The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-06-09
ONE TERRIBLE ADVENTURE.
Indian Fcrocity--An,bushrl, shnt, Srulrrd
and ltntlIntcd.

!
and AintIIHtrd.
The Chicago 27Dcs says: On April
5th, last, tr,lin left Cantonmcnt Reno,
Wyoming Territory, fur Fort Ftttermnn
for gruiu. They GlIcampcd ut tile Dry
Forks Of Powder river, about sixteen
miles from tile cantOnmcnt, the first
night out, several citizens who hal been
working ut Reno, anil who Ind been dis
charged, accompanying the train.
Crooks trail runs in at tile forks, and the
next morning the citizens left the trim
on the Fctterman roal. They starterl
for DcadwO0l on the trail ria Pumpkin
buites anti 1nyGn Karl, 4 soldier Of
lie Ninth infantry accompanying them,
he having left the tnin without author
ity. On the second day ont, abont four
miles northeast Of the buttes, about five
o'clock in tho afternoon, they were fired
upon by nmbushed IndiauN. To use the
tic survivors words "The first I. knew
was like M explosion, crack crack !!
Smith and I were walking side by side,
and old man Rand was leading the pack.
cd animal. Smith was killed instantly,
the slot striking him in the back of the
head, coming ont OF his. forehead. Tie
old man was shot in the left lung, and,
wonderful to say, tho shot struck my
gun Just back of tho head, glanced down
the ramrod, struck tho trigger guard,
and entered my shoulder, indicting
painful wound. As soon ms coull realize
my position. I Immediately fell flat
down and loadedmy gun. Unfortunately
for the old man, he was in an exposed
position, and being severely wounded
could not crawl to the buffalo wallOw
which, fortunately, was only few feet
to the left. When the Indians first fired
they were only about two hundreds yards
from us. As soon as the old man lad
been killed the firing ceased, and, think
ing that they were trying TO surround
me, I ran about forty feet further to
ravine, which subsequently proved to be
the only possible safe place for me. The
sun was now nearly down. and I was
very faint from loss Of blood, when,
providentially looking around, near MY
feet was snow water, from which 1 re-
treshed myself.
"As soon as tho sun hnd gonG down I
made all preparations for my escape, but
something told me I had better stay.
About eight o'clock that evening 1 saw
two fires about 100 yards on the knoll
from ME, md twelve Indians came down
to where tho bodies were, carrying the
fires, which seemed TO he composed
Of some rcsinous matter. They alI car-
ried their guns with them, and were on
foot. On coming to the bodies, they set
their fires down, and proceeded to scalp
and nutilate the bolics Of my eompan-
ions. all this time I was only fifteen
feet from them. could have killed two
of them easily, but l knew that would
be sure death to Inc, us they would have
held council and starved me out. AZ.
ter cutting nud hacking the bot;cs for
about m hour, they retired behind the
knoll. l now began t. feel very clld
ind weak. I'had NJ coat on, nnIl only
government shirt on. alId was afraid l
would catch cold in my wound. 1be-
gan to consider what l llad better do. I
Iad fifty miles to walk to the fort, the
nearest place Of civilization, with moth
ing to cat and n painful wound. I con-
cludetl, finally, to stay until carly day
break, and then take my chances. l nc
corlingly waited till about four and Il
half o'clock, when I crawlcd out of my
hole tIiat I had made, aud cautiously, on
Lands and knees, went to the brow of the
hill. 10 my intense delight, 1 saw the
TndinLs about quarter OF n mile away,
going away i'll the direction Of the Red
Cloud agency. I have NO doubt tho ln-
dians were 0hcyennes, for they were
very large men, not ono of them being
less than six feet high. 1 started for
Reno right away, and met thcnail purity
TINT evening Mt eight o'clock, nt the Dry
Forks, and got into Reno the next day
mt twelve o'clock, nearly leNd with pain
md exhaustion"