Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-11-29

by way OF Los Wales Grandes. All were
mounted ON horses, and their luggage
was borne on three pack mules When
the party reached a small hamlet q
league north Of Los Ojos Frios, one of
the ladies fell sick and was left there.
The journey being resumed, the trav-
elers were approaching the cabins at the
springs when q band of Navajoes at
tempted to cut them off. By vigorous
use of spur and whip the Mexicans sue
ceeded in reaching the cabins without
receiving a shot. They then sent Ramon
Vaca to the camp in the valleys for aid
They saw him disappear in the forest
beyond the opening, followed by two
Indians AS the two pursuers soon re-
turned trophyless, the Mexicans sup
posed the boy had accomplished his err
rand. Not long afterward Jose and
Juana made a dash for the great val
ley's trail and appeared to have escaped
without injury.
Then the siege began. Bullets were
fred through doors and window shut
ters, but without effect. The house, be-
ing built of adobe, with earthen roof and
chimneyless, was literally fireproof. It's
only vulnerable points were at the door
and windows, and those could not be
approached without exposing the be-
siegers to the fire Of the besieged. After
long lull in tho firing the occupants Of
the main cabin were startled by hearing
a tramping upon the roof, followed by
digging.
Had these hunting lodges possessed
chimneys the savages could have
thrown their brands and leaves down
them and by covering the tops with
blankets smoked out the occupants.
But to accomplish this they were
obliged to dig hole in the roof. The
smoke had become sufficiently suffocat-
ing to greatly distress the Mexicans
when the soldiers fired. The sudden ces-
sation of the warwhoop, the thud of q
falling body and the descent from the
roof proved that friends were near.
The moon was now well up in the sky,
and surrounding objects were plainly
visible. Raymer told the Mexicans to
get ready to accompany him to camp,
and in short time they appeared with
their pack and saddle animals ready for
the road. A woman, clad in black, her
face concealed in hood, mantle and
veil, walked feebly out of the cabin,
leaning upon the arm of an attendant
and apparently bowed by the weight of
years. She was speaking to him in a
low voice, and at the conclusion of her
remarks he turned to the lieutenant and
said, La Sonora Vieja wants to know
if you found any of her property on the
body of the rascal JOSEF"
eyes, sonora; found this casket,"
replied Raymer, offering her the box
which he had taken from his saddlebag.
The old woman made gesture to the
man beside her to receive it, at the
same time murmuring something too
low for any one else to hear. When she
had finished, the man said. "La Sonora
Vieja returns her thanks.
The frequent repetition of La Sonora
Vieja--the Spanish for old lady-struck
the lieutenant as odd, but rejecting
that it might be custom of the class to
which the lady's attendants belonged he
dismissed the matter from his mind
and gave his attention to preparations
for the return march. The column then
left the cold springs and entered the
wood.
The moonlight enabled the party to
keep the road without difficulty and
make good progress. At the place where
Raymer had caused the body Of the
rascal Jose" to be suspended in a tree
halt was made long enough to lower
and bind it to the back of a mule that
it might be taken to camp for burial.
Arrived in camp, the lieutenant first
proceeded to make the lady comfortable
for the remaining hours of the night.
He offered her the use of his own cabin,
intending to move into the unused
kitchen before referred to, but la Sc
nora positively refused to accept the
courtesy and asked through her spokes
man if there was not more retired
cabin which she could have, or could
she have o tent pitched short distance
from the parade. Raymer replied that
he could not consent to her using tent;
that his quarters were at her service,
but il she would persist in refusing
them he would fit up the other cabin for
her use. This was finally agreed to, and
soon the little cabin was carpeted with
blankets, and bright fire blazed in the
fireplace. The windows were curtained,
a bedstead, with mattress, pillows and
linen from the hospital stores, was set
up and the luggage taken in. The Mex
ioan escort built a fire short distance
before the door, and after caring for
their animals and making them secure
for the tight eurled up in their blankets
before the warm blaze and were quick
ly asleep.
Lieutenant Raymer, after seeing to
the preparations for the entertainment
Of his guest, divested himself of his
arms and marching gear and went to
the cabin where the wounded boy had
been placed. He found him asleep, with
Mason in attendance. The soldier re-
ported that he had set his patients leg
satisfactorily, but that the lad had been
restless until the return of the rescuing
party. When he heard OF its arrival and
that the lady was safe, he sank into
quiet sleep. He was exceedingly weak
from the loss of blood. But Mason was
not very hopeful of the boys recovery,
fearing his limited knowledge Of sur
gerry and medicine would avail little if
the case proved complicated. The lieu
tenant assured him that he had conf
dence in his skill as nurse and thought
he was doing all that could be done
under the circumstances. He made
few suggestions and returned to his
quarters.
Walking along the path to his door,
he noticed thick clouds were gathering
T. I. l,I IAt,s So.