The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-16
How the Sioux Fight.

luTe, lie SlOuX were I'LL y pleHllulV
mounted. and so long as pressed did
much of their firing on horseback.
Some of the most reckless feats of
equestrianism imaginable were per-
formed by them within range of the
broadsides of an entire company. In
numerous instances one OF two warri-
ors dashed out from behind their cover
of rocks, Rugged close to the neck of
the pony, and half bounded, half tum-
bled down the nearly vertical banks af-
ter bold Crow, Snake or white skirm
Usher. delivered shot or two. aud like
fash disappeared in spite of volleys
sent after them. Up hill OF down, over
rocks, through canyons and in every
conceivable dangerous condition of af
fairs their break-neck. devil-may care
riding was accomplished. One reck
less brave got badly pressed by the cav
airy at a certain point in the field. and
jerking out his bowieknife. he saslcd
apart his saddle-gir slipped it with all
its trappings from under him while his
pony was at full speed, and thus unin-
numbered made his escape. So closely
did the Indians approach our skirmish
ers at times that they inflicted several
wounds with battle-aXes, lances and ar
rows, and iii one or two instances they
closed in upon Il brave soldier and got
his scalp before comrades could rush
forward to the rescue. They repeated
ly courtcd death by endeavoring to Sc
cure the bodies of their own dead. One
instance of this kind was plainly visi-
bic to many of us. An Indian riding
along the edge of bluff was, with his
pony, made the target for dozens of ri
fles, and rider, pony and all. finally tum-
bled head over heals down the hillside
Two braves Immediately rallied forth
for the body of their defunct brother,
but one Of these also fell before it was
reached. The other seemed to think
one live Indian better than two dead
ones. and hastily scrambled heaven
ward. Another warrior met him, how
ever, and persuaded him to go along on
second trial. About the time the
bodies were reached q pony was shot,
and both Indians, then thoroughly de-
moralized, made for cover and reached
it in safety One thing is an absolute
certainty, and that is the fact that the
Sioux had staked O great deal on this
battle, and that their fighting was con-
scquently little less than savage frenzy
or the fighting of demons"
ENCHANTMENT OF DIsTANCE.-TO live
with people is to discover their faults
it is better then not to live with them.
TO come together in the same village,
town or city, is the ruin of some excel
lent friendships, which would have gone
on happily during life with short rail
way journey for each visit. Woe be-
tide certain acquaintances whose aspect
is mutually pleasant seen from opposite
corners of the same street if they be-
come next door neighbors. No greater
mistake can be made than for persons
to suppose that, because they are friend
ly with one another at this or that dis
lance of removal, they will become in.
creasingly friendly in proportion rs they
draw higher. Few of us can support
with credit too intimate a friendship.
Numbers of family quarrels have arisen
merely because the members came to.
gether too often; many u friendship has
ended forever owing to the parties hav-
ing met every evening for week, in
stead of interposing at least two blank
nights. A very nice chronology obtains
in the matter. Aunt Mary is charm.
ing visitor at intervals of about three
years; if she came each Summer she
would be intolerable You rather like
your brother Johns children if you
don't 20 there oftener than once in three
months. 1t is all very we'll to hear
talks about eternal friendships. Some
people can only be intimate and remain
friendly with some other people for half
an hour ut time. Who has not OBJ
served the part played by time in visits
of some length to friends at distance?
How agreeable some persons are on the
second day, but they begin to change
before the next has fully run out Some
are never quite SO nice as on the even
ing of the first day; although these
same persons generally make partial
amends by Frightening up brilliantly
during the last few Lours or minutes of
your stay, and are wholly perfect at the
moment of your departure.
A PLUcKY PAssENGER.-D. M. Nc
Curdy, commercial traveller, hailing
from Kansas City, is credited by the
Demrer Ne,cs, with an unusually plucky
deed. The driver Of six-horse stage
coach, in which he was an inside passen-
ger, got down from the box at place
called Fall river, leaving the reins in the
hands of an invalid, and during his alb
sence the team ran away, and the man
on the box was unable to hold the
reins. As the coach was full Of men,
women and children, there was extreme
danger of serious loss Of life. In the