The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-20
SAVED BY AN EARTHQUAKE.
BY JOHN j. SANDMAN.
copyrlshted. 1896, by John }. sandman.

great mining country Neu hustoH' S-e
Hanson, Nicholas Van Burg, and l had
penetrated into the Mount Hope country
looking for gold. We were camped IN
curious looking spot. East Of US COM
paratively level stretch OF country OF an
irregular oval shape, surrounded by per-
pendicular bluffs, terminated in a great
pain covered with black boulders of lava.
The bluffs to our left formed a solid wall
of rock the whole length Of the valley.
Those to the right were intersected by nu-
merous ravlnes running back to the base
of the grand pine-ciad mountains from
which that part of the country took its
name. Down one Of these clefts a good
sized stream tumbled and roared in sue
cession of cataracts. It swept right across
the valley, then hugging the further side
came down past our camp, and entered
rocky gorge with perpendicular sides be-
hind US A few cotton wood trees belted
the stream above us to within thirty feet
of our camp. and narrow strip Of willows
and vines hid us from view in that direc-
ton.
One morning Nicholas Van Burg Cor
Nick, as we called him) had risen before
the rest of US and set the fire going to cook
breakfast 1t was quite chilly, and we
were loath to leave our warm blankets.
My special friend and comrade, Pete Han
son, at last turned out; pulled on his
clothes, filing his pipe by the fire as he
shouted 10 me: Il say, Jack the early
worms get caught You are not one, so
get upw Ned Huston next rose, and to
make sure l would follow his example,
took hold Of the corner OF my blankts, and
pulling them off, dragged them out Of my
reach.
He maid no attention to the blessings I
showered after him, and in q very bad hu-
NOR 1 dressed and sat down 20 breakfast
NV back was to the willows, while Nick
sat facing me. We had finished our meai
before the sun rose and Nick, after nil
ing his pipe, tossed me his tobacco, but
missed II and il went into the open cohee
pot Amidst a roar of laughter l stopped
forward to fish 1t out The action saved
my life for two arrows with sharp
"whiz" passed over my head, and poor
Van Burg with a smothered cry fell for-
ward, dead. one shaft had passed through
his neck; the other, buried IN the center
of his chest, must have touched his heart'
our feet, and seizing our rifles plunged
amongst the willows to take summary
vengeance on the Indian perpetrators or
the deed. On getting clear OF the trees
and brush, we found several foot tracks,
but no human beings were in sight Al
ter hurried council, Ned Huston re-
turned to camp; Pete started to follow the
Indian TRAIL while 1 continued through
the valley towards the plain to see If ouf
horses had been stoleS. My blood was up
at the death of my poor comrade, and
made haste TO complete my part OF the
work in order to join Pete and Ned In pun
ishing the unprovoked attack. We had
been careful not to offend the natives,
and had given presents to both the Huala-
PAL and Mojave chiefs, telling them we
were going into their mutual hunting
ground. They had raised no Objection
yet one or the other must be accessory TO
the cowardly deed.
We had agreed that Van Burg's re-
mains should be buried in a shallow hole
we happened to have dug the day before
Ned Huston had only to lower the body
into it, temporarily throw a few shovel
fuls OF earth over It, and follow Pete.
Revolving these things in my mind,
reached the plain, and, climbing large
fragment of rock, stood looking around
me. Far as eye could reach, the Level
ground extended, broken only by boulders
view, yet no animal was in sight. With
an irnprecation on the ssvages, / turned
to retrace my steps. The steam across
the valley was bridged naturally by
great fallow tree extending from side 10
side. AS / approached it ran up on a
knoll of rising ground to see what had
become of my comrades
Away to my left Pete was close TO the
entrance of one of the ravines. From his
STOPPING now and then, and the slowness
of his movements, / judged he found the
Indians difficult to track. Ned was half
way between Pete and our camp, walking
rapidly to join him. Knowing the stream
TO be impossible toward the bluffs where
they were, l started for the bridge,
though some distance out of my way.
The thick vegetation on the banks had
hidden everything but my immediate sur
roundings, and l was within a few feet
of the fallen tree when / discovered, to
my annoyance, that the ramrod of my
rife was missing. 1t was all right just
before entering the underground, so I
commenced to search for It, After vast
ing at least fifteen minutes, my efforts
were successful. and, crossing the bridge,
] made for the open ground. Pushing
through the last Of the bush, came to
a sudden stand. Pete and Ned were
running from the vicinity of the bluffs
toward our camp. From the top of the
precipitous rocks, numerous Indians dis
charged arrows after them. My comrades
were too close underneath to return the
fire, but took rest, making an excel
lent shot. and sent one Of the savages
rolling about like a ball. Pete shouted
something, but the yells OF the Indians
drowned his voice. AS my friends dis
appeared amongst the willows reloaded
my rife. Then, to my horror, Indians
poured from one of the raviues, and
dashed across the valley, with the in
tention Of cutting me Off.
AS they could see me- threw up my
rife, reserving my FIRE in hopes they
would stop. For a moment l thought
had succeeded in checking them. Many
cast themselves on the ground, but soon
discovered my mistake as 4 succession OF
reports and whizzing balls showed me
they had muskets with them and meant
business.
Fortunately, In those days the firearms
held by the Indians were Of poor quality
and they had some difficulty in obtaining
powder. Otherwise the scattered white
population would soon have been cleared
out Two or three men like ourselves in
cons ant practice with our long-range
rifles, were a match for ten times our
numbers, as long as we did not come 10
close quarters.