The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-06
HON. JERRY SIMPSON.

paint pushed in, with their tomahawks
uplifted, Gcisel was thrown back by tho
suddcnness of the onslaught, and had no
time to defend himself before tho foremost
Indian aimed IA blow Mt his head with n
tomahawk. 1t grazcd his temple His cry
aroused Mrs. Gcisel, who spranR out of
bed with tho baby in her arms and rushed
to the assistance of her husband As tho
second blow of tho murderous weapon de-
scendcd upon the head of its victim Geiscl
fell back into his wifc's arms, and tho
blow which killed tho father cut off the
little finger of ono of the baby's hands
" Mrs. GeiScl was tied hand and foot.
Then tho red devils went into the sleeping
rooms and brought out the boys, one by
one, and while the little fellows were rub
Ding their sleepy eyes and trying to realize
what 1T was all about the Indians butch
cred them over the body of their father and
before the eyes of their distracted mother.
The maroudcrs looted tho store, carried off
everything they could lug, including a bag
OF gold dust containing 81, 00O and set fire
to the buildings. Then they escaped to the
mountains, II distance Of about seven miles,
carrying with them Mrs. Geisel and tho
baby. The poor woman begged to BIO
killed, but was reserved as a captive, the
property Of the chief of the tribe. She was
elnd only in her nightdress, without shoes
or stockings on her feet, and in this plight
was compelled to walk over the rough roads
and paths to the mountain rcccSscs
The flames in tho sky informed oil of
US at the fort that the Indians had arisen,
and messengers wcro at once dispatched to
San Francisco for troops. Although it was
decided handful of settlers could not at
tack tho Indian stronghold with any hope
OF success, there was general opinion that
some effort must be made to rescue Mrs.
Geiscl from her fate. What we could not
uo by strength of arms we hoped to do by
strategy, and fortune favored lis in this.
INC next day one of our scouting parties
captured an Indian woman, who turned
out to DC tho wife of q chief, and at once
tho suggestion was made that sho might
be exchanged for Mrs. Gciscl. a council
OF war was held, and soon the question
was asked, Who will make the attempt to
effect an exchange Of prsoncrs?' Old man
Brown, aNcteran scout, with his rugged
bronzcd features, his buckskin suit, his
rough speech-may God bless him was
the first TO speak.
III do it, he said simply.
But the Indians are likely to prove
trcachcrous and to kill you, said the chair
man of the council.
1t don't much matter if they do, re-
Sii.u .hc Ola scout. III not AFRAID of 'cm.
III take the Indian woman along, ana I'll
exchange her for Mrs. Gciscl and the bah
by
"In short time Brown started on his
trrand. The Indian woman was with him.
We watched him us long as.wc could see
him. Finally he approached the Indian
position and displayed white flag. The
Indians knew well enough what that
meant, and they sent chief out To meet
him. This chief proved to be IL man of in
tclligcnce and of pretty good character for
an Indian. He recognized the amenities
Of the situation and promised to deal fair.
II. just the same old Brown would not
permit him to come nearer than 20 feet to
the spot where he and the Indian woman
were standing. Brown told this chief that
his busincss>was to exchange an Indian
woman for Mrs. Gciscl and the baby, and
that If any harm were done to Mrs Gcisel
Or the child or to him every Indian in the
.ribe woul', be killed as soon us the SOL