The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-07-19
Trailed by
~ Indians.
A STORY OF THE EARLY
DAYS IN NEVADA.

sVVVVVVVVVVVVV
The old Indian hunter laid down his
paper saying: 1--WE been amused nightly
to hear some folks discussing the threat
ened outbreak among the redskins, the
GOODNESS with which they talk Of such
and the sneaking sympathy they've got
with the devils. I'd just like to take such
and give them just months residence
on the plains when the Indians are hold
ing councils and breathing out fire and
murder and worse. I tell you, I'd heal
mighty little talk Of sympathy then and
see precious little GOODNESS. sBut it takes
us, who have gone through such, to know
the horrors Of an Indian war, the terrors
threatening not men alone, but women
and children-aye, the very baby in the
cradle l don't believe in peoples hail
turning white with trouble and anxiety
for mine would be as white as cotton II
such would do it. Especially once did
have a fearful experience with redskins
Want to hear about it?
"Well, it was in 1S4S and I'd been out
trading among the Flatheads and tho
Nez Perces for nearly two years off and
on, when one day caught on to a scheme
the Flatheads had got up to raid a little
settlement near to where Canton, New.
now stands. There were three families
living there, and the plan was to wait un
til the men went to Carson City for pro
visions, when the women and children
were to be killed and the cattle run of
by one party, while another waylaid tn,
men on the way back and murdered them
l was up about Winnemucca when l got
hold of this. and l set off for Canton a.
hard as could go, but the men were gont
by the time l reached the settlement
which was called Ridley's camp. I had
reason to fear the Indians were only Il
few hours behind me, and we had t,
move quickly. Our only chance was t,
hide out in the mountains till they left
the neighborhood or to work our way a.
best we could by night to Carson City.
at was useless to think of saving tn
men, so just kept that part Of the bust
ness to myself. There were in all Ii OF
us, two women and their seven children
and three little chaps, whose mother had
died the week before. and me. The first
thing did while the women were gettini
ready was to stampede the cattle ant
them; then, as we started, / shut up thu
houses to keep the redskins as long a.
possible there before they found out thu
people had run away.
1--WE made the little creek called Snak,
river by daylight, and after reconnoiter
ing made the whole party wade out t.
an island in the middle, which was abou
20 by 80 feet and covered with flags ant
rushes and some stunted willows. Here
we lay all day, for the most part dowl
on our stomachs under the brush. o.
course we could build no fire or NOV,
about. so we ate the cold victuals tn,
women had brought along, and l dippet
up water in my cap. Twice parties o
Indians stopped not hundred yards be
low where we were to water their horses
but Judging from their actions l knew
they did not suspect any one was nea
them, but were probably on their way t.
Ridley's. They did not linger, but rod
on at once, much to my relief, for all tn
time they were within hearing l am sur
1 did not draw breath a minute for fea
one of the children would cry out, whel
we would have all been massacred, Blu
the poor little things, with the exception
of a child few weeks old, were too bad
" scared to stir or speak unless hidden
and, as for the women, they put any maj
l ever saw to shame with their calmnes
and courage.
"When night came, we struck out for
line Of hills lying about five miles away
where l counted on finding a cave, o
at least a hiding place. OF course
and the women and the larger children
could have made it without difficulty, blu
being obliged to wait on the little one
and to carry them every half mile or s.
we were nearly all night getting to tn
nearest hill. We'd gone about a mil
when low down on the horizon l saw
dull glow and knew the Indians wer
burning the camp and that they'd be o.
our trail in q little while. When we go
to the hill, could see nothing like a cave
and while it was pretty heavily woode
there was no place to hide where the In
dams would not spy us directly. wa
looking about me when l caught
glimpse of a black bear running aroun
a rocky spur about half way up the hill
I followed just in time to see her e
tumbling or climbing down a sort of gas
in the earth, which l knew must be he
den. Without stopping / jumped afte
her and found myself in little cav
about 10 by 10 feet. but with anothe
larger one leading away toward the Ger
ter of the hill.
1.-THE bear began to growl when sh
saw me, and I saw, too, when my eye
got accustomed to the dim light, that sh
had two cubs in the den with her, whic
she was going to defend. So, aiming a
carefully as could. I fired at her, break
ing her skull. after which killed the tw
cubs and transferred my party to tn
cave The last of the cold meat an
bread was then eaten, and the wome
and children. creeping into the larger d
vision, which was. however, orky abou
four feet in height, went to rest. But
was too anxious to rest, so l hoisted my
self out of the cavern and climbed to til
ton of the hills to see if l could see augh
of the Indians.
Several times it seemed to me that
saw a band moving along the line of tn
horizon, and, while the specks might hav
been cattle. ! thought it best to sta
where we were all that day, that nigh
and the next day. Our great trouble wa
water, which had to be brought from
spring on the other side of the hill, an
as only a small quantity could be brOugh
at time, my cap being the only vesst
we had, the children especially suffered
great deal. At last one Of the women dit
covered a fiat rock with hollow dip |
the middle which would hold about tw
quarts or so, and I kept this filled as
cistern ventured that night to roast
piece Of the bear in a hole in the grount
which change of diet was a welcome on,
| 7 TINA cinno I n
born, for ! dared not sleep an hour f.