The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-04-12

M lMsNfysM ~ to approach the
II TYrN>k | mining region ex-
Y 4 u cept in large and
well-armed par
ties. Numerous narrow escapes have
been recorded, but many desperate
adventures occurred no accounts of
which have ever been published.
This story is an instance in point
Early In the spring of 1896 John An
son, young settler from Southern
Nebraska, left wife and two small
children ut his homestead and Joined
a large party of miners and adventur-
ers who had gathered at Sidney in
that State a party SO formidable in
numbers, and so well armed and led,
that it came through to French Creek
IN safety. There John Arson parted
company with the oxpedition--it was
bound for Deadwood, which had just
begun to be heard of--and Joined
some prospectors near Clusters Gulch.
He had been at work for three
weeks when q party came from the
south, in which were two of his for
mer neighbors, who told him that
when they left, nine days before
dlphtheria was raging in their neigh
borhood; that his younger child had
died, and that the other and also his
wife was very ill with the disease.
Arson was man of most affection
ate nature. Nothing had sent him
forth from home except the hope to
better the future of his family; he had
been sternly bearing up under home
sickness that tore hungrily at his
heart, and he would have gone crazy
had he tried to hold out against the
impulse to hasten back to his wife and
tho little golden-h haired girl who might
still be alive.
To try the backward way alone was
to run many chances of death for one
OF escape, but his life was as nothing
to the imperative call of his soul.
Back he would go, and that same
evening hour which brought him the
dreadful tidinys saw him on his way.
He was mounted on tough, wiry
pony for which he had given every
thing he possessed. except what the
pony carried. With only the clothes
that he wore.sa pair of blankets, three
days provisions, his long-range
Winchester and one hundred car
tridges, he started to make the trip.
He rode for the Cheyenne River,
thirty miles distant, as his first stage.
In the tall grass of the river bottom
he p1cketed his pony, then spread his
blankets at daybreak and was soon
i, sleeping soundly; for this man was no
j. weak degenerate who could be dis
ne 'cted by mental suffering from the
mo necessary to success in his des-
p enterprise. He must sleep to
LOW" MS power of riding and fighting,
S. Des,ep he did as if with iron reso-
i''0 'o IL showed that the time was
interests Seo'clock in the fo1 enoon when
10 question q reused by the shrill whin-
,:o Iii pony. He satup and saw
''ce''So "'' 18th head high, gazing to-
ion OF meTstern hills. There q mum
+ men had halted upon q
r. the river, and were looking
ev. BUD ON his direction. They were
st Thursday
,cbnlv "a Arson guessed they must
ght that an Indian had made
mooo' mp or stopped TO stalk game.
rom nre moment later he saw thew
ri ID the situation; for he had
10 ELY risen TO his feet when they
lican,rred their beasts down into the
.nds.ley toward him. There were thirteen
a. of them, and his case was plainly des-
perate.
lie was at loss for some seconds
whether to stand and fight or to run.
but as the long grass would give them
cover to approach him, he determined
finally to escape by riding. He SET
about saddling his pony, which was so
nervous and uneasy that il nearly broke
away from him while he was tighten
ing the cinches. When he had
mounted, the Indians were within n
half-mile OF him, and he already faint
ly heard their yells at his preparation
Tor flight. They were Sioux, and he
knew they 'meant business.
Ho wondered grizzly how many Of
them would be left TO transact this
business" when they should have
closed in on John Anson-him who
would be defending himself in the
hope Of reaching his wife and his lit
tie Alice, and the grave of his dead
baby.
TO his satisfaction, he found his
pony seemingly as fresh as if 10 had
not been ridden for n week. He saw
that the reputation Of Dodgo's Buck.
skin for speed and endurance was de-
served, and he patted the neck Of the
little fellow as kindly MS If his own
soul was clear Of trouble. Bucl,slin
tossed his head with delight, aud
snorted, "brr-r-rmw as il oxultinp
that the time had come TO prove his
mettle rs it had never becn proved bo
fore
Arson, although he had not until
that day had au actual fight With In