Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
A Field of Massacre.
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To my mind, seated on that island
n the morass, map spread before me,
a hundred miles Of travel had not ap-
peared~a very serious matter, but l
was destined to learn my mistake
The close, proximity Of the men seek
ing to overtake uS-aS evidenced by
that rifle ShOt-awoke within us a
sense of imminent danger and drove
rs forward through the fast gathering
darkness at a perilous pace, especially
as our mounts were not Of the best.
We rested for an hour at midnight,
on the banks Of q small stream. The
sky had lightened somewhat, and we
could perceive the way fairly well
when we again advanced, now travel
ing through a more open country, a
prairie interspersed with groves Of
trees. Daylight overlook us at the
edge of d slough, which bordered lit
tie lake, where in the gray dawn, Tim,
by lucky shot, managed to kill Grip
pied duck, which later furnished us
with a meager breakfast. In the Sc
curity Of nearby cluster Of trees, we
ventured 10 build a fire, and, sitting
about it, discussed whether to remain
there or press on. 1t was decided to
remain where we were and rest.
I need not dwell on the details OK
our flight. They remain in my memory
In all clearness, each scene distinct,
each incident picture engraved on
the mind. My map proved utterly USE
less, confusing me by its wrong loca-
tion of streams, and its inaccuracy in
the estimation Of distances. We must
have wandered far to the north from
our direct course, led aStray in the
dark, and by our desire to advance
swiftly. For there soon came to us
warning signs that we were indeed
being pursued; and some evidence
also that we were even within Indian
territory.
The sayages had left their unmis'
taxable mark for our finding. It was
in the early twilight Of the second day.
the western sky already purple with
the fast fading colors, the prairie be-
fore us showing in patches of green
and brown. To our left was n thick
wood, even then grown gloomy and
dark in shadows, and slightly in ad.
vance Of us Kennedy rode alone, hope
full of thus dislodging some wild ami.
NAL. / could see the CLEAN of the pis'
tol in his hand, held in instant reGdi'
ness, cooked and primed. Suddenly he
drew rein, and then, turning his
horses head sharply, advanced eau
tiously toward the miniature forest
leaning forward to gaze intently al
something unseen from where we were
He halted his horse, which paved rest
lessly, and sat motionless, staring
down into 4 little hollow Immediately
in front of him; then he turned in the
saddle, and beCkOned Inc.
Cum over yere, Cap" he called, his
voice sounding strange. mo, not the
gurlS; you cum alone"
rode forward and joined him, only
to stare also, the heart within me al
most ceaslng to beat, as behcld the
GruesOme sight so suddenly revealed
There, within the confines OF that lit
tie hollow. almost at the edge OF the
wood, lay the dead and mutlated
bodies Of eleven men, in every diStOrt'
cd posture imaginable, some stripped
naked, and showing ghaStly wounds
others fully clothed; but with the cloth
hacked into rags. 1t had once been
camp, the black Goals Of fire still
them, his face burnt and uRrecogniza.
ble. With the exception Of one only
a mere boy, who lay few rods away,
as though brought down in tlight-the
entire group were together, almost
touching each other in death. Beyond
question they had been soldiers
militia volunteerS-for while there WAS
only one uniform among them, they all
wore army belts, and 4 service insignia
appeared on their hats. Tim vented
his feelings in Smothered oath.
Militia, by Godw he muttered
grufliy. "No guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out them
woods. Those poor devils never he'd
no chanct. Amt thet it, Cap?"
"NO doubt of It; the whole story is
there. None of them alive
81 reckon nOt-cudn't he hacked up
like thet, an most o 'em skClped.
Them reds never left a d gun be-
hind neither. Why, say, this affair
must q took place this yere very
maunin', bout breakfast time"
He stood up in his stiwUns, and
swept his eyes anXiouSly about in
every direction.
Good Lord! maybe we better be
gittin' long out O. yere right smart.
Thar amt nUthin' ter stay fer; we
can't help them men none, al. only the
devil knows whar them mjuns hav
gone. Yer ct the gurls away arore
they see whut'S yere-down yondcr
inter the galley"
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