davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
CHAPTER XII.


That action had been resolved upon. and
prompt action was now apparent. Stabber
fighting chief though he had been in the
past, had had his reason for opposing the
plans of this new and vehement leader; but
public sentiment, stirred by vehement ora
tory, had overruIed him. and he had bolted
the field convention in fury. Lame Wolf
a younger chief than Stabber had yet more
power among the Ogallalias. being Red
Clouds favorite nephew. and. among the
Indians at least. his acknowledged repre-
sentative. Whenever called to account,
however. for that nephews deeds, the wary
old statesman promptly disavowed them.
II was in search OF Lame Wolf. reasoned
Ray, that Stabber had sped away. possibly
hoping to induce him 10 call off his FOL
lowers. 1t was probably the deeper STRAIT
egg of Stabber to oppose no obstacle to
Rays advance. until the little troop was
beyond the Elk Tooth ridge, where, on ut
terly shelterless ground. the Indian would
have every advantage. He knew Ray of
old; knew well that. left to himself the
captain would push on In the effort to
rescue the stage people. and he and his
command might practically be at the mercy
Of the Sioux. IL only the Sioux would listen
and be patient. Stabber knew that to at
tack the troopers now intrenching at the
cott3awoods meant a desperate fight in
which the Indians, even II ultimately trt-
umphant must lose many a valued brave
and that is not the thoroughbred Indians
view of good generalship. Stabber was old
willy and wise. The new chief. whoever he
might be, sceaefd possessed of a mad lust
for Instant battle, coupled with possible
fear that, unless the golden moment were
seized, Ray might be reinforced and could
then defy them all. Indeed, there were
veteran campaigners among the troopers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

in from his cabin, through deep snow and
binding winds, to participate in the holi-
day festivities. When Christmas eve came
the saloon was crowded, and every inch of
the pianks brought in for seats was occu-
pied and many men stood up. 1t was a
memorable scene. There We're men who
for years had lived off in the barren wilds
of British Columbia and had not known a
Christmas celebration of any sort since
their youth. There were men who were
absolutely illiterate, and men who had been
reared in homes of refinement and Chris
tian teaching.
Here and there were young Englishmen
or college-bred men, who had drifted to
Alaska and had lived like savages while
they hunted for golden fortunes among
the gulches and along the creeks. All wore
great beards-some a foot or more long.
Many had hair that hung on the shoulders.
There were men who wore big clumsy gar
ments of shaggy fur and caps of bear skin.
There were some who came in rubber boots
and walrus hide shoes with blankets roped
about their waists, so to brave the hor-
rible weather. The assemblage resembled
pictures in books of companies of arctic
explorers. Many man had tiny icicles
hanging from his hairy face as he came
stamping and blowing into the saloon.
Without 1t was as black as ebony. A gale
that shook the building like an earthquake
blew straight down from the north pole,
and even if we did wear the heaviest,
thickest garments We could find and the
big box stove in the building was constantly
stuffed with pine slabs, We shivered with
the cold.
The Christmas eve exercises began A
young Canadian read the gospel narrative
of Christ's birth, according to Matthew.
Another miner. who had once been q mis-
sionary at Sitka, Alaska. discoursed Grom
out the face opening in his fur cap upon
the meaning of Christ's coming, and many
man said it was the first time he had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

too much-were now closing their eyes on
the last fight of their savage lives.
To Ray and to many of his men 1t was
all an old story. Stabber would never have
counseled or permitted attack on seasoned
troopers, fighting behind even improvised
shelter. Something. perhaps, had occurred
to blind his younger rival to the peril OF
such assault, and now, as three or -FOUR lit
tie parties were seen slowly drifting away
toward the ridge, burdened by some helpless
form. other couriers came laundering down
at Red Fox. and wild excitement prevailed
among the Elk Teeth. More signals were
flashing. More Indians came popping into
view. their feathered bonnets streaming in
the rising wind, and about the prairie wave
where the savage general had established
field headquarters, a furious conference was
with grim but hopeful eyes Ray and his
fellows watched and noted. Every hull IN
the fight was so much gained for them.
Twelve ffty-two." said the dark-eyed
pocket Of his hunting shirt. and sliding
backward into the stream bed. All serene
SO far. Watch things on this front. Field.
while I make the rounds and see how we
came out" ~,
"AlI serene so far, it was! Not man
hurt. Two of the sorrels had been hit by
flying bullets and much amazed and stung
thereat, but neither was. crippled. Bidding
their guards to dig fer water that might
soon be needed, Ray ONCE more made his
Field and Winsor. "a Co
In an almost cloudfess' sky Of steely blue
the sun had just passed the meridian and
was streaming hotly down on the stirring
picture. Northward, the ridge line and the
long, gradual slope seemed alive with
sWarms OF Indian warriors, many OF them
darting about in Wild connection. About
the little eminence where Stabber and the
Fox had again locked horns In violent al
tercation as many as hundred braves had
gathered. About the middle knob, from
whose summit mirror flashes shot from
time to time, was still another concourse.
listening, apparently, to the admonitions of
leader but recently arrived, chieftain
mounted OH an American horse, almost
black, and Ray studied the pair long and
cuflously through his glasses. Lame Wolf,
probably said he, but the distance was too
great to enable him to be certain. What
puzzled him more than anything was the
apparent division OF authority, the unusual
DISPLAY OF discord among the Sioux. These
were all, doubtless, of the Ogallalla tribe,
Hed CLOUDS own people, yet here were they
wIangling like ward "heelers'' and wasting
precious time. Whatever his antecedents,
this newcomer had been a powerful sower
OF strife and sedition, for instead Of follow
ing implicitly the counselS Of one leader,
the Indians were divided now between
three. ;37ss-e--
True to its practice. the prairie wind was
sweeping stronger and stronger with every
moment, as the sunWarmed strata over the
wide, billowing surface sought higher levels,
ana the denser, cooler current from the
west came rushing down. And now all
sounds of the debate were whfskeS away
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

with fierce brandishing of arms and shields
and much curveting and prancing of ex-
cited ponies, the wild battle lines were
formed again. The Sioux were coming for
the second trial.
meet them as before. Make every shot
teil!' Were the orders passed from man to
| man and heard and noted amid the whis-
Ting of the wind and the sounds of scurry
and commotion at the front. Then, silent
and crouching low, the soldiers showed the
brown barrels of their carbines forth again
and waited. And then the grim silence of
the little fortress was broken as, with
startling, sudden force. there went up a
shout from the westward side:
MY God. boys; they're setting fire to the
prairie!"
Ray sprang to his feet and gazed Away
out to the west and southwest, whence
came the strong breeze blowing from the
Sweetwater hills, half a dozen dark, agile
FORMS bending low, were scudding afoot
over the Sward, and everywhere they
moved there sprang up in their tracks little
sheets Of lambert flame, little clouds of
blush, binding smoke, and almost in less
time than 1t takes to tell it low wall of
fire, started in dozen places, reaching far
across the low ground, fencing the valley
from stream bed to the southwark slopes,
crowned by its swift-sailing crest of hot,
sitting fume, came tapping and seething
and sweeping across the level, licking up
the dry buffalo grass like much tow,
mounting higher and fiercer with every sec
ond, and bearing down upon the little grove
and it's almost helpless defenders in fearful
force, in reSfstiess fury-a charge no bullet
could stop, an enemy no human valor
could hope to daunt or down.
Quick, mem" yelled Ray. "Out with
yOu you on the west 'front.' Stay you here,
you others! Watch the Sioux They'll be
on us in an instanti.' And away he sped
from the shelter of the bank, out from the
thick of the cottonwoods, out to the open
prairie, straight toward the coming torrent
Of flame, still, thank God, full 700 yards
away, but leapfng toward them with awful
strides. Out with him rushed Field. and
out from. Clayton's front sped half dozen
old hands. every man fumbling for his
match box: out until they had reached a
line with their captain, already sprawled
upon the turf. and there, full a hundred
yards from the grove, they spread In rude
sk1rmish line, and, reckless of the mad
chorus of yells that came sweeping down
the wind, reckless of the clamor of the
coming charge, reckless of the whistllng
lead that almost instantly began nipping
and biting the turf about them here. there
and everywhere, they. too, had started lit
tie fires. they, too. had run their line Of
flame across the windward front: they, too,
had launched wall Of flame sailing toward
the grove and then back through binding
smoke they ran for their saddle blankets.
just as the sharp sputter of shots burst
forth on the northward side. and the Sioux,
with magnificent dash. came laundering
within range. .s -.
Then followed a thrilling battle for life
two red enemies now enrolled against the
blue. Flight fire with fire." Is the old rule
OF the prairie. Ray had promptly met the
oncoming sweep of the torrent by starting
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

The Swedish and Norwegian miners en-
phatically declared that the luck OF the
Klondike would disappear II Christmas
were allowed to pass unobserved in DaW.
son. One of the young wives in camp went
to see Dan Mccarthy about using his saloon
for our holiday festivity. The saloon keeper
was delighted with the idea, although he
said it would deprive him of his richest
harvest season in selling drinks to the
miners.
'T'Il put blankets In front of my bar SO
as to make things look better for you ALL
and I'll stop all gambling here on Christ
mas day." said hes You ladies can have
full sway here for the day.
For two weeks all Of the eleven women In
Dawson planned by night and worked by
day toward the Christmas preparations. In
temperature that ranged at about 80 below
zero two little women went about soliciting
contributions of gold dust chat was the
sole medium of exchange) for the expenses
of the celebration, and when they got some
seventy ounces of gold (worth 1880 they
ceased. Other women went from cabin to
cabin soliciting what seemed available Tor
decorating the saloon for our celebration
And what a crazy assortment of things
there came forth from miners bags and
trunks and knapsacks fit for decorative
purposes. There were frayed chromos of
j-'the queen, President Cleveland, the pope
and cheap flash prints of ballet girls and
prize fighters. One old fellow had cotton
American flag in his scant belongings. An
other came forward with an illustrated
journal with pictures Of Santa Claus and
his RENDERS, and he generously con-
tributed his prize to the decoration COM
mittee. young Boston man, who had a
home1y knack for drawing, got a lot of
| manila wrapping paper after foraging about
Dawson, and Qaboriously drew appropriate
Christmas scenes for adornment of Nc
Carthys walls on tine festal occasion.
| Can any one ever tell the public interest
in camp while we women decked the Daw-
son saloon the day before Christmas, or of
the enthusiasm which animated many a
Klondiker to trudge ten and twenty miles
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

a smaller blaze that should at least clear
the surface close at hand, and, by eating
off the fuel, stop. possibly, the progress or
the greater flame
But the minor blaze had also to be
stopped lest it come swapping and devour-
ing within the grove. 1t is no easy mat
ter to check a prairie fire against prairie
gale when every human aid is summoned
1t Is desperate work to try to check one
when to the fires of nature are added the
furious blaze of hostile arms. every rife
sighted by savage, vengeful foe. check
1t, lads, ten yards out!' shouted Ray to his
gallant fellows, now lost in the smoke,
while he again rushed across the front TO
meet the charging Sioux. With his brave
young face all CRIME, Field was already at
work, guiding, urging, aiding his little band.
Both hands! Both hands, he cried, as,
welding his folded blanket, he smote the
fringe of fame. Stamp 1t out. Great Godt
Wing, are you hit?'
For answer the sergeant by his side went
plunging down, face foremost, and little
Trooper Denny, rushing to aid his young
officer In the effort to raise the stricken
man, as suddenly loosed his hold. and, to-
gether again, these two sworn comrades
of many a campaign lay side by side, as
they had lain in camp and bivouac all overt the
wide frontier, and poor Denny could only
gasp a loyal word of warning to his off,
Ger. Get back, sir; for Gods sake, get
back" ere the life blood came gushing
from his mouth. Bending low. Field
grabbed the faithful fellow in his strong
arms ana, Gaining 10 the neaTmOSt men 10
look to Wing. bore his helpless burden back
through sitting smoke clouds; laid him on
the turf at the foot of a cottonwood. then
ran again to the perilous work OF fighting
the flame. stumbling midway over another
PROSTATE FORM
Both hands. Both hands, he yelled as
again his blanket whiried in air; and SO,
by dint of desperate work, the inner line
of flame at last was stayed, but every man
of the gailert little squad of fire fighters
had paid the penalty OF his devotion and
felt the sting Of kissing lead-Field the last
of all. Westward now, well nigh an hum
dred yards in width, a broad, black. smok-
ing patch stretched across the pathway Of
the swift-coming wall of smoke and flame,
a safeguard to the beleaguered command
worth all the soldier sacrifice 1t cost. In
grand and furious sweep the scourge OF
the prairie sent its destroying line across
the wide level to the south of the sheltering
grove but in the blood and sweat of heroic
men the threatening flames of the wind
ward side had sputtered out The little
garrison was safe from one, at least. of its
dread and mercess foes, though five of It's
best and bravest lay dead or dying. and
others still sore stricken, In the midst OF
the smoking grove.
Field, old boy" said Ray, with brim-
ming eyes. as he knelt and clasped the
hand of the bleeding lad, while the Sioux
fell back in wrath and dismay from the
IoW-aimed vengeful fire of the fighting
line. This means the medal OF honor for
you. II word Of mine can fetch it,"
Go be continued Monday
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

toward the breaks of the South Shyenne, =
(sic) and it was no longer possible for the
old Sioux campaigners to catch a word Of
the discussion. The leaves of the cotton
woods whiStled in the rising gale, and every
time a pony crossed the stream bed and
clambered the steep banks out to the west,
little clouds Of dun-colored dust came sail
irg toward the grove, scattered and spent,
however, far from the lair of the defense.
But while the discussion seemed endless
among the Indians on the northward side,
never for moment was the vigilance Of
the circle relaxed. South. east and west
the slopes and lowlandS were dot ted with
restless horsemen, and from young Clayton
came the word that through his glass he
could make out three or four warriors far
away toward the Moccasin ridge. That's
good" said Ray. ut means they, too, are
looking for a column coming out from
Frayne. But where on earth did all these
rascals come from? There must be four
hundred now In sight.
Well might he ask and marvel! Stabber's
little village had never more than fifty war
rior's. Lame VOLTS band was counted at
less than two hundred and forty fighting
men, and these so said the agents of the
omniscient bureau, were all the Ogallallas
away from the shelter of the reservation
when the trouble started. No more should
be allowed to go, was the confident prom
ise yet fortnight nearly had elapsed since
the frontier fun began. News of battle
sweeps with marvellous speed through In
dian-haunted lands, and here were warriors
by the score, come to strengthen the hands
of kindred in the field, and more were COM
ing. The mirror signals plainly told them
that. Yet 1t was now well nigh o'clock,
and not another hostile move was made.
Fox then was being held by stronger hands.
1t meant that Lame Wolf had listened to
reason-and Stabber. and would permit no
fresh attack until his numbers should be
SO Increased that resistance would practi
cally be vain. It meant even more-that
the Indian leader in chief command felt
sure no force was yet within helping dis
lance Of the corralled troopers. He could,
therefore, take his time.
But this was theory Ray would not
whisper to his men. He knew Webb. He
knew Webb would soon read the signs from
the north and be coming to his relief, and
Ray was right. Even as he reasoned there
came a message from across the grove.
Lieut.. Clayton said the Indians he had seen
away to the south were racing back.
THANK God!' was the murmured answer
no man heard. "Now. lads, be ready" was
the ringing word that reused the little troop
like bugle call ITO arms" And even as
eager faces lifted over the low parapets to
scan the distant foe, fresh signals came
flashing down from the northward ridge,
fresh bands of warriors came darling to
join the martial throng about the still
wrangling chieftains, and then, all on
sudden, with mighty yelling and shrill COM
motion, that savage council burst asunder,
and, riding at speed, dozen braves went
flashing away to the westward side. while,
sOddly enough that method OF spelling the
rivers name became official.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
= ,' yvRlITENI @r by HeIen1yler Criswold

| however. was man who marked off each
day on a calendar, and that kept our
camp chronology straight Every one In
Dawson, from the meanest pessimist to the
most genial phiIanthropist, felt that some
observance should be made of the day.
Lots of men there had not given heed to
the passing of the holiday season for years.
The greater part of the Klondikers felt
so cut off from all the doings and thought
of the busy world that they paid no at
tention to months or dates But neverthe-
less there inexpressible yearning In
that hard, sullen climate for all of us to be
like people in our old American and Cana
dian homes. The solitude of camp, active
though it was in gold finding, away up
there under a boreal Sky and long black
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
Helping the Poor.

From the Philadelphia Press.
:Well, you must admit" said the misan-
thrope, that old Gotrox never gave any
thing to help the poor
"Nonsenser' retorted Smiley. 81 don't adj
NIT it. 1t was only a few days ago that he
gave his $3,0O0,Oo0 daughter to a foreign
count"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

succession OF the kings e Cyprus and
Jerusalem"
1t Is also the French habit to qualify one
self from former dignities as Pierre Du-
rand, formerly Mayor OF the Town OF
Suarce, or Georges Lafarge, sometime
Judge Of Instruction" and the brother OF
one of my friends has had printed on his
cards: President of the Commission for the
Suppression of Moles In the Territory Of
Belfort.' STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

the occasion. It must have been away be-
low fifty degrees below zero when one and
all pulled our fur caps on and strapped
heavy garments about US late that arctic
night and went trudg4hg home through the
snow to our cabins along the creeks brim-
full Of pleasant memories of our first Christ
mas in the arctic mining camps.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

Grimes-"So you reside on Sutton street?
Why don't you use common, sensible
word and say you live there?"
Bent-"Because I'm in an apartment
house person does not live in fiat.
Boston Transcript.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

sOddly enough that method OF spelling the
rivers name became official.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-17
RAIN INTERFERES.
Mass Meeting of Colored Veterans
, Necessarily Postponed

On account Of the rain and the small at
tendance the mass meeting of colored vet
Grams to have been held last evening at the
Northwest Metropolitan A. NJ E. Church,
on NJ street. was postponed
Representatives Crumpacker and Watson
of Indiana and Capt. Richmond p. Hobson,
Q. s. N. were introduced, and each eX-
pressed regret at the postponement of the
meeting. Chairman III. Lassiter read let
ter from Rear Admiral Schley, dated Wal
lingford, Pa. expressing regret at his in
ability to be present.
During my long service of war, five and
forty years under The flag" the letter read,
Il have never served in a single ship or
squadron where the negro sailor was not
found or where he did not serve loyalty,
faithfully and diligently. In the great ma
val battle of July 3. 1898, off Santiago
there were numbers of negro sailors, who
contributed in no small degree to the sue
cess of that day.
Il think that history will give much
credit and communication to the negro
sailor for his loyal participation in the
great naval battles of our country, and
think this is due to his race"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-17
I. o. o, F. Excursion

The excursion to Marshall Hall to be
given by the |. o. o. F. help committee
tomorrow promises to be a great success
The various committees having the arrange
ments In hand have been encouraged by
the hearty support which has been extend
ed by the various lodges of the order and
the membership generally in this jurisdic-
ton. The fact that the profits derived from
the excursion are TO be used In the aid of a
fund to establish an odd Fellows home i'm
the District has given an unusual interest
in the undertaking.
Ihe entertainment committee has pro-
Vlded an excellent program for the enter
tainment of the excursionists. the list OF
amusements including tub race, between
some prominent members of the order, which
In itself bids fair to be very entertaining.
a three-legged race. swimming races, bs Sc
ball games between picked Mines and dane
ing.
1t is also expected to make family picnic
parties feature. and everything is being
done to encourage the ladies and children
to go early in the day and take their bask
els prepared for a good time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-17
Referred to Solicitor.

The District Commissioners have called
upon the city solicitor for an opinion as to
the power of the Commissioners to order
the removal of manure pit in the alley
adjoining a stable in rear of lot 4, square
4o5, at the expense of its owner The pit
abuts the rear of lot 81 The present owner
of lot protests against the pit and re-
quests the Commissioners to order it's re-
moval.
The owner of lot 4 claims that he was
given a permit from a former inspector of
buildings for the pit, but he cannot now
produce the permit and there is no record
of it in the office of the inspector Of build
iLgs. The protestant claims that the per-
mitw enormously issued, IL issued at all.
because the pit abuts his property and in
terferes with convenient access to his
premises from the alley; but the pit was
in place when the protestant acquired his
property. The pit as 1t stands today COM
plies with existing regulations on the SUBJ
ject
AS stated. the city solicitor has been call
ed upon to unravel the tangle.