Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-03-27


Indians were pushing the empty cars
down neHr the station. and that they
would set fire TO the straw, and then
there would be no possible escape. Now
there was a roar as of an approaching
train. and an instant later a great dark
object hove,in sight drawing a dozen box
cars and running without headlight.
The shouts Of the besiegers, the rattle OF
rides and the wild cry Of the night pre-
vented the Sioux from feeling the vibra-
ton or hearing the sound of the APP
preaching train.
The agent, who Ind been severely
wounded. now erawled to the key and
called Ogalala. At the first attack he
had wired Tor help, and now he told the
operator there he could hold the place
only little while longer. The agent was
still at the key when the engine, rolling
up to the station. shook the building, and
be knew the moment be felt the quiver
of II that help was at hand. Instantly
the doors Of the box cars came open, and
company Of government scouts. all
Pawnees except the officers, leaped to the
groana The Sioux were making their
last desperate charge upon the station.
Before they could realize that re-enfofce-
ments were at hand they were beset by
the scouts, who always fought to kill.
The battle was short and decisive. and
when the Sioux fed they left more than
half their number upon the field.
Probably the most anxious man in the
whole party was the conductor Of the spe-
cial train that had brought the scouts
from Ogallala. He had ridden all the
way on the locomotive, and the moment
the train stopped he had Ieaped to the
ground and gone through n shower of bull.
lets TO where the cottage which had been
the home of the Bankerses had stood.
The sight of the house in ashes made him
sick at heart, but there was still hope.
They might have taken refuge in the sta
ton, and, facing about, the fearless con-
ductor fought his way to the door. BY
this time the Sioux were giving all their
attention to the scouts, and the conductor
forced his body through the shot riddled
door. The agent lay upon the floor in
pool of his own blood. but he was still
alive. "Where are they?" asked the con-
ductor, CHANGING about the dark room.
Among the stock cars, IL they are still
alive" was the reply which came in a
faint whisper. 81 saw them leaving the
house at dusk Go to them-1'm-Im all
FlHnl. Anu tue NbDuutlbl, hhNiuS ptatNh
the wounded man upon his bed. made for
the stock cars.
Bankers, where are your he called,
and Bankers answered, only two cars
away. Now the conductor lighted his
white light and climbed into the car. The
brave Mrs. Bankers greeted him with
smile that soon changed to tears, for in
the light of the hand lamp she had seen
&. I-aI ttyn n
face of dead child. Emma" she call
ed excitedly, but there was no answer
as she deadT' cried the conductor, fall
ing upon his knees and holding the light
close to his sweetheart's face.
"No, you chump," said Bankers. "She
only tainted when ! killed this Sioux, "
and he gave the dead Indian a kick and
rolled him out of the car.
"But the baby?" pleaded Mrs. Bankers.
shes all right said the husband
"Only n little too much paregoric." And
so it proved.
Here, En-" said Bankers. shaking the
young woman, who was regaining con-
seriousness, brace up. You've got COM
pany."
Are we all safe?" asked the school
ma'am. feeling for her back hair. "Oh.
my uGdFs brave LEltuI' you nave o1fCt w.
air.
"Yes. I've been" said Bankers. "hid-
ing here in the straw while the agent was
being murdered"
But you saved the women" said the
conductor. who was oyerjoyed at finding
all alive.
Yes" said Bankers, chats some
thing after all"
And all this is not dream. 1t is only
a scrap of history of the early days of the
Union Pacific. The brave station agent
is an old man now, and one of his legs is
shorter than the other-the one that was
shot that night. The baby, having re-
covered from her severe tussle with collie
and paregoric. is now one of the most
charming women in a western city. The
conductor of the soldier train is at this
writing a general superintendent of a
well known railway, The SHOWS of 4u
winters have fallen upon his wife's hair.
1t is almost white, but her face is still
young and handsome, and | remember
that she bIushed when telling this story
to me and recalling the fact that she had
tainted In a stock car on that wild night
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