Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-02

would lie up indefinitely for
repairs and that at least one. perhaps
several days would clapSe before she
resumed her journey up stream. Our
plans were changed again for u young
army officer came down from that post
with the information that Colonel
Mcriwcther had been ordered out to
the posts up the Platte river had been
gone for three weeks and no one could
tell what time he would return. The
/ Indians were reported very bad along
the Platte Possibly Colonel Mer.
i wether might be back at icavenworth
! within the week, possibly not for
month or more, This was desperate
news for ME, for knew that | ought
to he StNrtiug homo nj that very time.
| wrote home once more stating that
was not starting east, but going still
farther west.
/ Auhcrry. as ii CHANGED. fell TN with
party bound for Denver, five men
/ who had two wagons, heavy Conesto
gu freight wagon or prairie schooner,
and lighter vehicle without n cover.
We arranged with these men and their
cook as to our share In the mess box
and so threw In our dunnagc with
theirs, Auberry and purchasing Ms a
good horse apiece. Ry noon OF tho
! next day we were ON our way west.
ward
At last we approached the valley OF
the Platte. We were coming now In
deed into the great plains, of which
had heard all my youth A new at
mosphere seemed to invest the world.
The talk of my companions was OF
things new and wild and strange to
me. An my old life seemed to be slip
ping back OF me. into far oblivion.
Many things became more clear to me
as rode and reflected In some way,
] know not how. II seemed to me that
was growing older
We had been out more than two
weeks when finally we reached the
great valley along which lay the west
ern highway OF the old Oregon trail.
now worn deep ana dusty by countless
wheels We pushed up the main trail
of the Platte but n short distance that
night
We looked forward to meeting hu-
man faces with some pleasure. But
an hour or so later as we rode on
saw Auberry pun up his horse, with a
strange tightening Of his lips Boys"
said he. there's where II was" His
pointing finger showed nothing more
than low line of ruins. bits OF bro
ken fencing. heap of half charred
timbers
They've been here" said Auberry
grimly. Who'd have thought the
Sioux would be this far east7'
We rode up to the station. guessing
what we would see Five dead horses
lay near by, n part OF the stage stock
kept there. We kept our eyes ms long
as we could from what we knew must
next be seen-the bodies OF the agent
and his two stabemen. mutilated and
half consumed. under the burned out
/ timbers. ] saw the bodies for the
! lower limbs of MI three had been
dismembered and cast In heap
near where the bodies OF the horses
lay
The third day passed until the sun
sank toward the sand dunes and cast
n long path OF light across the ripping
shadows among the sand bars OF the
| Platte. But still we saw no signs of
newcomers. Evening wns approach
ing when we heard the sound OF a dis.
tant shot aud saw our horse guard
running toward the camp. AZ he mp
/ preached he pointed. and we saw
faint cloud OF dust coming toward Ms
I The travellers were horsemen, perhaps
thirty or forty In all. Following them
! came the dust whitened top Of an ar
my ambulance and several camp wag
ons. We hesitated no longer and
! quickly mounting our horses rode full
speed toward them.
! They were seasoned lot OF liar
neys frontier fighters. grimcd and
I grizzled. their hats. boots and clothing
! gray with dust. but their weapons
! bright Their leader approached me
when | rode up
"I.ieutenant Belknapw | exclaimed
''Do you remember meeting me down
at JeffersonT'
! "Why, Mr.. COwles. how on earth did
you get heref Ut course reineln
/ Der you"
"Yes. but how did you get here your
self You were not on my boat"
"Orders to take this detachment out
TO Laramie" he said. land meet Colo.
/ mel Meriwether there"
He'll not be- back? ] was hoping
TO meet him coming east"
No" said Belknap; "you'l have to
| go on with us II you wish 10 see bin
| I'm afraid the Sioux are bad on he
yond" He turned toward the am
| bulance. and glanced that way
There stood near Il q tall angular np.