Humboldt County High School - Winnada Yearbook (Winnemucca, NV)

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= ca n; PDtJPlJppa: Pioneers By Jack St. Clair IS The pioneers were husky, Braved many dangers, too; The Indian bands were many, The pioneers were few. At every turn was hardship, Hunger and thirst prevailed. Daunted by nothing were they, Their courage never failed. Such men could but create A land where freedom reigns, A land of courageous souls, No hand of wealth restrains. jpODH st«...

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On the second morning they were working their way along the edge of a large clump of mahogany. After a few minutes of working, Big Ike noticed the flitting forms of Indians, worming in and out among the trees. Upon a careful scrutiny out of the corner of his eye, Ike noticed that the Indians were all heavily armed, and that they peered unceasingly in the direction of the fence builders. Under the pretense of inspecting the work, Ike warned the punchers of the danger and told them that if any of them didn’t want to take the risk they could return to the chuck wagon. All of them, however, expressed their desire to stay to the end. After an hour or so Black Hawk, the big Indian chief, came out of the trees and showed his desire to speak with the white boss. As soon as all of the punchers had crowded around, Black Hawk said: This Indian hunting ground. No wantum white man makum fence!” Big Ike told the chief that white man had permit from big boss in Washington. Black Hawk scowled and said: Indian no likum big boss permit; white man take all Indian hunting ground; make Indian hungry, white man better stop makum fence.” With this the Indian stalked off into the trees. The Bar O waddies went right on with their fence building. Shortly after the boys had eaten their lunch and resumed work, a warning shot from the woods bored a hole in Easy’s hat, and another imbedded itself in the wagon seat just below Big Ike. The cowboys were forced to return to camp for they had not brought their guns along to fix the fence. On the following morning the Bar O force went back to fence building, this time with their guns tied down, and rifles near at hand; all except Easy who just shoved his gun into his holster and left his rifle in the wagon. Before the sun was up the Indians gave their last warning by shooting the team pulling the wagon. Someone made the mistake of firing a hasty shot at one of the shadow forms among the trees. For his pains he received a bullet in the fleshy part of his leg. The flighty punchers would not stand for this, so in reply they sent a rally of shots into the trees which drew several loud grunts and a return fire. The fight was on. The punchers hadn’t a chance in the open so they made a run for their horses and beat a hasty retreat down the hillside. Fifty heavily armed Indians charged after them, venting their skill and shrill war cries as they rode. A stray shot hit John in the shoulder, knocking him from his horse. Hall and Harvey who were behind him, hastily left their horses and lifted him onto his horse amid his protests that they should go and let him die. A few yards from the cowpuchers stood an old mine which they entered. There they found the cook with two butcher knives and a large ladle. The Indians who were close upon them dropped behind nearby trees and continued fire. A slug ricocheted off the side of the tunnel and striking Sam along side of the head putting him out of the play; another hit Bill in the side. Big Ike received a broken wrist, thus leaving the Bar O in a sad plight. All of a sudden Easy, who had not been participating in the fight, grunted and reached in his pocket, drawing out his shattered knife, which had saved him a broken leg. With a cry of rage Easy bounded out of the tunnel and down the dump, firing as he went. The other boys, fearing that he would be killed, rushed after him, calling to him to come back. When the Indians saw the huge man lunging down the dump, killing one of their men at every shot, they became uneasy. When they saw the rest of the Bar O rushing after Easy, yelling madly, the Indians fled over the hill, leaving their ponies and twelve dead behind them. When the rest of the boys caught up with and quieted Easy they looked at him with astonishment written on their faces, as Easy explained with a foolish grin: The dern Redskins broke my knife.”

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