The Delta independent., 1896-03-04

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hundred men had been left in the cave
as a reserve to protect the entrances,
The force at the portal was divided
into two commands of two hundred
men each, Hendricks leading one and
Gen. Waterson the other. The move
ment of one Of these columns to the
right Of the hill gave the alarm and
the battle began about fifteen min
utcs earlier than Hendricks had ar
ranged it. A simultaneous dash was
made by the two divisions upon the
hill and a desperate fight ensued. Gen.
Waterson had the protection Of the
woods in his advance, but Hendricks
had to cross IN open space and re-
ccived the murdcrous fire from the
guns on the crest His men broke
twice, but he rallied them with re-
mindcrs that in ten minutes their
brothers would come up in the rear.
lie had thirty men killed and disabled
before he got inside the line, and while
there engaged in a hand-to-hand fight
Watcrson reached the guns and si-
lenccd them. At the same time the
shouts of the party coming up in the
rear were heard, and ten minutes later
the battle was virtually decided. Lieut..
Saxton, a brave young officer, was
killed. Fifty Of his men were either
killed outright or mortally wounded.
The cavalry that was in the woods was
not SO easily dealt with and continued
the skirmishing until well into the
forenoon, by which time Hendricks
began the work Of moving the wound
cd into the Lnran, and later in the day
he felt sure that the mounted men had
ridden in all directions for succor and
virtually retired. lie then transferred
his force with the guns to the Laran,
and by nightfall had withdrawn into
the cave and once more masked his
entrance.
The first intelligence received by
Calicot came that night, and Stocking
was present when the extraordinary
dispatch was read by Miss Endicott.
Here it is:
Every detail is planned; have
made no mistakes; thirty-two out; have
twenty-four hours margin; bayou
cleared; notify all heads quick and
come on: all consult here; in the field
in three days; signal all; will send force
escort; could not save Saxton."
Good God!" exclaimed Stocking, 81
wonder if that is Charley Saxton Of
the Twelfth murdered by these out
laws?"
Calicot begged him to be cool. 1--WE
shall know he said, 'if Fenning
sends back the newspaper accounts" :"
But though they waited some time,
Miss Endicott communicated nothing
frr h,,r {rf "
she said, ION horses"
what do you make out Of it?" asked
Stocking. ITO me it is unintelli-
gible."
"In the light OF what already
know" said Calicot, cit is plain
enough. Let me interpret it. Hendricks
has lost thirty-two men in the fight.
and he has driven off his opponents.
He now has twenty-four hours before
larger force will arrive. In that time
he expects to consummate his plans by
having all the head conspirators hero
in the Laran where they cannot be
disturbed. Mrs. Hendricks and the
men who were with her are on their
way here now. Bayou clear, means
that they shall come to that entrance
and Hendricks will have a force to
meet them. BY calling in Mrs. Hen
bricks, it is very evident that he does
not need the cottage any longer and is
ready to emerge into an open fight.
From all that have been able to de-
ducc, think he is calculating on u
hundred thousand men in the country
who have been secretly preparing
themselves for the signal of outbreak
and who will flop to his standard when
he takes the field. The men who are
TO meet here will represent the differ
ent wings and elements of that
revolt"
"And You still think" said Stocking,
with rather pathetic stare, "that this
diabolical and crazy anarchist will
continue to meet with success?"
Il am afraid that he will up TO GER
tain point. He is using elements that
can only expend themselves in explo-
sion. He is now calculating with an
ingenuity that is both dcvilish and
magnificent how to surprise and de-
stroy the forces that will be sent here.
With every new genius in villainy, So
ciety has to take lessons in defeat be-
fore it can take the pcrpetrator, simply
because society does not concentrate
its energies on the study of villainy.
But it is not our business now to spec-
ulate on reform, but to save ourselves.
You promised to do as bade you, and
have promised to save you II you
will"