Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-03-17
NUMBER SO.

well adapted for raising vegetables OF
all kinds and meadows.
While reading the columns OF the
REGISTER, many familiar faces and
scenes of my youth aud early manhood
will come into my mind. was sorry
to read Of the death of Mr.. Hill. The
The community has lost good man
and worthy citizen.
We now hear the cry of war Oh ev-
cry hand, and it seems the people of
this country are intensely excited over
the recent blowing up of the Maine,
and are crying for revenge on every
side, town and country alike. Nearly
every man and boy would go at a
moments notice, if necessary to avenge
the wrong done to our countrymen.
Having business over in the Cam
bria coal mines I hitched up to the
buggy and drove over there.
While [ stood in the store trading, /
heard familiar voice behind me say
ing, Hello, Billr' | turned quickly
and saw an old acquaintance and
friend of mine smiling me welcome
and extending his hand. After the
usual ceremony which attends such
meetings he says, "Well Bill, if you
are in no hurry and will wait till | can
get ready [ will go out home with you
and stay two or three days!" / told
him would certainly wait, for moth
ing gives me more pleasure than the
company of an old friend, and especial
ly one like him, who knows every foot
hill, canon and cow trail in the coun-
try. 1t was almost dark before we
were ready to start home, and we chose
the nearest route, the road leading
around the mountain in very danger
Gus manner. AS there was no moon
and I was not very familiar with this
road, l expressed my fears to my COM
panion. 80 never fear," says he, Il
am not afraid to drive around the
mountain the darkest night that ever
came. l have ridden and driven around
there hundreds of time, so do not fear
about that"
Twas Saturday, so we proceeded to
comment upon the dolngs of the week.
Finally, our conversation drifted on to
the subject of cowboys and Indians.
Now | had often noticed that my co M
pauion's head was deuuded of natures
usual gift, and l had often wondered
what had caused this misfortune, as /
knew his age was not SO great as to
rob him of his hair. AS we talked on
he gradually began to tell me the story
of his life. "My parents" said he,
s'were tenants on large cattle and
horse ranch down in Texas, my father
being a great cowboy. My mother
died at my birth, my father following
her few weeks later. The owner of
the ranch then took me and cared for
me. just as soon as [ could possibly
stay on horses back, | was put to
helping the men herd the stock.
staid and worked for him till was a
good big boy, when one day we had
some extra wild cattle to round up,
and all of us were doing some hard
riding, when my masters horse caught
his foot in hole and fell, killing him
1t seems cruel to say, but
we carried him to our wagon which |
was not far off, and left him there till
we had finished our days work. Then
we took him home, and next day we
laid him to rest. After his death had
no desire to stay there, so | went to a
different part of the country to try my
luck at 'cowpunching. l soon found
there was plenty of work for such as
me and | did not hesitate to go at it.
| fell into a part of the country where
the Indians were accustomed to steal
cattle, so we had to keep track of their
cautious movements. But in spite of
our close watching we were surprised
by large party of them one day. We
opened fire on them and had quite a
battle with them. / was fighting for
dear life, when one suddenly came up
behind me like the wind and dealt me
blow with his war club that sent me
Lifeless to the ground. | know not
now long | lay in this condition. but
when i began to regain consciousness
was suffering the tortures of thou
sand deaths. In a vague and dreamy |
way | realized that the Indians we're
scalping me, but I could not utter q
cry. They cut a ring about my head,
caught up the skin and jerked it of
md hurried away with the prize. /,
If course, fell into unconsciousness
again, and next time | came to myself
was with my companions in camp. /
'eceived all the attention they could
possibly give me under such circam-
stances and recovered slowly enough.
There we're several of our men killed
md the redskins secured their scalps.
But they never knew / was alive when
hev took mine or should not be tell
-, yo,, to-nioht the cause OF my being