Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-04-24
A Narrow Escape.
John j. Healy, in Benton Record.

In the month Of August. 1868. 10
. Haley started from Fort Benton with thr
companions to obtain supplies from II
freight landed by steamers at the mouth
Milk river. The year was remarkable fi
the low stage of water in the Missouri. an
the steamers failed to reach a higher poil
'' than Cow Island.
The Sioux had been swarming along til
river for two years past and the route b'
tween the head OF navigation and RentO
was considered extremely dangerous eve
J. for large bodies OF v ell armed whites. Nj
) George Steel. whose adventures were n
. lated in a previous sketch. had been ATTACK
e Ell a short time previous. and the sam
band of Indians who attacked the Stee
party were known to be still roaming il
the vicinity OF the steamer landings. watch
n ing for small parties Of whites passing t,
0 and fro between the freight depots ant
Benton.
Tom Haley. who is still a well known
resident OF Choteiu county. was even Il
that early day an old settler of Montan;
and one of the bravest and most reliabl,
men In the country. One Of his colnpan
ions on this occasion (Nelse kysc) was also
a noted character. whose unfortunate
death will form the subject of future
sketch.
The party reached the freight at the
mouth of Milk river without accident or
seeing anything to cause them the slightest
alarm. Kyse and the two other men re-
lnaine'l with the freight, but Haley having
business at Fort Charles. some few miles
further down the river. concluded to con
tinue on alone. He arrived at the Fort,
then commanded by Melyrlm. without
misllap, and transacting his business with
out any delay. started hack to the landing
where the men were awaiting his return.
Haley had proceeded but few miles.
when he disco, cred what to IN experit ncel
traveller in a hostile country were un,nis-
taxable ln:lian signs. but being we'll mount
ed and armed he felt no uneasiness at the
probability of meeting few of his old
enemies. But Indian cunning is but too
often match for the superior intelligence
OF the white man. Tie nature ofthe coun-
try was such that the lone traveller could
not conceal himself and horse without
hating upon his journey. There were
points along the river. but tie
road ran along high open prairie un-
marked by any objects sufficient to conceal
a ground squirrel.
There was nothing in sight to cause nm
',slal alarm. but Haley examined his rifle
TO see that it was ready for instant nse and
Iightened up his saddle gir,hs TO he read,
for fight or flight. lie then trotted Iei>-
Irely along to save his horse. and scanned
he prairie on every side to detect if posi-
de- the slightest indication of danger. But
n spite of his keen watchfulness. on al-
)roaching a point where the prairie chang
II from level to rolling plain. Il l,rg
,arty of Irfians suddenly appeared from
,ne of the depressions about :, nile aiead
md directly on the road. At the same mo-
sent another party appeared about the
anne distance TO the right of the traveller
nd still another came in sight behind him.
The Indians began at once to string on;
18th the evident purpose of surrounding +
ne hOrsenan and closing in upon him v
This Elvorte manpuvre is w II Il
to confuse the victim and pro- "
,ct the attacking party. and the circle +
nee formed there is little hope of escape. II
ut Haley was not the sort Of man to man p
, despair even under the most desperate b
and while fully underst and %
g bis dangerous position he neither ~
ackened or increased the Mait of his hors. -
)r intimated by 81 IN !iil' he was con- Il;
iOus OF the presence of the Indians. He "
fact. saw at once that lie was in trap pl
ID must run the gauntlet. and that his III
fest course was not TO increase the speed /
his horse or lire Il shot until the very pl
It and most critical moment. ,It
The Indians circled closer and closer. the is
rty in the rear conir e directly down the br
ad. while those ahead remained station yl
Y. Only a few moments elapsed before
~ came near enough to open fire with
? few guns in their possession. but the
llefs flew wide of their mark. Arrows
re firally brought into use with little
IRE effect. the horseman keeping well ~ ~
wn in his saddle and moving his body ~.
much us possible to confuse their aim. '''
rhe party Obstructing the road now ~. ~.
ne within easy Iange and Haley brought M W.
rifle to bear upon them. The first shot "'
Il a stout warrior to the happy hunting r
,unds and scattered the rest to the right Wy
| left of the road. leaving an open line -,
ween. This was Haley's chance. With s"' 81.
ell that would have done credit to the -,
utest lunged Sioux in the tribe he bent -.
' down in the saddle. drove his spurs ~.
D the horses fianks and flew past the p'''
|ians amidst shower Of bullets and ar x
vs.. We
t was desperate venture heroically ac- ~.
nplislIed. The brave man received an =.
ow in his thigh. causing painful and ~
lgerous wound. but was otherwise un- no'
ired. The whole band Of redskins took ,,,e ~.
r him, but lis fleet horse soon placed va
! beyond their reach. and he arrivest at e"'
,.,.,;ru not much ,h.. - 49,. ~. bO;
row escape. 1t was not until twelve '''e
nths after that the arrow head wa> '''''
en- from Haley's groin. having passed eve
rely through his thigh. He sooE :e- me
cred. however. and looks to-day as we'll a"o
hearty rs when he ran the gauntlet on ~ '
milk river road. 9"
age
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