Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-11-25
A THRILLING INDIAN ADvEN-
TUkE.
Two Men Killod-Miracul0us Escape
of the Third.
Fort Fetteman. W. t., (Nos. y Correspondents
of the Cheyenne Leader.

Of the Cheyenne Leader.
On Thursday last three men -McKan.
ma, McAllister and Wentworth, of Conn
pany K. Second Calvary. went out from
this post hunting, night overtakiDg them
near the entrance to La Prelle Canon, ff-
teen miles from here, they turned into a
secluded glen, stationed one OF their num-
Der to {. atch, and the other two made
down their bed and went to sleep side by
side. About midnight, it being cold,
the Waterman made fire. Fatal mistake !
Soon after this he laid down by the side
Of his comrades doubtless not intending
to go to sleep. One of his comrades
(Wentworth). awakening for moment,
warned him of his imprudence, but re-
ceived an assurance that all was WE'LL and
again fell asleep 1t is probable the SEN
tiuel did the same.
A few minutes afterward a terrific dis
charge of firearms, from every side of the
sleepers, in such close proximity that the
powder burned their faces, proved the
folly of their watchers feeling of security.
Que of the men, McKanna. did not move
"a ball had pierced bis temple. another
his heart and four had entered his breast.
Death itself had succeeded its counterfeit.
McAilister sprang up with a single excla-
NATION, and fell biseA-a<ad. pierced by IA
dozen bullets. Wentworth, who was
sleeping between the two, was not scratch
ed. Being a man of great nerve and
much experience with the Indians. his
plans were instantly matured, and as
quickly executed. Selling his pistol as
he slipped from the side of his dead com
rades, he shot the Indian who confronted
him as he rose; jumped over his PROSTATE
body; knocked down the next in bis path
with the butt of the weapon; lodged the
rest; sprang in among the ponies, from
which the savages had dismounted, and
running through the herd, gained the
creek. and under cover of its friendly
bushes escaped his pursuers, and came
barefoot over the jagged rocks and prickly
pears to the post, where be arrived at
about six o'clock, in a condition to move
the heart of the most unfeeling The
flesh of his heels and the balls of his feet
we're worn to the bone, and on their raw
surface he had made most of his terrible
march for life.
On receipt of the information. the COM
pany instantly proceeded to the place,
and found the lodes as be had desclibetl
but, strange to say, neither scalped nor
mu:ilated. Stranger still, their guns.
ammunition. overcoats, saddles, and bed
blankets. were all there undisturbed One
of their horses had been shot and left,
the other three were taken off by the In
dams.
Captain Egan was accompanied by
Black Ccal and another Arrapahoe of
Medicine Mans band. who assisted him
materially in deciphering the trail and
reading the signs of the war party. Jose
Meraveil, the post guide. was also of the
party. and is we'll versed in such matters.
He aud Black Coal agree that the facts of
the Indians not taking the guns and other
property is attributed to their having a
quarrel among themselves over the divis-
ion Of the spoils, which may have been
settled by the chief having them leave -ev-
thing there. They estimate the force al
about sixty, and say all the indications
show them to have been Sioux, and pro-
badly of Red Clouds band
The story Of Wentworth's escape may
be deemed rather hard to swallow, but it
is true, nevertheless, as any of the Off
GERS of his company will readily avouch
Nor is it the first thrilling adventure Of
which he has been the hero Though
but private soldier. he is an old from
tiersman, and possesses the esteem and
confidence of his officers to an unusual
degree He is "a dead shot man with
out fear, well skilled III Indian tactics,
and fairly entitled to rank with those men
of whom Kit Carson was the uncqualled
chief. He says this is the most unaccouut-
able Of all his escapes, and we doubt not
in after years. when the cd soldiers, chill
dren relate to their children the stories OF
his adventures this one will be received
with some allowance, however faithfully
narrated