The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-29

Engineering on the Plains Fifteen
Years Ag0-Feat of Howard Schuyler
Graphic story of Danger and Cour.
age.
The kindness of kinsman of the late
Howard Schuyler has furnished us with
the following interesting story of the
perils of engineering life on the Plains
only fifteen years ago:
sin recent letter from - he in
forms me of your request that I should
write out IN detail the story of Howard's
miraculous escape from the Indians, as
had narrated it to you. If it is q
matter of interestto you, it viii certainly
be q pleasure to me so to do.
ssIn the month of June, 1869, when
The grass and flowers on the plains of
Kansas and Colorado were nearly knee
high, the result of unusually abundant
rains, which left clear pools of water in
all the little arroyos, a corps of Kansas
Pacific engineers under the leadership
Of Howard Schuyler, were engaged in
making certain preliminary SURVEYS in
the vicinity of the terminal town of
Phil Sheridan, near the border line of
the two States. They had been out on
8 trip of several months in the direction
OF Denver, and had returned to the end
Of tho track to begin the definite loca-
ton, which we afterward carried
through to Denver. At this time had
been with the party some two or three
months, taking my noVitiate in engi-
neering, and was occupying the posi-
ton OF rodman. Prior to commencing
the location, we were running some
rapid trial lines north of Sheridan, and
DY the 18th of June were some fifteen
or twenty miles out in roll
ing country, where the heads
of the Smoky Hill and Republi-
can Forks of the Kansas River inter-
lock. On the evening before our camp
nad been brought up to the end of our
work, and We started out bright and
early on this memorable SATURDAY.
morning, so that by ten o'clock we
we're several miles away from camp.
"a all our work we had been accom-
panied by an escort of fifteen infantry
soiOlefs, under the charge of Lieuten-
ant acting in the capacity of camp
guard, who, while they were very useful
n guarding our base of supplies, were
q no protection to us in the field. Our
party numbered thirteen all told, two
Y Whom remained in camp as cook and
feamster. The working party was
therefore reduced to eleven, including
howard, whose custom it was to ride
several miles ahead, looking ont the
me and indicating it by building sod
mounds two or three feet high with q
saovei. We followed from one mound
8 me next measuring angles and dis
sahces and leyeling the ground. Our
plogress was as rapid almost as man
Moul0 walk at a moderate pace, aud
Ne We're exceedingly vulnerable to at
aK, as we were all separated, strung
out over distance of a mile or moro,
Mhlie Howard was always out of sight
aaa several miles ahead, but having
oesh Out several months without seeing
ay Indian signs we had no suspicion
aanger and did not dream there
sefe any Indians in the country. We
asssfsyards knew that they had been
Naschlngns some days and were simply
alsing Tor the most favorable oppor-
ssulsF TO make the attack, having evi-
asatiy planned to kill Howard first and
Is. .ssa q come back along the line picking
=. sne rest OF the party one by one.
IN g pursuance of this plan they lay in
sst until they had cornered him in a
1sp when they fired shot, striking his
hs1se n The hip; and looking around
IS cav long line of the red painted
asslis on three sides of him, while on
sze fourth, in the direction of his party,
sAs half mile or more of broken
.oslna, cut up by deep narrow ravines.
s. 4 sooS but moment to decide his line
= Il scion; Putting spurs to his horse
= -. suFned to the only loophole of es-
~ and. TO the surprise of the Indians,
~. ieaping over the ravines, one after
- VsaeF, at the risk of bis life, blt