The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-06-07
Original Story.
RONTIER SKETCHES
By JOHN j. HEALY.
NUMBER FOURT BEN.

I Suixter's story oftbe Steptor defeat and
bis own adventures in connection there
-;tb are Of sufficient interest, think, to
rarrant me in making the affair sub
itct of this sketch.
. Col. Steptoe, commanding the lst Ora
soons. belonged to the Howard school Of
Indian fighters. He believed in bloodlesS
bnquests, and sought to subdue the In
kans by treaty rather than by force OF
Erms. In the present instance his object
kas to treat with the Spokanes and Cayuses
/ no for some time past had been murder
Ing and plundering emigrants, settlers and
miners to such extent that there was nc
pnfcty for life or property any where in the
country.
s Slept was so anxious to avoid a con-
H;ct with the Indians. that he adopted the
rcry best possible method of bringing
about one. lie ordered his men, consist
bg of snall detachmcnta Of cavalry and
Infantry, to provide themselves with ten
j unds of ammunition only, but to take
all he provisio and other needed sup.
8Iies necessary for Il long trip.
The indians, TO the number Of severa
fundreds, were encountered between the
PaIoqse and c. lyille, and without giving
he peaceabIy disro,el Colonel au op-
gtortunity to make known the object of his
nission, they commenced firing upon the
8ttle party, who were ordered not to re-
burn the shots. Leuts. CASTOR and Taylor
nd O number Of priyates were killed 81
Die first fire. Snixtcr, who was one o
she rear guard in charge of the pack train
has also one Of the first men bit, bal
bking effect in his left arm and shatterinf
thc bone. A sergeant, named Williams
Bad his thigh broken, causing him to suf
fcr such excruciating agony thai he beg
kcd for some one to kill him and put 81
Bnd to his misery.
Notwithstanding this discouraging STATE
bfu airs, ~. Ste toe would not allow BIZ
BIC, to fire shot, but insisted that al
so as he could obtain a hearing hs
would bring the Indians to terms by mora
buason. But the Indians continued tc
Fhoot and yell and the soldiers continued
10 fall, until the little band became SO de.
horalized that ii was evident they must
Riher fight or run.
Then the valiant Colonel mounted his
horse, and followed by such Of The party
Bs we're also able to mount and leave
Danger behind them, he galloped off in
ihe direction he had come, leaving the
pounded soldiers and the rear guard with
Che pack train to take care Of themselves.
I I is said that the Colonel changed horses
ahfce times during the night in order to
place himself beyond the reach the dan
Ger.
The remaining men engaged the In.
finns at once and kept up the fire until
They had not cartridge LEFT. Darkness
coming on they were not molested during
the night, but the following morning
Bnixter and Williams, the wounded ser,
Eeant, found themselves in sight Of Snake
liver, entirely deserted, and only short
distance from large band Of Indians
slhe latter came towards them, firing sew
Fral shots as they came, and evidently in
ae ding to finish them at once. Williams
was tied TN his horse and could not help
himself while Snixter, with his wounded
prm, could afford him little aid. When
}hc. Indians came within speaking dis
lance Williams pulled open his shirt and
Exposing his bosom begged them To shoot
h'm down at once. Seeing that the white
eMen were wounded and that It would b
ALMOST mercy 10 kill them, the Indians
seemed inclined not to afford them the
'sStisfaction ofdying 50 easily.
Taking the horses By the brides, theJ