Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-06
WILD NIGHT AT WOOD RIVER
An Incident from the History of the Early
Days of the Union Pacific.
A PAWNEE SCOUTS TIMELY WARNING
Attack Upon the Railway Station by
Band of Savage SiOux-A COM
pany of Government Troops
Sent to the Relief.

| Copyright, 1896, by S. S. Mcclure Company
Keep that kid quiet" said Bankers in {
hoarse whisper.
I'm doing the best / can" said his wife
trying to hush the little one, who was sob
bling and moaning in her lap In the baby's
milk wagon a bitter fight was going OF
between paragoric and pain, and the latter
was dying hard. The wind drove the rair
against the side of the car and made 1t roci
to and fro. Emma" said Mrs. Bankers t
her friend, take that bottle and hold II
between you and a crack in the car, and
when it lighters drop ten drops into the
spoon-I suppose We must not strike a
light"
You bet you don't strike any light here
unless you are ready to give up your CHG
rcn," said Bankers. without taking his eyes
from the crack through which he was peep
ing. Emma took the bottle and at each
flash Of lightning dropped a drop of hush
medicine into the spoon, and when she had
put in ten drops they gave 1t to the baby.
That made twenty drops-it was danger
ous-but 1t was sure death to all of them
II the baby cried aloud.
The rain came in great sheets and with
such force that 1t seemed that the car could
hardly hold the rail. 1t was not a Pullman
car; Just common red stock car standing
the floor. Occasionally Bankers turned 10
glance at the two women who were crouch
ing in one end OF the car, and when the
lightning lit up their faces they were fearful
to behold. Now the rain, cold as sleet, came
through the cracks in the car and stung the
faces of those within. Mrs. Bankers had
seen three winters at Wood River, but her
friend the young woman who had come out
TO western Nebraska to teach school, was
in every sense a tenderfoot, and the expert
ence of this wild night had almost driven
her mad.
SURROUNDED BY INDIANS.
There they are" whispered Bankers.
Now, the women put their eyes to crack,
and when flash came they could see a
reef of featbered heads that formed half
circle around the house like feather boa
around womans neck. Half the band
dismounted and made rush for the cottage
The door was broken and the red devils
swarmed In. One Of them took newspa-
per and lighted 1t at the open fireplace
to make torch, and by the light OF II the
little party in the stock car could see the
Sioux running, half crouching, from room
to room, In search of the occupants. Find
ing the place deserted and smarting under
their disappointment the Indians now set
fire to the house, and by the light OF II
started to loot the railroad station, which
stood less than a hundred yards away.
The station agent had been warned as
the others had been, by Pawnee scout,
but had bravely refused to leave his post.
He had made no light, but sat In one end
of the little dark room which served as
ticket office, telegraph office and sleeping
room, and as the Indians approached opened
fire. At the very first shot the
leader OF the murderous band leaped
high into the air, came down ON his feet,
leaped up again and again and finally fell
In heap, to rise no more. With deaf
ening yell the angry band made rush
for the door and began to beat against 1t
with tomahawks, clubs and guns.
A SHOWER OF LEAD
Having emptied his rifle the agent now
took up pair of 45-caliber reyolyers and
he lead fairly ratified against the door and
no less than a half dozen hair-lifters sank to
he platform, causing the besiegers to fall
pack a pace From distance they began TO
lour the lead into the building, but the
gent, ciouching behind the little iron safe,
vas still unhurt. An Indian brought torch
rom the burning cottage ana attempted to
Ire the station. but the rain and wind put
,ut the fire. Two or three Sioux. noticing a
tring OF cars upon the siding, began to !