The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-05-28

SHW long line OF inc reu painted devils
on three sides of him, while on the
fourth, in the direction of his party,
was half a mile or more of broken
ground, cut up by deep, narrow
ravInes. It took but a moment to decide
his line of action. Putting spurs to his
horse he turned TO the only loophole of
escape, and, to the surprise of the In
dians, went leaping over the ravines, one
after the other, at the risk of his life. but
with the assurance that they could not
follow him. as none of their ponies were
equal to the work, and to keep up the
pursuit they were obliged to make long
detour
Having once got clear of the broken
ground, Howard looking back found
himself well ahead, and was congratu-
lating himself on so easy an escape,
when he saw directly before him. spring
ing out of the grass, a formidable array
of Indians, intercepting his flight; those
pursuing in the rear closed up, and al
most before he could realize the situation
he found himself again entrapped, this
time by line of Indians that entirely
encircled him, numbering about 100, as
nearly as he could judge. They rapidly
narrowed the limits of the circle, and be-
gan taunting him with all manner of in
suits, and telling him of the tortures that
awaited him and of the slow roasting
that they proposed to give him. For
several minutes he sat on his horse,
trying to reconcile, himself to the GER
tainty 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 rife, and fired at
the nearest man, killing him instantly.
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 carbine, 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 preferable to 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 a general
|
for him with their spears, Others seizing
his legs and trying 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 (the Indian's) body
and blazing away, the blood squirting
over Howard's buckskin leggings, saddle
and horse. The instant he freed him
self 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 a vollev of
! bullets and arrows at him. None of them
hit him, and up to this moment he was en-
tirely unframed. Had his horse been
equally fortunate this would doubtless
have ended the fight, as the horse was a
| fine, high-spirited animal, superior to
any of the Indian ponies. But the first
! shot received at the beginning of hostili-
! ties had cut Il 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 encour-
aged to continue in pursuit, and their
| leader, mounted on i'm American stage
horse Stolen the day before at stage
station a few miles back, which they had
! burned, numbering all the inmates) sue
ceeded so we'll in keeping pace with him
that Howard could almost feel the
breath from the nostrils of his pursuers
horse. Thus they rode, nose to tail, for
a 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, bullet pierced Howard's
clothes at his side, another cut the strap
of his field glass, which was lost, another
cut off his spur, bruising the heel slightly
but not drawing blood; fourth pierced
the wooden breech of his rifle, as he car
ried it in his hand-almost striking it
! from his grasp; Others struck the saddle,
and in short they seemed to strike every
where but where they were aimed All
this time Howard was endeavoring to
reach over his shoulder and get shot at
the Indian, but at every such movement
the savage slipped under the belly of his
! horse, and was out of signt, except hand
on the name, and heel on the back. Final
! ly, allIammunltion 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's horse. that had been totter-
ing shakily, from loss of blood, fell on
mis- 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 opportunity had
come, his foe was at his side, and he
quickly thrust his rifle against the In
dams 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 re-
mainder of the band following mt a