The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-10

[ now Nebraska.
: We were travelling along and all a
, once. we saw man coming or
horseback as fast as his horse could
possibly carry him. The horse was
white with foam.
He was so excited he could hard
ly speak. He finally said the In
dams had stampeded a train one mile
ahead of us. They upset the wagons
and crippled several women and chill
Gren.
My grandfather told him not to
fear for there were not Pawnees
stampede our train.
The captain gave orders to form a
corral at once. This was done by
forming a circle Of all the wagons.
The women and children were all
placed inside the corral.
No sooner was this done, when
we looked up the read and saw the
painted warriors coming about 300
strong. They were waving their
blankets and buffalo robes and yell
ing. like coyotes.
My grandfather gave strict orders
to the men to be ready, but under
no circumstances to fire until he
gave the command.
| He warned the women and children
to keep quiet.
A Brave Reception.
| On the red devils came, all painted
and ready for war. They were
armed with bows and arrows. When
they got within about 20 steps of
US our captain stepped out in front Of
them and beckoned with his hand for
the Indians to move on. They were
| evidently puzzled by the bold ap-
pearance of our men, all armed to
the teeth, standing in line like a
, stone wall, eager for the fray.
The Immediately Obeyed the COM
mand Of the captain so we moved
| on about mile and came to the
| train that had been stampeded.
We rendered some assistance by
forming their wagons into shape.
We Travelled on up the Little Blue
| and cholera, the fatal disease, at
| first victim. He only lived a few
hours. We laid him to rest where
! the old emigrant road leaves the Lit
| tie Blue.
The next day we arrived at Fort
kearney. The banks of the Platte
| river were white with tents and the
| cholera was raging at a fearful rate
and the people dying on every hand.
One Of our companions died that
| night, young man named Shockly
We buried him next morning and
journey on.
Dread Cholera Ravages.
For many miles up the Platt river
Ablebodied men, women, and chill
| dren died by the score We lost 80
per cent of our train. We had a
good doctor and it is safe to say
| that many people now living owe their
existence to him.
Many trains lost so per cent of
| their people and others were almost
| annihilated. The road was lined with
dead cattle and horses.
By the loss of their teams people
were compelled to tighten their loads.
You could see new wagons, carpen-
ter and blacksmith tools, featherbeds,
pillows, wearing apparel, valuable Ii
braries, OK yokes, log chains and
many other things of value, cast away.
After getting out of the cholera belt
we moved up creek about 10 miles
setting our wagon tires and shoeing
our sore footed oxen.
| Here was the home of the buffalos
You could see them in every direction
and 1 can truthfully say that l saw
10000 at one time. 1t afforded great
sport for our men to kill them. Be-
sides it supplied us with abundance
of fresh meat. We also dried a large
quantity to take with us. We
passed Fort Laramie, independence
Rock and the Black Hills without
hindrance.
Game was very plentiful, sucn as
antelopes, mountain sheep ard
smaller game.
| Go Different Ways.
| We arrived at the forks # the
road leading to California and about
one-quarter of our train bid US a1ieu,
among them our faithful and beloved
doctor. At Green river the men had
to raise our wagon boxes to keep
the water from coming in. 1 will
mention a circumstance that took
place near Salt Lake. A Mormon
trader had post established on the
road and our people bought many ar
ticles of him. He was anxious to
exchange silver for gold AS a mat
ter of accommodation our people let
him have $50 in gold.
The next day they discover..:i tie
silver they got was counterfeit. 'r!iey
talked the matter over and decide d
to send four of our young men back
to get the gold. They saddici up
our best horses and took two days
rations. some blankets and the spuri-
Gus coin and departed In two days
they overlook us. never knew what