The Somerset reporter., 1885-05-06
n Ride for Life.
AN ESCAPE FROM THE BATTLEFOhD INDIANS
ATwo DAYS PURSUIT.

The escape of George E. Applegarth
from thea Battleford Indians reads like a
page out of border romance. Applegrath
was farm instructor to Red Pheasant's
band. On The night OF Manday, March 80,
he was making up his returns with the In
tention of going to Battleford next day.
The Indians OF his reserve had expressed
great friendliness for the whites. Like all
risen they might fight, but they would light
on the side Of the whites. Appicg iri h
went to bed about midnight. At three
O'Clock In the morning he heard u tapping
at the door. Getting up he went to see
what was the matter, when an Indian
quickly strobe In aud closed the door be.
hind him. lie told Applegarth that the re-
serve was rising, and that some of the
bucks who had been to Battleford were af-
ter him. Almost while he spoke the door
burst open and Is redskia, rushed in. APP
plesarth thought his time had come, but
luckily this was not the war party. They
were l8 In number-six bucks and IL
squaws-and the friendly Indian whispered
that their mission was to hold him until
the warriors arrived. Applegarth reused
bis wife and sister in-law, little girl
about IL years old, and Indian Teacher
Cunningham, and told them to dress. He
himself slipped out behind and hitched up
his team, while the friendly Indian engaged
IA offapftnn NJ tho uicifnra TiEa fru
woman, the only article of apparel which
Mrs. Applegarth took with her Ms The team
drove off besides the clothes she wore, was
her wedding dress.
About half past three In the morning the
party of four set out on their race for life
to Swift Current 200 miles distant. T sy
had got d miles away when the whitilc.
tree broke. Applegarth had to walk two
miles back to get rail to make a new one
out Of. Then they flew on again, plunging
and galloping through snow three feet
deep, with the moonlight streaming over
head.
AT dawn they saw six Indians In the dis
lance, They had now struck the tail,
which they left again TO strike into the
coulees and elude their pursuers. Tuey
drove all day, and towards nightfall, caught
sight Of the Indians again. This time they
thought 1t was all up with them. The H.
dams were certainly following them, and
were possibly waiting till nightfall to kill
them. All Applegarth could do was to tell
his wife he would ask them TO make short
work at the business. His wife and little
girl cried q little, but kept up their cour-
age well. They had no arms with tn m.
Before leaving the house Applegarth had
been searched by the squaws, and his al IN,
andLo ey taken from him. The only defcac
the party had against their pursuers was
an axe. At two o'clock en- the morning of
Wednesday, they rested for q couple of
hours. The horses were nearly exhausted.
But little before morning they were put
together again and driven on. When day.
light came there were no Indians IN sight
They drove on all Wednesday, and at
nighfall took another rest. Applegarth
never closed his eyes, however. some
time after midnight they went on, and the
forenoon of Thursday, they came up with
Judge Rouleau, who had left Battlford the
previous Sunday with his wife aud child.
Mrs. Rae, Wife Of Indian agent, hired
man, the two Parkers of Battleford, and
man named Foster-eight In all. This
brought up the party to - PERSONS.
When the judge left Battleford there was
no trouble, although trouble was appre-
hended. Applegarth's report hurried up
Luclr movements lHlTby
miles from Swift Current they were over
taken BY Constable Stortr and Mr.. Smart.
Storer had left Bsttleford on Saturday, and
was bearer of dispatches to Colonel
Herchmer. The Battleford garrison be-
leved Herclmer was within a days march
of Batteford. Storer had pluckily volur-
teered to go out and meet him and tell him
OF the events that had transpired. On his
way he met Smart who was coming 10 with
goods, and The two journeyed south 10
gether. They arrived at Swift Currt mt on
Monday morning, and the majority Of the
party went east on Tuesday.
1t may be Of interest to know that the
Innians who were bent on killing Apple
garth were those whose rations had been
stopped by him until they consented to
work.
This ended flight which undoubtedly is
only sample Of many occurring in the
north country now, and which illustrates
the unhappy plight Of the settlers through
out all the disaffected region.