The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-11


once made arrangements to pursue them.
They followed the trail all that day, and
finally came up to the Indians about four
o'clock, at q point about fifteen miles
southwest Of Kandivohi Lakes, and fully
forty miles from where the robbery was
committed. The horses were seen hitch
ed in the center Of big prairie, and on
advancing cautiously, the Indians were
discovered taking . nap under blAnkst,
There we're no trees or bushes within sew
eral miles of them, and they had no chance
to conceal themselves. Our boys instant
ly surrounded them and fred their car
bines at the savsges, probably wounding
them both. They sprsng up, and atonce
began desperate resistance, as they were
both armed. aud loaded and fred with
great rspidity. One Of them was an old
Indian, apparently about forty years old,
the other being young warrior, but both
seemed determined to die game.
A rain had fallen during the day and
wet the carbines of the Rangers, so that
it was with difficulty they fred them
Besides this their horses became alarmed
at the firing. and could not be brought
up to the scratch. Only two of the boys,
Frank Farnham and w. Crane, succeed
ed 10 forcing their horses up TO the work,
and at the beginning they mainly carried
on the skirmish with their carbines and
revolvers. The Indians fred IL times
the Did one who had double barrel gun,
eight times and the other one four times.
At the beginning Of the fray. one of the
Rangers above mentioned, who did not
know that the old man had q double bar
relied gun rushed on him just after he
fred once, but perceiviDg that he had an
other barrel ready to FIRE, tried to wheel
his horse, but failing to do 80, threw him
self of on the aide opposite Mr.. Sioux.
and wss looking out to watch his move
men.s. The old Indian ran around to the
side he was on, and before he was per-
ceivsd, placed his gun within three feet
of the rangers body, aud fired. The
ball struck his left breast just over the
heart, and glanced off, fortunately ma
king only painful flesh wound At
this second ranger ran up and shot the
old Indian through the body, and was im-
mediately shot in turn by the young In
dian, the bah going through the calf of
his leg, but not breaking the bones.
The other rangers had now got their
horses and guns in working order, and
poured 4 voiley or two at the savages,
who, notwithstan ding their wounds, still
fought 6ercely. The old Indian finally
received bullet which gave him his pass
port to the "happy hunting grounds. p
When his body was examined he was
found to have been shot eight times, eth
81 one of the wounds being probably suf-
6cient to have proved mortal.
Tbs other Indians right arm was bro
ken by shot during the skirmish, when
be at once dropped his gun and held up
his arm us much as to aek for quar-.
ter. One of the boys tried very humane
ly to relieve this poor Indian of his mise
ry by shooting him, but his carbine miss
ed fire. MIR. Indian now acted as If he
was supplcating for mercy. The ran.
ger sdid' DIT see it, in that light, but seiz.
ing him on his knees, gave the savage
his quietus with blow from the barre
of his carbines. Trophies from their bod
les were secured, and their carcasses Civ
en- to the wolves and buzzards. The OLE
Indian was probably "fhedicine man.
as medicine bag was found on him. III,
fought desperately, and indeed, probably
in the whole chronicles of border warfar,
with these savages, a more fierce comba
is nowhere recorded.