The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-01

EARNED than usual, having that morning
lett his belt, with brace of pistols and
box of cartridges, in camp 10 be
cleaned, taking only his Winchester
carbine, carrying twelve shots. He
now determined to sell his life as dearly
as poSsib G, and, counting every shot,
to be sure that he saved one for himself
as a dernser res ort 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
lect, 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 irving
for him with their spears, Others seizing
his legs and striving to unhorse him.
He succeeded in the twinkliDg of an
eye in throwing them all of, and even
killed a second man riding at his side,
putting his gun against his (the
Indian 81 body and blazing away. the
blood squirting over Howard's 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
unharmed. Had his horse been equally
fortunate this would doubtless have
ended the fight, as the horse was fine,
high-sp; ;rited animal, superior to any of
the Indian ponies. But the first shot
received at the beginning of hOstilities
had cut q small artery, and from this the
| blood was pumping out 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),
i succeeded so well in keeping pace with
him, that Howard could almost feel
the breath from the noStriis 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 Howard's 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; a 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, ard 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 q
hand on themane and heel on the back.
Fina ly, 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 10
knock him out of his saddle without
avail, but at last Howard S horse, that had
been tottering 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 rifle against
the Indians body and fired, blowing a
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 a prudent distance, for
by this time they hegan to look upon
him as 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. undauntcd, 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
struggled to his feet. He then led him
slowly to where the rest of the party
had made a stand about their wagon,
and as he approached from one direc-
ton came limping up from the other,
with a bullet in my right leg. The
Indians had paid their gentle attention
to the rest OF us during the time How
ard was having his fight, unfortunately
not in force. and we succeeded in get
ting together at the wagon without the
loss of a man. l being the only one
wounded in the whole engagement.
AS soon as Howard joined us we started
on the retreat for camp, the Indians
haraSsing us the whole way. They
would form in single lille or all abreast,
and charge as though they were going
to ride right over us, but on getting
within short range would wheel and re-
tire, after discharging vOlley of shots
that would tear up the earth all around
us. This was most terrifying to me. q
boy fresh from school, who had never
experienced any sort of warfare, and
had never even seen gun fired by one
man at another-but Howard, who had
gone through four years of war of the
rebellion, and had seen three years OF
more of border warfare with Indians,
was quite exhilarated by the excite.
ment He gave them challenge by
walking alone several hundred wards
AWAY on one side. They charged. but