who came into view was fired on, these missles were apt to fall short, though many of the lighted ones lodged upon the roof, setting fire to the shingles. In that case the fire was extinguished by guards in the attic, who poked off the brands with long sticks, extinguished a blaze with brine from a pork barrel applied with a tin cup, or cut out the ignited patch of roof with axe and saw. During the long day there was no cessation of the siege, no rest for the besieged. It was agreed by all in the store that should they be burned out, they would make a rush for a flatboat that lay in front of the building, and go over the falls in her, such a death being preferable to falling into the hands of the Indians.
The suddenness of the attack had left no time for preparation, even for procuring from the river, on whose brink they were, a supply of water. All the drinking fluids in the store were a few bottles of whisky and two dozen of ale, which were consumed before night. If the weary and gasping garrison, or the wounded, hoped that night might bring them relief from their torture, they were disappointed, for the Indians had calculated upon this, and reserved for burning some of the largest buildings, so to light the scene that escape or sortie would be impossible. However, during the night a young Spokane, who had been brought up by Mr. Sinclair, stripped himself naked, and slipping down a slide to the wharf, procured a single bucket of water, returning in safety; but the action was too dangerous to be repeated.
With the return of day the besieged looked for the Mary and Wasco to appear, bringing relief, but no relief came; and this day, like the first, was spent in unrelaxing vigilance. No water and little food was had. When the second night came there was repeated the illumination of fires, whose glare did not die out until almost daylight. About four o'clock on the morning of the twenth-eighth, the Spokane boy again offered his services, under the cover of darkness to procure water, and the body of Mr. Sinclair
