Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-06-21

view, "
1899.
On Sunday morning, May o., 1899.
tile intrepid Capt. John Bird with a
company OF thirty-one rangers. well
mounted and equipped, left Fort
Milan at the falls OF the Brazos on
scouting expedition against the depre.
dating bands Of Indians who were
constantly making forays upon the un.
protected settlements around Fort
smith, on Little river, which was at
that time on the extreme frontier of
Texas, the Bry0nts and few others
on the Brazos being
THEIR NEAREST NEIGHBoRs.
Capt. Bird arrived at Fort Smith at
/ o'clock in the afternoon Of the same
dsy, and at once learned that Indians
had been seen near the fort but few
hours before his arrival. Without dis
mounting, the rangers at once pro-
ceeded to the point where the Indians
had been seen. After hurried
march Of some five miles upon
the freshly made trail, they
suddenly came upon tweuty-seven
COmanche Indians. When dis
covered, the Indians were busy
SHINING buffAloes aud did not notice
the approaching rangers until they
were close upon them. The rangers
nov
CHANGED THE REDSKINS,
who fled in different directions, think
ing to prevent pursuit Following on
ia the direction which the main body
had gone for some three miles over the
prairie, the rangers found themselves
confronted by the same party Of In
dams, who had come together at this
point and were arrayed in battle
order and ready for a figat.
TIE Texans again charged upon them,
aud after = short skirmish the Indians
again led, the rangers pursuing them
several miles further, but without
overtaking them. Their horses being
considerably faded, the savages easily
outrode them. The rangers now re-
turned, but after retracing their steps
for half n mile, and just as they were
emerging from skirt OF timber on
the side of small stream, since
called Birds creek, about seven
miles northeast of Bolton, in Bell
county, they were suddenly sur
rounded by about forty Indians, who
shot their arrows at them from every
direction. The rangers now made for
a rsvine, some six hundred yards In
front, where there was spring,
which they succeeded in reaching,
despite the desperate attempt made to
prevent them by the savsges, who
now retired TO the top Of hill, 300
yards distant
A COUNCIL OF WAR
Was then held, when the adams sent
up three signal smokes which were
answered in s. many din srent direc.
lions. In about half al hour the
rangers saw large body Of mounted
warriors coming in the direction OF the
hill. In few minutes the hilltop
seemed TO be literally alive with
painted demons. Increased to about
three hundred in number and led by
their famous chief, Buffalo Hump,
the Indians now arrayed themselves
in battle order ready and eager
for the fray. Advancing few PAGES,
the whole company halted, where IL
remained silent and motionless for
several moments, perhaps TO give the
little band Of Texas in the ravine an
opportunity
or COUNTING THE ENEMY,
but. as one OF the rangers remarked
after the fight, "thsr warn't 10 time
fur countln' Ingins." The helpless
little company OF men well knew that
this formidable army Of red devils
would soon swoOp down upon
them and they were busy prepsri Dg
to defend themselves again It sucn fear.
ful odds. Raising the Comanche
war-whoop all along the entire line,
the Indians charged down upon the
men in the ravine, utteriug the most
unearthly yells that ever greeted the
ears OF mortals, and at the same
time pouring regular deluge OF ar
rows. The Texans were brave and
gave them most deadly reception,
causing them TO retire again TO the
hilltop without trrying Off their dead
and wounded.
AGAIN THE ENEMY CHARGED
in overwhelming numbers, this time
advancing TO within fifty yards Of the
ravine; but under the CALLING fire OF
the rangers they were once more COM
PEELED TO retreat, leaving a number OF
their braves dead and wounded upon
the field, Having failed in eacn at
tempt to dislodge the rangers from
their stronghold, and seeing that sew
eral OF their number had bit the dust
at each successive charge, the whole
company now retired some distance
beyond the hill aud out of
sight. They now divided into two
com panies and Immediately began
making third and more II 'rce attack
upon the rangers, this time closing IN
upon them from either side, deter
mined to route the little garrison at
all hazards. The strife nos became
deadly. The gallant little band in the
| ravine
FOUGHT FOR LIFE
and taxed its energies 10 TIE utmost.
The field WAS an open prairie with
nothing TO shield the c)ntendinR
foes against the showers OF arrows
and leaden hail, which was necessarily
being sent. Victory trembled in the bal.
ance. The indians repeatedly charge d
almost TO the brink OF the rsvine, oul
were "a often forced back, The brave
Capt. Bird was killed early In TIE light
and six other rangers were killed or
disabled, aud now the remainder, re-
duced to only twenty-five I'm number
aud exhausted by the long
VI