section. but
il they really have abandoned the siege they
are liable to he here this very night"
The council of war at once decided unani'
mously to go at once to Fort Bobolink, and
so, taking all the guns in the settlement,
with other things which they thought
would be needed, they marched down to tho
fort and prepared for the expected attack.
The sun went down, and the long shad.
ows Of twilight stole through the forests.
Captain Ned had stationed his guards
within the fort with military precision,
and every few minutes he made the rounds
to see that watchfulness was not abated.
The mothers had put the youngest children
to sleep and now with watchful eyes they
waited In the darkness for the foe.
At 10 o'clock a bright moon in its third
quarter made it's appearance. This gave
some light and enabled the boys to see the
outlines Of the trees
Suddenly one of the young sentries, look,
ing through loophole, discerned moving
figures where moment before he had seen
but waving grass. He signaled Captain
Ned and they watched the figures together.
1.-THE enemy have comel' said the boy as
he turned back and faced the women.
In an instant the seven young defenders
of the cabin stood at the loopholes with
rifles in their hands.
Gradually the skulking figures drew
closer, till at last they halted among the
stumps just in front of Fort Bobolink.
They were savages, as the boys could now
see by their dress. They wore feathers in
their scalp locks and carried guns in the
hollows Of their naked arms. It was the
advance force of the frontier scourges, and
the boys Of the Maumee knew that before
daylight the bloody work would begin.
Half dozen braves were within easy rifle
shot of the fort, and as the boys watched
them they put their heads together and
pointed toward Fort Bobolink, while they
talked in tones too low to bedistinguished.
The six Indians had separated and were
crawling through the grass toward the fort,
taking good care to keep in the shadows OF
the stunps Of the clearing. but now and
then the watchful boys caught sight Of
dark red bodies that seemed to possess the
movement and the cunning of serpents
It was moment of suspense to all on the
inside, and babe that cried just then was
seized by its mother and hastily hushed.
Don't firep' said Ned Let them show
their intentions. We are ON the inside
with 10 good rifles and stanch logs around
u.s."
Five minutes later one Of the savages
rose and ran up to the door. In another
moment he had struck it with the handle
Of his tomahawk.
The blow sounded fke knell Of doom to
the women huddled in the little fort. :.
white sqaaw openr' exclaimed the In.
dian. News from white soldiers with Har
rison." fN2ag
This was too evidently stratagem to get
ths. door open, and it did not succeed. After
a silence the Indian was heard to growl tt
himself as he fell back to his companions.
Now for it, said Captain Ned AZ he saw
I'll six Indians rise and rush forward.
The door had been well barricaded with
strong planks, but still the defenders Of the
cabin feared that the savages might cut
through, and they would then have them al
their mercy.
Without their usual yell the indiana
dashed upon the fort, but that instant they
were met with a sheet Of flame which seemed
to SINCE their cheeks.
Itwas the first volley In defense Of For,
Bobolink, and right royalty had 1t beer
given.
Three Of the Indians threw up theft
hands and fell back in the grass, while thu
others stood for . moment apparently be
reft Of reason.
When the living foes realized what hap
Ass n,Aaina, sa,. 49, s~~.