Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-24
LAST INDIAN FIGHT.
How the Redskins Raided
a Cattle Ranch.
THE BATTLE OF DRY CREEK.
Major Fountains Defeat by the
Hostiles Near Silver City
With Heavy Loss.

A few days ago meagre account of
q combat between the soldiers and Iu-
dians near Silver City, New Mexico,
came over the wires to the associated
press aud was published in the HERALD
Yesterday reporter Of this paper while
walking along the platform at the depot,
happened 10 notice cattle rancher
from that part of the country. and upon
inquiry WAS able to CLEAN few further
particulars concerning that disastrous
encounter with the hostiles.
1t appears that two weeks before the
fatal fight on Dry Greek, this band of
hostiles attacked aud burned the rancho
ria Of man named Lilly, in that part OF
the territory which is about sixty miles
from Silver City. Lilly, who had taken
refuge In the house was burned in the
flames of his own dwelling, the red
devils dancing in savage glee in the light
OF the fire aud to the music of the dying
shrieks Of their victim.
Major Fountain after following the
trail OF the murderous marauders for
two weeks, came upon them again at
Siggens' ranch, near Dry Greek. They
were preparing to raid this rancheria,
as they had Lilly's, when the soldiers
struck them. The hostiles again look to
the mountains and to the cover Of the
brush and got away. The soldiers fol-
l.. tAafr I,.f al A.. -
time the Indians disappeared and their
trail was lost. For three or four days
Fountain and his command kept up
still hunt for the hiding place Of the
hostiles and at length while descending
the rugged and precipitous descent into
the bed Of Dry Greek, their enemy, who
lay closely concealed in ambush in the
brush along the banks, began murder
Gus fire without a note OF warning. In
q moment the surgeon and four soldiers
bit the dust to rise no more. The
Lieutenant was badly wounded. but
escaped with his life. In the cowardly
manner and with the usual tactics of
their breed, the Indians having done
such terrible execution with their first
fire fed and were seen no more.
lut AstttidtCu iG1t di1Battnt1 Atd
one to think that 1t was in this encoan-
ter that the Indians fed, leaving their
ponies behind. But ii was when at.
lacked in the act OF raiding Siggens'
Ranch that they left their animals and
fed OH foot to the near by mountains.
1t is hardly credible that even such sol,
diers as those now in New Mexico could
miss the trail OF party of mounted In
dians. Were these soldiers of any ae-
count in this sort Of warfare they could
hardly be ambushed on trail so hot as
was this, albeit there were not galloping
horses footprints to point out the path.
This gentleman quite confirmed all
heard outside OF army circles as te the
utter incapacity Of the army as ii is now
handled to cope with this gigantic evil
In the Territories. Sometime since a
Captain Oyerton came out to Silver City
and took out small company to hunt a
band Of hostiles. After meandering in
the least rugged part Of the
country for several days the
''tenderfoot' soldier came suddenly
and much to his disgust, upon the enc
my quietly encamped in ravine. The
Carpet Knight incontinently turned tail
upon the hostiles, actually sick at the
sight OF war paint, and beat retreat by
fol ced marches back to camp. General
Sheridan, who was at Deming at the
time, was ashamed OF this gallant war.
rior, and sent him back east to some
city OF clean linen and "Culchaw" to act
as recruiting officer and grace" the
"elegant banquet boards Of the people
Of the best society" The ranc her
added, "by the way, the General himself,
In spite OF all that has been written in
song and story Of his prowess, vas no
nearer the trail of hostile than Deming.
asd then he rolled back east in palace
car and said there were no Indians and no
war in New Mexico. From all this
gentleman heard in Deming the gallant
Phil. had he gone to the front and met
the raiders, he was in such condition,
morning noon and night, during his stay
there that his courage would certainly
have been Of the proverbial Dutch type,
whose inspiration was big bottomed
bottle.
As TO the rumors that the depreda-
tions were the work of whites in dis
guise, this hardy irontiersman said there
is no word OF truth in such report.
The blush Of indignant shame mantled
even on the bronzed cheek OF this cattle
rancher as he said with much warmth,
ave have bad men and rough people.
Of course, on this far-off frontier. But
l have Ell a good deal OF Cow Boys
and OF 'Rustlers. and / tell you, Mr..
HERALD, have yet to see the first who
will cruelty, wantonly, in cold blood
murder a woman or take the life of a
helpless babe. Whites, however de-
PRAYED, do not dance round the smoking
pile, OF burning home to the music OF
dying shrieks Of helpless women who
clasp In death the fond forms OF their
nurslings. This is the work of diabol-
ical savages and only the ln-
dian records OF America furnish
such terrible tales Of blood. .curdlinp
atrocity. No, sir; this is story gotten
mp to tell East in excuseof the incapacity
displayed by the army under its present
leaders to cope with the Indians now in
the Territories. II General Crook eyel
did know any thing Of this business, al
some OF his friends claim he did, he nov
displays the largest power Of forgetting
OF any man on record. The citizens
would take the matter up and end i
soon, but TO shoot an Indian is murder
and the citizens would first have tt
shoot the Sherifis, then fight the army,
aud after this was done turn their atten
tion 10 the hostiles."