The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-18
Frontier Ltfe.

y
was returning from Fort Griffin to his
home on tho Brazos. lie had been to
the Fort to soil a load Of produce on
the day before. lie was driving pair
Of mules, and In the wagon with him
was his little brother Willie, about thir-
teon years old. Having attended ball
on the night previous, billiard felt
drowsy. When about fifteen miles
from the Fort, as he was doing Oh the
wagon-seat, little dreaming Of tho
drama In which ho was to play prom
inent part, ho was suddenly aronsed by
tho sound Of laughter and the tramp
ling OF horses, Ho had driven al-
most into the midst of tho party of
thirty Indians, who were moving to-
wards him. instantly comprchending
the situation, he reached down and
picked zip his gun. The foremost In
dian, who was hearly abreast Of him,
now fired at billiard, the ball cutting
away his temporal lock and and buri.
Ing the scalp. billiard fired shot or
two, bnt found that the shields Of the
Indians turned the bullets. lie then
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 tho wagon
and began to move toward ravine
about quarter Of a mile to the right.
His arms were Spencer rifle and six
shooter. Willie also had a six-shootcr.
The Indians Immediately surrounded
them, galloping in 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 tho ra-
vino. At tho first fire Willie's six
shooter was rendered useless by the
blowing out Of u portion Of the cylin-
dor, Henccforward his only service
was to carry the cartridges for his
brother. At ono time Henry fell on
his face. An indian dashed up to
take his scalp, but was shot by Dillard
before he rose from the ground. At
another time he heard Willie cry, ellen.
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 boys con-
ttnued the retreat. On they struggled,
the Indians charging back and forth,
clrcling, yelling and firing, attempt
Ing to ride them down or dash them to
the earth with tho barrels OF thcir car
IN hnx ;,.s
"coign" Of advantage, loading, firing,
lodging, turning. but ever advancing
toward the rayine, 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 tho solcs of their feet. But
Oh they presscd-to pause was to die.
The efforts Of the savages, who were
now maddcncd with rage and revenge,
were redonbled as the boys neared the
ravinc. But the young heroes strug-
gled on with undauntcd resolution
and at length reached it and sprang
Into the brush with which 1t was firing
ed. But one Of tho Indians had nrriv-
ell before them and dismountcd 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. lie tGrned and rodo away to the
main body. The boys now retired
into tho depths of tho ravlne and the
saVages retreatcd, carrying away their
dead and wounded, but leaving five
horses Oh tho bloody field, besides blan-
kots and bloascs perforated with bullet
holes and some clothing and other arti-
clcs which they had taken from tho
whites on this foray. The Indians
having taken billiards. mules he made
his way OH foot to ranch somo miles
away and returned to Fort Griffin. On
hearing his report, General Buell. i'm
medtately sent an officer with sutn-
Client number Of men to pursue the In
dians. These had divided, the main
body taking to the right, and Il smaller
party, with tho dead and wounded, n
left hand trail. In two or three days,
about tho head OF tho Wichita, they
came upon camp which had beer re
Gently deserted by tho Indians Three
beds, made Of grass and deeply blood
stained, were found in this camp. No
tlcing somc buzzards circling around a
mountain near by, some of the party
ascended II and found where the In
dlans had partially buried three bodies
of those who had doubtless died In tho
camp. They also found hero memoir
andum book of Dillard's which he had
lost In the l. fight few days before. Dill
lard's feet were now so sore that he was
not able to walk, and the party returned
to Fort Griffin without striking the In
dians,
KNOCKING out tho "I."