Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-06

man0 OF captain FRENCH. Auo eAVopo 6sse
their horses about two hours, rest, when
they started ahead down the Pierre road ;
but did not arrive at Washta Springs ranch
until MIN O'Clock the next morning. They
had a supply train with them and . weeks
~rations. Had the command arrived at
Washts Spring ranch by four o'clock in the
afternoon of the day they arrived here,
they would hays had the fun Of al engage
nent. for all that day until that hour the
indians were storming that point.
Reed and Pitt counted twelve Indians 10
ia}bunchsW when their teams were stopped
being at one time within $50 yards of
them. They wore new red shirts, indicat-
ing they had very recently received annu-
ity goods.
From Hugh Morrison, who owns the
Washts Spring Ranch, II miles out from
Rapid City, on the Pierre road, We get the
full particulars of q desperate attack BY
nine Indians upon 81. N. Shoum, the we'll
known frcighter, and his hair-breadth es-
cape.
The attack was made on Saturday morn
ing, the 22d, when Mr.. Shoum, on foot,
was on his way down to his train, camped
on the! Cheyenne. He had come through
from Crook City alone. having heard of the
Indian troubles, to hurry his train down to
the Missouri river, beyond the reach of
danger.
About two and q half miles from Mr
Morrison's ranch, between the main Rapid
City road and the ':Witcher cutoff" about
sunrise, MI. Shoum discovered a party of
Indians advancing upon him at q distance
about three quarters Of q mile, the dis
covery first being made by the reflection of
the suns rays from their gun-barrels.
The Indians were between him and the
ranch, making it impossible to retreat in
that direction. So he ran away 10 the d.
rection of the Rapid City road, looking as
be went for an advantageous point TO
He at last found a deep depression in
around in profusion. The bullets whis,led
by him in dangerous proximity as he threw
himself into this natural defense. He had
no : file, but was armed with two large size
revolvers, for which he had sixty-fve cart.
ridges, He at once.opened fire on the lndi-
ans, checking their advance for a time,
which time he improved in hastily, con-
structing from the surrounding boulders a
bullet-proof wall around the hole.
Through the openings between the rocks
he could shoot; but the Indians continued
to advance, until they came near enough
ton.
Mr.. Shoum could not take aim, and
thinks he did not kill any Of the Indians,
though he believes he wounded one of,heir
horses.
After continuing the attack for about four
hours the Indians fired the prairie, which
was heavily covered with dry, grass, and he
certainly would have been driven out by
the advancing flames had he not had the
courage and forethought TO reach over the
rim Of the hole he was in and pull up all
the big grass within reach ard then, when
the fire came close enough, he beat it GU
with bis overcoat, a shower of bu1 lets being
discharged at him each time he struck with
the coat.
prairie was burned bare all around him,
and he was out of danger from the fire.
Then the Indians, seeing it would be impos'
sible to dislodge him without some OF them
being killed, and probably having booty and
| withdrew.
The attack lasted six hours. Mr.. Shoum
fred, all told. twenty.,hree times, leaving
ulu4 hOAty.tWo CoItIiukCS. ISlu tuc OCSiU'
ming be carefully busbarded his ammuni.
|tion.
He continued in the hole over an hour
after the Indians left, when he got out and
hurried, back TO the rsnch, where he arrived
safely, but quite exhausted from his exer-
tions.
Mr.. Morrison and a young man named
Andrew Foster-the only Two q: The ranch
then returned to the scene of the desper-
ate defense. No Indians we're seen by them,
but the statements of MI. Shoum were full,
corroto,a,ed by the general appearance of
the spot There was the hastily constructed
fertilization. with the twen,y.three cart
ridge shells strewn about, and the prairie
burned all around for several hundred
yards.
The Indians were from some agency di-
rect, and must have started out on their
numbering raid Immediately after drawing
%rations, arms and ammunition. This ives
demonstrated by the finding Of a govern
ment sack containing . piece Of picked
pork. And they were all armed with Win.
chester rifles. nm
The night befose the attack on Mr. Shoum
four men, engaged building cabins on ranch.
es they had located on Elk creek, about four
miles below and northeast Of Washta Spring,
were driven away from their locations by
a party of Indians-supposed TO be the same
that attacked Shoum. 1t was the report of
this that induced Mr.. Shoum to defect from
the regular route to the Cheyenne crossing
and conn up by the Washta Springs.
LATER.-From H j. Wooley and Louis
LaPlant, who anne in last Monday from
Washta Spring Ranch, we get the particu-
lars of an attack on that place the day be.
fore-Sunday, the 22d- About 7 o'clock
in the morning a party of Indians made their
appearance coming in from the direction Of
Elk creek. They first rode around a num-
Der Of cattle, grazing near and in plain view
Of the ranch, making . feint Of driving
themss of il order to draw out the inmates
Of the house-of whom there were five men
and one woman, the wife Of NJ. LaPlant.
This stratagen proving unsuccessful, the
indiana then opened ERE on the house, com-
ing within 800 yards; after which shots
we're exchanged in quick succession for pro-
badly three hours-Messrs Wooley, La
Plant, Shoum, Kelly, and . teemster going
and returning the Indians FIRE from
the corners of the house, behind which they
woutd:dodge At each discharge.