Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-14
HOW JIM REDFIELD DIED.
How Sioux indians we're Fought by
Pair OF Trappers-Escaplng from the
F,'oiH fFs Nsio f0Tk VOID.


who some twenty years ago was One O
the best-known trappers and hunters tia
left st. Louis each autumn for the beaver
runs of the Yellowstone or adjacent re
gIons in the Northwest. Il think it was
the year before the war;" said an Old
Brooklynite, "when the political tempera'
ture was becoming torrid in the Mound
City. Jack Harper was an ardent Aholi-
zionist. while jim Redheld, his companion
I'm many hunt and desperate encounter,
was a fire eating kentUckiau. They had
had several wOrdy bouts in those days,
but they amounted to nothing, aud II
was not until il was pretty evident that
the biggest trouble in our history was
close at hand that Jack and Jim had what
might be called a serious difficulty. lhey
were in NOrtOn's saloon one night, drink
ing with dozen others. when. before any
knew it. all got upon politics, and in the
fwinklng OF an eye terrific nght was
under way. Chairs, glasses and windows
Were smashed by the Wholesale, while old
Morton backed up in the corner behind
the bar and sent in the tumblers, bottles
and everything throwable within his
reach, caring very little whom they hit,
and quite sure that each missile would
land upon the head Of some one OF the
combatants.
Just as the clatter-clawing was at its
height. Jack Harper and Jim Redfeld
found themselves face TO face. several
blows being given and taken by each be
fore there came mutual recognition.
Both were painting and inturiated when
their glaring, infiamed couutenances
came to a standstill for moment. almost
touching each other.
s.slts bout time we had this out said
the Kentuckiau; it's such scoundTels as
YOU that have got TO be killed on afore
this country can have peace
THAT'S me- was the response Of the
equally furious Jack Harper; there's
nothing mean about me. so whooD her
upl'
.sUp 10 this point in the fight no deadly
weapons had been called into use, the
party employing their fists, with such
assistance a. was handy; but just as
Jack and Jim resumed hOstilities some
one fired a pistol and a man fell. This
seemed 10 be "A signal for that sort Of bust
ness, and in "A twlnkling they were pop
ping in every direction, while as many
knives cleaned in different portions Ofthe
room.
Jack Harper saw his quondam COM
rsde Juggling at a frightful Colt revolver
which seemed 10 stick fast IN his belt, and
be understood that the tight had become
a final one. He lost no time in whipping
out bis bowie, with which he made a
lunge at jim.
- guess you needn't be partickler
bout getting out that pea-shoOter,' said
Jack, being as how itll never be any use
TO YOU
AT the instant OF Jack striking the
Kentuckian made yank at his revolver.
turning himself halt round as he did so,
and the OOwie lodged in another place
than was intended, passing over the
shoulder and entering close to the neck.
,lim struggled hard and made a desperate
effort to get the drop on Harper, but be-
fore he could succeed he staggered and
went down in a heap, his pistol going of
harmlessly as he did so.
SAT this juncture the police began
kicking in the outer door, and there WAS q
general scramble through the back way
Jack was pretty well sobered by this
time and he was the first TO tumble over
the rear fence and to find the teeth of a
bulldog fastened in his ankle. He shook
him clear, however, and reached his home
by a roundabout way. There he told his
wife what had taken place, and sent her
out to learn the result of the sanguinary
free fight.
''She came back in a short time, saying
three were badly wounded and two were
dead, among the latter of whom was Jim
inflicted by Jack Harper, as Morton, the
bartender, was ready to testify.
Which means that the best thing for
me to do is to emigrate TO some healthier
climate till this blows over
''The wife saw the prudence of such a
course, and assisted her husband in max
ing ready. He gave no inkling of where
he meant TO go, and in twenty minutes he
was of, having disguised his appearance
aH ftFa 10 10 ravfrh 40
at his command. He hadn't been away
ten minutes when the police appeared,
and finding the bird had flown set watch
upon the house and sent others out TO
search the city"
"But got out OF the old town." said
Jack, in relating the incident, "and was
on tOther side the Mississippi afore any
of 'em 'spected. You may be sure that
having once got a start, | kept going till
felt sure I'd placed a safe distance be-
hind me. IL was most too early TO 20 to
the trapping grounds, but concluded il
was the best thing l could do, and took
things comfortable like, as may be said,
l got ride good distance up the Mis-
souri,, and then bought a tough Indian
pony at Fort Rumson and struck of into
the wilderness, where the only animals OF
my species that l was likely TO run
against were Sioux, with perhaps a Man
N@u Va AAS0ASS ApN ohu tAcu ~ way Ol
variety.
"By the time reached that fur, had
done a good deal OF thinkin', you NAV be
sartin OF. When kindled my campfire
In some mountain gorge or by the side OF
some lonely stream, and lit my pipe,
found myself looking over to tother side
the hre for Jim. That's just where he'd
sOt hundreds of times, smoking his pipe
or looking across TO me, and we'd jokeC
and laughed and spun yarns by the hour
and tell you felt homesick.
II was sorry, IN the first place, that jim
had sot onto me as he did, so as TO make
1t necessary 10 wipe him out; that satis
fed my conscience for awhile, but IL didn,
last. Bims-by begin 10 blame myself
for, as remembered, il was me that so
onto jim, as much rs him onto me. and
couldn't help thinking that il | had dom
as / oughter Jim Redfeld would haYl
been alive at that minute, settin' OF
tother side the campfire, with his blacl
eyes twinkling with fun as he peere,
through the smoke and got of some jok
Of his.
"Jlm were hot-headed. and p'raps quar-
relsome when he had h'isted a little to-
much hrewater aboard, but he were tru
blue, and he would stick by a friend u
the last. used 70 set by the fire nights
and think over the many scrlmmages we,
had with all sorts Of varmints, aud OF tn
many In which II II hadn't been for jim
I'D passed In my checks as sure as fate
Ali those were terrible hours up In III,