Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-05-13
TO THE RESCUE.

On the morning Of July 8, 1878,
was sitting In the shade Of our adobe
ranch building on the bunk Of the South
Platte. when noticed man stagger.
ing along the dusty trail to the north OF
the horse corral
Some drunken pilgrim from Jules
burg, thought. for although Jules.
burg was nearly 100 miles distant
knew that more than one tramp had
there bought enough "tanglefoot" to
keep him drunk until he either reached
Denver or lost his scalp on the way.
regarded the man lazily until he
came 80 near that his head and features
began to take definite shape. Then l
saw with alarm that his hatless head
was literally the color of blood and that
his shirt front was marked with dark
streaks. l got up and hurried to meet
him. To my horror, upon near ap-
proaoh discovered that no had not
only been wounded In the head, but had
been actually scalped.
will not attempt to describe his
frightful condition. Yet he had full
control Of his facultiesan and began rapid
ly telling his sad story as put my arm
about him to steady his walk.
He had been travelling toward Denver
from tho east, driving a light wagon
which contained only himself, his wife
and few household articles and pro.
visions They had oamped on the river
about two miles below our ranch the
night before. About daylight, Just ~
they were getting breakfast, they had
been bounced upon by party of mount
cd Indians, who rode out from tho
mouth Of gulch close at hand and
opened fire upon them.
81 was frying pan Of Bacon" said
the man-his name was William Rosa.
mond-"when suddenly heard them
yelling. l looked up and just got
glimpse Of them--a dozen or Is,
should say-when they began firing,
and l felt what might have been
stroke OH my head, and no more. When
woke up, was the way you see me.
The wreck Of my wagon was there, but
my wife and horses were gone And so |
staggered away, and here l am, and
whether l ought to thank God didn't
see my wife lying there dead is more
than know. I suppose THEY'VE carried
her away prisoner. -
At the sight Of tho poor man there
was W me fury Of desire to punish the
fiends who had 10 mutilated him and
when he begged me to go at once to tho
nearest post for help to rescue his wife
l said: "Thero's no need. As there were
only 10 or 10 we'll try IL ourselves. -
"Rouse. rouse 20 I shouted IN INV man
in the hut. Fortunately there were In Il
Ave of them asIsep.
They reused INSTANTLY and vvers M
surprised, Mortified and fierce M myself
at the dreadful plight Of Rosnniond
While set about washing and dressing
his wounded head they bolted some food
and coffee, saddled horses and declared
they would follow the Indians anv.
where, IL only their trail could be struck
and kept.
The bullet, I found. had struck Rosa.
mond ON the temple near the left eve
and had not penetrated tho skull Init
had parsed around under tho skin and
como out behind tho ear. The scalpinR
knife had barred tho skull ON ton in a
circle about four inches In diameter. /
soon had the wounds dressed and hand.
nged; then, ut lis urgent request. wa
left the man TO care for himself
With a two days' ration In our sad.
dlebags and an extra pony for each of
us we galloped away IN pursuit Of the
Indians, and soon found the wreck Of
the wagon beside tho trail some two
miles from the ranch.
After a thorough search for some dia-
lance on every side, we became satisfied
that Mrs. Rosamond had been taken
captive. Then we took tho trail of the
ponies Of the Indians and Of tho two
shod horses they had captured.
As this trail led us across tho sandy
valley to the north we Judged the party
to DO Cheyennos or Sioux, for Arapahoes
or Comanches would most likely have
taken the opposite direction.
Bow Legs, our expert tracker, for.
merly "pony express" rider. rode I'm
advance at jog trot over hard ground
and at Rallop across the freouent sand
tracts, all the time leaning forward.
with his face beside his pony's neck
and his eyes following the prints Of tho
shoes Of the shod horses And 10 about
noon he led us up to the high land
which formed tho divide between the
Plato and Grow creek. The day was
clear, hot and fortunately devoid Of that
haze or mirage which 40 often prevails
in that region.
Now, boss, said Bow Legs, "get
put your glass and take squint down
across bout 10 or 20 miles ahead. The
Indians have only been riding at ioR,