The Jersey City news., 1899-10-21


glow Of brilliant illumination, in the
midst of which their intended victims
figure, black against the dazzling bright
ness, stood 5ut in h6Id relief.
At the same moment and before they
could even turn to fee from the terrors
that encompHssed them. the very earth
beneath their feet trembled and rocked
and rose up into space. 1t was an infer
nal volcanic eruption Of which they were
the center, In which shattered and shred
ded and scared human flesh and bones
took the place of broken and melted
stones Mountain and canyon echoed and
re-echoed the thunderous reyerberations
of the awful explosion, and miles away
the tremendous concussion loosened
mighty hnwlders from their centuries old
or this Irresistible yet mysterious Torce-
After fully deciding upon his method
of procedure the hermit made Journey
to Tucson, 100 miles distant. to procure
the articles necessary for the carrying
out Of his plan. He had brought with
him into the wilderness among his other
possessions the battery which had SO
amused and interested him in other days,
therefore he needed only wire and pow
der to put his designs into execution.
These articles, after a long and danger
ous trip, during which he was obliged to
travel nights and seerete himself and his
burros during the daytime, he secured
and brought back to his cabin and at
once upon his arrival home began his
work of preparation for the wholesale
tragedy he had planned
With infinite toll he dug pit, eight feet
deep and four feet wide, straight across
the narrow pass which gave entrance to
his home. -Four kegs of powder contain
ing so pounds each were then placed at
equal distances apart in the bottom OF
this pit, hole having first been made In
the top Of each and wires fitted therein
and carefully secured. These kegs Rea-
Wis covered with layer Of earth tightly
packed around them and then filed the
long hole solidly with more earth and a
quantity Of broken rock. Dry leaves and
small stones and sticks were scattered
over the surface to conceal evidences of
a disturbance of the ground, and then
connecting wires, insulated by broken
bottles were stretched along the line OF
mountain ash trees that bordered the
stream to the battery concealed In the
herrnits cabin.
Everything was now complete, and
Reavis was eager for the advent Of his
untiring enemy He had not long to wait,
for on the third night after he had nm
ished bis preparations for their reception,
as the moon was slowly sinking behind
old Superstition, his dogs low growl
nwole him from his light slumber.
Silencing his trusty friend by low
voiced word and a reassuring touch Of bis
hsnd. Reayis peered out into the night
and saw a dark figure steal from the
shadow Of the bluff outside his incloeure
into the shadow Of clump OF trees just
beyond his pit Another and another fol-
lowed, until 20 were gathered there to-
gether. and as the silent watcher, scarce
" drawing breath, kept his eyes fastened
upon them they moved toward his cabin
In body, carefully keeping concealed
under the shadow of the foliage above
them. Just where the pit stretched its
hidden length from side to side Of the
narrow way the line of trees led some
distance to the right Of the cabin instead
of directly toward it. And here. as Rea-
Wis had cunningly anticipated, the war
riors paused for consultation
IN an Instant strange, low rumbling
srnofe on their Mortified ears, the dark
and silent cabin burst into a binding
.xst.nu places anc seut rEec- S-1E---sS
downward through the affrightsd uslrA-
ness. adding the rushing. grinding roar Of
Their devastating progress to the accumu-
lated horrors Of that night Of carnage.
When Reavis. gun and knife IN hand, ap-
nroached the scene Of death, one Indian
ana one only disengaged himself from
The confusion Of horror which surrounded
him. md tlarted out Of the pass and