West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-11-01
Frontier Lie.


young man abont twenty years of age,
was returning from Fort Griffin to his
home on the Brazos. He had been TO
the Fort TO sell load of produce on
the day before. He was driving pair
of mules, and In the wagon with him
was his little brother Willie, about thir-
teen years old. Having attended ball
on the night previous, billiard felt
drowsy. When about fifteen miles
from the Fort, as he was doing on the
wagon-seat, little dreaming of the
drama in which he was to play prom
inent part, he was suddenly aroused by
the sound of laughter and the tramp
ling OF horses, He had driven al
most into the midst of the party of
thirty Indians, who were moving to-
wards him. Instantly comprehending
the situation, he reached down and
picked up his gun. The foremost In
dian, who was nearly abreast OF him,
now fired at billiard, the ball cutting
away his temporal lock and and burn
Ing the scalp. billiard fired a shot or
two, but found that the shields OF the
shot one Indian below the shield, break
Ing his thigh and the backbone of his
horse. Calling upon Willie to follow
him, he then sprang from the wagon
and began to move toward ravine
about quarter Of mile to the right.
His arms were Spencer rifle and six
shooter. Willie also had a six-shooter.
The Indians Immediately surrounded
them, galloping i'm n circle, keeping up
constant yelling and firing. They
were armed with Spencer rifles and
bullet-proof shields. Sometimes run
ming, sometimes walking, sometimes at
bay, the two boys approached the ra-
vine. At the first fire Willie's six
shooter was rendered useless by the
blowing out of a portion of the cylin-
der, Henceforward his only service
was to carry the cartridges for his
brother. AT one time Henry fell on
his face. An Indian dashed up TO
take his scalp, but was shot by billiard
before he rose from the ground. At
another time he heard Willie cry, Glen
ry! look here" The boy was running
around mosquito bush, followed by
an Indian, who was trying to grasp
him by the clothes. Henry ran UP and
shot the Indian, and the two bows con-
tinued the retreat. On they struggled,
the Indians charging back and forth,
eircling, yelling and firing, attempt
Ing TO ride them dowR or dash them to
the earth with the barrels of their car
ines. On they pushed, selling every
"coign" of advantage, loading, firing,
lodging, turning, but ever advancing
toward the ravine, where the instinct
OF the young braves pointed them to
shelter. The heat was terrible; their
tongues were swollen and the skin slip
ped from the soles OF their feet. But
on they presscd-to pause was to die.
The efforts of the savages, who were
now maddened with rage and revenge,
were redoubled as the boys neared the
ravine. But the young heroes strug-
gled on with undaunted resolution
and at length reached it and sprang
into the brush with which II was firing
ed. But one of the Indians had arriy-
ed before them and dismounted from
his horse. billiard discovering him.
attempted to shoot, but his piece was
now empty. The Indian seeing this
mounted his horse and dashed up to
him, carbine in hand, and was shot by
billiard through the body with his pis-
tol. He turned and rode away to the
main body. The boys now retired
into the depths of the ravine and the
savages retreated, carrying away their
dead and wounded, but leaving tlve
horses on the bloody field, besides blan-
kets and blouses perforated with bullet
holes and some clothing and other arti-
cles which they had taken from the
whites on this foray. The Indians
having taken billiards. mules he made
his way on foot to ranch some miles
away and returned to Fort Griffin. On
hearing his report, General Buell. i'm
mediately sent an officer with A suffi-
Client number Of men to pursue the In
dams. These had divided, the main
body taking to the right, and a smaller
party, with the dead and wounded, a
left hand trail. In two or three days,
about the head of the Wichita, they
came upon camp which had been re
Gently deserted by the Indians Three
beds, made Of grass and deeply bleod-
stained, were found In this camp. No
ticing some buzzards circling around
mountain near by, some Of the party
assembled it and found where the In
dams had partially buried three bodies
Of those who had doubtless died In the
camp. They also found here memoir
andum book Of Billiards which he had
lost In the fight few days before. Dill
Iard's feet were now so sore that he was
not able 20 walk, and the party returned
TO Fort Griffin without striking the In
dians.
Knocking out the III