The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-01-09
Original Story.
y = RON 8 :. :. q ! !
SKETCHES
BY J. j. HEALY.
a Fight For Life.

"a e Es5 ID L z OE E&7B G.
In the summer Of 1871 ChAs. Williams.
Drew Denton and old man Lee, of the
Mnsselshell, were traye!lng from the mouth
cof the Musselshell to the little point about
.35 miles above its mouth.
While passing over the same point that
Carroll is new bnilt on they discovered
the fresh trail of large war party Of In
'diahs, and Immediately betook themselves
to the brush, in order TO prepare for an at
tack i'll case they were perceived. The In
dians must have seen the whites about the
same time that their own trail was found,
aS Williams and his comrades had no SOON
er reached tie shcltcring timber than their
ears were sa1uatcd with the terrific war
cry Of the blood thirsty Sioux accompanied
by the appearance Of about fifty bucks in
full war paint.
It!was only about o'clock in the morn
ing Fct, and the whites knew from eXpe-
riencc that a hard days work for life was
before them, ere they could hope for a
chance Of escape aided by the darkness Of
night. The Indians made a charge with
the greatest impetuosity, expecting an easy
victory; but the whites had taken a strong
position behind some timber, to reach
which the enemy was obliged TO pass
through 4 narrow trail allowing only few
to advance abreast. When the parties
came#i in sight Of each other the distance Of
n few yards only separated them and the
Indians fukes and white mems rifles rang
their reports upon the air simultaneously.
Old man Lee had drawn bead Oh the fore
most warrior, and the crack of his Haw
kin's Spencer reported one less indian to
fight. This shot, was however, dearly
bought. as the Old man almost immediate
1y was dropped by the effects Of a Sioux
bullet The Indians gave yell of exulta-
1ion, and possessing themselves Of Lees |
gun they were proeeedip3g 3 e 81 fas sfdf h5ffad aa
williams sent deadly missiles to sum
mon two more indians to join the first
victim of Lee. This caused pause, the
Indians retiring to lament over the death
OF their fallen comrades. Some them
advocated leaving the whites, as nothing !
was to he gained by fighting them, but the
party being made up Of bands of 4anktons'
Santccs and Uncapapas, one nand COM
mcnced accusing the other OF coWardlcc,
pntil their passions had been worked up to
a pitch of recklessness, and their "meal-
efuc'' decided to wipe ont the two remain
inc white men. The battle now stood
three Indians and one white man killed
and tht Indians had captured the gun OF
lee, Tut fortunately they did not under
stand how to nsc it. The loss was however
a serious one to the Whites.
The ordinary Indian warrior Is a co"Aro
and w}uld Just as soon attempt 10 attack
an enemy in a house AS to charge through
brush: where his person mighta ccllently
hecomt exposed to the aim OF concealed
foe. The war-party had been made aware
of The fact that they had no common men
10 deal wjth, and hoped by strategy TO
draw 4he FIRE of the two men, anu theh
make a charge before they would have
time t( reload their pieces.
Denton and Williams had not been ldle
during this breathing spell, but had taken
every possible advantage to fix thelr posi-
4ion more firmly and securely, deter
mined TO aell their lives as dearly as posi-
ble. keeping now perfectly still, every
nerve on the alert, they waited until the
indians had stealtiaiiy approached WITHIN
fen wards on the next advance, when they
y
feited life. Frantically the Indians now
anade 4 determined charge, and Denton
actually fired four Successive shots with
out lowering his rifle, dropping an indian
with each discharge, and the fifth of hls
Victims rotreatod yelling that he eoul'
nor stand that white mans medicine CUR
whiclJ was @IDadcd all 1h2--timc., VIII
liams had brsveiy seconded his eomra1e
his bullets having killed three OF th'
bucks, besides disabling several others.
A shcond time the Indians fell back t
chantfthe death song and make medicine
thus affording short breathing spell t.
the 15pseiged. Poor fellows, they hat
nearly passed in their checks. A bulle
ain1ed at the breast Of Williams had i'll 1t
MASSAGE encountered Il memorandum booI
that happened to be in his pocket, lessen
$,,c Ills speed and effect, SO that it jus
etopr}ed against the skin Of his heart ]
made hjpl so sick for the moment that h
thought his last bour had come; but it ha
not Close as Ills call had been, William
had vet Jared worse; he being shot t}Foug
tbe shoulder In such manner as to be a
most unable to use his gun.
Beth feeling sick and faint, the fettr'
manf of the Indians at the critical momel
saved fI,eir lives, and gave them time or
onportu.tity in some measure for recover,
Overcoming any feeling Of talnfne
or pain, they steeled every muscle ana q
4ernIined now, more than heretofore,
make an effort 70 foil the enemy, and ~
sell their lives at the greatest cost to Il
indians.
Calmly they waited for the third ehars
and they had not long to wait, for u
indians were stealing upon them and We
within few feet Of them before bell
discovered. Indeed, SO closely had tn
approached, that when Williams NV y
fired at the sneaking brave, another po'
erful buck, with uplifted to1nahaWk u
the s.alp-song in his mouth, leaped aliie
on top of him. Williams promptly iire
his gun touching the Indians body, q
the Sioux warrior fell dead across the
behind which his destroyer lay co1leeale
Denton, in the meantime, although
severely wounded, Was making BIZ q
yor,it death at every discharge. Ben
naturally cool aud quick shot be nev
missed fis man; and for the third time Y
day the Sioux were forced to Wlthdra
leaving the medicine white men masfe
of tile field.
These fwo men had actually killed
teen Indians, besides wounding 3 lai
number of others and vet they were Y