Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-11-20

In August AS8S. hS0TN DiAlATUs
young man abont twenty years of age,
was returning from Fort Griffin to hls
home on the BraEos. He had been to
the Fort TO sell load OF produce on
the dhy before. He was driving a 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, ms he was DOING ON the
wagOn-scst, little dreaming of the
drama in which ne was TO play prom
inent part, he was suddenly aronsed by
the sound OF laughter and the tramp
llag oi 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 MP his gun. The foremost In
dian, who was Eearly 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, bnt found that the shields of the
Indians turned the bullets. He then
shot one Indian below the shield, break
ing his thigh ard the backbone of his
horse. Calling upon Willie to follow
him, he then spranE from the wagon
and began TO move toward a ravine
shout quarterof n mile TO the right.
ETsS mv-wvAe ww-nv-a "a Gv,apnar rs~a and civ
shooter. Willie also had a six-shooter.
The Indians Immediately surrounded
them, g2lloping in n circle, keeping up
a constant yelling and firing. They
bullet-proof shields. Sometimes run
ming, sometimes walking, sometimes at
hay, 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
ms face. An Indian dashed up 10
take his scalp, but was shot by billiard
-
another time ne heard Willie cry, ''Hen-
~! look here" The boy was running
around d mosquito bush, followed by
an Indian, who was trying 10 grasp
: hlm by the clothes. Henry ran up and
shot the Indian, and the two boys con-
tlnued the retreat. On they struggled,
the Indians charging back and forth,
cArcling, yelling and firing, attempt
Eng 10 ride them down or dash them to
me earth with the barrels OF their car
ines. On they pushed, seizing every
ssoOign" Of advantage, loading, firing,
lodging, turning, but ever advancing
seward 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
pe1 from the sOles of their feet. But
en- they pressod-to pause was TO die.
The efforts or the ssvages, who were
now maddened with rage and revenge,
were redoubled as the boys neared the
rEvine- But the young heroes strug-
gled On with undaunted resolution
and nj length reached it and sprang
into the brush with which it was firing
&C. But one OF the Indians had arriv-
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, cRrbine in hand, and was shot by
Dillard through the body with his pis-
r0l- He turned and rode away 10 the
main body The boys now retired
into the depths of the ravine and the
sRvages re1reared, carrying away their
dead and wounded, but leaving f1ve
horses on the bloody field, besides blan-
kess and blouses perforated with bullet
holes and some clothing anu 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 70 n ranch come miles
away and returned to Fort Griffin. On
hearing his report, General Buell. i'm
media1ely sent an officer with N suffi-
cient number OF men to pursue the In
dians- These had divided, the main
bcdy taking 10 the right, and smaller
party, with the dead and wounded,
left hand trail. In two or three days,
about the head OF the Wichita, thew
came upon N camp which had been re
Gently deserted by the Indians Three
beds, made of grass and deeply bleod-
s:Rined, were found In this camp. No
cicing some buzzards circling around n
mountain near BY, some Of the party
zEcended it and found where the In
dams had partially buried three bodies
a OF those who had doubtless died in the
camp. They also found here a memoir
amdum book Of billiards. which he had
lost il the T. fight few days before. Dill
lRrdss feet were now SO sore that he was
not able 90 walk. and the party returned
&c Fort Griffin without striking the In
dams.