Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/457



through the deep drifts and plunged into icy waters that filled the ravine and sloughs.

Monday, the 30th of March, they had been out three days, and it was doubtful whether the wounded, or women and children, could survive another night, so deplorable was their condition. Toward noon they sighted in the distance a party approaching, which they had no doubt were the pursuing Indians. It was felt by all that escape was impossible. But Morris Markham, John Bradshaw and Jareb Palmer were not men to abandon the helpless or tamely surrender. A hurried consultation was held and it was determined to divide the guns among the men who were not disabled. John Bradshaw volunteered to advance upon the Indians with six loaded guns and pick them off one by one at long range as they approached. Markham, Palmer and the other men remained with the women, children and wounded to defend them to the last. Brave John Bradshaw advanced alone, placed his loaded guns in easy reach, cocked his rifle and sternly watched the approach of the enemy. Every eye of the fugitives was fixed upon him as they awaited the hopeless conflict. Suddenly a loud shout and signals from the advancing party proclaimed them friends. It was the advance guard of Major William’s Relief Expedition coming to their aid. In order to protect themselves from the fierce north wind, they had drawn shawls and blankets about their heads, thus resembling Indians in their wrappings. Language cannot describe the emotions of the suffering fugitives, as the sudden transition from hopeless terror to the joy of rescue came over them. As they came nearer, S. J. Church, who was one of the party, recognized among the fugitives his wife and children, whom he had feared were victims of the massacre. Another of the party, J. M. Thatcher, now learned from Markham of the butchery of his child and the probable worse fate of his young wife taken into captivity. Everything in their power was now done by the relief party for the comfort of the sufferers.