The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-08-04
A THRILLING RACE FOR LIFE.
THE ESCAPE OF Otter, WHO HAD A
HEEL AND TOE HATCH WITH SIX
HUNDRED INDIANS.

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HUNDRED INDIANS.
Not one of our books succeed in pre-
senting us with an adventure as thrilling
as that of John Golfer, who came to 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 six hun
dred 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 us a mark to
shoot at, but the chief interfered, and,
Selling him by the shoulder, asked him
if he could run fast. Golfer, who had
been some time amongst the Kee- katso
or Crow Indians, had in a considerable
degree acquired the Blackfoot language
and was also well acquainted with Indian
customs; he knew that he had to run for
his life, with the dreadful odds of five or
six hundred against him and those armed
Indians; he therefore cunningly replied
that he was a very bad runner, although
he was considered by the hunters IS re-
markedly swift. The chief now COM
manded the party to remain stationary
and led Golfer out on the prairie three or
four hundred yards and released him,
bidding him save himself if h, could. At
this instant the horrid warwhoop soun-
ded in the ears of poor Golfer, who urged
with the hope Of preserving life, ran
with speed at which he himself was
surprised. He proceeded toward the
Jefferson Fork; having to traverse a
plain six miles in breadth, Astounding
with the prickly pear, on which he was
every instant treading with his naked
feet. He ran nearly half way across the
plain before he ventured to look over his
shoulder when he perceived that the
Indians were very much scattered and
that he had gained ground to a consid-
cradle distance from the main body, but
one Indian who carried spear, was
much before all the rest and not more
than a hundred yards from him.
A faint CLEAN of hope now cheered the
heart of Golfer. lie derived confdence
from the belief that escape was within
the bounds of possibility, but that conf
dence was nearly fatal to him, for he
exerted himself to such degree that the
blood gushed from his nostrils and soon
almost covered the fore part of his body.
He had now arrived within mile of the
river, when he distinctly heard the ap-
pallng 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 frcm him. Determined, if posi-
Bile, to avoid the expected blow, he sud
denly stopped, turned around and spread
out his arms. The Indians, surprised
by the suddenness of the action, and
perhaps by the bloody appearance of
hausted with running he fell whilst en-
deavoring to throw his spear, which
struck in the ground and broke. Golfer
instantly snatched the pointed part,
with which he pinned him to the earth
and then continued his flight. The FORE
most of the Indians, on arriving at the
place. stopped till others came up to join
them, when they set up hideous yell.
Every moment of this time was improv-
ed By Golfer. who, although fainting and
exhausted, succeeded in gaining the
skirting of the cottontree wood, on the
borders of the Fork, through which he
ran and plunged into the river. For
tunately for him, little below this place
was an island, against the upper part
of which rafe of timber had lodged.
He dived under the raft and after sew.
eral efforts got his head above water
amongst the trunks of trees, covered
over with smaller wood to the depth of
several feet. Scarcely had he secured
himself when the Indians arrived on the
river, 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 congratula-
ting 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 more of the
Indians, he dived under the raft and
swan silently down the river to a con-
siderable distance where he landed and
travelled all night. Although happy in
having escaped from the Indians, his
situation was still dreadful; he was COM
pletely naked under 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 Fort, on the Big Horn
branch of the Roche jaime river. These
were circumstances under which almost
any man but an American hunter would
have despaired. He arrived at the fort
in seven days. having subsisted ON root
much esteemed by the Indians of the
Missouri.