The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15
-Four Men and Two Women Stand Three hys' Siege
By Large Band Of Indians.
TERRIBLE FIGHTING.
Eight Braves Sent to the Happy Hunt
ing Grounds.

Creek near the Yellowstone River, In which party
Of white mon aud women had pcrilous adven-
ture, and would probably have all been killed but for
the timely arrival OF the troops from Tongue River.
wHERE THE PARTY WAS GOING.
II appears That Mr.. Maxwell, with his wife, daush-
ter and four men started from Miles City, with the
intention OF settling on the Little Missouri, near
whore tho old Stanley trail crosses that stream
DISCOVERED
Alter thcy had been out several days, and just Is
they were crossing she 0'Fallon hills, MRS Maxwell
deserted two objects ahead which she took be ante
opes, but which the aid Of field glass showed 10 be
Indians. Mr.. Maxwell at once halted hts party and
discovered he In the vicinity OF village Of
about forty lodges Of hostile Indians The wagons
turned back and the party retreated toward OFalon
Creek. The Indians followed but did attack, and
Mr. Maxwell, having reached the timber and water
selected high point Of land and into camp.
ravne around sides OF the camp and II was
naturally very strong and easily defended II
almost dark whom Mr. Maxwel selected hIs camp and
the entire ught was spent in fortitying The uis
did not close to the water timber and the parry
had to take position about two hundred yards IRON
water or wood AS good supply as possible of both
articles laid during the night, and the party
waited anxiously for daylight and the battle they
knew It would usher In.
CAPTURED.
AoOut oIeVen O'CLOCK next Jay luulans were OILS.
covered approaching, and the siege began The cattle
kept close slble, but In the evening they
had to be watered, and while this being done
Indians dashed forward and captured all tho oxen.
Mr.. Maxwell let them 60 and kept his hard at
WORK on the Notifications, knowing he would soon
have need OF all the protection he could get About
eleven O'Clock at night the works were finished and
the place made strong rs possible. Tho wagons
formed side, and logs filed with and
sand. the other Sides Caves dug for the women
and strong rifle pits placed three sides Of tho
camp.
WAITING BATTLE BEGIN.
All night long the men heard cattle believing and
they driven up around the fort In the ope
that the little garrison would como aud attempt
capture them; but Mt Maxwell Kept his men within
the fort About midnight one OF the party crept out
OF tho works, and, avoiding the Indians started 10
Fost Kcogh for help Tho littio garrison was now
reduced to persons, and consisted Of Mr.. Maxw ELL
Mr.. Benton, George Darland, Jester Pruden and the
two women-Mrs. Maxwell and May, her daughter
FIGHT
During the night the the fort heard the Ind
ians coming up the ravine mounted. II was bright
moonlight and they could be distinctly seen. Hating
at the creek, they dismounted tied their ponies and
commenced crawling toward the fort Mr.. Maxwell
told tho ~ keep very still and let on
until he called out ''Firel" and then work the
breoch-Ioaders hard and steady. When the ina,ans
within sixty yards Of tho fort the irontiersmen
began firing, before redskins could got out Of
range killed two. One fellow wounded, and fell
tho they could and hear him. He called
cut to tho men IN broken English, "Hoid on, am
htl" and "Don't shoot any moro, am good Ind
lamp Later in The night he called, "Come out aud
get me, am wounded" Mr.. Maxwell re-
piled, swell, crawl In here, then, and We
will look out for you The wounded fellow
said, mo, no, let them come aud carry Oh" No
reply gwen and presently the follow rose up and
snd, SLOW. howt Don't Shoot me go away" They
let him so, ana ufler working himself down the hill
little distance Two Indians up, took hold oil him
by the and helped him of.
kusg.
The Indians now packed up everything and made a
great as II they were gong away, driving the
cattle with them. The steers heard lowing
ab ,ut the camp, tho willy red dovils thinking the
white would believe some OF the oxon had got
away and back. Mr. Maxwell. however, kept
his within the tort, and the savages seeing all
their Efforts deceive the little garrison out
were IN vain, camc with yeIls and boldly charged
the works.
THE FIGHTING.
They dashed a each side OF tho tort firing at the
men within, but the besieged kept still and let
ride aud howl us much as they Ind mind 10. Toward
daylight the Indians drew or into the hills
commenced throwing up signal lights, which were
answered from DISTANCE. "rhey are sonding Tor
help. boys said Maxwell, ''and will soon have 10
hot and heavy, so rest whe you can"
In about two hours Indians were seen coming In
from the south and joining tnpse on the hs Very
soou they came down toward tho fort, and severn
advancing called out, Chow, how Come and give
up" Maxwell replied he would DO no such thing, and
TOR them TO come on " they wanted fghI
BATTLE RENEWED
IL was now light aud the InIaIs made q steady i'd
vance, crawling through the grass and sheiering
themselves behind every little OF earth. Look
Mt that fellow naten,ng himself the ear,n," cried
Maxwell; 'but can get him If be as thin AS .
pare OF glass. "
The nrins now became rapid aud Was Kept up con-
stautly Tor two hours. The Indians came very near
getting into the fort. but the scout says Maxwell
and hi men stood their ground like lions.v "For
three nours,r says Caliee, 'nolhing could be heard
but the Of the rifles, the yelling OF the Indians
the cries Of the women within the iorIn
TRUCE
Presently tho Indians drew of and held q council l.
Then they divided into i've pares went on tho hills
built large nres aud cAmpod Several OF them came
down to tho Tort and wsntsd to talk but the white
warned them to be gone Maxwell said, "Boys,
keep close; they want to lnd out how many men We
have tho iort." One fellow inclined TO be very
soci able and came up quite near whom a ball sent
him nowing with pain to tho rear. MIRA Maxwell
cooked and carried the vic,uas 10 tho mep who ate
with ono hand wh lie they held their guns IN position
with the other May Maxwell was as brave as she
could be, and won't from man to msn, giving them
water to drink.
THE SECOND DAYS BArrLE
During the remainder Of the day and all the follow
ing night the situation remained unchanged The In
dams sat by Their nres and overy ant then made
an Intellectual attempt to talk with the men In tho
tort on the morning OF the second day, which Mr..
CaIfee thinks the 18th Of January, the Indians
renewed tho attack. Tue little band Of whto me
wcro surrounded every side AMI the cnarge was
most determined but after hall hours lighting tho
Indians fell back They next commenced shooting
with their bows and arrows, firing In the air 30 tho