Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-25

! joke and hearty laughter.
When we had travelled some three
or four miles from the station, Edmond
suddenly exclaimed. ..Are those In
dians?n pointing straight ahead.
looked and saw three men on a
rise about half mile ahead, coming
toward US. The glitter of steel show
ed they were armed. l hastily ad-
justed my field-glass and viewed them
through it, but the first glance reas-
sured me-
They are negro soldiers-probably
a part of the detachment belonging to
the station behind US, I wonder.
though, what they are doing out here?
On scout, maybe"
As they drew nearer we recognized
them. Our twenty-four hours halt at
the station having made their faces
familiar to us. l noticed that they
carried their guns in the position usual
to marching, the FURNISHED barrels
glisteuing in the sunshine. As they
approached, they politely saluted US
with Good morning." and we answer
ed their greeting with the usual re-
sponse. My brother, driving. sat up
on the right of the seat, and beside
him. just before the soldiers went
by. they separated, two passing upon
our right, and the other on the left.
We were just then driving at a walk.
A minute later there came from our
rear the report of firearms. which
caused me to instantly turn in my seat,
and as did so a third shot followed
from the fellow on the left, slightly
woundiug me in the arm; but did not
for some minutes discover that I was
hurt. My immediate attention was
called to Edmond, who, shot through
the head, had fallen backward from
the seat, and lay gasping his last
breath Oh the sack OF grain! The lines
had fallen upon the wagon-tongue
from his nerveiess hand, and the
horses, startled at the sudden reports,
were running at breakneck speed.
reached over and fortunately succeed
ed in grasping the lines. All this time
the bullets were whistlIng about my
ears. but none struck me, though the
bows over my head were cut and the
body of the wagon was riddled with
the leaden missiles.
In few minutes | had passed the
top of hillock and was out of imme-
diate danger. But what deplorable
situation was mine! Alone on the
prairie. with the corpse of him who
but few short moments since
had been my stay and guide; isolated
from human help, and not free from
danger from the rowing bands of In
dians known to be infesting the coun-
try. Dazed and heart-broken l drove
madly on, seeking only further stretch
between myself and the numbering
Williams in my rear.
Long before noon had reached the
third station on the route. Then my
senses, quickened by the deadly peril
| perhaps had yet to confront, suggest
ed that perhaps these detachments
were in league with each other in
murderous enterprise, and dared not
tell the true story of my misfortune.
To the negro soldiers | therefore re-
lated that we had been beset by In
dians. but had escaped through speed
of my horses. The whole detachment
were greatly excited by my story, and,
arming themselves, at once formed in
to scouting parties and departed in
various direction. When they had
gone, approached the white man in
charge of the stage relay. and, upon
his solemn promise of secrecy, told him
the truth as to the mornings tragedy.
then said:
Il will Immediately proceed on my
route; but l fear pursuit from those
numbering scoundrels. They are on
foot and will not dare return to their
own station for horses; but they may
come hear and seek mount from you.
You must on no account lcSthem have
horse from your stable
He was greatly alarmed and insisted
on leaving the station and going with
me; but, grateful as his companion
ship would have been, firmly COM
batted his desire, and at length sue
ceeded in convincing him that my plan
was the safer for both.
With his assistance / decently ar
ranged the body of my poor brother
in the wagon bed. and then took ny
departure. I drove rapidly all after
noon and far into the night, when it
became necessary to halt and refresh
the horses. / turned from the road
AID drove a couple of hundred yards
to depression in the prairie, where /
found both water and grass. Unhitch-
ing the horses, I fed and watered them,
aud then permitted them to Craze for
an hour or two.
Alone with my brothers corpse in