Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-09-21
"LTTLE DAN"

from Fort Territ, Texas, on the head
waters of the Liano river, to Fort
Mchavette, on the head waters OF
the San Saba, and Fort Mason in
the big bend of the Liano, is about
the same distance to the east, inclos
ing a triangular spot of country
half as large as the State OF Rhode
Island. A continuation of the
Apache Mountains, called by hunt
ers "Gray Horse Hills" incloses a
triangle on the west, and over the
prairie thus shut in the red man is
king.
Six men, none of them hunters
or Indian fighters, but all well arm
ed had been escorted from Fort
Mason to Territ, but on reaching
that point the Indians were found to
be so numerous and troublesome that
a military escort to Fort McKavette
could not he spared. There were
Forty-one soldiers at the post, hardly
enough for its defense, and it was
plain without word from the Colon
el that not man could be spared.
''Thcre are redskins enough be-
tween here and McKavette to de-
stroy a regiment of veterans" he
remarked as the chances were being
canvasssed. "The best scout on the
plains could not ride over thirty
miles day, and he would be almost
certain to lose his scalp before he
was out of sight of his post. Take
this glass and tell me what you see. :"
1t was half an hour before sun
down. The glass revealed Indians
in every direction. Some were rid
ing at swift pace, others notion
less on the knolls, and the fort was
completely encircled.
''There's a thousand if there is
one," continued the colonel, as he
received the glass, Sand l must get
ready for hot times at once"
Those six men had an errand and
a message of the utmost Importance,
and they could not delay. There
were two veteran scouts at the post,
but when offered any sum to pilot
the party through, they shook their
heads and said:
''The hull triangle is chin-deep
and no living white man could avoid
them"
Yet the determination of these
six men to go was not shaken.
"You are lunaticsr' exclaimed
the Colonel, when his arguments
were found to be of no avail, "and
I'll close the gates and keep you
from going"
Nevertheless an hour after night
fall, he came down to where the six
were saddling their horses, and SAID;
''It's nothing less than murder,
but, if you must go, let our little
Dan go long, he knows the route, is
brave and cool-headed, and if you'll
take orders from him, there's one
chance in a thousand that he'll take
you through.
And "Our Little Dan" soon join
ed the party. He wasn't an Indian
or a Mexican, nor yet white man
he was a human being, less than five
feet in height, weighed about ninety
pounds, had long, brown hair, coal
black eyes, a long jaw, sallow
cheeks, and the biggest hand of any
man in Texas. As be stood looking
at the party the Colonel said:
dan, these riders must be at
Fort McKavette at the earliest pos
sible hour; they put themselves un'
der your orders, and you will be
ready in fifteen minutes to start"
The being disappeared in the dark
ness without word, and in ten
minutes he was.at the gate ready to
start. He was mounted on the larg-
est mustang ever seen around any OF
the western forts. He had strapped
on blanket for a saddle, filled hi:
canteen with whisky, and his pock
cts with provisions, and he had 3
Henry rifle, two revolvers, and an
! Arkansas bowie-knife for weapons.
! (which way shall you start out?'
anxiously inquired the Colonel, as
all were ready. ...s
The dwarf pointed straight to-
ward McKavette for reply.
"Well, good 6ye, each one"
As the party passed through the
gate, Little Dan motioned for the
men to ride one behind the other,
and then he spured forward and
took the lead. His mustang went
off at an easy lope, and the pace OF
the other horses was regulated &C
cordingly. He rode with his rifle
resting in front of him, having nc
stirrups and holding no rein, but
guiding the horse entirely by the
pressure of his knees. The feet OF
the horses made scarcely any sound
as they cantered over the thick
grass, and the voice of the prairie
cricket sounded terribly loud anc
harsh to the anxious riders.
Two miles from the post Little
Dan suddenly turned to the left, rode
for twenty rods at faster pace, anC
then came to dead halt.
''Listen," he whispered to the cir
Gle around him, and every ear wa,
strained to catch the slightest sound
In the course of sixty seconds eacf
man plainly made out for himself
that detachment of Indians wa,
passing them not over three hundred
yards away. Dan had been warned
not a second too soon. But tor the
swerve to the left there would have
been a collision and butchery. Fol
three or four minutes, the little banc
sat like statues, and it was a happy
relief when the dwarf whispered
! "Follow each other at a walk.
Seven midnight shadows crept
slowly over the fiower-sprinkleC
grass for a long half hour. Tn,
horses were becoming nervous anC
, impatient when all of a sudden (
halt was made. Little Dams mus
, tang stood looking towards For
McKavette, and he was riderless
The others halted beside him, an,
after minute the dwarf reappeared
!, cover the ridge here in front o
J. us is an Injun camp" he whispered
:. ttOr - bo,J &c IDiuns is breaking