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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1896)
. TO NEBRASKA ADVERTISER r XV. XV. SAXDK11S, l'ubllshor. NEMAHA. NEBRASKA. THE NIGHT EXPRESS. Miss Ethel Mario Is a traveled damoi Her Journeys aro many, but, nil tho samft, Over ono lino and to only ono place, Whonco sho returns with u brlght-smlllng face. And sho Is so busy tho wholo day long With mattors that really brook no dolay, Sho can't cot away In tho broad daylight, So all her traveling's dono by night. "Vhon the clocks strlho sovon In Twlllghtrlllo, And tho stars corao popping over tho LIU, Miss Ethel Mario. with n hop and a skip, Hurries to pack her trunk mid her grip. Clad In traveling gown of whlto, Sho glvos us each u kiss for Rood night; 'I hen, with a traveler's flno disdain, Off sho goes for tho evening train. Tho Grand Crib lino goes winding down From Twlllghtvillo into Drowsytown; Tho station, whero all of Its trains depart, Is a room that's dear to a mother's heart: Tho Pullman slcepor, whoso lights burn low, Is a little girl's bed ns whlto a3 snow; And Just ns soon as "Our Father" Is hoard Tho train dispatcher will glvo tho word. Ethel Mario has her baggago chockod through. 'That's for tho trunk man. papa, to do; I am conductor; as you soo, I wrlto tho berth check for Ethol Mario. -And whom do wo havo for a porter? Ah, Who tucks up a bed llko a dear mamma? -And tho cnglncor Is tho Ono, I guoss, Whoso mercy and lovo guldo tho night ex press. Frank It. Eatchclor, In Congregationalism n'nFTf l CJ U H I U t 'k-or? OS toP- "Mfi'k'4 k-.5 ".- -v-BMTJT ' -"-! (Copyright, 1E0J, by tho Author.) CIIAPTEIt I CONTINUED. Ono week later a courier from Pres cott, riding post haste with dispatches to tho new commander at Retribution, warned him that ho must guard his working parties and tho road between tho old and now post. The Tontos had "jumped." Now, Tonto in tho Mexican dialect means fool or idiot, but tho Tonto Apache was no fool. The craft iest, cunningest of Indians he, and well had the chiefs and young men reasoned that a good time to strike would bo just as tho old and seasoned regiment left tho territory, and before the new ono, utterly untutored in Apache strat agem and mountain scouting, could be gin to get down to their work. And so all through tho wild hunting grounds in the Sierras their war fires and sig nals blazed by night and puffed in smoko cloud by day. All across tho rocky chasms and among tho pine crested ranges from the haunts of tho Ilualpais in northern Arizona down through tho valleys of tho Verde and tho Ilassayampa, tho home of Apache Mohave and Apacho Yuma; across tho "broad basin between the Mazatlan and tho Black Mesa and southward to tho Sierra Ancha, tho Tonto Apaches had sent their messengers urging instant and united action, and down from tho mountains, on stage road, trail and mining camp, swooped tho savage foe jncu, and all Arizona waked to a new reign of terror. Among the first mines abandoned a3 Jlio result of this sudden raid were pose on the Santa Anita. Tho first Aifugce to claim the protection of the commander of new Fort Retribution was Muncey, speedily followed by half a dozen others all with fearful tales of massacre and pillage. It was a hot June evening, when they gathered at the edge of the bluff looking westward from tho adjutant's office over the southern foothills of tho range, to Ik. - it .ub'Jl nv m 'WIIATS UP, HKN'JfECKE?" where, faint and dim, tho guard lights of the old post could just bo distin guished through the raro Arizona at mosphcro, twinkling feebly in tho low lands of tho Sandy, ten long miles away. "How many of our people aro left down there under care of tho guard?" asked Capt. Raymond of tho stern faced old soldier in command. "Only the ordnance sergeant's family -and tho workmen dismiuitluig what's left of tho post." "No women or children besides Kelly's?" "None. Tho last wore moved over to-day unless wo count MaeDuff. Leon said ho wanted to stay with old Kelly to tho last." "Leon!" exclaimed tho miner Muncey, In apparent amaze. "-Why, I thought that boy waa was safe in Sonora with kktav fy?ftftv H mm 1:mA,,;:m "Tt. n-ft. iw.vM'A rmi . ishsL:SmjL - ,-7iii1.1;T-Jsvv.vv':':a tJwWmpz i his mother's people." Whereat two of his follow miners looked keenly into his face and then exchanged quick and ox presslvo glances. "That boy,'' said Capt. Foster, "is like a cat. He found his way back from Tucson to the old post, and sticks to it so long as there's a shinglo left. Look hero," ho continued, pointing to a jagged, conical shaped height clearly defined against tho soft hues of tho lingering twilight. "Yonder's Signal Butte, overhanging the old rookeries, and Kelly's ranch is a mile beyond that. Now suppose tho Apaches did work around to tho west of us and wcro to swoop down on tho Sandy, suppose our pcoplo wero ablo to got up there and signal, how long would it tako us to turn out fifty horsemen and gallop over those ten miles, and how much would bo left by tho timo wo got there?" Tho commanding officer stood in deep thought for a moment without replying. Ho had sent to tho old sito only a lieu tenant and twenty men. This would bo sufficient to protect tho property still unshipped and tho lives of thoso still detained there on duty, but thero wcro two ranches in tho valley within a couple of miles of tho posts; thero was tho camp of Joso'a bull train, thero was Sergt. Kelly's little farm on tho slopes of tho Gouth gate of Apacho canyon, all beyond riilo shot of tho guard. Kelly was an old First Dragoon man, a vet eran who had fought Apaches a quarter of u century before, and declared that ho despised them. His wifo and two daughters lived at tho ranch, and, though bitterly disappointed at the re moval of tho post, wero by no means afraid. Rut no such, outbreak as this had occurred before. Tho Apaches wcro more daring and better armed, and down in tho bottom of his heart Maj. Thornton wished ho had left a bigger force of cavalry at the post, but it was now too lato to change. Darkness had settled down on tho garrison. Tho Inst hues of the twi light faded out of tho western sky. Tho guard lights at tho distant valley twinkled faintly, but steadfast, through tho warm, pulseless air. Over at the half-ilnished quarters tho drums and fifes of tho infantry were sounding tat too, and still tho party lingered at tho westward bluff, Wharton, Raymond and Foster chatting in low tones apart, tho civilians talking to somo younger officers, eagerly and excitedly recount ing tho circumstances of their morn ing's ilight. Munsey was of these tho most voluble. IIo was just saying: "I tell you the wholo Tonto tribo is out of the hills and down hero in tho basin this very night," when another cried: "Hush!" Sbmewhero over on tho north side the call of a sentry rang out sharp, clear and full upon tho night air: "Corporal of the guard, No. 51" "That's old nennicke," said Ray mond, promptly. "When ho has any thing to report it's no boy's story. I'll go, ,sir." The cry went echoing back toward the guard-house, sharply passed along by Nos. 0 and 7 on tho eastern flank. Tho corporal camo out on the run, and the guardsmen, sitting or sprawling around tho stacked rifles, scrambled, many of them, to their feet. Before even a fleet corporal could reach the distant post Thornton and two captains bpro down upon it, others at respectful distance following. "What's up, Ilcnnicko?" hailed his troop commander, scorning preliminar ies. "Firing, sir. Out on tho Prescottroad to tho northwest. I could seo the flashes." "Who on earth can it bo?" asked tho mi'jor. "Capt. Foster, let your troop snchllo at once." CHAPTEH II. That thero should bo repeated alarms from the northeast, east and south, whero wcro tho pine covered crests of the Black Mesa and tho Sierra Ancha whero wero tho haunts of tho Tonto and tho White Mountain Apaches every one expected. There wcro still among the foothills somo parties of miners and prospectors over whoso fate there was good reason for alarm. The Santa Anita placers had been promptly abandoned, as wo havo seen. There was eager watch for danger sig nals from tho site of tho old Retribu tion, down in tho Sandy valley to tho west, but from the sito of tho new post to tho crossing of tho Sandy above Apacho canyon tho road turned and twisted among tho foothills of tho mountains for twenty-three miles and there wasn't a human habitation for nearly forty. Then, deep in a cleft of the range, a stage station with corrals and well and lunchroom and bar had been built by somo daring spirits, eager to accumulato monoy at what ever risk. Boyond them for another thirty miles tho road lay through deso lation Itself and reached tho outskirts of even frontier civilization again among tho nowly finished ranches in tho broad and sunny valley of Wil'ow creek. In view of tho sudden and simulta neous swoop of the Apaches upon tho roads east of Prcscott everybody had been warned. Even tho mail riders held buck for mounted escorts. No stage for Wickenbcrg and tho south, no buckboard for tho Santa Anita had left tho territorial capital for thrco days. No mail had boon received at Retribution for forty-eight hours. Tho daring troopers who rodo in with tho dispatches early that Juno morning had come through tho Sandy valley, as they frankly admitted, with revolvers in hand, their hearts in their mouths and tiio reins in their teeth. They had passed no party eastward bound. Who, then, could it bo, who, striving now to reach tho post by way of tho new road, should havo fallen foul of tho Apaches only a milo or bo out? Thornton's first impulse was to say tho sentry must bo dreaming. Raymond, who had known tho old trooper nearly a decade, as promptly declared tho sen try'" report reliable "I not only saw tho flashes," said Ifcnnloke, "but I could faintly hear tho shot3, sir fif teen or twenty. It was still as death out here." .$' Meantime, sending an eager boy lieutenant on tho jump to order out "G" troop, Capt. Foster had hastened to liis temporary quarters half can vas, half udobe to mako his hurried preparations. Already tho rumor was running from mouth to mouth. Only three of tho officers had their families with them at tho timo. Mrs. Foster was ono of those women who insisted on accompanying her husband on tho movo to Arizona, oven though tho rudest of camp lifo was to bo her por tion, and sho and Ncllio with anxiously beating hearts wero standing on tho unfinished porch of tho now quarters listening for further Bound, as tho cap tain hastened up tho slope. "It enn't bo anything very serious, dear," ho said reassuringly. "Probably somo belated miners, whoso mules tho Indians nro trying to run off. We'll know in half an hour and I'll send word in at once." Silent and anxious sho followed within tho doorway, whero hung a Navajo blanket as tho only bar rier between their army nest and tho warm outer air, Ncllio clinging to her mother's side. "Wo'vo been wntching all tho even ing for signals from tho Butte," mur mured Mrs. Foster, ns the captain rop idly exchanged his regulation coat for a scouting jacket. "Wo wero so anxious about Leon and ovcrybody who had to remain there seems so exposed now. Wo never thought of hearing of trouble thereaway," and Mrs. -Foster glanced out through tho open casement to whero tho Prcscott road, winding away down the slope, disappeared among tho dark mountain shapes lying black and silent under tho twinkling pointers of tho Great Bear. "Leon is safe enough if he'll only stay whero ho is with Kelly," answered the captain, buckling on his pistol belt. "Apaches won't attack tho post oven tho remains of one at night. But I wish old Kelly and his girls wero near er the guard. I don't like their being so far from help and so eloso to those overhanging cliffs. Noiv, don't borrow trouble to-night, dear," ho concluded, taking his dovotcd wife in his arms and kissing away tho brimming tears. "You and Nell must bo brave. These beg garly Apaches probably think wo won't know how to fight them and aro simply starting in for a littlo fun. I'm only too glad of a ohanco to deal them a les son so is G troop." Ten minutes later, in perfect silence, a doublo file of horsemen rodo briskly away into tho darkness to tho north, Foster leading, every trooper armed with carbine and revolver. Tho night was breathless. Not a puff of breeze stirred tho pines along tho mountain side or ruffled tho foliage of tho willows at tho springs. For two miles the road lay through open country, dipping from the plateau on which stood tho now post into n railo wido depression, then winding up the gradual ascent among tho foothills of tho range. Somewhere along that ascent tho firing had been scon and heard. Hcnnicko's story had already been corroborated. Two quar- ....... V. ! . , bui'wunwriiiuuu, enjoying a quiebHiiiOKC oiusiuo ine ai;ooo wans ot the new corral, had seen and heard just what ho did, and Maj. Thornton was already in possession of their story. So, too, had tho sentry on No. 4 heard what sounded like distant shots, but had seen nothing. Now, as Foster and his fifty horsemen disappeared in tho night, tho major stood at the edgo of tho bluff looking out to tho north, with an eager group around him. Capts. Raymond and Turner, whose companies had silently assembled under arms, wero waiting for orders within the quadrangle of tho garrison, as well as tho adjutant and quartermaster and a lieutenant or two. Thero was littlo talking going on among them all wero listening intently for sounds from the north or of further firing. Ono or two of the Santa Anita prospectors had mounted and gone out after Foster, but tho mass of the refugees still clustered ulong tho bluff, chatting in low, eager tones. If any ono voico was especially prominent it was Munccy's, and, like most men given to chatter, ho found only nn impatient audience. "I toll you," said ho for tho third time, "thero enn't bo less than a hundred of them Tontos out thero now. They just want a single troop, or even two, to come and tacklo 'em in tho dark." And now ho had raised his voico still higher and was talking for tho benefit of tho major, who had been persistent in avoiding him and had twico pointedly begged him not to intrudo upon tho council of tho officers. "They've just lined tho rocks and tho roadside out there, and aro simply laying for a chance to ambush tho wholo crowd. What I'd a dono would bo to send two hundred men out, deployed cs skir mishers and swept tho hull bottom, north and west, too." Thcso remarks wero rewarded by his companions with a contemptuous sniff or a nervous, half jcoring titter. "You ought to havo been a general, Muncey that's what's tho matter with yon. Thero ain't Apaches enough in all Ari zona to daro a fight in tho open, day or night, witli fifty white men, soldiers or 'cts.' No Apacho plans a fight that's going to got him liable to bo shot. Tho Iclnd of lighting ho likes is from bohlnd rocks and trees, and thero nin't rocks and trees enough ont thero to cover a dozen of 'em. I'm hotting tho firing was dono by somo party as badly scared ns you wcro yis'day morning. I'm hot ting they just thought somo skulking lynx was an Apacho and let drive u volley into tho dark. Tho sentry snvtt tho shots wero all bunched. You know and 1 know tho Apaches don't own n breech loader (this was early in tho seventies), so most of it must havo been dono by white men or greasers, llko that gang you trained with last year, in stead of herding with your own kind." Evidently thi3 allusion was a stinger. There was a burst of laughter, more or less jeering nnd unsympathetic, under Khowor cf which Muncey turned angrily away, ll'o went over toward tho group of officers, but at sight of him tho ma jor lifted a warning hand and lowered his voice. "Hero's that follow Muncoy again," said ho, "and I distrust him somehow." Everybody seemed to turn nn unsociable back on tho newcomer, and presently, after a moment's hesita- O&y -,. '4. -. Mihtl "YOU OU011T TO HAVB IlKKN A OKNICUAI., Muxci:y.w tion, ho pulled his old felt hat lower over his eyes, thrust his hands in his pockets nnd slouched away down tho slope in tho dlrcotioii'of tho corral, with in whose ndobo walls tho horses and mules of tho refugees wero sheltered. And now camo on a night of no littlo excitement, even for Arizona, in tho heart of the Apacho country. For three quarters of an hour after Foster and his men rodo away thero was a strange silence and eager waiting at tho post. Taps had sounded just beforo they left. Half-past ten o'clock, called by tho sen tries, had gono echoing uway across the still anl starlit mesa; and not a sound or sign came from tho front. Then (suddenly, far out through tho darkness, there was faintly audible tho thud of hoofs, and a minute or so brought tho rider, full canter, into their midst. Ho could barely rein in his horse at tho hail of tho major's party. Everybody officers, civilians and oven soldiers seem to swarm about tho courier in an Instant. It was Corporal Foley, of Foster's troop. Rec ognizing the major, ho throw himself from tho saddlo and stood respectfully beforo tho commander, handing him a penciled note, which the major eagerly opened and read, all eyes upon him. "Wo found two Mexicans," it said, "with a camp outfit. They wero badly frightened, but unhurt. They declare they wero attacked by Apaches, who succeeded in running off two mules. They say the Indians drew away north west toward the Sandy, nnd that there was a party of prospectors and packers camped at Raton Springs eight miles out, who wcro warned of tho outbreak, but who wouldn't believe it. Tho Mexican said they wcro trying to reach tho post when headed off, and that there wero enough Apaches to wipe out that party. They themselves only escaped by hiding among tho rocks down in tho deep ravine. Their story is told with such earnestness that I havo deemed it best to push on in search of tho prospectors referred to. "Wo should reacli tho springs soon after midnight. Tho Mexicans go with uo in hopes of recovering their mules. (Signed) "Fostbii, "Commanding Troop." to m: continued. Not Butliflcd. Tho other day ono of tho partners of tho firm managing ono of Boston's fa mous hostelries ordered a certain waiter to leave. Tho waiter was slow in obeying and tho manager practically kicked him out. The waiter oven then was not con tented witli his dismissal, and hunted up tho head of tho firm. "Mr. X ," said he, "Mr. A has just kicked mo out. I " "Well, what are you hero for? Do ydu want mo to kick you out over again?" Texas Siftings. J Poppy Seed Eml(inkiutu)ti. Within tho last two or thrco years French engineers have undertaken tho sowing of railroad embankments with poppy seeds, as when onco established that prolific plant covers tho soil with a network of roots that prevents it from washing away during heavy rains or from upheaval when frost is coming out of tho ground iu the spring. Tho Clock Stopped. Mr. Staylato Dear mo! I don't bo liovo this clock is going, is it? Sho (wearily) No. Wo always wind it beforo going to bed. It ran down an hour ago. N. Y. Weekly. v.rJBLj'-crMij" .. " awt NEBRASKA STATE NEWS, Tin: old III no Valley hotol at Ulysses wn destroyed by lire the other morn ing. Adam HnNir.ucif, farmer, was badly injured iu n runaway at Nolson tho othordny. Tin: public school nt Urcoloy was rc ocntly closed owing to tho prevalence of scarlet fovor. Simon Cahtkii, of Hnrtlngton, was recently adjudged insane Religious Bxcitomcnt the cause. Fuji: at Blair tho other day destroyed the implement houso of 1L R. Smith. About two-thirds insured. Tin: gold excitement has been re vived at Pleasant Dale. Excited citi zens dcclnro it is n second Cripple Crock. It is statod that thero is moro corn stored at Winsldo than over boforo known. It is ostlmatod that by March 1 thero will ho 100,000 busliols in crib. Tiik general merchandise stores oper ated by F. L. Kincald at Ellis and Vir ginia and the implement store at liar bine, owned by him, have been closed on a chattel mortgage. Ovicn fiOO men and boys participated in a wolf hunt, ten miles south of Fairfield recently. Ono wolf, ono horse and 51 jack rabbits wore killed. Tho horso was accidentally shot. Duhino a recent jack rabbit round up in Boone county, Wallaco Dodge accidentally shot Mortlmor Barnes, lllllng his body full of flno Bhot, but not seriously wounding him. Tun other day William Anderson re ceived very severe, if not fatal in juries, while attempting to break a horso at Bingham. In attempting to saddlo tho animal ho received a prob ably fatal kick. Tiik stato board of agriculture at it.s lato annual mooting accepted tho re port of Robert W. Furnas to tho West ern and Eastern Fair association, which report fixed tho dato of tho fair at Omaha, August 31 to Soptembor -I. 1. A. Bunnkm., a Lancaster county farmer, -18 years of ago, committed sul cldo the other day by taking strych nine. Ho leaves n wifo and llvo chil dren. Circumstances indicated that his mind had become unbalanced from somo cause. John C. Santkk, a well known poli tician, committed suicide at Niobrara tho other night. Grief ovor his wife's death caused tho deed. His wifo was dying and ho apparently lost his mind. Turning over all Ills valuables, ho rushed to tho barn ami hanged him self. Dumxn tho year tho Albion cream ery received 1,035,170 pouuds of milk, for which it paid casli to the amount of $10.01:1.40. It also paid out 87,570.00 for 50,035 pounds of butter and 10,205 dozen eggs, making the total amount disbursed to farmers in tho vicinity 317,590. Tin: Bank of Commerce nt Grand Island closed its doorB tho other day and tho bunk examiner was tolc graphed to go and tako charge. Tho day tho bank closed tho county treas urer deposited 315,000 and tho county had 310,000 in tho bank boforo tho do poslt, making tho amount of county funds hold by tho bank 325,000. J. C Wim.iams, president of tho do funct Blue Springs bank, has boon ar rested upon tho charge of cmbozzlo ment. The particular charge was founded on a discrepancy bctwoon tho bank books and those of tho county treasurer, tho latter showing about 81,000 moro county money in tho bank than thero was entered on tho bank books. Pknhionb lately granted Nebraska veterans: Original, Lewis It. Dorese, Wescott. Restoration and increase, Joslah Luc, Hastings. Increaso.Charles W. Talbitzcr, Oconee; James Campbell, Harvard. Reissue, Steward Thomp son, Beaver City. Original widows,cta, Nancy C. Miller, Perch; Catherine M. Waldcninoyer (mothor),(jlbbon; minors of Joseph It. Loghry, West Union. Tin: annual winter meeting of tho Nebraska stato board of agriculture opened at Lincoln on tho 21st. Chan cellor MacLcan dolivercd tho address of welcome. Tho treasurer's roport showed receipts of 5:1,158.31, including tho stato appropriation of 32,000, and tho disbursements wcro 350,801.30, of which lattor amount 318,070.03 wore for premiums paid at the state fair. Fiuk in tho Dodge street school build ing at Omaha, at which 500 children wcro attending, tho other day pro duced a panic that might havo been attended with fatal results excopt for the presonco of mind of Oflio Downs, a 14-yoar-old boy, whoso duty it is to boat tho drum which keeps the schol ars in lino in emergencies. As soon as the alarm was given ho got his drum, and, stationing himself near tho door, poundod out tho tunes whllo tho chil dren marched away. Hundreds start ed with a rush until tho drum sounded. Piiof. Stout, United States geolog ical survoyor, who has boon taking measurements of tho flow of water in tho streams of western Nebraska for somo timo past, was recoritly in Kear ney and lot the contract for sinking 13 wells from a point on Wood river, three miles north of that town, to tho Blind hills south of the Platto river, a total distanco of about fivo miles. Tho wells will bo sunk 'fivo feet into ruu ning water, and a record of them will bo tukon onco a wook. Thcso wolls are sunk for tho purpose of determin ing, if possible, whother tho underflow remains tho same during tho entire year, or whether it is affected by the rains and molting snows in tho mown tains.