The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-02-11
THE BATTLE GROUND FIGHT.
&c. c. Boone in Salmon Reoorder.)

1t was in the early seventies,
A summers day was done.
The golden clouds had vanished
With the sinking sun.
Dark doomed the Rockies
Against clear blue sky,
The warm winds swept the leafy forest
Bearing the wild birds cry.
Later the full moon rose,
Looked down upon the scene,
With a flood Of mystic silver,
Smiled upon the green.
And over the grassy lowland,
Thanked by the mountains tall;
The hour of night had spread
Over us all.
In the heart of this little valley
On the edge Of a roaring wood,
Facing the angry river,
The freighter's wagons stood.
There were seven teams.
Their load consisted of -four.
The boys had all retired,
For it was close to the midnight hour.
And across the shadowy country,
Sending its light afar,
The gleam of the dying embers,
Shone like the morning star.
1t guided band of Indians,
Blood thirsty and bold,
Who lay amorg the willows,
Till the light OF morning told.
Then stealing through the darkness,
Like wolves upon the fold,
They waited until daylight when
They made charge like bandits Of old.
The boys were awakened
BY the srstuering of lead,
And it wasn't but second
Till they were out of bed.
They gathered up their rifles,
| And went into the fray,
And they fed the Indians lead
Till the afternoon of that day.
The Indians ceased their firing
And retreated to the river.
1t gave the boys a chance
To prepare and eat their dinner.
Now was their chance,
While they had time
To unload the flour, and make
Breastworks to get behind.
They had Just commenced their labor,
And sat down TO rest,
When they saw the Indians charging,
Two in "a breast,
With their chieftain
Riding at the head,
It was warlike scene,
When his warriors he led.
They whooped and yelled
To decoy their prey,
But the boys were careful.
And under their wagons lay.
The man who owned the teams,
His name was Joe Shelton,
Who for years had lived upon the plains
And taught the Indians many lesson.
The boys were getting Lervous,
Angry and tired,
And they rose to their knees,
? Took aim and fired.
When the smoke cleared away
From the hillsides around,
There lay several Indians who had departe'
To their happy hunting ground.
The redskins outnumbered the
Freighters twenty to one,
: But up to this time, the boys had left
! No loophole undone.
: The Indians retreated to
The hillside ravine;
usho,, ,rara h0ldinu aonfarpneR
. Which was plainly TO be seen.
, Boys says ] Jesse McCaleb,
D The ammunition is running low,
We have got to send some one,
j.. And who will go Z"
II will" says Horney,
The half breed scout,
:, Who was well acquainted with the country
And knew the route.
Y And stealing from camp,
Under cover of night,
" He rode swiftly to Challis,
i Fifty miles away
e With the news of the fight.
~ With twenty picked men as brave
And bold as ever was seen,
10 Over the long dreary road,
- And hills and valleys of green,
With the old pioneer, Dan Ritchson
S- At their head,
D, Their blood coursed through their
If Veins like molten lead.
g Their anger knew no bounds when told
That Jesse McCaleb was dead.
OIL After six days and nights the Indians had
ne Leaving behind their wounded and dead
oh the tall towering peak,
or He whose bright name it bears,
IS, Now sleeps in SALMON City
Away from life's cares.
Their tears fell like rain
On that terrible day
. When Jesse was killed
And his soul fled away.
He was brave to the last ane
Fell like a flower in full bloom,
But was taken to his Maker
81 Before the day had its noon.