The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-10-24
THE DEVILS POCKET.

1t was somewhere in the neigh
borhood of thirty years that 1 met
with one of the most thrilling adven-
lures OF my life, !" began Major Raw
ling, as he lit his cigar and settled
down IN a comfortable arm chair be-
fore the open CRATE fire.
II was at this time in command of
scouting party of a dozen men which
had been sent out from one of the
government posts on a reconnoitering
expedition.
I'VE had ridden for hours without
meeting with any signs of our foes,
and l was congratulating myself on
not having any fighting to do for that
day at least, when just as dusk was
coming on, I saw, plainly outlined
against the horizon, the figure of
solitary Indian on horseback, appar-
emily watching us.
ISlAs-44.st~.-k-i.@---->k
had been discovered he whirled like
flash and disappeared from view over
the brow of the knoll.
AT that moment a perfect storm
of yells broke out in the direction of
the knoll, and the clatter of horses
hoofs could be heard rapidly ap-
preaching. There was no time for
parley or delay.
Right wheel 7 I shouted, and
make for the DEVILS pocket Ride
for your lives +
1--WE spurred swiftly across the
prairie in the direction of the spot
where we expected to find refuge.
The Indians came on yelling and fir
ing; but fast riding and excitement,
disconnected the aim of the savage
foes, and we reached our objective
point without losing man.
"The DEVILS pocket proved to be
deep cleft or canon in the side of a
high bluff. The place was natural
fortress, and ten skilled marksmen
could hold I 900 redskins.
Thrice they charged up to the
mouth of the canon, thrice we drove
them back.
Instead of charging us again they
tried a new tack. Retiring out of
range they encamped directly in front
of our retreat, apparently with the
intention of starving us out. Here
they remained all that night and the
next day, and the succeeding morn
ing still found them there.
1--WE had eaten the last of Our scan
ty provisions, there was no water in
the canon and the men were suffering
greatly from thirst and hunger.
"The situation was fast growing
desperate, and I was about to order
my men to mount and force their way
through or die bravely fighting for
their liberty, when suddenly, away
off to the right, a cloud of dust came
rolling up over the horizon. I asked
Our scout what it meant.
'Buh1ers-that's what it means =
chuckled the old scout. An it's
mighty lucky that we're in here out
O thar way. Just wait till they git
a leetle closer un' see the Injins ske-
daddle 7
"Think they'll be apt to run for
few buffaloes?'
Few, hey? shorted Hardy.
Thar air thousands ccmin' along
with that cloud of dust, an they're
erbout the only animal an Ingin' II run
away from.
"On they came nearer and nearer,
headed straight across the plain in
front of the bluff. The Indians, in
tent on watching us, saw their dan
ger when it was too late. There was
no time for retreat. They must either
meet that living avalanche and scat
ter it or go down before it.
"A few ran for their ponies and
quickly mounted, while the remainder
awaited the inevitable collision on
foot. They filled the air with their
piercing ye1ls and fred wildly at the
swiftly approaching mass, but all to
no avail. Majestic and terrible, that
awful sea came rolling on.
"The mighty herd passed on, but
in its pathway no living thing was
left to tell the tale of that brief but
deadly struggle. Our savage foes
would trouble us no more p