Dunsmuir Joint Union High School - Crag Echoes Yearbook (Dunsmuir, CA)

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One Great Adventure Toward the close of the Civil War hundreds of families packed their worldly possessions and started in great emigrant processions across the continent ton ard the west. Southern Nevada at this time had been settled by many of these people. The Piute Indians had held the land in this section for generations, living undisturbed lives, and resented the coming of the white man so keenly that at last war broke out- Signal fires burning on every hill warned the white men to pre- pare to save their lives and possessions. The live stock was quickly gathered, put in corrals and kept under close guard. There were no railroads west of the Mississippi in those days. The pony express had been started and carried mail for five dollars an oance. The ro ite was across a country inhabited for the most part by Indians and was very dangerous. A rider was killed every few days. Une of the riders, Robert Haslam, better known as Pony Bob had one relay of the route- He rode to Fort Churchill and had to travel a distance of seventy-five miles. Un one of his trips he learned when he reached a station about half the distance of his journey that a band of Indians under the direc- tion of a famous chief, were in the hills through which he had to pass. This did not stop him. He got a fresh horse and started on his journey. When he had gone a short distance he met an emigrant train slowly winding its way westward. Pony Bob decided to join it for better protection. The emigrants were glad to have an experienced Indian fighter with them and together they moved on- They had only gone a few miles when they saw columns of smoke rising from a hill to the right of them. Upon closer observation columns of smoke could be seen at the left. and prevare for an attack. There were about fifty wagons and two hundred and fifty people. The circle was made in the center of a small glade. The oxen and horses were tied inside the cirlce while boxes and crates were piled as fortifications on the outside. Water was packed in, the ammunition and g'llI1S put in readiness and every man stationed to watch and wait. At the end of an hour a cloud of dust was seen far to the north but coming rapidly toward them- In a short time they could distinguish the bright colors on the approaching foe. There appeared to be about one hundred and fifty in the band all mounted on the little mustangs of plains and they rode as if the horse and rider were one. They rode at a full gallop toward the circle but when they reached a point, probably a hundr d yards distant, they stopped abruptly. For a few seconds they paused, apparently sizing up the situation, then turned their horses' heads as if to leave. Then they broke into two bands and rode to op- posite sides of the enclosure. They dismounted, formed long lines and started walking toward the now highly alarmed white people. As they Twenlu-:even

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What is the matter, child? exclaimed her mother as she ran into the bathroom where she found Mary standing in the center of the room weeping bitterly. My fish went down the pipe, sobbed Mary. She had put her fish in the bath tub to swim about while she changed the water in the bowl. Somehow the stopper had come out and tl1e fish flopped down the drain before Mary could catch them. I just knew something would happen to my darling little fish, cried Margaret Johnson. That pesky little brother of mine poured a whole bottle of ink on them. He said that he thought Dorothy's are so much prettier than mine because they have black spots on them. He has tried to make mine like hers and has killed them all- Mouser what have you done? Oh, my poor little fish, screeched Ona Mulligan. You naughty cat, you should have a good spanking. Don't you know those fish weren't for you to eat? Those poor, dear, little creatures. I suppose I should be happy with Mouser, Fido, Polly and Dick, but I can't help feeling sad over my dear littlc fish, she sobbed. Little Jane BaXter's mother had noticed how peculiarly the gold fish acted, so she determined to watch Jane and see what she did to them. Une afternoon soon after, Mrs. Baxter noticed that her daughter was unusually quiet. She looked into the room where Jane was playing, there she sat on the table, her legs hanging over the edge, beside her was her father's fish b3SK9t, on the floor just in front of her was the bowl of gold fish a11d in her hand was her father's fishing rod. No won- der the fish had acted so queer. It would be quite difficult to relate what happened to every fish, but if that poor druggist nad only known how many little hearts he al- most broke because of the loss of a poor little fish, or how much trouble he had caused many a fond parent he never would have given those fish away. Marjorie Young. Twenlu-six

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drew nearer and nearer the .whiteu men fired- The Indians returned the fire seriously wounding one of the men within the circle. The Red Men seemed to have the best of the situation because they had numerous trees and rocks to hide behind. After each fusilade of shots they would dart forward hide again and open fire. Pony Bob saw that if this kept up until night fall the emigrants would be lost. He quickly formed a plan to get out, make his way to Fort Churchhill and return the aid of these poor people with troopers from the fort. One side of the circle was not far from a heavily wooded canyon. He figured that by being cautious he could creep into the timber and be safe. After filling a canteenwith water, taking his rifle and pistol he crept through the wagons and toward the timber. When he was well within the protecting cover. of the forest he heard the cracking of branches. The heart of the brave man almost stood still. Just when his chances for saving his fellow men seemed so bright were they all to be ended. He crouched and waited. He could hear but little firing in the open and he knew that the Indians were waiting for dark- ness to fall so that they could charge. 'He listened a few moments longer and concluding that the noise had been caused by some animal, hurried on. He had taken but a few steps when a shot frang out, thelbullet whizzing close to his head. He looked in the direction of the shot and saw an Indian lying in the brush preparing to fire again. , A. , y Bob pulled out his pistol and fired, then darted behind a rock. After a few minutes he cautiously peered out. The Indian was not to be seen but Bob knew that he was hiding behind a huge rock that was close by where he had seen him. Precious moments were passing. He started to creep toward, the rock when he discovered that his rifle was gone. He remembered that he had laid it down about twenty feet away. There was nothing left for him to do but to trust to his pistol- Onward he crept. Not a sign or sound of his hiding foe was there. He crashed into some loose brush ,making a terrific noise. Witli this he jumped to his feet and sought a refuge behind a giant tree. He waited for ages it seemed to him. Finally he looked out. There, slowly creeping toward him, was the Indian. He drew his revolver and waited- When he knew that the Indian must be almost upon him he stepped out and fired. The bullet struck the enemy straight between the eyes. . - In an almost exhausted condition Bob reached the fort. The com- manding officer hurriedly assembled his troops and rushed them to the rescue. A short, furious fight followed.. The Indians fell on every side, only a few escaping in the darkness. The emigrants lost some of their members but not many. . After resting a day these brave people started on and many of us can point some of them out as our grandparents. Pony Bob delivered his mail that trip a little late but as he k ' 66 W If I v .77 said better 'ite tian new er Hugh marke, ,24. Twenty-sigh!