Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-01-14

ulStaHces SOu0 OH logs, anu some BWlm-
ming and carrying their rifles over their
heads. The escape Of the boat was
now hopeless, as there was Q large body
of Indians on each side of the river. II
the boat had been carried to the oppo.
site side OF the river as soon as her
cable was loosed, the survivors might
have escaped; but to such minds and
hearts, the idea of leaving their dying
friends to the mercy Of the Indian
tomahawk was insupportable.
The boat ut length touched the
southern shore; q hasty preparation was
made to bury the dead in the
woods; Floyd, Fossett. and Boyce got
to land, and sought concealment in
the thickets. Crepps and Crist turned
to their suffering friend, Spears, but
death had kindly set in and cut short
the savage triumph. The woman now
remained.
They offered to assist her to shore,
that she might take her chance of es-
cape in the woods; but the danger of
her position and the scenes Of blood
and death around her, had overpow-
cred her senses. and no entreaty or re-
monstrance could prevail with her 10
move. She sa. with her face buried in
her hands, and no effort could make her
sensible that there was any hope Of es-
cape.
Crepps and Crist seized rife apiece
and ascended the river bank. At the
top OF the hill they met the savages
and charged them with q sho At.
Crepps fired upon them, but Crist, in
haste, had taken up Fossett's gun,
which had got wet as he swan with it
to the boat on the opposite sids--it
missed fire. Atthh time, Moore passed
them and escaped.
The Indians, when charged by Crepps
and Crist. fell back into ravine that
put into the river Immediately above
them. Crist and Crepps again COM
menced their fight The Indians rail-
lied and rose from the ravine, and fred
volley at them as they fed. Crepps
received ball in his left side; bullet
struck Crisis heel. and completely
crushed the bones of his foot They
parted and met no more.
The Indians, intent on plunder, did
not pursue them. but rushed into the
boat Crist heard one long, agonixing,
shrek from the unfortunate woman,
and the wild shouts Of the savages. as
they possessed themselves of the spoils
of . costly, but barren victory.
Crepps, in the course of the next
day, arrived in the neighborhood of
Long Lick, and being unable to travel
furthef, lay down in the woods to die.
Moore alone escaped unhurt, and
brought in tidings Of the defeat Of the
boat. The conntry was at once aroused.
Crepps was found and brought in
but died about the time he reached
home.
Crist was so disabled by the wound
that he could not walk. The bones of
his heel were crushed. He crept into
thicket and laid down. His wound
bled profusely. He could not remain
there long. His feet were Of no use to
him. He bound his moccasions on his
knees and commenced his journey.
Piece by piece his hat, hunting-shirt,
aud vest were consumed to shield his
hands against the rugged rocks which
lay in his way.
He crawled on I'll day up the river
and 1t night crossed over to the north
side upon log that he rolled down the
bank. He concealed himself in the
thicket and tried to sleep; but pain
and exhaustion and losa Of blood had
driven sleep from his eyes.
His foot and leg were much swollen
and inflamed. Guided by the stars,
he crept on again. Between midnight
and day. h0 CANA IA sirht of n Camp