Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-18
Tie Brakeman and
the Squaw.
ny CY. wARMAS


Here's the story of the building Of
a branch line on II mountain railroad.
Conductor Mcclure, being II new man,
was in charge of the construction
train, with Engineer Westcott III
charge OF the engine
y. &. Creole, afterwards famous as
the founder of Creole camp, had
located the Madonna mine ut Monarch
camp, and created necessity for the
branch road. They had rushed the
work, but the first snow caught them
still three miles from the booming
silver camp. A wandering band of
indians, hearing of the excitement,
and not understanding it, had strayed
into the Monarch county, and down
the gulch rs far as Maysville, then
wild and thriving village at the edge
of the Arkansas valley. One day,
when ii was storming, an old squaw
came 90 Mcclure, and wanted ride
up the hill. 1t was cruel day, and
the kiAd.hearted conductor carried the
Indian TO the end of the track.
1t was a month later when one of
McGUire's brakemen, named Bowen,
who had been hunting in the hills,
rushed into the caboose with the start
ling announcement that his partner, the
heai brakeman, had been captured by
the Indians,
Look here, jack" said Mcclure,
care You lying?"
Honest Iniun," said Jack, 'if
there's one there's million; and
they've got Mickey tied TO stake.
We had become separated. / was
standing on a precipice, looking for
Mickey, when saw the Indians sur
round HIM.
Now. Jack Bowen hal lied so frequent
~ and UNANIMOUSLY to the conductor
that the latter was slow to believe this
wild tale; but finally he was persuaded
that it was true. Returning to Mays.
Vile with the engine, he gave the
alarm, and the sheriff of Chaiiee
county made up posse and set out
in search Of the brakeman.
The sun was going down behind the
range when the engine and the
cabooss full of amateur Indian fighters
returned 70 the end of the track. TAX
ing Bowen as guide, the sheriff
secured the hills, but found no trace
Of the missing man. The storm in
creased with the darkness, and the
sheriff posse was forced to return to
camp. 1t were useless to put out again
in the face of such a storm. and the
sheriff was about TO return to Mays.
vile, when the old squaw, whom Me-
Guire had helped up the hill, put her
head in a. the door OF the way car and
signaled Mctiuire to come ont. She
could scarcely speak word of Eng
lish, but, pulling at the conductors
sleeve. she started as though she would
lead IN into the hills. AS often as
Mcclure would stop the squaw would
stop. He tried TO persuade her into
the car, but she would not. Now the
sheriff cane out, and when he saw the
signals OF the squaw he guessed that
she woa!d lead them to the captive,
and when Mcclure had told how he
hal helped this Indian on her way up
the hill in a storm, he knew that the
Indian was trying to repay the con-
ductor for his kindness. The unfor-
tunate brakeman, McGuire explained,
had given the Indian tobacco and
whiskey; therefore, she would not see
him die without making an effort to
save him.
The sheriff called his deputies, and
taking half-dozen volunteers from
Garfield camp, made sign to the In
dian and followed her away into the
wilderness of snow-hung pine and
cedar. Now and then the squaw would
pause to get her bearings. The snow
had ceased falling and the stars were
out. After tramping for an hour or
more. the Indian signed to the sheriff
to stay, and then disappeared into q
cedar grove. Presently she returned
and led them to the edge of n preci-
pica. Just below them, in a little
basin. they could see pine fire burn
ing aud indians dancing III the light
OF il. Sitting upon the snow hard by,
they saw the brakeman with his fet-
tered hands over his knees and his
head bent forward like man holding
in a pew. The sheriff asked the In
dian 70 lead them on and she made
sigu that they must go far around for
the bluff was steep, aud they followed
her. They had been half hour out
of sight Of the Indian camp, but
always going down and down, so they
knew now they must be near. When