The Sunday herald., 1881-03-06
A FIGHT WITH INDIANS.
Described by II New Mexico Miner
Who Nns III the ThiCk Of II.

From letter written by James =. Blain
we copy the following. Its dated at Apache Mining
Camp:
mouth of the caron at +. NJ. Tuesday. The fight
lasted half nh hour. They killed two miners and
wounded one. The Indians got away with all tho
stock below.
Next came your humble servants turn at 3 4. NJ.
jim Wilson aud myself were coming up the gulch
Indians spied us, and allowed us TO come within a
mile from the lower cabins, when from hiteen to
twenty opened fire Oh us at range of not more than
seventy-hve yards. dropped behind bush, fired
one shot, looked around, and saw my pard standing
up. told him to squat, but before he did we got
another voley. As yet neither was hurt, although
believe 1t was the fact Of our having the mules that
saved us The Indians did mt wan. to XIII the mules
consequently did not shoot as close although they got
there eventually. We Were not much struck after
them critters no how. II was too hot there, SO we
made up our minds to try run. OF course the reds
pufis OF blue smoke, which shot at fast as we
could load. We made run OF about sixty yards
under heavy fire, running zig zag, and reached the
bed of the creek when threw ourselves Hat on the
rocks and boulders, and although hard, they were
feather beds compared to the leadcn bullets that
showering about us. Wilson asked me If was hit
i told him not yet, and he said: $50 am L. He
had scarcely finished when piece of lead from bull
let, which split on the rock in font struck him square
between the eyes. lie looked at me- fell back, and
said: 'Jim I'm doue for: run for It. ~ ! saw the
blood spurt from the wound. and said: Poor jim. -
| fired one shot, and was loading on my back, when
Wilson almost scared me df II was possible to
man any more than was) by saying: a. jim, guess
this is a tight racket. don't believe 1t went
through -
In fact 1t was only a Scratch but for moment
Wilson said he felt that he deader than salted
mackerel, and thought 1t about the easiest leal
he ever experienced.
You may think I'm trying to be funny, hui
there's no use talking 1t Is funny, now that II is
all over although at the time neither of craCkedl
smile.
In the mean time the Indians were getting around
us. and feared they would get the opposite bank OF
the mesa so we made another run, but Wilson could
not run. as both eyes filled with blood SO go
to cedar tree near the bottom Of the bank on th'
next run found Wilson could not get up, the ball
being very slippery He shouted To me: ''Jim AZ.
you going to leave me ?''
Never, pard,'' said /, ''whilo old Betsy car
talk
covered him from the little cedar above and kep
up racket with old Betsy until Wilson got aongsi,
We then made a break for the mesa. We ran abou
$50 yards when got another voiley, all seeming
shoot at once but both fell lust at the right time
The last volley from the bank we had ust left
Wilson again got weak, and felt terribly fatguet
myself. So each lodged behind bush about aIg,
enough to make u fan to keep the flies of. We lay
within easy range of the reds Tor two hours and al
we could shoot at the puts Of smoke but L II be
there was some bullets went pretty close to the
lles OF those Indian guns. We made more break
failing at least dozen times, and finally got to higl
point where we felt that no twenty Indians could ge
MS, and held the fort until darkness compelled gu
enemy to withdraw.
It's the narrowest escape ever knew two mortal
to live through. got my hat punched through
taking lock OF my hair with It, about an inch to
high for biz.-Ddily Ns,o Woricdn.