The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-28

of Indians, intercepting bis flight; those
pursuing in the rear closed up. and al
most before he could realize the situa-
ton he found himself again entrapped,
this time by line of Indians that en-
tirely encircled him, numbering about
one hundred, as near as he could judge.
They rapidly narrowed the limits of the
circle, and began haunting him with all
manner of insults, and telling him of
the tortures that awaited him and of the
slow roasting that they prOpOsedto give
him. For several minutes he sat onhis
horse trying to reconcile himself to the
certainty that death was before him.
but when the first struggle was over all
trembling ceased, and with as true an
aim as ever huntsman leveled at deer,
he drew up his rifle and fired at the
nearest man, killing him in
stantly. Earlier in the fight he had
realized that he was more lightly
armed than usual, having that morning
left his belt, with brace of pistols and
box of cartridges, in camp to be
cleaned, taking only his Winchester
carb;ne, carrying twelve shots. He
now determined to sell his life as dearly
as possible, and, counting every shot,
to be sure that he saved one for himself
as dernier resort in case of capture,
since death by his own hand was prefer
able to slow torture. Twice more he
shot in quick succession without fatal
effect, when he suddenly put spurs to
his horse and dashed through the line.
At this moment there was general
scramble and rush for him, some trying
for him with their spears, others seizing
his legs and striving to unhorse him.
He succeeded in the twinkling of an
eye in throwing them all off. and even
killed second man riding at his side,
putting his gun against his Ghe
Indian's) body and blazing away, the
blood squirting over Towards buckskin
leggings, saddle and horse. The in
slant he freed himself from them and
got clear alone on open GROUND ahead
of them, where they were not in danger
of killing each other in shooting at
him. they fired volley of bullets and
arrows at him. None of them hit him,
and up to this moment he was entirely
unframed. Had his horse been equally
fortunate this would doubtless have
ended the fight, as the horse was fine,
high-spirited animal, superior to any of
the Indian ponies. But the first shot
received at the beginning of hostilities
had cut a small artery, and from this the
blood was pumping out a steady stream
that, together with his violent exertions,
was fast sapping his strength. The
Indians, seeing this, were encouraged
to continue the pursuit, and their
leader, mounted on an American stage
horse (stolen the day before at a stage
station a few miles back, which they
had burned, numbering all the inmates),
succeeded so well in keeping pace with
him, that Howard could almost feel
the breath from the nostrils of
his pursuer's horse. Thus they
rode, nose to tail, for mile or two,
the Indian occupying the time in
shooting at Howard. Three pistols, six
shooters, he emptied, and bullets flew
around poor Howard on every side.
Four more entered the poor horse,
already so badly wounded, a bullet
pierced Towards clothes at his side,
another cut the strap of his field glass,
which was lost, another cut off his spur,
bursting the heel slightly butnot drawing
blood; fourth pierced the wooden
breech of his rifle, as he carried it in his
hand--almost striking it from his grasp;
others struck the saddle, and in short
they seemed to strike everywhere but
where they were aimed. All this time
Howard was endeavoring to reach over
his shoulder and get a shot at the In
dian, but at every such movement the
savage slipped under the belly of his
horse and went out Of sight, except a
hand on the name and heel on the back.
Finally, all ammunition exhausted, the
Indian resorted to his spear, and with
the wooden handle gave Howard one
or two severe raps on the head, trying to
knock him out of his saddle without
avail, but at last Howard horse, that had
been lettering shakily, from loss of
blood, fell on his knees, and the Indian
rushed up to end the contest. At that
instant the horse struggled to his feet
again and Howard saw that his oppor-
tunity had come, his foe was at his side,
and he quickly thrust his rife against
the Indians body and fired, blowing q
hole through that seemed as large as
ones arm. The Indian shrieked,
leaped out of his saddle, and fell to the
ground on his face, dead.
Looking about, Howard saw
the remainder of the band fol-
lowing at prudent distance, for
by this time they began to look upon
him as q god, invulnerable to all their
weapons. When, at last, the poor horse
fell PROSTATE, and apparently dead,
they all flocked up to make final dis
position of their troublesome enemy.
But Howard, undaunted, lay quietly
down behind the body of his horse, and
when they came within short range,
took deliberate aim and fired, killing
another man. This unlooked-for dis
aster completely demoralized them,
and they fed in all directions. Within
three minutes not an Indian was in
sight. He turned his attention to his
horse, loosened the girth to take off the
saddle, and was surprised when the
animal drew . deep breath and
StruOUlpd tn hia feat Ho fhau lad hin,