Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-02
A MULE FORT.
desperate Fight with Indians Behind the
Bodies of Dead Ones

desperate Fight with Indians Behind the
Bodies of Dead Ones
Before the railroad connected San
francisco with Chicago, all freight
was carried across the plains in large
wagons, each capable of holding six
or seven thousand pounds, and drawn
Dy several yokes of oxen The wagon
Dox, as large as the sitting room of au
ordinary house, was covered with two
heavy canvas sheets to protect the
freight from the rain. A train consist
ed of twenty-five wagons, each liz
charge of driver, and all commanded
by the wagon master, known in the
language of the plains as the ''bull-
wagon boss The teamster was call
ed bull whacker," and the whole
train was "bull-outfit" The wagon
master was an autocrat, gifted not
only with courage, but with that fac
ulty for prompt, judicious action
known as presence of mind. A story
told by Buffolo Billain "The Great Salt
Lake Trail" shows how suddenly the
call sometimes came for prompt ac-
ton.
Lew Simpson was wagon master Of
two large trains which left Fort Lara
mic for Fort Leavenworth, and trav-
elled fifteen miles apart. One morn
ing Simpson, accompanied by Woods,
the assistant wagon master, and young
Cody, started from the rear train to
overtake the head one. While riding
on big plateau they suddenly dis
covered a band of Indians charging
down upon them.
Simpson equal to the occasion, jump
ed from his mule, shot it dead, shot
those of the two companions, and then
jerked the bodies into a triangle. Be-
hind this breastwork Of mule flesh the
three men, armed with rifles and re-
volyers. received the Indians. They
swooned down, shooting arrows and
yelling. Three fell dead at the white
mems volley, and the Indians galloped
out of range, as they had only two
guns in their band.
Circling round and round the barri-
cade, they shot their arrows. One
struck Woods in the left shoulder and
several lodged in the dead mules. Then
they retired and held a council. The
besie9ed reloaded their rifles and re-
volvers; Simpson pulled out the arrow
from Woods's shoulder and put large
quid of tobacco on the wound. Then
the Indians again charged. But hot
reception checked them and they rode
off, leaving dead brave and a horse.
Night came on and the Indians tried
to burn the white men out of their
breastworks by setting fire to the
prairie. The grass was SO short that
the fire did not trouble them; but un-
der cover of the smoke the Indians
tried to approach close to the barrl-
care. They failed to surprise the
watchful men and abandoned the plan.
In the morning they again charged,
and the white men again ''stood them
off,"
The Indians rode away half a mile,
formed circle around the breast
work, and each man, dismounting, sat
down, as if to starve the besieged out.
They had seen the advance train pass
and thought the three men were try
ing to overtake it, being ignorant that
another train was approaching.
At ten o'clock the anxious men
heard the sharp reports of the big bull
whips, and in a few minutes the head
wagon cacle slowly over the ridge and
soon the whole outfit made it's appear
ance.
Seeing the train, the Indians made
a last charge; a yolley sent them fly
ing across the prairie. The teamsters
rushed forward to assist, but when
they reached the mule fort the red
skins had disappeared. The teamsters
admired the fort, praised the three
mems pluck, and for days talked about
Simpsons presence Of mind in plan
ming the defence.