The Portland daily press., 1874-11-04
A Story of Crave Deeds.

In detailed report OF bis Sec0nd uBnt with
the Indians Gen. Miles makes the following
startling recital:
deem it but duty to brave men and faith
fui soldiers to bring to the snotice OF the high
est mlltafy authority an Instance of indomlta-
BILE courage, skill and true heroism on the part
OF detachment from this command, with the
request that the actors be rewarded and their
faithfulness and bravery be recognized. On
tne nlgnt OF the 10th inst, party, consisting
Peter Roth, company A; John Harrington,
company III, ard George w. Smith, company
M, Sixth cavalry, and scouts Amos Chapman
and VIM. Dixon, were sent as bearers of dis
patch from this command, on Mcclellan creek,
Texas, to Camp Supply. Indian Territory.
At six a. m. ON the 10th, when approaching
the Wachita river, they were met and sur
rounded by band of 125 Indians, Kiowas and
Comanches, who had recently left their agency,
and at the first attack all were struck, Smith
mortally and three others severely wounded.
Although inclosed on all sides and by over
whelming numbers, one of them succeeded,
while they were under severe fire at short
range, and while the others with their rifles
were keeping the Indians at bay, in digging
with his knife and hands slight cover After
this had been secured they placed themselves
within it, the wounded walking with brave and
painful efforts, and Private Smith, though be
had received mortal wound, was sitting up
right within the trench to conceal the crippled
condition of their party from the Indians, from
early morning until dark, outnumbered twenty
five to one, under almost constant fire, and at
such short range that they somtimes used their
pistols, retaining their last charge to prevent
capture and torture this little party OF five de-
Tended their dying companion without food,
and their only drink was ram water that col
lected in pool, mingled with their own blood.
There is no doubt but that they killed more
than double their number besides those
|, that were wounded. The Indians abandoned
the attack on the 18th. The exposure and dis
tance from the command which were necessary
incidents of their duty, were such that for
thirty hours from their first attack their
condition could not be known, and not till
midnight of the 18th could they receive medi-
cal attendance or food, being exposed during
that time to an incessant cold storm. Sergeant
Marshall, private Harrington and scout Chap
man were seriously wounded Private Smith
died Of his wounds on the morning of the 18th.
Private Roth and scout Dixon were struck and
disabled. The simple recital of their deeds
and the mention OF the odds against which
they fought and how the wounded defended the
| dying, and the dying aided the wounded by ex-
posure to fresh wounds after the power of te-
| tion was g0ne-these alone present q scene Of
cool courage, heroism and self sacrifice which
| duty as well as inclination prompts US 10 re-
c0gnize, but which we cannot duly honor.
ATTEMPT To KILL THE AGENT OF THE New
YORK SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF VICE.
The attempt, made few days since, to kill
Mr.. Anthony j. Comstock, agent of the New
York Society for the Prevention of Vice, and
also agent of the Uaited States government for
the prevention of the transmission of obscene
matter through lhe mails, has aroused a pro-
found feeling of Indignation in New York and
Brooklyn. M. Comstock was taking to Jail
man named Convoy, against whom he had sew
eral charges when the latter drew dirk knife
and inflicted a deep cash in Mr.. Comstock's
| face extending from the temple to the chin.
In the Clinton Avenue church of. which Mr..
Comstock is member, Rev. DIR. Burlington
announced the outrage from the pulpit, and do
| tailed the circumstances of it to the male mem-
bers of the congregation who met in the lecture
room at his request after the close Of his SER
vices. DIR. Burlington spoke in terms of the
highest praise OF Mr.. Comstock's courage and
success in his warfare on vile literature. After
remarks by other members of the congregation
a committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Bud
| ington, Gen. III. w. Socum and Messrs. Ell
well, Libby and Hall, was appointed to draft
resolutions expressing the sympathy of the
church and society with Mr.. Comstock, and to
| devise means for increased and certain fnan-
cial support of the society, of which Mr..
Comstock is the agent.
Mr.. Comstock's wound is very serious but
it is expected he will recover if erysipelas does
not set in, though he will bear the scar through
l;fa .r-..