The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-24

boldness was rewarded by finding in
this group the womenof whom they were
in search-one an American and the
other Mexican, and both, notwith-
standing the grief and anxiety depicted
upon their countenances, fair to see.
The hags who had them in charge were
10th to let them go, but our heroes,
dismounting, swung the captives, by
main force, to the saddles, and then,
springing on behind them, began their
retreat.
This was a much more difficult feat
than the advance, for the Indians who
had at first supposed they were assailed
by detachment of troops, now dis
covered that their assailants were but
two in number, and were rallying to cut
off their retreat. A running fight en-
sued, in which the deadly accuracy of
the carbines told to good advantage,
while, on the other hand, the nature of
the ground gave the savages opportuni-
ties for ambuscades which they were not
slow to improve. Only the proverbial
cowardice of the Apaches saved alive
our heroes and their precious charges,
exposed as they were to assaults from
every side, unable to urge their iaded
and over-weighted horses to any salts
factory degree of speed. The fleet
footed savages were easily able to keep
up with them and harass them from
behind trees, rocks and bushes with a
rapid discharge of both arrows and fire.
arms, the number of their warriors hav-
ing evidently received an accession,
while the 'squaws and children kept up
an internal uproar of boots and yells.
Dupont's horse got an arrow in his
shoulder, which rendered him almost
llnmanageable, and Mrs. Benedict, the
American lady, who occupied Tallman's
saddle received bullet-wound in the
tleshy part of her arm. AS soon, there
fore, as they reached convenient spot,
the little party stood at bay, and
the fight began in earnest. The rapid
| ity of the carbine fire soon partially 81
| fenced the volleys of the Indians, who
now skulked under shelter and watched
their opportunities; but every time one OF
them raised his head it attracted a bullet,
and it is almost certain that several OF
! them were converted into good Indians
by the gospel of lead. It looked that
way to our heroes, who, although they
had no way of ascertaining the fact, felt
sure that some of their shots were effect
i've by the evident CONSERVATION of the
enemy and the fact that with each vol.
| ley they became more cautious and re.
tiring, and at last withdrew from the
field, when our friends lost no time il
getting down from the mountains and
putting a good piece of ground between
themselves and the redskins.
Their camp that night was carefully
chosen and strictly guarded, but the,
suffered no further molestation, and il
due time arrived in Tuscon with thu
rescued captives, who were received
with the active and cordial sympath,
which grows only on the wild soil o
the Western Territories and Paciti,
States. 1t was found impossible, how
ever, to restore them to their friends
for these, alas had been murdered b,
the Indians. Mrs. Benedict was, at he
own request, sent to California; Senor
Riviera remained in Tuscon and was il
due time married to an American in re
spectacle standing. As for Charlie Du
pont and Billy Tallman, the boys ap
plauded them; and that, beyond thei
consciousness of having done goo'
and brave thing, was the extent Of thei
reward. And, doubtless, if necessary
they would undertake a similar adven
ture upon the same TERMS Cincinnd,
Ej,ID;,,e1,