Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-06-25

that he had got out Of the enemy's
country.
But in this he was mistaken, as he
soon found out. AS the tree-top swung
around a little curve in the stream he
saw quite a little village of w1gwams
ahead, on the side of a hill sloplng
down to the river. A careful scrutiny
of the camp convinced him that II De-
longed to one Of the nonresident
tribes. and he concluded that it was
well his trip had not been put Off until
morning, provided it proved to be
successful one, of course-for II this
were another tribe, the union Jim
Grow had spoken of would no doubt
be made at once, and the war on the
whites be Immediately begun.
Hewas so intently engaged in watch
ing the camp as he drifted past 1t, that
he did not notice the approach OF
canoe containing two Indians until 1t
brushed the branches of the tree-top,
as it passed by. He would not nave
known, then, what Jared his craft,
had not one of the Indians said somes
thing, as he put out his paddle and
gave the tree-top a push The sound
of the voice made his heart beat hard
and fast, but he held his breath and
did not dare to move as much as
finger for a long time after that. When
he ventured to look around the camp
was out of sight.
That was the last he saw of any In
dams. But he did not dare to leave
the tree-top yet awhile. for. from all
he knew to the contrary, there might
be others ahead.
About noon he came in sight of the
first farm. Here was the place for
his work of warning TO begin. He man.
aged to paddle his craft near shore,
and pretty soon he stood on land again.
He lost no time in telling the settler
his story. An hour later the man and
his family, with John as passenger,
drove toward st. Mary's. They
warned all the settlers along the road.
and the frightened men lost no time
in seeking for safer quarters.
st. Mary's was reached about
o'clock. In a short time active prep
arations were going forward for the
protection of the town. The women
and children were put in the places Of
greatest safety, and men were detail
ed to watch for the enemy's approach
from all quarters.
The Indians did not attack the place
that night. But ON the following
night they came, expecting, no doubt,
to find it an easy prey to their MUIR
derous methods of warfare. But in
this way they were mistaken. The citi-
zens of the little town opened fire upon
them so briskly that they were taken
| by surprise, and they made a rapid
retreat, leaving several Of their num-
Der behind them, dead and wounded.
John found himself a hero; but he
bore his honors modestly, as the real
hero always does. Il only did what
anyone else would have done in my
place." he said.
The day after the attack of the In
dams, Mr.. Sanford and his family and
other settlers arrived Hugh had over
taken his father when near the. end of
| lhC I'LL ~ uilSo JOuIuty. MIS- Odu-
ford was so frightened at the thought
| of the danger John had braved, that
she would not listen to the proposal
Of her husband that she should stay
with her friends and let him go to St
Mary's to find out whether the boy
had succeeded in his daring undertake
ing, so they all came together, and the
family reunion was complete.
presume the world has never heard
Of this frontier hero of mine before
But am glad to tell his story, and to
assure you that in telling it, 1 have
not been obliged to draw on magma
ton. John Sanford still lives on the
old farm in Minnesota, and there
met him last summer, and found out
all about his boyhood bravery. But
found it out from others-not from
him.-Montreal Family Herald.