Year: 1875

stood by themselves as the only settlers
residences built or piled up in the Spring
Creek Valley. As every body knows what
a log building is, we need not 20 into
lengthy details concerning our Minerstown
post Office and Black Horse Tavern.
! In times past before that disturbing in
! fuence coal was discovered in the Spring
Greek Valley, the hunter took up his
winters quarters at the Black Horse Tav-
ern. According to the proprietor's state
ments these we're merry old times Many
hne buck brought low in the surround
ing woods by the hunters rife, has had its
quarters roasted before the bright log fires
which blaze on the hearth of the rude log
kitchen, whilest the hunters thronged
around and told their adventures. As the
savage took some part in the affairs of the
men pioneering in these mountains, they
met with startling encounters, and some
fell victims to his cunning, while in return
many Indians were sent spinning into their
Happy Hunting Grounds, by the unerrIng
aim of those ancient rihemeh. Their
stories never tagged Of interest as they sat
by the blazing log fire.


The old proprietor, a centenarian, re-
members many Of the yarns told by his
guests of olden times, and he recounts
them with thrilling effect


! reproduce the following AS a part of
the history Of this valley, and merely
tell this story to help you to imagine how
wild were those unreclaimed woods once on
a time, when the blood shedders of those
days we're Of different order from what
they are now.


. 1t was III the fall Of the year 1898,
tho laaN nm thar
and coloring under the early frosts, and
mountain and vale were aglow with tints
of autumn made brilliant with the lights
md shades OF the sun of an Indian sum
mer. A select party Of hunters had met
for months sport in the mountains, and
a score of twenty ri Aes were held in the
hands of as many skillful marksmen, all
well drilled to the customs of hunting in
the woods. These parts then abounded in
game. Plenty of black bear, wild deer
and turkeys rewarded our exertions in the
shape of palatable game. Then in the way
Of vermin, there were wild cats and panth
ers, and sometimes wild Indians. The lat
ter was by far the most cunning and cruel
Of the savage creatures we had to deal
with. One Of these savage curses had
prOwled about Spring Greek valley for
many months during the summer Of 1897.
playing the game of friend to Pale Face
1t was not long before he disclosed his true
object. Sarah Bland, only daughter to
old Phil, who lived in the shanty opposite,
was the loadstone Of his attraction. Still
Pond-a smooth title for such a villain
belonging to the Swatara tribe. One day
he found means to jerk out a declaration
testifying to the quality and strength of
his attachment to Sarah, and meeting with
the contempt he deserved, instead of the
encouragement he expected, he finished
the interview by threatening to carry her
of to his tribe and making her h is squaw,
IN spite of any opposition she OF her pale
faced friends could offer. He then disap-
peared, and nothing more was heard from
him from that time up to the date Of my
story. In the meantime Sarah Bland had
changed her surname by becoming my
wife, and we had almost ceased TO think Of
the threats uttered by the Swatara Indian
called Still Pond. F"


Son the morning Of the 1st of Novem-
Der, the hunting party started off with
full supply Of ammunition and other neces-
saries. Our first days sport terminated
IN the most satisfactory manner. Passing
the night in the encampment in our usual
merry way, we began our second day in
the woods under what appear to be the
most favorable auspices. Early in the
forenoon we came across the unmistakable
signs of a recent Indian encampment,
which indicated that quite number Of
redskins were in the vicinity. A terrible
thought settled into my brain like lump
of lead, when | thought of Still Ponds
threats. We held a hasty consultation,
and we're soon marching as fast as we
could homeward. The sun was sinking
fast by the time we sighted the gable ends
of the two blocks, and Just as we did so
we were appalled, by the loud piercing
shrieks Of weil-known female voices.
This caused my heavy heart to bound al
most out Of its place. | knew instantly
what was about to take place | darted
down the track at full speed, and the
shrieks of the women spurred my COM
rades to follow my example. At the right
Of the clearing ! met view that nearly
stopped the circulation Of my blood. Tied
up to stakes were the two old men, my
father and father-in-law, while with hands
bounds we're our mothers and sisters, each
guarded by some repulsive looking Indian.
Around the stakes were piled faggots,
from which the blue smoke was lust Oe-
ginning to curl and rise into the air. |
stopped but few seconds to take in the
whole scene there seemed to be half a
hundred red devils dancing and carOusing
and yelling about the clearing. My gaze
fell ON Still Pond manOvering around nay
wife, and, although ii at a long range could
not resist the temptation of making a
mark Of him at once. | took steady aim
and pulled the trigger, and Still Pond fell
in front Of his victim. My comrades were
now up and each mans rifle told its story
to red skin. We reloaded and fired in
quick succession, and before the Indians
could comprehend the trap into which they
had fallen, a dozen Of their dusky forms
lay stretched on the ground Our fellows
let few Of them slip off without the mark
Of bullet in their skins. We were lust
in time to cut the bonds, and scatter the
burning faggots before any very serious
harm was done The Indians had not cal
culated to get such a reception. They
were prepared to murder couple of set
tiers families, but the meeting with party
OF trained woodsmen had not entered their
cunning heads We rejoiced over the
good fortune that had attended us. The
dead Indians lying in the clearing hike
dead rats, did not prevent us from form
ing happy reunion. The next day we
dug graves and buried twenty Indians on
the Ill-side, yender, and never was there
jolier set Of mOur1,ers-I must not say
merry makers stood by the sides Of
their graves When we ask mine host If
there were no funeral service read, he ex-
presses much pious horror, and says that
he would as soon think of reading fune-
raj service over a rattlesnake as over q
dead Indian.


oONTINUED NEXT WEEK.


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