Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-04
THE RICHMOND DIsp THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1884

An indication: but u be goes 70 gathering
herbs Il Il a certain sign. Truly, The posi-
ton Il not an enviable one. A medicine
man, however, gets large rccompense, aud
a man who IL cured IL ALWAYS pretty poor,
no matter what he owned before.
Just now Mr.. Spencer came In from his
ranch and gave Us great deal OF INTEREST
inc Information In regard TO " his Indians"
He told US most thrilling tale OF bis own
experience. 81 was carrying the mail be-
tween The forts at that time he said, land
YVES ambusbed by the Indians In canyon
about Twenty-Five miles south Of here. One
al nv two companions was Killed and the
o,ber wounded. and I only escaped because
the shot I;it nv pistol and glanced aside.
The wounded fellow tried 10 escape, and
while the Indians were drawn of In pur-
suit of him I slipped of my horse
into the bush. NV rifle cIogged in
throwing I'D shell, and | had TO
take the magazine out and reload 1t, while
expecting them on me NJ any moment.
After had my rife ready looked about
and saw that my only chance was 10 reach
the edge Of small canyon where | should
have rock IN front and would not be at
tackled from behind. started 10 run upa
little arroyo. but they saw me and fred on
me, one snot passing through rly leg at the
hip and one in my breast. As | fell they
gave n shout ana pushed on me, but |
managed TO raise myself and shoot down
the fret two, and they fell back. Then i
managed to draw myself TO the position /
had chosen. They had meanwhile ciughs
the wounded fellow, and for two hours
they tortured him. Finally they cut of his
hands and head. While had to he listen
ing 10 this and their iiendish yeIls,
had found nv pistol was clOgged with
the lead OF the bullet from which IL saved
me. took II all 10 pieces and reloaded aud
nut il together again. had deter
mined TO sell my life as dearly rs |
could. but II there were no hope. 10 blow
nv own brains out with my Ilst two
charges. rather than fall into their hands.
When they had finished my companion |
heard them consulting and arranging to at
fark. me from three sides. Nv leg was en-
tireIy dead bv this time. and was very
weak from loss OF blood, but | managed
10 kill the leaders OF each band. and they
fell back. heard them decide that il was
not worth while wasting number OF In-
dams on one white man, and they were
sure Of me as soon as night fell. All was
quiet for time, and then heard one In
dian. who knew little English. call
No hurt Spencer. Go home knew
this was only trap 10 get me out,
and, as he kept on repeating this. thought
| would try to see him without exposing
myself. ! had heard OF people aiming by
sound. though j had never tired il. !
listened intently. and kept bringing nv
rife up and aiming toward the sound. |
fired. and there was a great cOmmotiOI.
] learned afterward-for am friends with
all these Indians now-that the bullet Just
graZed his arm, and the start il gave him
threw him from a point OF rock he was
standing upon and bruised him badly.
After this all was so quiet began 10 Sus-
pect something, and raising my head very
slowly and cautiously above the rock be-
bind me, it received two shots, showing
they had managed 10 creep up there.
raised myself quickly, threw my arm over
the rock. and fired two or three shots from
my pistol IN quick succession. That cleaned
out that nest. over at the fort they had
heard the firing in the morning, but paid
no attention to it; but when IL continued
thev concluded the Indians had got hold Of
me, and sent out a squad u the rescue.
They came on the hands OF my companion
living in the road, where they had been
dropped, and were frightened, and went
back. Meanwhile had determined not to
wait for the Indians. but rs soon as il was
dusk TO drag myself off and see II | could
get away. However, the soldiers came
back, and just at dusk found me, but ii
was a close shave. At the last moment !
could not make them hear me, and they
were about To turn back. thinking ! was
gone up. but ] attracted their attention be-
fore it was too late. That was rs long a
day as | ever spent, gentlemen"