The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-02-05


gine stack was falling among them.
They then threw up their guns, those
who were still ON their feet, and let go
at us, but none of the bullets affected
our party.
when we had reached the station
the Pawnees who were among the
scouts recognized our captive at once
as Bear Foot, noted and very wicked
chief. When the Sioux came to him
self and realized that he was captive
he became furious. He surged and
strained at the bell rope, but it was all
in vain, and finally he gave it up.
'When we had eaten our supper we
all went into the round house-soldiers
and all-for we knew the Sioux would
make a desperate effort to secure their
chief before the night was out.
'It was long after midnight when
one Of the men on duty heard a low
scraping sound like that made by hog
crawling under a gate. moment
later the noise was repeated, and when
the same sound had been heard three
or four times the lieutenant in COM
mand flashed a bulPs-eye lamp in the
direction of the door and the light of it
revealed three big braves standing close
together, while a fourth was just creep
ing in under the door. With we-are-
discovered expression, the tall Indian,
who appeared to be the leader, glanced
at his companions. Then, as though the
idea had struck all Of them at once,
they threw their guns up and let go
along down the ray Of light, and the
lieutenant fell to the ground severely
wounded.
"Appreciating the importance of our
capture, the captain in command had
set four powerful Pawnee scouts to
guard Bear Foot, the Sioux chief. 1t
was no sure thing that we would be
able to stand the Indians off till morn
ing, and as the storm had knocked the
wires down we had been unable to tele-
graph to Lawrence for reinforcements.
The fact that their brave chief was
himself captive would increase the
wrath Of the red men without, and tax
ing even a moderate view of the situa-
ton, we were in a hard hole. l, for
one, would have gladly bartered our
captive and the glory of the capture
away for an assurance Of seeing the
sun rise on the following morning, but
1 dared not hint such, thing to the
captain, much less to the Pawnees.
'sThe four Pawnees with their pris-
oner were placed in the coal tank of the
locomotive, while the fireman and oc-
cupied our places in the cab and kept
the steam up to 140 pounds. If at any
time it seemed to me the fight was go
ing against us and the Sioux stood a
chance to effect an entrance I was to
pull out for Lawrence with the captain
and fetch assistance, provided did not
meet a west-bound train and lose my
locomotive. rather liked this arrange
ment, risky as it was, for it was pre-
ferable to remaining in the round house
to be roasted alive. Then, again, dis
liked fighting-that's. what we fed and
hauled these soldiers around for. They
were so Internally lazy in time of peace
that used almost to pray for trouble
that they might be given an opportunity
at least once week to earn their board
and keep. Now that the opportunity
seemed to be at hand had NO wish to
glory Of being killed in real battle, and
so sat nodding in the cab of the old 40
until the fash of the bulls-eye caused
me to look ahead.
'"The report of the rifles in the hands
of the Indians had been answered by a
dozen guns from the interior of the
building and Immediately a shower of
lead rained and ratified upon the wood
en- doors from without. One of the
scouts picked the bulls eye lamp up and
placed it upon the work bench, training
the light upon the double doors immedi-
ately in front Of my engine. Our men
knew how useless it would be to fire into
the sand-stuffed sides of the building,
and not caring to put themselves into a
position where they could fire effective
ly above the wainstcoting, they very
wisely kept close to the ground and al
lowed the Sioux to empty their guns
into the sand.
Presently, hearing no sound from
within, the attacking party ceased
firing and began to prowl about the
building in search Of weak spot
through which they might effect an en-
trance. The fate of the three early call
ers who had hogged it under the door
kept them from fooling about that trap
for the remainder of the evening. In
a little while the whole place was as
still as the tomb, save for the soft flut-
ter of steam from the safety valve of
the 40. Bear Foot knew what was 60
ing on. Even though he could see moth
ing, he knew that his faithful followers
were working for his release, and now
when all was silent he shouted from the
coal tank to his braves to break the
door and come In. Before the Pawnee
scouts could pound him into a state of
quietude he had impaired to his people
the particulars Of his whereabouts, and
Immediately the whole band threw
themselves against the front Of the
building.
''The house fairly trembled, the In
dians surged from without and the
great doors swayed to and fro, threat
.ening at any moment to give way and
let the flood Of bloodthirsty redskins in
upon US.
Stand together called the captain
to his men.
Put on the blower and get her hot,
1 called to the fireman, for knew the
frail structure could not withstand the
strain much longer. As often as the
fireman opened the furnace door to
| rake his fire, the glare of the fire-box
lit up the whole interior and showed
| three dead Sioux near the door. One OF
them lay across the rail, and l found
| myself speculating as to whether the
pilot of the 40 would throw him off, OF
| whether I must run over him. Now II
seemed that the whole band had thrown
themselves against the building, and
| the yelling was deafening. Above II