Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-05-10

0QlAN, q WOAittA& ANtSS, NhAO WV
would pass him by as having only
woman's courage. And yet Buff
falo Bill, Texas jack, nor any of
the other historic mdias fghters ey-
er displayed the cool courage and
steady nerve which that boy from
Wayne County exhibited one day
last November as Re went out from
Dcadwood City to visit brother in
camp seven or eight miles away
lie was called boy then, and now
TO tell you why they changed his
name to ''the nian from Michigan. ="
The boy, whose home name is
Willard King, was armed with q
Henry ritlea revolver and a light hat.
chet, and he set out to pursue his
journey on foot. There were Indians
above and below and around Dead
wood. They had killed two men on
lY the day before, and were known
TO be lurking on the paths and trails.
Young King was strongly advised
against leaving the town, but having
heard that his brother was very sick
he was determined to go. lie left
Deadwood about nine O'Clock in the
morning, there being three or foHr
inches of snow On the ground.
Its like throwing that gun and
revolver into the sea, say nothing
of bis being scalped," remarked one
Of the miners as the boy set out, and
some of the men said it was shame
for such good weapons TO be carried
TO the Indians.
The boy felt safe enough until a
Snile or two out of Deadwood, when
he grew more cautious. His route
S lay over hills, through broken ground
and along valley, being mapped
by compass and no trail to follow.
: Three miles from Deadwood he heard
the neigh of horse, and he at once
hurried fro:n the open ground to the
shelter of timber. Speeding along
for half mile at ''dcg trot" he
became certain tina thet Indians were
on his trail. He had seen no signs
and had heard nothing but the neigh
OF the horse, but he had PRESENT.
ment, as it were, that the red men
Had taken his broad trail and were
liter him. King made for higher
ground and soon obtained the shelter
OF mass Of rocks, winch could not
handily approached, except from one
direction. He intended to secrete
himself until certain that his trail
was or was not followed, and he had
not long to wait. In the course of
saven or.eight minutes nine Indians
walking in single file, appeared in
.yieu, following his steps st fast
walk.
King could have retreated had he
so desired, but the prospect Of a
fight did not frighten him. The |
odds were largely against him, but |
the boy had nerve, a good position,
and he deliberately opened the bat
lie. The sayages did not know how |
close they were to him until bull
Jet from his rifle cut the jugular vein /
cf the FIRST one and bdried itself in
The shoulder of tie next. The first
leaped from his feet and fell back
corpse, while the second went down,
bat scrambled up again and took
cover along with the Gthers, so bad
ly wounded that lie could take no
part in the desperate fighting which
followed. The Indians at first
thought The bcg had joined two or
three hunters, but after making
circle around his position they found
lie was entirely alone, and they open
ed Ere on him from three different
points. lie was safe enough in his
retreat. and waited to let them ex-
laust their ammunition. AS their
FIRE slackend lie obtained sight of
one Of them and shot him through
the head.
The idea of n boy having killed
two Of their number and wounded
a third drove the remaining six
sayages to desperation, and they left
the cover of their trees and charged
On his position, yelling ferceIy as
they advanced on run. He had
not expected such maneuver, but
was not taken altogether by sur
prise. lie wounded one of them in
the wrist by shot from his rife,
and when thIy were upon him he
threw down his gun ard peppered a.
way with his revolver.
They were right upon me, and
re were all blazing away at once,''
he afterwards explained, but the boy
WAS too many for them. The cow
ardly reds retreated after moment,
having wounded King in the side, in
the leg and in the cheek. In return
two Of them carried away some of
of his lead, but were not too badly