Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-05-06
4 Night of Terror.
IpIToR INDEPENDENT:

EDITOR INDEPENDENT:
Most of the old mining camps OF Cali
tornia are now silent and more desolate
by far than before the pick and shovel
Of the active miner had disturbed the
virgin soil and the golden dream Of the
pioneer has vanished with the passing
years never to return. But this by way,
and now to my little story, ~ Night OF
Terror" Early in the spring OF 49,
just as tie miners were quitting work
for the day n messenger came into camp
and reported that a phcaer had been
s%hOckmgly murdered IA short distance
down tine river and his nine mules with
their cargo Of mining supplies driven
off over the mountain by a band Of Dig
ger Indians. \ hurried consultation
was held and arrangements made to take
up the trail us 500 as possible i'll the
morning, follow up the Indians. re.
cover the mules and punish the depre.
datOrs.
So according to arrangements the
miners struck ont as soon rs there was
sufficient daylight to see the trail and
watched them rs they disappeared
around the mountain side. | wanted to
go with them, but they decided that !
was tOoy oung-being but a little boy
to keep pace with men on such IN eX-
petition and so / WAS left behind to look
after the cabins with the assurance that
some il not all Of tho men would return
III time to SEQ me through the night. |
had my misgivinGs rs to their promise
and felt uneasy, but put i'll the time
about the bar specializing as to what
should do in case they did not return
that evening. The day seemed long and
| felt lonesome. There was no ring OF
pick and shovel To be heard, but birds
and beast seemed, for L while, to com.
biDc to give me some amusement.
a crested jay iluttcrcd and %squawked
i'll Il near by tree, and "a saucy gray
squirrel chartered and parked as he MIN
bly, skipped.trom limb To- limb. Three
timid deer came out OF tho brush and
capered and played on the sands by the
rivers brink, slipped Of the water and
then bounded away. \ great black
eagle swoopcd down from the noun.
tain crags, wheeled round and round
then scared away and shrlekcd as
thought | never heard mn eagle Shrek
before. \ grizzly bear came numbering
along the mountain side. stopped Tor
a moment, sat on his launches and will
tongue q lui looked inluiringly at the
silent camp then leisurcly wet iia way
And so the day zorro on until the
shadow began to creep and reach into
tnc dusk ms tho night comes on. Still
| was alone and no sign OF returning
miners could be heard. | had prepared
for the worst and jus; MS darkness irH
went into one Of the cabins, carefully
banked the lire, put up my harricade t.
the door and took up my watch for thu
night. | had for defense n double barre
shot gun, Il navy revolver and Ind alst
placed within easy reach Il good sizct
hand axe. And thus equipped. | silent
paced back and forth from crd Ia enc
Of the cabin, alert and wAtchfuI to dc
tcct my unusual eonnd. The wine
whispered and played through pin,
nccdlcR, Il coyote burscd and whIn
pcrcd near by; M owl dolciully houtcc
from his perch in some old tree md th,
startling scream Of II panther cam,
dom from the mountaina' side
And so the hours wore on and on
while e~ilcntly and in darkness, | pacct
back mud forth quietly as u ghost il pait
TO walk the night. IInrk! | hear loot
steps sicnlinR up "a the cabin. Now
hear hands feeling for the door. Zee