Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-06

A Race for Life.
The THRILLING ADVENTURE OF JOIN
Golfer AMONG THE BLAcKFEET In
dams.

Not one of our books succeeds in pre-
senting US with an adventure as thrilling
as that Of John Golfer, who came from st.
Louis from the Blackfoot country in 1910.
Golfer and hunter named Potts were
trapping on the jefferson fork. when
they were attacked by about 600 warriors.
Potts was instantly pierced with arrows
so numerous that, to use Golfers words,
.he was made riddle of" They now
seized Golfer, stripped him entirely naked
and began to consult on the manner in
which he should be put to death. They
were at first inclined to set him up as a
mark to shoot at. but the chief interfered,
and seizing him by the shoulder. asked
him II he could run fast. Golfer. who had
been some time among the keekatso or
Crow Indians, had in a considerable de-
gree acquired the Blackfoot language. and
was also acquainted with Indian customs.
He knew he had to run for his life. vita
the doubtful odds Of 500 or 600 against
him, and those armed Indians. He there
fore cunningly replied that he was very
poor runner, although he was considered
by the hunters as remarkably swift. The
chief now commanded the party to remain
stationary and led Golfer out on the prairie
800 or 400 yards and released him. bid
ding him save himself if he could. AT
this instant the horrid war whoop sounded
in the ears OF poor Golfer, who, urged
with the hope of preserving life. ran
with a speed with which he himself was
surprised. He proceeded toward the
Jefferson fork, having to traverse plain
six miles in breadth, abonding with prick
" pear, on which he was every instant
treadng with his naked feet. He ran
nearly half across the plain before he
ventured to look over his shoulder, when
he perceived that the Indians were very
much scattered ana that he had gained
ground to a considerable distance from
the main body, but one Indian. who car
ried spear, was much before all the rest,
and not more than 100 yards from him.
A faint CLEAN of hope now cheered the
heart OF Golfer. He derived confidence
from the belief that escape was within the
the bounds of possibility: but that conf
dence was nearly fatal to him. tor her ex-
erted himself to such degree that the
blood gushed from his nostrils and soon
almost covered the tore part of his body.
He had now arrived within mile of the
river, when he distinctly heard the appal-
ling sound of footsteps behind him, and
every instant expected to feel the spear of
his pursuer. Again he turned his head
and saw the savage not twenty yards
from him. Determined. if possible to
avoid the expected blow, he suddenly
stopped turned round. and spread out his
hands. The Indian. surprised by the sud-
denness of the action. and perhaps by the
bloody appearance of Golfer. also at
tempted to stop. but exhausted with run
ming, he fell while endcavoring to throw
his spear, which stuck in the ground and
broke Golfer instantly snatched the
pointed part, and pinned him to the
earth and then continued his flight. the
foremost of the Indians. on arriving at
the place. stopped till others came to join
them, when they set up a hideous yell.
Every moment of this time was improv-
ed by Golfer, who, although fainting and
exhausted, succeeded in gaining the skirt
ing of the cotton Greenwood, on the borders
OF the fork, through which he ran and
plunged into the river. Fortunately for
him. a little below this place was an
island, against the upper part of which
raft of timber had lodged. He dived under
the raft. and after several efforts got his
head above water among the trunks of
trees, covered over with smaller wood to
the depth of several feet. Scarcely had
he secured himself when the Indians ar
rived on the other side, screeching and
yelling, as Golfer expressed it, like so
many DEVILS They were frequently on
the raft during the day, and were seen
through the chinks by Golfer, who was
congratulating himself on his escape. until
the idea arose that they might set the raft
on fire. In horrible suspense he remained
until night. when hearing no move of the
Indians he Owed under the raft and swan
silently down the river to a considerable
distance, where he landed and travelled
all night. Although happy in having es-
capped from the Indians, his situation was
still dreadful he was completely naked
under a burning sun-the soles OF his feet
were entirely filled with the thorns of the
prickly pear-be WAS hungry and had no
means of killing game, although he saw
abundance around him. and was at least
seven days journey from Lisa tort, on the
Big Horn branch of the Roche jaime river
These were circumstances under which
almost any man hut an American hunter.
would have despaired. He arrived at the
tort in seven days. having subsisted on
root much esteemed by the Indians OF