Rock Island Argus., 1909-01-06
RN 1857 I was barely eleven when
shot my first Indian. He was
- chief. knew that from his

learned. Here Is the story:
My parents, with their seven chill
dren, had moved from Iowa to Kan
sas three years earlier Ny father
had taken up a claim in Salt Creek
valley and bIilt comfortable home.
But lie was rotto enjoy the good days
that seemed to be dawning for Us.
Kansas just then was tom By the
slavery feud, and in the bitter strife of
the time my father, after making an
antislavery speech at q nearby post
traders store. was mobbed and his
life. threatened. On this occasion ono
Of my fathers irate audience-a man.
Charles Dunno by name-stabbed my
loved parent IN the side. At the time
Of the attack I stood unarmed over
my wounded fathers body and tried
with childish strength to fight OF his
assailant; but, though he escaped with
life in him from the place WHERE he
was assaulted, he subsequently sue
culnbed to his injuries. ard in the fol
lowing spring he died. This calamity
deprived my mother and our family
OF worthy and estceaaG head CT the
household, his death being an incident
IN the horrid interreciae strife that
eventuated in the tragedies CT the civil
war 1 was then ten years old.
/ could ride any horse alive. ] had a
knack Of shooting straight, and knew
something about herding cattle.
thought these qualities might earn me
aliving. They did.
A firm Of overland freighters-Rus-
sell, Majors & Waddell-were at Leav-
enworth. One of them. Mr.. Majors.
had been a friend Of my father l
asked him for job as extra" on one
of his wagon trains. The pay was $40
a month-a fortune it seemed to me
then. The work was the sort usually
intrusted to grown man. ard it
meant not only perpetual hustlng. but
lot of danger as well. for the plains
in those days were anything but free
frcm Indians This latter thought
frightened even my brave mother.
Boylike. was delighted at the idea.
Mr.. Majors said he would take me
on as extra for one trip. If l did
well could have q regular job. l re-
solved to do miracles as an extra.
The "train' was made up of twenty
five loaded wagons. each carrying
1000 pounds, each drawn by six yoke
OF oxen and guided by a "bullwhack-
err" driver with long, loud cracking
whip. Then there was buIich of
loose cattle. On this occasion the
train was made up of only three
wagons, and we were driving q large
herd of beef cattle to Fort Kearny for
the use of Colonel Albert Sydney John
ston and his command. who were on
their way to Salt Lake to fight the
Mormons. was only one of several
extras. Though we always set guard
no Indians had appeared.
One noon, however. when we stopped
for dinner and were loafnS about CT
the grass waiting for the pot to boi
we heard a scathing vollcy of shots
from q copse. Some bullets and 6
dozen or more arrows whistled into
camp Everybody had jumped uD n
the first shot. But three of our mei
tumbled over at once. as II they hat
been tripped up. Then q number o1
things happened almost too quickly t.
describe.
Two bands of Indians were gallop
ing toward US. One band stampedet
and ran off our cattle, while the othel
rushed" us. Our men gave them ,
warm welcome and sent them back OF
the run But the fight was not over
The braves" only cantered cut o
range. There thcy were joined by 9th
ers. They ortnumbered us eight o.
ten to one. We could not hope t
stand against such a multitude W,
bolted for the South Platte river will
the savages at our heels and fount
shelter behind the steep banks. From
there we opened fire again and drov,
the following redskins. once more ou
OF range.
Frank Mccarthy. our boss. said ou
one CHARGE was to follow the platt
river to Fort Kearny. keeping out o
sight under its banks So the thirty
five mile march began through knc
deep water and quicksand. Half n da.
we kept 1t up. / was dead tired. but 1
was no time for rest or complaining
Just the same, by nfshtfall my shor
legs wouldn't keep up with the process
sion. dropped back. little by little
still, plodding on as fast as my aching
feet could move. We Thought we lat
given the Indians the slip. but still
Iugged my short, heavy rifle. 1t wa:
asmuzzie leading l..Afississippi Jaeger
and carried "a sfig and two bucksho
TO. each charge.
The moyn hid risen. and l was try
Inv to. .catt,t, nm with tho rnct Suddnp