Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-05

IL you SnOOC StfalSnJ we III give tneSe
devils a chance to attend dozen funer-
ais at home"
Not shot had thus far been fired by
the party. Two or three mounted Indi-
ans had been encountered, sitting in
their saddles, and wondering over the
alarm, but they had been knocked down
and leaped over like so many boys. The
little band were quarter Of mile
ahead of pursuit as they whirled to the
right, and made for the hundred camp
fires mile away.
Six abreast, now, follow mel" shout
ed the dwarf. I want to charge right
through the center Of the village, and [
will kill as many as all Of you can
wound! Fire at everything on legs, and
keep yelling like devils!"
Had they kept on down the ravine, it
would have simply been test of speed
between horses, with odds in favor of
the white men. Little Dan had doubled
back on their track instead Of running
away, and was headed for big village
alive with excitement The Indians
kept along the ravine, not yet having
caught sight Of the pursued, but still
knowing that they were chasing white
men.
Now raise a Yell" shouted Dan, as
the band neared the village" raise the
worst yell you can, and don't forget to
keep shooting!"
His peculiar scream was again sent
forth, and the other six riders hurrahed
at the top of their voices. Dan and his
mustang were wonderful sight. The
animal forged ahead at steady gait, his
ears laid back and his mouth wide open,
and he swerved aside for nothing He
jumped blazing fire, ran directly over
lodge, picked up boy in his teeth and
flung him aside, and every instant utter
ing a neigh, which was almost roar of
rage.
A revolver in either hand. Little Dan
swung himself from side to side, blowing
warrior brains out on the right, and
then sending bullet through the head
OF an old man or squaw on the left.
Pop! pop! pop! rang his revolver, and
above the awful din created in the sur
prised and frightened camp could be
heard his wild yells and the tigerish
neigh of his mustang. The six fired as
they could, sweeping a trail of death
forty feet wide through the village
Hardly a shot was fired in return, but
one of the few sent after them struck
and mortally wounded bronze-faced,
grizzly-haired veteran, who was three
times hit at Antietam. He fell forward
clung to his horse, and when the band
halted on the prairie beyond the village
he fell to the ground.
In three minutes we shall have two
hundred bowling fends after us" said
Little Dan, as he dismounted This
man is fatally wounded and he'll be dead
in half an hour. We can't take him
along, and we can't stop here"
While he was talking he was busy
searching the wounded mans pockets.
Watch, money, photographs Of loved
ones, revolver and sabre were taken and
distributed among the party in thirty
seconds, and then the dwarf bent down
and asked
Comrade, can you speak,"
" | understandable all right! was
the whispered reply.
$ Here's your rifle, " said Dan. 8 If the
Injuns run upon you, shoot yourself! If
they don't find you for an hour, you will
be dead Goodbye. God forgive you
and us; but it's the only way!"
Leaping to the back of his mustang,
he turned for the White Horse Hills"
just as terrible wall of sorrow, mingled
with cry for vengeance, rose on the
cool night air from the village. The
horses had not galloped a mile before
they were pulled up. The band was safe
for a moment, and each heart was heavy
at the thought of the comrade dying
among the trampled flowers. Each head
was bent that way, and each ear heard
the rush of Indians in that direction.
They rode as straight for the dying man
as if it had been broad noon-day. A
sudden shout proved that they had
found him, but it was hardly raised be-
fore the report OF rifle echoed across
the prairie.
9 He was brave man." whispered
Little Dan.
God pity the poor ones at home!"
added the others, and they rode forward
at full speed, knowing that they had not
one chance in ten of reaching Fort Nc
Kavette.
DuU lHCy ulu IcdCIl IL dllcI udyS VI
riding, hiding, starving and thirsting, and
the order was delivered, and Western
Texas saved from the horrors of an In
dian war
Before the wild winds of winter swept
the bleak plains, solitary horseman
rode from Fort Terrett at nj ght, lodging
Indian scouts, and never minding the
gaunt wolves which galloped close be-
hind, with their red tongues hanging
from terrible jaws. He crossed the ra-
vine, rode across the site of the Indian
village, and halting at spot half a mile
beyond he dug hole in the soft soil
and firmly imbedded post and cross.
In deep carved letters was the simple
legend
A BRAVE MAN DIED HERE"
Only that and nothing more and the
records of the frontier forts show, from
information furnished by the Indians
themselves, that just seventeen redskins
were killed, and nine wounded, in that
wild charge through the Indian vii
lage