The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-06

fellow, and he and the station agent took
command. They put all the children and
most of the women-for some of the latter
fought side by side with the men-into the
ash pits, SO that bullets coming thru the
walls and doors passed over their heads.
Mrs. Lyon held her place with the fight
ers, while, at her command, Katie and the
twins crouched in one of the pits. There
were two engines in the house, one with
steam up.
"a little after noon the redskins naassed
against the big doors, making q mad at
tempt to crush their way in. It was then
that Laner did remarkable thing. He
suddenly jumped into the cab Of the So,
the engine with steam on, and yelled to
the men to open the doors before her. AS
the doors swung back he jerked the throt-
tie wide open and leaped off. The engine
swept the savages out of the doorway,
plowed thru the mass of bucks before the
building, shot across the turn table and
main track and rolled over on her side, 200
feet away. Twenty odd Indians were killed
or MANNED by this master stroke. The
rest scattered in all directions, but pres
emily returned, fearful, tho furious How
| ever, they kept at a safe distance from
the front OF the building after that.
1.-THE men began to hope then that the
bloodthirsty wretches might be beaten off
for a. time, at least during daylight. But
when night should come, what then? The
building would certainly be burned by the
Indians, and the lives of all the whites be
lost in massacre! IF there were only some
means of getting word to the fort, or to
Pope and his men. Katie heard this, and
five minutes later disappeared.
Presently a boy In the ashpit cried that
some one was halloing thru the drain pipe
man went down and listened, then called
| Mrs. Lyon. 'Katie's in there he said
breathlessly. Mrs. Lyon sprang down in
the pit, and with white face knelt at the
end Of the drain. I'm going to the fort,
came a shrill but far-away voice. Tn
going to wade down the creek to the
house. I'll hide along under the bank
I'm going to take White Bess and see il
I can't get some help.
Mrs. Lyon screamed for Katie to come
back, but the voice that came thru the
drain only said: 'Good-by ma; don't wor
on the plains that can catch White Bess
Tell Mr.. Laner I'll bring the soldiers
Good-by, ma Mrs. Lyon wrung her hand
and imp1ored, but no answer came back
Katie had slipped into the creek from thu
mouth of the drain and had started on he
dangerous mission.
For 300 feet or more she crept on he1
| hands and knees close along under the
bank; then, getting somewhat out Of
the range Of view, hurried in crouching
posture on down the creek to their little
home. STOPPING low and keeping be
hind a fence she reached the stable
Slipping bride on the white mare ant
/ strapping a folded blanket on the ami
malls back she turned her into the pas
/ ture. The animal went at once to tn,
creek to drink, and Katie again crep
along the fence and escaped from sigh
under the bank. A moment later she wa
q leading White Bess down the bed of tn
oh, ctr
When the village lay half a mile or NOR
behind her she led the mare through
: clump Of cottonwoods on to dry groun
and mounted. Katie leaned forward, an
patted the horses arched neck. We mus
bring the soldiers, Bessie she said i'm
\ give up If they chase us. Mommy an
=, little Dan and Jimmy may never see tn
, light Of morning If we fall
j ITO Katie the strong light and broa