The New York herald., 1874-12-28
TIL E / N DI A N S.
A Bearer Of Herald Dispatches Chased
for His Life.
NINE SAVAGES IN PURSUIT.
Desperate Run Through a Ter
rifle Snow Storm.


FORT SILL, l. T., Dec. 10, 1874.
The thrilling adventures OF Lieutenant Wet
more In his ride TO Camp Supply bearing de.
spatches for the HERALD and General Miles, Is tne
great heroic event OF the season and the talk or
all the officers and soldiers
Accompanied by servant he left General
Miles headquarters on the Washlta to carry de-
spatches 80 Camp supply. Reaching the Canadian
River, he concluded TO leave the train and escort
with which he had been travelling and strike for
Supply, accompanied only by his servant This
was very perous undertaking, as the narrative
WIN snow. Scarcely haa Wetmore and Hamilton,
his servant LETT the train before they saw signs
OF the redskins. But they we're both full OF pluck
and anxious TO reach their destination; and so,
unmindful OF the danger they were In,
DEFIANTLY GALLoPED ON
toward the north. Toward night, on the nth, the
two reached stream where they determined to
camp, but on rounding point came suddenly on
. band Of three redskins who, on seeing the blue
coats, scattered through the brush ike leaves be-
lore winter wind. Here was hazardous posi-
rion for the two men, for they well knew that the
Indians they had met were but stragglers OF still
larger party IN the Immediate neighDorhood. And
SO it proved. Retraclng their steps they put
spurs to their horses only to ride into the midst Of
q party oil nine mounted savages, VINO were
so completely taken by surprise ut the
appearance Of the soldier boys that
they merely turned on their horses and gave one
steady, prolonged stare at the daring intruders.
But Wetmore and mis- companion did not take
the introduction SO cooly. Quickly wheeling their
horses they started down the slope aud out on
the sleety and frozen prairie with the speed OF tho
wind.
THEY WERE IN FOB IT NOW.
one look behind them revealed the savages In
full pursuit. But they had good start. The
wind was blowing gale from the northwest, and
the piercing needles OF sleet drove straight into
their faces with binding fury, but they could
neither stop nor change their course. On went the
fugtlves and on came the blood-thirsty pursuers.,
1t was verltaDle
none OF your dime novel fctiOns, but Hvlng,,
breathing. paipitating, exciting lact. Nine nell,
their scaps: This was the exact situation. and
Wetmore and his companion knew 1t. They also
knew that their horses would not hold out long
against the terrible storm and began TO devise
ways and means 10 sell their lives as dearly as
possible. They thought OF making stand IN the
buffalo walows, when the remembrance OF the
terrible tate OF Chapman and his companions made
them dig IN tne ipyasaos spurs acaeon stle deeper
lasy l. was evident that they could go no further
aud something must be DONE The trai they were
making on the sleety surface told them there was
no escape by light, SO unsllngng their carblnes
they dropped behind small tnlcket and prepared
To
this time darkness had set IN and the storm OF
seet and snow was raging with unaDated Jury
n,ahted men knelt on the irozen crust and waited
lor the appearance OF their savage ioes, OuS tney
came not.
purpose by the terrific storm, or else they mad
come to the conclusion that the market price OF
two scaips would not justify more tnan one or
two twenty-mile heats on stin and slippery pral-
RE. At al events they gave up the chase. Lieu
tenant Wetmore and Hamilton staid behind the
thtcKet all night, narrowly escaping freezing 70
death, and expecting every moment that the
crash OF tomahawE put them out OF their misery
ana end the terrible. terrible suspense
the savages had disappeared, but the beleaguered
men were in another pickle. They were lost in
the pralrle-lost IS eflectually and completely a.
though they we're IN mid-ocean. The storm
howied as ferccly as it did during the night BY
nothing in tile heavens above or the earth be-
Meath could the points OF the compass ue deter
mined. Weary frozen, hungry and discouraged,
the wanderers began 10 ieel that tnelr miraculous
OF the inevitable. Finally, seeing that they were
completely bewdered, they struck for the near
est stream aud followed tt to the mouth. IL.
emptled ln,o larger one, and thus these men kept
Oh UNTIL
they succeeded in striking the old tran nifty miles
| south OF Camp Supply. Forty miles from the post
they met the cavalry out IN search OF them, and
were escorted TO quarters, having been nearly
three days without ood, and with their clothing
frozen tight to their bodies 1t was
A MOST THRILLING AND EXCITING ADVENTURE,
told as 1t was by the bronzed Lieutenant, stu clad
! III his rough woollen shirt, cavalry boots and
pants, the stripes OF wnicn proclaimed the wear
and tear OF the race through the underbrusn 1t only
wanted the charm OF camp fire to finish the
word-plcture OF one OF the most exciting ad-
! ventures OF the Indian campaign. Lieutenant
wetmore says mis- hands and feet were badly lrost-
bitten, but otherwise he is good health and spirits.
Hamilton, his companion IN the adventure, has
not yet arrived from the lrontier OWING to MS ex-
hausted condition.
In apologizlng by letter for falling to carry my
correspondence Tor the HERALD as quickly through
as he expected when starting, Lieutenant Wet
"My God IL was the liveliest ride I've had yet.
was forced rom the trail and tried as well as
could to regain 1t without succeeding, and dur
ing all this time had TO ride against u terrific
storm; MY horse played out aud was finally
brought to bay. 1 expected every minute they
would be upon me ana that would have to dis
mount ana fight 1t out TO the end.
81 thought OF tue long louked-for bal, and the box
on the right OF the stage that, alas IL seems
never was to see Finding nlgnt now impossible
made for a small ciump OF trees, ana fastening our
horses my servant and knet down behind Them
to receive the attack. Fortunately for us the saw
ages stopped the pursuit suppose they thought
the storm too severe to push on further against IT,
Then laay all That night almost frozen to death.
NV coat and everything else was stlf No stars
were out, and could not tell which was north. |
was lost Next morning the storm continued.
and as there was no sun was IN as
storm was from the north originally, and that II
IT mad not changed direction that by beating
was afraid 70 try 1t, though in daylight, lest be
discovered. However about Two p, NJ. next day,
Things mao sOb 10 De so desperate tnat fnadd the
attempt. About sundown reached the VOL, and
following IL eastward, finally reached Bailey in
camp. MY feet and hands were slightly frozen,
but am all right again now.
"By Jove Il 1t isn't a mean feeling to be chased
that way by so many, expecting every minute to
be overtaken, and knowing that there was
no aid within nfty miles, and that wnen
finally at bay and surrounded you must shoot
yourself TO torture. | did not reach supply
until the 2lst, being so played out as TO nave to
remain with Bailey and his train. met a troop of
cavalry on the road when about ten miles from
Supply coming out after me and expecting to find
only my dead body. Quite an excitement was
kicked no at the post In consequence. ~ got out
at Dodge, and am AFRAID my friends may hear Of
it.n
GOT T0RED. MASONRY