Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-09-29

when they were known to be abroad
committing d~epredations. These
houses were large enough to accom-
modate a number of families, very
strongly built of logs, and surrounded
by a yard in which cattle could be
kept, and this in turn fenced in by a
very high, strong fence of logs, con-
tanning loopholes. through which to
reconnoiter and fire upon foes when
they appeared; the block house also
had ~loopholes, and the upper story
projected over the lower one, so that
should the Indians succeed in getting
inside the fence or stockade, as it wa
called, they could be held in check,
and perhaps finally driven off from
the house itself.
For some years William Woodleigh
had titled his little farm unmolested
by the Indians, but as news of their
bloody deeds became more and more
frequent, and each day brought ru-
mors of their nearer approach, he be-
came troubled, and each night barri-
SouCu dOOI anu WIuuOW Will tuc
thick blocks each settler kept for the
purpose, leaving only the loopholes
through which to fire upon them
should they make a sudden descent
upon his home. In the meantime he
made preparations for the speedy re-
moval of his family to the block house
should definite news of their approach
be heard.
"His household consisted of his wife,
five children, the eldest, my grand
mother, then u years old, James
Smith, a young man who worked for
him, and himself.
"'Well, Mary said Mr.. Woodleigh
to his wife me twilight in June, are
you ready to start for garrison to-mor-
row? James and l have finished plant
ing, and I think perhaps it might be
best to be on the safe side. Not that
I apprehend any immediate danger
he added quickly, as he noted his
wife's anxious face as she glanced
quickly toward the children, who were
playing about the floor, but in these
times it is better to be too soon than
too late in seeking safety, and red
skins are such 'pesky sly varmints,'
as old Joe Wier says
Before his wife could reply, they
saw James Smith running rapidly to-
wards the house, evidently much ex-
cited.
whats the matter, James?' said
Mr.. Woodleigh, as the man drew neal
Indians said Smith, breathlessly.
"Mrs. Woodleigh hurried her chill
dren into the house, the door and win
dow were quickly barricaded, and
while Mr.. Woodleigh was filing his
powder horn, Smith examined the
flints and at the same time related
his somewhat startling experience.
"He had gone some distance from
the house in search Of a COW which
had strayed, and in crossing a wet
piece of ground, his quick eye had de-
tected a trail where Indians had
passed, how many he could not tell, as
they went single file, each stepping in
the track of the one ahead. But said
Smith, earnestly, they must be very
near for the water had not settled in
their tracks,
"There could be no question of at
tempting to reach the garrison that
night with the willy foe so near, and
perhaps at that very moment, watch
ing the house from the cover of the
surrounding forests.
ut was a lovely night, the moon was
near her full and the landscape was
flooded with light; every object was
distinctly visible in the little clearing,
each tree and shrub cast a deep shad-
ow on the ground, and often some
member of the little garrison would
imagine he detected a crouching foe;
a profound silence reigned, which was
almost oppressive to our anxious
watchers.
ut was past midnight, and they were
congratulating themselves on their es-
cape, when the melancholy boot of an
owl attracted the attention of Mr..
Woodleigh. Keep watch he whis-
pered to his wife and Smith, I am
afraid that is a signal. The Indians
often use the notes Of birds and the
cries of beasts to call each other
I'm a short time the hoot was re-
peated, but this time from the opposite
side Of the clearing.
ST think l ar see a dog or some
animal near the edga OF the woods
whispered Mrs. WoodlaigE.-
"Her husband Immediately came to
her side, and, after a few seconds
scrutiny, he whispered, Indians
"They are coming on this, side
whispered Smith, who was Watching
through a chink on the opposite side
Of the house.
"'Don't fire until they make some
demonstration said W oodleigb, they
may think there is no one here and
pass on if we don't modest them
'Just then a stealthy step was heard
at the door and a creaking noise as
though a heavy weight pressed
against it; but the heavily b%arricaded
door was made for just such emergen-
cies, and would not yield.
"Soon a line of dark forms were seen
approaching the door, bearing some
thing in their midst.
"'We shall have to fire now said
Smith, they have got a log which
they are going to use to batter in the
door,
Eyes said Woodleigh quickly, you
fire at those on the right and I will
take those on the left. Mary will re-
load the extra guns while we fire the
others, and SO deceive them in regard
to our numbers; they are cowardly
ours and will not attack except they
think q house is weakly guarded he