Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1879 — THE MAN WHO WAS KICKED. [ARTICLE]

THE MAN WHO WAS KICKED.

But, Nevertheless, a Men whom All the Camp Found Cause to be proud Of » From the New York Hun. I fti at saw Davis at H Academy, when, at the beginning of the spring term in 1860, he sidled into the further end of the seat to lean against the wall. He was then about twenty-seven years of age. A tall, gaunt, awkard man, clad in a faded, ill-fitting suit of home-spun, and walking with an uudecided, hesitating gait, with his | head thrown forward, and one un- . certain hand helplessly rubbing a re- ! ceding chin, was the figure presented ; as he went out of the hall at the close j of prayers. Inflfmity of purpose was | written all over him. He had an air i of being old without ever having oeen . young. His face was long, with large features, high cheek bones, a long nose, ; prominent mouth, and a receding chin, from which a straggling whisker protruded a certain way, as though in doubt whether to grow longer or disappear altogether. It was a very weak face, with an infirm quiver of the hardlv closed lower Up, and vacillating, half timid eyes of a very pale blue. Its weakness and indecions might have been comical had not an expression of earnestness and seriousness made it pathetic. His speech was hesitating and appeaUng, as though craving constant indulgence for his temerity when speaking at all. Yet there was such assurance of his hearers’ sympathy and help,that it generally carried its point. From the time when Davis first sidled into the seat and leaned against the wall for support,he continued leaning, only exchanging the wall for his classmates, or indeed any one who would carry his weight. No sooner did his support give way in one direction than he transferred himself to another, and leaned aU the harder. During the year of academical Use his manners retained their primitive rhsticisty despite the constant attention to which they were subjected at the hands ot his fellows. His taste in dress took no turn for the better; his bearing ; and gait changed not an iota; and when he set out on foot for the hUI region whence he came, he seemed ex- j actly the same old young man that had sidled in upon us three years before. A short time afterward I learned that he was teaching the school of his native village. It turned out, however, that he earned hts habit of leaning even with him there. He asked the advice of his pupils as to what he should do so frequently that, th y took advantage of his weakness to do pretty much as they pleased. They barred the master out, refused to attend recitations, save at their own pleasure, and otherwise enjoyed themselves to such an extent that the Trustees felt compelled to demand his resignation on toe grounds of lack of government. After that he went into the country and taught a district school, boarding rouqd among his pupils. It was while thus-engaged that he became temporarily resident in the‘family of a small farmer, possessd of a grasping, questionable character, and several oa ughters for some time in the matrimonial market. These latter were thin, sharp-faced, managing maids, who partook of the unattractive characteristics of their sire. The most unattractive, perhaps, of them all set their eyes upon Davis, in lack of better material, and actualy became his wife before that hesitating person had decided what to do in the matter Alter this he drifted out oi my knowledge, and his memory, with that of othdr class associates, rapidly merged into the sere and yellow leaf of recollec-

tion. In the summer of 1871 I was one of a semi-official proepection party in Western Dakota. We intenied to « penetrate the Indian country as far as the Souri River, near the Bntish line, returning by way of the Black if circumstances permitted. The dozen men constituting the party were .all heavily armed, and we had, by Jthe way or impediment, three mule wagons. * The day before we started from the small town which, for the previous, had been our headquarters, a tall,round-shouldered man sauntered Into the camp, and, leaning against a wagon-wheel, looked kindly but inquiringly about. He wore a long coat of alpaca of eccelisiastical cut, and a wideawake hat, fustian trousers and

low gaiters tied with a string. His face was long, and its features large, and a retreating mouth, almost destitute of teeth, gave a greater prominence to his rather elongated nose. He carried a black silver-headed stick, and altogether he was a curious mixture of the clerical with the rustic. After being made the butt of considerable ridicule, he expressed, in a hesitating * way,bis desire to go to the Black Hills. And when ITeturned to camp toward evening, I found the stranger added to the ' party as the guide, philosopher, and friend of one of the . mule teams. It was Davis. How he came there was tola in a single one of his hesitating sentences. *‘You see. Mrs. Davis left me, and took up witn a neighbor of own. I suppose I was too slow for her. But I thought it might make her uncomfortable to have me living so dose by; so I came West.

Further conversation revealed the fact that he had tramped most of the way, and that all his earthly possess ions were wrapped in the flaming handkerchief which be brought into camp Later in the evening. It was apparent from the first that the characteristics that had made Davis a conspicuous figure in academical days had not forsaken him as he had Kwn older. He began leaning from moment he came into camp. After futile attempts upon myself, he transferred his weight to a man from Kentacky—a demonstrative, - devil-may-care fellow, who was his opposite In every respect. The first day’s drive, too, revealpd the fact that, whatever may have been his capabilities as a district school teacher, they did not assist him in the driving or mules. More than once he involved the leaders in a hopeless tangle * with the wheel animals, and his complications with tha harness were a pathetic mixture of helplessness and ignorance. As to lus helplessness, it was unique and com* filete in its way. He seemed utterly ucapable of doing anything without advice and assistance. It is, perhaps, needlees to say that these characteristics, however original and amusing in themselves, were not such as to elevate their possessor in the esteem of the party. In ICtas than|a week from the day of departure the man from Kentucky had warned Davis not to corns near him again at the risk of being crippled for life. At the end of a fortnight, I grieve to say, he had been kicked by an irascible member of

the party, and the propriety of deserting him an the plains had been seriously discussed. Hardly a man spoke to him, and he seemed a very pariah in the camp. After we had been three weeks out there were not wanting signs ot the proximity of hostile Sioux. Signal smokes were seen in the evening, and j small clouds of dust low down upon I the horizon Indicated the presence of scouting bands. In the mia-afternoon of a sunny Sunday, as we were slowly ascending a low ridge in the prairie the advance scout came galloping in with a ball through the*arm, and a moment later a yelling band of Sioux began to circle about the train. To dismount and form the three wagons into a triangular barricade was the work of but a few minutes. Most of the men knew their danger and how to meet it. The Sioux were in large force, and narrowed their circles in the assurance of an easy victory. Their bullets began dropping in almost immediately. In three minutes after the ball opened several of the animals had been killed, and Johnson, our leader, lay under a wagon with a bullet through his head. As I said, all the party were heavily armed. But I should have excepted Davis, who not only was Unarmed, but from his general character was deemed quite capable of groveling in the dust at such a time. In the hurry of the moment he had been lost sight of and now, when he slipped forward to possess himself of theaead man’s gun. the man from Kentucky told him with an oath to drop it, or give it to some one who would use it. Davis did not drop it, however, but took his station at the rear end of one of the wagons. In a moment more the spirally decreasing circle of savages broke suddenly, ana swept in a wild charge toward the train. And as we turned toward the point of attack to see two of the advancing warriors drop to the quick report of Davis’ rifle, I think surprise and astonishment would have rendered us incapable of resistance, had not the Indians swerved from their course j and began circling again, as they did. But the mau who had turned the attack never stirred from his post. His slouching aspect seemed somehow to be shaken on, as he stood there erect and firm as a rock. His infirm under lip closed up lik a steel trap into a hard, straight line. His pale blue eyes wore

a cool, decided look. The man from Kentucky looked at him a moment, and went back to his post with a muttered, “Well, I’ll be blanked!” The .guide tying his wounded arm in a sling, said he’d “give it up.” The whole party breathed freer. But the whistling of bullets and the yells of the Sioux continued. In a short time the canvas tope of the wagons looked like gigantic selves. The circles of the savages widened only to contract again. Whenever a reckless brave approached within fair range, the sharp crack of the Winchester from the rear of the wagon sent a ball into his painted body. There was no random firing from that rifle; every shot brought its man. The repeated chargee of the Sioux grew less frequent from the fact of tiie loss of two or three of their number under the deadly aim of those pale blue eyes. It was after the i fifth or sixth charge of this kind that j the man from Kentucky expressed the i unanimous sentiment of the party

when he said: “Hadn’t yer better get further under cover, Davis? It’s purty open thar.” But Davis shook nis head without changing position. • The evening wore slowly away. The minutes went by to an accompaniment qf shot and yell. Some of the animals were lying dead beside the wagons. The spokes of the wheels and the beds of the vehicles were riddled and splintered with bullets. Charge after charge hyxi been repulsed. Three men were lying badly wounded inside the triangle. The victims of the deadly Winchester formed a straggling line almost from its muzzle to the circle of discomfited but not defeated Sioux beyond. -mb owner had hardly spoken a word in all that time, but had stood there like a statute of Fate. Night came on, and a low moon wrapped the landscape

in dusky crayons. The savages retained their circular guard, prepared to renew the attack on the morrow. Shadowy forms crept warily through the tall grass and dragged away the dead. The wounded began to plead piteously for water, and there was none to give. It was at a call of this kind from the man who had kicked him from his place at the camp fire a few days previous, that Davis left his poet to come forward and ask if no water was to be had. He was told that there was none: that the nearest water was a small pond at the foot es the ridge, just within the 1 surrounding circle of Sioux. Taking a bucket from the wagon, Davis eakl quietly, “I'll get some.’’ Not a man of the party spoke. Everybody realized that something heroic was about to be done. Good God! To go to the pond was to go to almost certain death. And yet no one bade him stay. I think every one was impressed with the feet that it would be useless. - We crept back to our poets In silence.

Even the wounded ceased their moans. We watched the tall figure striding straight through the shadows till it was lost in the gloom. Then came an interval of silence—awftil, appalling—broken at last by a shot ana a wild ononis of yells. In a moment all the demons of the prairie seemed let loose. Shot followed shot: the bowls had something exultant in them. Through the gloom there came a shadow—a tall figure running with a bucket in his hand. Following close behind a myriad of dusky forms, with gleaming knives and clubbed guns. Then our work began.' A continuous sheet of fire belched from the wagons, turned the howling Sioux back on their trail. In a moment more Davis staggered into the triangle with a bucket naif filled with water in his hand The mau from Kentucky left his post to grasp his hand in a grip that would

have crushed weaker bones. * “Mr. Davis,” he said, “yer a man as this party Is proud of.” The bronzed men crouching behind the wagons turned in their places to smile assent. But the hero who had run that gauntlet of fire simply placed the bucket beside the man who had kicked him, and quietly went back to his poet. The Sioux, exasperated by their defeat, kept up a desultory fire through the long grass. Just before dawn they charged again. But the Winchester alone killed three braves before the wagons were reached, and it was convened into a club wielded by a giant. When the morning came the Sioux were found watching our movements gem a safe distance over the prairie. vidently the fight was costing them too dear.

It was determined by the party, in view of the probability of tne Sioux being re-enforced during the day, to beat a retreat. Tne man from Kentucky harnessed Mr. Davis’ mules with his own hand; but when he came to hand the reins to their powder.grimed owner it was found that he was in no condition to receive them. He had been wounded in half a dozen places, and the slow hemmorhage had robbed him of his strength. We lifted him tenderly inte the wagon and began our march. The Sioux circled about us, but kept well out oi range. By midday they had disappeared. It was about this time that tiie man from Kentucky, who had been intently watching his patient for some time, brought his wagon to a sudden halt. Gathering about him, we found Davis with his eyes turned to the sky and a grayish hue stealing over his face. A minute after he reached his hand out to grasp the Kentuckian’s and so journied out into the infinite solitude. We rode in silence. When the shadows of the evening came we dug a rude grave in the prairie and buried Davis out of sight. The man from Kentucky framed his epitaph when he said: “He didn’t seem-of much account at first, but he loomed up powerful toward the last.”

Destructive Effects of Lightning Hartford (Conn.) Times. During the passage of a severe thunder storm over the Town of Vernon. Sunday, lightning struck the house and barn of Ara Fuller, setting four buildings on fire. All, including two barns and two large sheds, were burned down, the house alone escaping. A Grson who saw the discharge of the It says it appeared as though the house and barns were enveloped in a sheet of flame. There were about thirty tons of hay, four acres of rye, and several acres of oats stored. The loss is about $4,500; insured in Tollanu Mutual for $1,500. A valuable cow also was destroyed. Henry Olcott, who has charge of the farm, was attempting to close a window over the porch, when a flash came into the window. It destroyed the sash, glass, blinds and casings, and knocked Mr. Olcott senseless. The right side of his face, breast and arm were blistered. It was a long time before he was restored to consciousness. His daughter was also very severely affected. The effects upon the house are seen.in every room, from garret to cellar. One great hole through the outer wall of tne pantry shows where a bolt came that flung all the dishes inward upon the flour. The daughter of Mrs.- Fuller had just moved her invalid mother from a seat near the cooking stove to another room when the bolt descended. She says a ball of fire rolled across the room under the stove, throwing a chair upon the table, ana mixing things up pro

r o o —r x miscuously. The bolt passed through the floor into the cellar, tearing out a sleeper and came out of the ground again at a point about ten feet from the building, in the barn path, leaving a hole in the ground large enough for a rat to ruu in the whole length. The bolt that entered the pantry wrecked the room completely. It was on the opposite side of the house. The clapboards were, torn off, and a hole almost large enough for a person to crawl through .was torn through the walls. In fact, the work of destruction was thorough. Mr. Oloott’s hat shows a hole at the juncture of the crown and brim where the bolt passed through when it blistered his race, breast and arm. He exclaimed as he fell, “I’m killed,’’ and became unconscious. The house was protected with lightningrods, to conduct the fluid on to it, but these were without adequate means for its escape. There was the trouble.