The Holt County sentinel., 1918-07-26

company of two wagons, each having
three yoke of cattle. In my wagon
there were four of us-myself, brother
John. J. J. Fox and Uncle Noah Kun
ke!. The other wagon had Uncle John
kunkei, Uncle Levi kunkel, Uncle
Gabriel kunkel, Ben Cup and Sol
kunkcl. We started on the fifth DAY
Of May, in 1888, and on our seventh
dag out of here We all got taste of
now il would probably go on our way.
We each had tents and We would keep
two men on guard with our cattle ev-
cry night. The second night out We
had big hail storm, while Ben Cuip
and were on guard. One Of the hail
stones hit Cup on the head and knock
ed him down, making a hole through
his hat. Our cattle got away from
Us and it took two days to get them
all together so we could go on.
Everything went well till we got to
the Black Hills, where We stopped to
prospect We prospected two days
and found good pay-dirt; then the In
dians came down on US about two hun
drcd strong and told US TO go. Their
rifles were pointed at us and we obeycd
orders. II we had not | do not think
! would be writing this now.
At one time We had an experience
which | consider was narrow escape.
We had Travelled some with the Shcp-
herd train, and they wanted US to stay
with them because they feared I'll.
Mormons. However, We didn't want
to travel 80 slowly and needed to hurry
on to find grass for our oxen. So We
We went on, and the next night, after
we campcd in Goose Creek canyon, the
shepherd train was murdered there.
The men that did the numbering Sup
posed all the fifty or more people were
dead, but Shepherd and his wife re.
vlycd and were picked up by the next
train that came along. Later ON
saw Nj Shepherd in California, al the
Cedar ilayinc hotel. in old lIangtown.
ar Plac"rvillc. a IL l. now called. lie
told ~, tina, the men who did the kill
ing wcr" white men disguised as Ind
iaus, and cursed and talked English
iucntiy. They were the Mormons wno
tried To compel the men of this train
to pay them five dollars for each
wagon fording one Of their streams.
Our party did not know Of the terrible
massacre until later on.
Everything went all o. X. until We
got 10 the forty-milc desert, where our
oxen, all but one. gave out and died.
This big yellow OK. which had bought
VI Tom Co,ticr, always carried the
yoke on his horns. When We started
from the half way place on the forty.
mile desert he pulled the wagon acroys
to what Is called Ragtown. or Carson
River. Here he got plenty Of grass.
and | sold him to a sawmill man for
$50. In the middle OF the desert We
Lad 10 pay one dollar for each Of the
INcn water. ! don't remember how
many were alive yet. but We sold wha,
we're left for six dollars each. as they
were too weak to take through.
When We got to Ragtown my broth
or John was taken sick with mountain
fever, and We all laid over IA few days,
then We scattered and started crossing
the Sierra mountains into California
| wanted 10 sec "a Chinaman. NO walkcd
up TO one Of the shacks. As the door
was closed. | gave shove with III,
end Of my gun. The door flew oper
and the Cinnamon came toward me
with their long butcher knives. saying
"cho.chila-chola." ! backed of with m,
gun pointed at them and the boys had
n good laugh ut my expense.
After a days rest. We started up
Gold Canyon. Eight miles up the can.
Won We came To Gold HILL where there