The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-02-15
A BORDER HEROINE.
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BY CHARLES B. LEWIS.
We of Clusters command were swing
ing around to reopen the overland trail,
every station of which in western Kan
sas had been captured by the Indians.
We had gone into camp one night after
continuous ride Of nearly 100 miles,
and everybody but the sentinels was
fast asleep, when there came riding in
from the northwest girl, Is years old,
named Mary Thompson. She was rid
ing a pony without saddle or bride,
and she was hatless and without shoes.
Most of the men had been aroused, and
were anxious to hear her story before
she reached the generals tent. Her re-
port was terse and to the point. Ten
miles to the northwest was party Of
pioneers-8 wagons, 90 men and 40
women and children. The camp had
been attacked by Indians an hour be-
fore, and the girl had mounted her
pony, dashed through the lines and gal
Hoped In search of aid. She had been
followed for the first three or four miles
by mounted Indians, but had distanced
them.
Custer Intercepted her concerning
the situation of the camp and the
strength Of the Indians. and, believing
the pioneers could hold their own
through the night the men were order
ed back to their blankets. 1t was about
an hour before daylight when we
moved, the girl riding at the head Of
the column with the general and two
or three scouts, and we were within
half mile of the camp when the dark
ness faded away and gave us view Of
the situation. Then it was swift dash
at the hostiles, a sharp fight for ten
minutes, and we had sent the band sour
rying away.
In and about the wagons lay SIX dead
and four wounded men-ten dead or
wounded women and children. Every
horse and mule was disabled, and had
we waited quarter of an hour longer
the Indians would have rushed" and
carried the camp and wiped out every
soul. At midnight they had cut off two
of the outer wagons for moment and
made captive boy 10 years obituary
Thompson's own brother. Her father
and mother were among the dead, her
brother carried away by the warriors
as they fed before us. The soldiers and
pioneers crowded about the girl and
gave her words Of sympathy, and for
few minutes she hid away In one of the
wagons to be alone with her grief.
When she reappeared, her tears had van
ished, and she announced her resolu-
ton to make an effort to recover her
captive brother. General Custer advised
and argued with her, but she refused to
go back to point of safety with the
surviving pioneers. She did not ask to
go with the command, but intended to
depend upon herself alone think she
would have been forced to go away with
the pioneers had she remained with us
few minutes longer. While the people
were making ready for a start the rank
and file learned of her determination.
We outftted her pony, handed her over
q winchester rife and revolver and
plenty of ammunition, supplied her
with food for several days, and nothing
was lacking when she rode out of camp
in the direction the Indians had taken.
Knowing that her brother Jimmie
would be sent to some village among
the hills to be held captive, she gave all
her attention to lodging war parties
and hunting out villages. On the old
maps of Kansas there used to be creek
called Thompson creek, and 1t was
named after the girl. One morning aft
er nigh spent in riding over the plains
she entered grove of willows and cot
tonwoods on little island in the mid
die Of the stream to lie up for the day.
About 10 O'Clock in the forenoon an
Indian band numbering about 20 old
men, women and children came along
and made their camp on the east bank
of the stream and within pistol shot Of
the hiding girl. Among the boys she
saw her brother for the first time. He
had been clothed in Indian dress, but
she identified him at once. He was
among the score of lads sent across to
the grove to cut lodge poles and fire.
wood, and the girl planned feat which
the most daring scout would have hest
tated to attempt. 1t was to carry the
boy off in the face of the village, and it
was not her fault that she made fail
ure of it. He was one of the first to
reach the island, and she rode boldly
out of shelter and called him by name
and moved toward him. He was SO sur
prised at sight of her that he ran away.
She overlook him and seized and tried
| to lift him on to the saddle, but he
broke away from her and the Indians
sounded the alarm. AS many as score
of old men and boys mounted ponies
and attempted to capture Miss Thomp-
son, but after wounding two and being
chased for five miles she made her es-
cape. She did not go far, however. Hav-
ing located the village in which the boy
was held, she determined to hang about
until her mission was accomplished.
The mound known as Thompson 3
| Fort was also named after Mary Thomp-
son. Her stock of ammunition had been
reduced to nine cartridges when she
met a scouting party of cavalry and was
supplied with 100 rounds and as much
provisions as she would take. She had
then been DIGGING the Indians for over
two months and had donned male at
tire as the handiest to get about in.
There were Indians on the trail Of the
scouting party, and an hour after Mary
had gone her way she found 10 mount
ed warriors in sight behind her. This
was at 10 o'clock in the morning and
on the open plains. She headed for the
faraway hills to the west, and for the
first hour permitted the Indians to gain
on her When they had come within
half mile, she set the pace to hold
them there, and made one of the great
est rides recorded under like circum-
stances. Her horse was in prime condi-
ton, and the ponies were also at their
best. The Indians knew whom they
were after and determined to capture
her alive and unhurt.
The race and pursuit lasted for 81
miles, every rod of which was covered
at gallop. The girl was riding straight
into the enemy's country, and at sun
down she determined to go no farther.
AS she reached the creek flowing around
the east base of "Thompson's fort,
which is hill standing by itself, she
threw herself off her horse and took
long drink and then led the animal tc
the crest of the hill Fortunately fol
her there was a sink or basin at the top