The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-07-31

One OF the most sangninary fights
with Indians, SO far as the number of
white men engaged in IL il concerned,
that We have any record OF, took place
on Friday last near the south fork Of
the Little Missouri. The facts, as we
CLEANED them from one of tbe--partici-
pants, who reached Gayyille iast even
ing and is now stopping with his for
mer partner, are as follows: About
two weeks ago party OF ninety-eight
men aud two ladies', made up of parties
from Deadwood, Gayville and other adj
jacent camps hereabouts, started fer
the big horn country, with riding and
pack animals. One week ago yester-
day (Friday), IN the afternoon, when
nearing the brakes OF the south fork
of Little Missouri, they discovered
large band OF Indians dismounted, the
latter having their tponies of n couple
of miles from where they were seen.
The miners anticipating an attack, inn
mediately took their shovels, each man
throwing up breastwork from which
he could fight 10 better advantage. At
three o'clock p. NJ. the Indians in large
numbers commenced the attack by sew
'eral feints upon the miners. reserying
their main charge until about . o'clock.
BY this time the miners we're thorough
ly organized, each one unpacking his
animal. The Indians charged on the
miners on foot, al one time approach.
ing within 200 yards OF the eutrenehed
miners. The latter poured round af-
ter round Of murderous fire into the
Indians from behind their breastworks
For a time the fight was extremely hot,
the Indians displaying more than their
usual daring and discretion, but the
well-directed and effective fire from the
well armed miners, was incessant and
death dealing for several hours, when
the Indians withdrew.
After the fight it was discovered that
fourteen Of the miners were killed, all
OF them, with one exception, shot IN
the head. Eighteen OF the miners an
imals were killed or wounded sutli-
ciently Ia render them useless. One
hundred and sixteen Indians bodies
lay on the bnttle-ie as a trophy Of
the unerring craftsmanship Of the
miners. Ten Indian horses that were
of from the larger herd and close TO
the miners were picked of 10y the long
range rifles of the miners. The only
portion of the miners bodies that were
exposed were their heads. as they fired
from behind their temporary earth
On Saturday morning,
after a redistribution Of the packs OF
the animals killed, the party proceed
eel on their journey. As they are de
sireous OF keeping the affair quiet, so
as not to discourage the several large
parties now organizing for the Big
Horn country, the fight has been kept
from the public. Our informant was
three days making the return trip TO
Gayville.
This fight will have the effect Of de
monstrating 10 the Indians that, while
they may with impunity and without
much fear attack immigrants and Unit
ed States troops. they miss their calcn-
lation when they attack party Of old
and frontiersmen. II Is
our candid opinion that the parties
here who are now about starting for
the Big Horn country can pursue their
journey uumulested, as the Indians
are quick TO discover the diiierance be-
tween attacking a lot Of men who had
IN that kind Of warfare and
those who know nothing about their
tactics and are liable 10 become demor-
allied. - Black Hills Champion