The true northerner., 1878-03-15

want to fipd out how many many men we hay,
| In the fort. One fellow was inclined t
be very sociable and came up quite near
when ball sent him bowling with pair
to the rear. Mrs Maxwell cooked and
carried the victuals to the men, who ate
with one hand while they held theil
guns in position with the other. May
Maxwell was as brave as she could be,
and went from man to man, giving them
water 10 drink. , .......
During the remainder of the day and
all the following night the situation re-
mained unchanged. The Indians sat by
their fires, and every now and then made
an Intellectual attempt to talk with the
men in the fort. On the morning of the
secona day, which Air. Calfee thinks was
the 18th of january, the Indians renewed
the attack. The little band of white
men were surrounded on every side, and
the charge was most determined, but af-
ter half an hours fighting the Indians
fell back. They next commenced shoot
ing with their bows and arrows, firing in
the air SO the arrows would drop into the
fort This is most dangerous game,
Il
will come down point foremost within an
inch of any mark. The men did not have
their backs aud heads protected from
above, and one was soon wounded, but
all lay still and did not expose them
selves. Toward noon an Indian, who
had been sitting smoking on the hill,
got up and walked down toward the fort.
H. continued to approach despite the
bullets, until within sixty yards of the
breastworks, when he fell dead. The
savage was probably medicine man,
and thought the whites could not hit
him, or he may probably have been
tired of living and took that opportunity
to make an end of himself.
Failing to accomplish anything with
their bows and arrows the Indians fell
back and again counseled. They seemed
to think the only way was TO watch the
fort and starve out the garrison. Creep
ing up close to the works not head
could be raised or hand exposed but it
brought dozen bullets from the grass
One Indian was observed creeping al
most within the works when a shot from
Maxwell laid him out. The men saw
another approach, lying on a pony, anil
fired, hitting the pony in the head and
leaving the redskin to scramble off as
best he could.
The water was giving out and the men
becoming thirsty. To meet this new
danger a passage was dug under the
breastworks and one of the party crawled
out, and, under cover, went down and
got water. Another man got some wood,
and in the morning the besieged SUR
prised the savages by building a large
fire. Mrs. Maxwell had had tent put
mp, and when the Indians saw the i'm
proved condition of the little garrison
their rage was very great. Dashjng
down to the fort they fired over hun
dred shots mt the fire, but Mrs. Maxwell
bravely stood her ground, and quietly
went on cooking while the balls were fly
ing all around her.
The Indians circled about the besieged
for over two hours, but only fired occa-
sional shots, which showed they were
getting short of ammunition. About
noon on the third day they drew off, one
calling out, Good-by, we are going
now." When asked who they were, the
Indians replied, "Sioux and Nez
Perces." Eight Indians were seen to
fall during the fight, and it is likely
double that number were wounded.
On the morning of the fourth day all
looked we'll, but the garrison did not
venture out, being satisfied that the In
dians had only moved short distance
from the Notifications. During the day
Col. Baker, Second Cavalry, with a
strong force, was seen approaching the
fort, guided by the man who had been
sent out for assistance. Mr.. Maxwell
had very narrow escape, a ball cutting
off lock of his hair and another one
grazing his jaw. Your correspondent
did not learn the name of the wounded
man, but it is said he will recover. NJ.
Maxwell and party lost twenty-six head
of oxen, captured by the Indians, and
one pony killed, but are only too happy
to have escaped with their lives. This
is one of the most memorable sieges and
defenses ever known on the plains, and
stamps every one engaged in it as gen.
uine hero and heroine. Col. Baker
brought the little party back to Tongue
river, where they are now being feasted
and fast recovering from the excitement
of their terrible adventure. 1t is not
likely Mr.. Maxwell will soon again de-
sire to settle on the Little Missouri, but
others will, and 80 the work of civiliza-
ton goes steadily forward in the West.
The Little Missouri country, long con-
sidered barren waste, has been ascer-
tanned to be a rich and fortile region.
Coal is in abundance all along the stream,
and a valley suited to agriculture extends
for over 200 miles.
Novel Use OF Paper.