Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-01
RUNNING FOR LIFE.
a Long and Exciting Race Between
Whites and Indians.
LDeadwood Pioneer, 9Th.

li'eadWood Iloneef, 2otli.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy, with another man
and his wife, were residing on a ranch on
the Redwater, about twelve miles from
Spearfish. Becoming alarmed on Monday
last at the frequent Indian depredations, the
men determined to send the women into
this city for safety. Another gentleman,
our informant, who does not wish his name
mentioned on account of the fright it would
cause his family in the east, but who is en-
tirely reliable, having business here, volun-
teered to drive the wagon containing the
ladies into Deadwood. He was also
accompanied by an old man who had
been cutting hay for Mr.. Tilden at
Spearfish. The party left the rancho in the
evening, after moon-rise. After proceeding
some five miles, and just before ascending
q slight hill, the driver discovered a party
of five mounted Indians ON the summit of
the hill, and coming directly toward them.
Being, as it were, single handed, and the
Indians plainly not having discovered his
party, he quickly and noiselessly as possible
turned the team about and headed for a des-
erted cabin one and a half miles back where
he hoped to make a more successful defense
if attacked. No sooner had he
made this move than
llS lluldiS ulscOVeTeu lne TclIedtl1S party
and dashed down the hill to cut them oil,
The driver piled the whip, and he says the
team fairly flew over the road. But the In,
dams rode like the wind too, and wher
about a half mile from the ranch were no
opposite, the fleeing party. AT this juno
tnre the old man became frantic with terror
and in his efforts TO get under the seat fel
ont IF tho WAGON into tho rrncr woc mr.
time to stop the team, and the driver whip
ped up, steadily ga ming on the pursuing
indians, and finally reached the deserted
capn two hundred yards ahead
Quickly handing the woman int
the cabin he confronted tn
Indians with his rifle, and they immedia.el
i. halted, wheeled and rode away, evidentl,
thinking the party AZ the cabin had the hes
, of it. No shots were fired on either side
. the Indians riding too fast to fire with effect
and the driver, having only seven cartridges
not caring to waste his ammunition at ion
:, ran e. The Indians were soon out of sigh
! and were seen no more during the night
though thedriver stood guard until morning
+ At sun Use the party started a second tim
!, for Spearfi sh, and reached that place an
Deadwood in safety. While opposite til
place where the old man fell quito the Wagon
the frightened man slowly crawled fort
from his concealment in the grass and halle
the driver, who took him in. He had Iai
low all night, and the eby escaped. O
leaving Speaiiish he mounted a loaded ha
wagon to come TO Deadwood, only to NEE
with another misfortune, for when some tw
miles out the wagon upset, the old man fe
: beneath the load and broke his leg belo'
the knee. He was brought into town ar
cared for. Altogether it was an %eventfr
and narrow escape, and the party eve tllei
i safety to the GOODNESS Of the driver and tn
/ good speed of the team. The driver wi
return to-day to place his rancho in conditio
i, and then return here, al he does not cor
! slider life on the Redwater safe for a me-
al mpnt