Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-09-04
Then there was a

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quiet, and mind, let no one fire until
give the signal"
Over and over again the clinking noise
was repeated. Cautious as the Indians
We're, it was impossible even for them to
get over that strange and difficult OBJ
stacle without touching the wires with
their arms. Occasionally Mr.. Hardy and
the boys fancied that they could see dark
objects stealing toward the house
through the gloom; otherwise all was
! STILL
Boys Mr.. Hardy said, Il have
changed my mind. There will be num-
| bers at the doors and windows, whom we
cannot get at from here. Steal quietly
downstairs, and take your position each
at window. Then, when the signal is
given, fire both your revolvers. Don't
throw away shot. Darken all the rooms
except the kitchen. You will see better
to take aim through the loopholes; it will
be quite light outside. When you have
emptied your revolvers, come straight up
here, leaving them for the girls to load
as you pass"
| Without a word the boys slipped away.
Mr.. Hardy then placed on round shelf
nailed to the flagstaff, at about eight feet
from the ground, blue light, fitted into
socket on the shelf. The shelf was
made just SO large that it threw shad
| ow over the top of the tower, so that
those standing there were in comparative
darkness, while everything around was
in bright light. There, with match in
his hand TO light the blue light, he await
ed the signal
1t was a long time coming-so long that
the pause grew painful, and everyone in
the house longed for the bursting of the
coming storm. At last it came. A wild,
long, savage yell from hundreds of
throats rose on the still night air, and,
confident as they were in their position,
there was not one of the garrison but
felt his blood grow cold at the appalling
ferocity of the cry. Simultaneously there
was tremendous rush at the doors and
windows, which tried the strength of
frame and bar Then, as they stood firm,
came rain of blows with hatchet and
tomahawk.
Then came a momentary pause of as
tonishment. The weapons, instead of
spntering the wood, merely made deep
dents, or glided off harmlessly. Then the
blows redoubled, and then a bright light
suddenly lit up the whole scene. AS it
did so, from every loophole stream of
fire poured out, repeated again and again.
The guns, heavily loaded with buckshot.
told with terrible effect upon the crowded
mass of Indians around the windows,
and the discharge of the four barrels
from each of the three windows of the
room at the back of the house. by Fitz-
gerald, Lopez and Terence, for awhile
cleared the assailants from that quarter.
After the first yell of astonishment and
rage, perfect quiet succeeded to the din
which had ragged there, broken only by
the ring of the ramrods, as the three men
and their assistants hastily reloaded their
guns, and then hurried to the front of
the house, where their presence was ur-
gently required.
There was a lull so profound after the
discharge of the last barrels of the boys
revolvers as to be almost startling. Run
ming upstairs, they fitted fresh chambers
to their weapons, left the empty ones
with their sisters and Joined their father.
That's right, boys; the attack is beat
EN- off for the present. Now take your
carbines. There is q band of Indians
down by the animals. l heard their war
whoops when the others began, but the
light hardly reaches so far. Now look
out, am going to send up a rocket over
them. The cows are the most important:
so, Charley, you direct all your shots at
any party there. Hubert, divide yours
among the rest
r1nnn nnt h.. 1nt-
into the air, and as the bright light burst
out group Of Indians could be seen at
the gateway of each of the enclosures
AS the brilliant light broke over them
they scattered with a cry of astonish-
ment. Before the light faded the twelve
barrels had been fired among them.
AS the rocket burst Mr. Hardy had
gazed eagerly over the country, and fan
cied that he could see a dark mass at n
distance of half mile. This he guessed
to be the Indians horses.
BY this time the blue light was burning
low, and Mr.. Hardy, stretching his hand
up, lit up another at its blaze, and plant
ed the fresh one down upon it. As he
did so whizzing of numerous arrows
showed that they were watched. One
went through his coat, fortunately with
out touching him; another went right
through his arm, and third laid Char
ley's cheek open from the lip to the ear.
Keep your heads below the wall,
boys" their father shouted. Are you
hurt, Charley?"
Not seriously, papa, but it hurts aw-
fully and Charley stamped with rage
and pain.
What has become Of the Indians
around the houseY'' Hubert asked. "They
are making no fresh attack"
NO" Mr.. Hardy said; they have had
enough of it. They are only wondering
how they are to get away. You see the
fence is eNnoseh nll rnnnd 70 omr fra O..