The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-03-20

ourselves up to our full height ana
| awaited the vOlley that was to send
us to another world. ] remember
thinking, as waited, that we must
make a good mark there in the
moonlight against that white wall,
and that they could have no excuse
for not making sure work of us at
the first fire."
"At such a time a mans senses are
very acute Suddenly L heard a
sound that caused the blood to leap
through my veins and almost made
me start from my place L looked at
my companion; he was looking at me.
He had heard it also. A moment
later, low yet distinct, came mes
sage that seemed to call me back to
earth again.
1.-The bushwhackers were lined up
in front of us. l had nearly forgotten
them, but now 1 heard the chief tell
ing them TO fire when he had count
ed three. The files were brought to
level, could see the men shifting
there feet and settling their rifles
against their shoulders to get stead
Ter aim.
"One," said the chief.
"The rifles steadied, each man had
picked his target.
1.-TWO" counted the chief.
My heart stopped. Surely we had
not been mistaken in the sound so
familiar to us both; yet we must have
been for death was so near. Uncon-
sciOusly l leaned forward to meet the
bullets which knew must come in
an instant.
"Fire!' shouted stentOrian voice
from the top of the pit.
1.-The crash of score of carbines
rang through the hills, the edge of
the pit was fringed with flame, aud
hearty Yankee cheer sounded above
the cries and curses of the wounded,
pain-stricken murderers. The chief
and some of his men were down.
Those who were left turned to flee,
but the merciless carbines rang out
again and again and struck them
down also. What few did escape
from the pit were cut off by the Cap
tain and platoon of mounted men,
who sabered and shot the fugitives to
man. Our comrades came leaping
into the pit and we were soon free
Int I coli
wing of the death angel had brushed
me in passing.
''Our escape from what seemed GER
tain death was owing TO a negro, who
taking advantage of the stir our cap
ture had made, had slipped away
from the house and reported our
plight to the, captain in camp. No
one supposed that we would be shot
but no time was lost in coming to our
rescue. The other lieutenant of the
troop was sent with detachment
around to the rear of the house to put
a line of men along the foot of the hill,
in order to cut off escape in that dir
ectiOn, while the rest were to advance
from the road. The latter detach-
ment had not reached their position
when they heard the firing and rame
upon the charge. The Lieutenant's
party were creeping down the hill
side when they saw us approaching,
He realized at once the condition we
were in and passed whispered orders
to his men to crawl to the edge of the
pit; he then had to wait until we were
posted and out of the way before he
could fire. 1t was the noise of the
carbine locks as the hammers were
drawn back that we had heard, and
the whispered order OF the Lieuten-
ant to his men to wait for the word
before firing, had come to our ears
like Teprieve from heaven. The
whole affair was little too dramatic
to suit me.
In the excavation we found the
bodies of fourteen bushwackers, and
at the foot of the hill there were
enough dead bodies to satisfy us that
we had wiped out the gang that had
caused US go much trouble. There
were no wounded. The affair would
most likely have cost me my commits
sion if the truth had been made
known, but the Captain reported that
the gang had been exterminnted in a
trap planned by the sergeant and my
self, and in the end brought US pro-
motions"
That is the story the military man
told us that night, by the fireside in
the old Mormon house at Tahlequah,
while the pipes glowed and the
smoke curled to the ceiling That is
the story he told, and he told it well,
far better than 1 have been able to
tell 1t to you, and no story was ever
listened to with as eager interest in
the old room as that of the adventure