Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-04-09
A CHAPTER OF HIS
TORY.
INCDE Mt OF EARLY TIMES ON
THE PLAINS.
From the Denver Tribune.

from the denver 1rlDune.
Meeting Charley Baldwin yes
terday, we were reminded of lit
tie unpleasantness he once had
with the Arapahoe Indians in
1867. 1t occurred over beyond the
Bijou, abou; sixty-five miles from
Denver, on the old Smoky Hill
road in the days when the Butter
field coaches, instead OF the steam
engine, traversed that route. The
passenger of to-day, who rides
over those bleak Mills in the pal
ace cars of the Kansas Pacific,
little realizes the bloody scenes
that were once enacted here in the
days of SO Some ten miles be-
yond the Bijou, and between what
was known as Walkers Station
and the Republican river, was a
numerous band of wild horses.
The attempts TO capture them had
proved futile for many year.
They had been pursued by daring
riders, mounted upon the fieetest
horses In the country. but to no
avail. Among these horses was a
milk white stallion, with flowing
name and tail, who knew no gait
but ''pace," so said the trappers
and hunters, yet the fieete.t run
ner with rider upon his back could
not evertake him. He was the
Godolphin of the prairie-"King
of the Winds" An Enlish sports
man had once seen him, and of
fered thousand dollars in gold
for him If he be captured without
injury. There was also white
mare-a beauty, apparently the
leader of the band-that stood SEN
tinel with her head always high
in the air when humans were in
sight, and with one blast from her
bugle. nose two hundred feet ra-
GERS would make the earth trem-
Bile beneath their tread.
In the fall of 1860 Mr.. Bald win
attempted to execute a plan to
capture this entire herd. This he
would do by turning number of
his trusty and well-broken horses
and mares loose among these wild
animals, and after leaving them a
sufficient time to make their &C.
cuaintance and affiliate with them,
then he would commence to APP
proach day by day until he and
his riders would fail to terrify
them. This done, he would COM
mence to drive q little each day
until he would have them una
wares, off their range or feeding
ground; then his own mares
would strike for civilization, and
the younger members of this wild
horse family, if not the older ones,
would surely follow, when he
would land Thorn safely in some
enclosure or corral.
His arrangements being made
to start, Mr.. Baldwin took with
him four men, and months sup
ply of provisions. His party con-
sisted Of Mr. Loren Clark-a gen.
tleman well known in these parts
in an early day-Mr. Moss, as
guide. Mr.. John Grief. and Mr..
Cutter They left Denver on the
first day of September, and after
three days. travel arrived upon
the ground whore these wild ami
mails fed, and turned loose their
decoy horses.
For several days they had cir
cled about in sigh of the band of
horses and at night returned to
their camp at Walkers Station.
One morning, when about five
miles from camp, they discovered
of sudden that that they were
surrounded by at least two hun.
dred Indians. They were all in
war paint, armed with guns and
spears, and we're yelling like de.
mons. Mr.. Baldwin ordered his
men to dismeunt, use their horses
for breast works and fight. Clark
obeyed the command; the others
were panic stricken and made a
dash to escape. Baldwin called
loudly to them to halt, but they
were too badly scared 10 hear his
command. AS they stampeded
Moss dropped his gun and Cutters
horse became manageable and
ran among the Indians. Grief
was so frightened he stood still
while the Indians rode up, put
their guns against his head and
shot him down. In twenty min
utes from the first attack the three
named men with their horses lay
dead upon the plain. After scalp
ing them and swinging their
bloody scalps in the air, the infu-
rated devils turned their whole
force upon Baldwin and Clark.
The two had mounted, thinking
there was an opportunity for an
escape. but the Indians came upon
them so rapidly Baldwin cried to
Clark ito dismount and fight"
Before he could do so his horse fell