Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-06-20
He HID THE GOLD DUST
,DAuO PIONEERS ESCAPE FROM
THE SAVAGES.
Indian Dared to Met the Man
whose ProwesS Was Al Mater
of Comon Reputc.

IT n RroWn better known as "Hurdy''
prnwn a pioneer of 81, who resides with
w. family at Mt. Idaho, is in the city,
hls Tho tbn Lewiston Teller. He is a Ger
nan bv birth and made OF the same
Inf that characterized the soldiers who
n+rrod Metz. He shared the hardships
80 The most adventurous of the early
airore and owned the richest claims
IN Florence when that camp was the
ricbest in the world He was known
- wash out thousand dollars worth
If dust in a day and to eXpend the same
amount every nlgnl.
Aftor souandering more fortunes than
anv other man in the northwest he mar
red and settled down on the Salmon
river in 1873 when he succeeded the
Cnidpr Brothers in an extensive mercan-
file business He carried on an extensive
and lucrative trade until the breaking
ont of the Nez Perez war in the spring
Of 1871 On the morning Of January H.
Of that day he observed suspicious
movements on the part or some Indians
near his home and place of business. Ru-
mors of danger had made him Vigilant.
He seized his Winchester and biz navy
revolver and assembled to a position OF
vantage. He waved the painted braves
hack but they advanced till the gun was
brought up to cover their advance guard
when they retreated to cover. Mr. Brown
had a brother-in-law with him, who was
too prudent to risk a pitch battle against
such great odds and the young man
began to plan a retreat. a skiif was
lying at the beach. 1t was a frail bark
and the Salmon is a treaCherOuS river,
especially when it is high in the month
of June. While holding his deadly gun
at present arms" he gave directions for
the removal of the distracted family. No
Indian dared to meet the man whose
/ Of ana
repute even among the natives. The In
dams were no doubt planning a sure mas
sacre that would not involve the risk Of
life, while the wife and brother-in-law
were hurrying to the boat
When the little skiff was launched up
on the current Mr.. Brown sprang from
the bank into the water and then into
the boat He stood up with his rifle to
hold back the foe, but the Indians grew
desperate when they observed the ma
tured plan of escape and began a terrific
fire, Mr. Brown was wounded in the
shoulder, and his assistant at the oars
in the arm The raging torrent carried
the boat rapidly away The Indians tried
to follow, keeping up the fusilade, but
they were stayed by the rocky bluffs
Which closed in to the water Inc.
The wounded men and the lady. who
by the way should be classed with the
noble herOines of history reached "a min
Ing camp near the mouth of White-blrd,
on the opposite side of the river. They
rested day, every member Of the COM
pany doing picket duty. MIR. Brown dis
regarding the protests of his associate
returned to his home the next night I'M
DER cover of darkness. He found his big
STOCK Of merchandise still intact, the IN
uiahs as past events demonstrated re-
trained from its destruction for the pur-
pose OF appropriating it for the savage
coHmlSsary. He secured his gold dust,
$@ow which he secreted, with his account
oooks, under some rocks in accordance
WIN an understanding with his wife TO
suiue her in the event of Mr.. Brown
oelhg murdered, which was regarded as
PROBABILITY, by some foe in ambush.
Inc party on the third day after the
eocdpe from home crossed Salmon and
moue thelr way to Cottonwood, which
p pldCe they found deserted The nus
palu and wife then secreted themselves
81 'he brush and dispatched a messenger
tor aid' This was during the days Of the
eelrIole lighting about Cottonwood and
I'll "hlte-bird. They remained four days,
o "Hg en- they were rescued by the advance
u Howard's forces.