The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-03-03
/ NIGHT ATTACK.

Vow try it; pull em steady. and
think they'll haul it up Let 'em.
gol And the men whooped and
yelled. cracked their whips and made
all the noise possible as the heavily
laden wagon moved slowly out of
the creek up the hill. Keep 'em at
itI yelled Jack, one of the guides.
Don't let 'em stopf And the
whips cracked and the men yelled
louder than ever.
sWhoopeI whoopel yelled Fearon,
as the wagon stopped on the bank.
We were returning from three
months trading and trapping trip.
among the Kiowa and Comanche In
dians, at the head of the Washita
river. Our party counted six-Jack
Sargent, Luther F'earon, Dan Cor
nell, Harry Keating Charley Cleve-
land and myself. Tosa Cinema, as /
was known among che Indians.
We had three six-mule teams,
heavily loaded with robes and furs
of an kinds, besides our trapping
material and plenty of ammunition.
We had been successful all winter,
and the wagons were packed tight.
We were crossing Rainy mountain
creek, deep stream with very steep
banks. Two of the wagons crossed
all right, but the third and last one
stuck, compelling US to put II mules
on to pull it out.
We were anxious to cross the
creek and make camp in a little
grove five miles ahead before dark,
as the Indians had bothered US all
day.
The grove was good place to.
beat of an attack, and you may be
sure it did not take long for US to
straighten out the teams across the.
prairie.
We made the grove, corraled the
wagons and put everything in good
shape by dark. We couldn't make
fire, and consequently some dried
buffalo meat and hard bread, with
cup of water, had to do for supper.
About midnight the mules COM
menced to snort and jump parounda as
though badly scared at something.
Jack and myself moved out among
them cautiously, but could see no
cause for their fright, although we
felt positive the Indians were
around, trying to stampede them.
After seeing that the mules were
all right, we laid our plans for the
night. Jack, being the oldest scout
and trapper, was looked to as leader.
So, according to his arrangement,
Luther, Jack and myself took the,
watch, and the rest lay down to
take sleep for a couple of hours,
and then we were to turn in and
they take the watch. Everything
arranged, We crawled outside the
wagons and lay down about an equal
distance apart, SO as to see all
around the camp.
Nothing occurred until near morn
ing, when heard Luther calling in
a low tone to come over to him,
which ] did, and we were soon
joined by Jack.
Keep quiet, Luther cautioned.
There's two or three reds in back
of that big cottonwood. Wen see
what their game is..''
In short time we could see three
figures crouch down and commence
working their way towards us.
Keep cool, said Jack. Don't
fire until 1 give the word. After
you fire, get back to the wagons.
On they came, crawling stealthily
toward us, apparently totally un-
conscious that we were lying so
close waiting for the word to put
an ounce of lead into them.
Nov let 'em have It'll" whispered
Jack.
He had scarcely spoken when the
three rifles cracked out, and two of
the reds never got up. The other
fellow jumped and ran into the tim
Der, and we crawled back to the
wagon.
The boys were up and ready, and
it sounded as though the Indians
were ready, too, by the way they
yelled. And so they were; for in q
few seconds, the arrows commenced
to fly around, some striking the
mules and some flying harmlessly
over our heads.
Day was just breaking, when the
Indians made dash towards US.
Keep cool and fire straightp
cried Jack, as We opened on them.
earnest. and they were determined
70 wipe us out, II they could. Ihere
were at least 40 in their party, but,
Judging from their yells, you would
have thought there were 200.
They had killed two of our mules
and wounded Heating, before we.
could drive them back into the
woods
.'Here they come againl" ex-
claimed Jack. stGive it to emf
And we did give it to 'em, for it
was getting lighter and we could
snot count, Tor we knew, If we did
not clean them out this time, they:
enough to make US fight.
the wagons before they broke and
fed back into the timber. That was
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