Connecticut western news., 1878-02-21
A HEROIC DEFENCE.
Four Men and Two Women Stand q Three Days Siege by a Large Band of Indians- Terrible Fighting.

White Calfee, @ scout and freighter, brings information of terrible battle with Indians, on O'Fallon's Greek, near the Yellowstone river, in which 8 party of white men and two women had peril ous adventure, and would probably have all been killed but for the timely arrival of the troops from Tongue river.
 It appears that MT. Maxwell, with his wife, daughter and four men started from Miles city, with the intention of settling on the Little Missouri, near where the old Stanley trail crosses that stream.
 After they had been out several days, and just as they were crossing the O'Fal- lon hills, Mrs. Maxwell deserted two ob- jects ahead which she took to be ante lopes, but with the aid of field glass showed to be Indians MT. Maxwell at once halted his party and soon discovered he was in the vicinity of village of about forty lodges of hostile Indians. The wagons were turned back and the party retreated toward O'Fallon Creek. The Indians followed but did not attack, and MT. Maxwell, having reached the timber and water, selected high point of land | and went into camp. A ravine ran around three sides of the camp and it was natur- ally very strong and easily defended. It was almost dark when MT. Maxwell se- lected his camp and the entire night was spent in fortifylng 1t. The bluffs did not run close to the water or timber and the party had to take position about two hundred yards from water or wood. As good 8 supply as possible of both articles was laid in during the night, and the party waited anxiously for daylight and the battle they knew it would usher in.
 About eleven o'clock next day the In dians were discovered approaching, and the siege began. The cattle were kept as close as possible, but in the evening they had to be watered, and while this ward and captured all the oxen. MT. Maxwell let them go and kept his men hard at work on the Notifications, know ing would soon have need of all the protection he could get. About eleven and the place made as strong as possi- ble. The wagons formed one side, and logs, sacks filled with earth and sand, the other sides Caves were dug for the women and strong rifle pits placed on three sides of the camp.
 All night long the men heard cattle l around the fort, in the hope that the little garrison would come out and at tempt to capture them but Mr. Max we'll kept his men within the fort. About midnight one of the party crept out of the works, and, avoiding the Indians, started to Fort Keogh for help. The | little garrison was now reduced to six persons, and consisted of MT. Maxwell, MT. Bonton, George Garland, Jester Pruden and the two women-Mrs. Max well and May, her daughter.
 During the night the men in the fort heard the Indians coming up the ravine mounted. Itwas bright moonlight and they could be distinctly seen. Halting at the creek they dismounted, tied their ponies and commenced crawling toward the fort. Mr. Maxwell told the men to keep very still and let them come on until he called out "Fire p and then to work the breach-loaders hard and steady. When the Indians were within sixty yards of the fort the frontiersmen began firing, and before the redskins could get out of range killed two. One fellow was wounded, and fell so near the fort that they could see and hear him. He called out to the men in broken English, "Hold on, I'm hit !" and "Don't shoot any more, I'm a good Indian" Later in the night he called, "Come out and get me. I am wounded" MT. Maxwell re- piled, "Well, crawl in here then and we will look out for you.' The wounded fellow sad, "No, no, let them come and carry me off" No reply was given, and presently the fellow rose up and said, "How, how Don't shoot, me go way" " They let him go. and after working him. self down the hill a little distance, two Indians came up, took him by the arms and helped him off.
 The Indians now packed up everything and made great show as if they were going away, driving the cattle with them. The steers were soon heard lowing about the camp, the willy red devils thinking the white men would believe some of the oxen had got away and come back. Mir. Maxwell, however, kept his men within the fort, and the savages, seeing hll their efforts to deceive or draw the little gail rison out were in vain, came on with yells and boldly charged the works
 They dashed at each side of the fort firing at the men within, but the be- sieged kept still and let them ride and howl as much as they had mind to. Toward daylight the Indians drew off, went into the hills. and commenced throwing up signal lights, which were answered from distance. ''They are sounding for help, boys, and we'll soon have it hot and heavy, so rest while you can, said Maxwell.
 In about two hours Indians were seen coming in f1om the south and joining those on the hills. Very soon they came down toward the fort, and several ad- vancing called out, "How, how! Come out and give up!" Maxwell replied that he would do no such thing, and for them to come on if they wanted fight.
 It was now light and the Indians made q steady advance, crawling through the grass and shelteri11g tl1ertselves behind every mound of earth. Look at that fellow fiattening himself on the earth, !" cried Maxwell, "but can get him If he was as thin as pane of glass.
 The firing now became rapid and was kept up constantly for two hours. The Indians came very near getting into the | fort, but the scout says, "MaXwel and his men stood their ground like lions. ' ''For three hours,' says Calfee, "noth- l ing could be heard but. the rc&r of the rifles, the yelling of the Indians, and the cries of the women within the fort.
 Presently the Indians drew off and held council. Then they divided into five parties, went Oil the Lills, built large fires ahd camped. S. veral of them came down to the fort and wanted to talk, but the white men warned them to be gone. Maxwell said, Boys, keep close they want to find out how many men we have i'll the fort One fellow was inclined to be quite sociable and came up quite near when a ball sent him bowling with pain to the rear: Mrs. Maxwell cooked and carried the victuals to the