Crossing the Plains, Days of '57

stock might be prevented from drinking the dangerous river water, also for the reason that the clumps of willows by the stream could

he Humboldt River. Their train was next behind ours when, on the evening of August 13th, after rounding up their stock for the

several emigrant camps at points varyi

in a small tent near the wagons; Jerry Bush, Mrs. Holloway's brother, and one of the hired men, Joe Blevens, in

ttlebaugh, and a man whose name is now unknown. These four had been trave

st to arise. While making the camp-fire, he ca

one more night without

e shots, fired from the willows along t

o their feet and came within view of the assailants, the firing continued, killing Joe Blevens, Mrs. Callum, and the ma

hidden in the bushes, and Jerry's shots were fired merely at places where he saw the tall weeds and willows

red to shield himself from the bullets and arrows of the Indian band. He succeeded in dragging himself to the river bank, when, seizing a willow branch, he lowered himself to the foot of the steep cliff, some

his entire party, except himself. Observing the body of at least one woman, a

ld. For a moment she was partially shielded by the wagons. The first object that drew her attention was her husband's form, lying still in death, near the fire he had just kindled. Next beyond was the dead body of Blevens, and a little farther away were the remains of the others who had been

supplication, yielded

vely about, as if to be sure there was no man left to defend the camp. As they drew nearer Mrs. Holloway realized that sh

mercy; with the child on one arm, one hand raised in supplication, yielded finally to the impulse to flee. As she started

d her flesh with the jagged instruments, as a test whether physical sensation would disclose a sign of life remaining. She lay with eyes closed; not a muscle twitched nor a finger moved, whil

ove to be the last nor the most revolti

ed out on the wheels of a wagon. To this last act in the fiendish drama there was probably no witness other than the actors in it; but the child's body, mangl

a mile distant. This caused the Indian band to retreat. They crossed the river, and then placing themselves behind the willows, hurried away, making their escape into the mountain fastnesses. Owing to their precip

semi-consciousness some time later, her condition was such that she was unable to tell the story then; but there were evidences showing plainer than words

best interment that the circumstances permitted. Then the broken and scattered effects of the Holloway company were gat

ed. They were successful in recovering about one hundred of the one hundred and fifty head of stock which the Indians had endeavored to drive away.

not delay the relief parties more than a day after the attack, and the wound healed within a few weeks

the Feather River. After partially recuperating there, an uncle, Mr. Perry Durban, came to their aid, and they were taken to Suisun. After full recovery fro

is located, a few miles west of Battle Mountain. This becomes apparent by careful estimates of distance traveled per day,

Bush

alifornia. The people attending a service were in a small opening among trees. Standing back of those who wer

r. Bush, a prosperous farmer, and had been present when she married Mr. Holloway, in a little schoolhouse, near Rockport, Atchison County, Missouri. It seemed a natural impuls

ssing perfect control of her faculties. Her head was covered by a wig, made of he

m in the exact order of their occurrence. The recalling of the terrible ordeal, however, so wrought upon her emotions that

ing away of her mental powers, and still later of her death, at Napa City; caused primaril

cy Hollo

upon Mrs. Holloway, and refrain from disclosing to her tormentors that she was alive. But that she did so endure was her positive sta

s presented here a picture of Mrs. Nancy Holloway, wife of Smith Holloway.