Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-18
MoNTG,NfERY'S FIGHT.
The Isiians5ot the Drop ON Him
But III Won. A tier All.
Eoza theSfIver Citv Enferpr3ss.


Eon theSfSuer city Enterprise.
Last edneday 1t was reported that T..
q. Mongomey, who had a success1ul
combatvitb hostile Indians two weeks
ago, vain Silver City. The Enterprise
force kpt a lookout for him in order to
learn soc ietails not yet published In re-
gard to 10 ,tfair. The Indian slayer was
Glad In <oge.fitting blue shirt, tight Mt
ting, plalymade trousers, over the bot
toms of shch came the tops OF heavy
boots. Is lair and beard, OF medium
length, wresprinkled with gray, though
the owne.wts apparently only 4o years
of age. mall OF stature, neatly built,
quick In pe,ch and motion, he gave an
impressio of being wary and DANGEROUS
in combat He proved himself an lntelli-
gent gentlmsn, a good conversat1onallst,
evidently mthtul. and devoid Of swag-
gering or kastful spirit. In the course
Of the consrsation that followed, and In
response I numerous questions, MT.
Montgomen Did his story about as fol-
lows:
81 am hh,er, and the scalps Of anil
mails kill sc paid for by Arizona. For
mountain lios get $25 and for bears $40.
l have beenn the frontier sixteen years.
These scartyou see on my body were
made by imam arrows when l was act
ing as scot In war waged upon lndl-
ans by McKnzle. The place where bad
this recent flint was In Arizona, twelve
miles from jhe reservation and about
forty miles fDmClifton. 1 was thorough
ly familiar Wththe ground, having hunt
ed there about our years. l was going
along a trai with my horse and pack
mule, on which we're provisions and anil
NAL scalps, intening to reach water and
make a stand abut 2o'clock. was near
my destination wen saw fresh Indian
trail. Apparent there was party OF
three or four, wit a horse. Soon | saw
another, and corluded l was in for 1t,
and that there we're Indians behind me
and others waylsing the trail. led my
horse up benin, swell, where bullets
would pass owe him, and the mule fol-
lowed. My dog was growing all the
time. Then 1 egan picking my way
along ridge, pptectlng myself az far as
possible and waching. Soon two Indi-
ans, about 200 yrds away, but some dis
lance apart, firal at me. tried to re-
turn the fire, bu they disappeared. At
that instant my dog gave sharp growl. L
wheel ed, and asI did 80 l saw a big burly
fellow, who wss trotting for me, appar-
emily thinking I had been shot. felt a
burning sensation in my right ear, the
ball passed so close. AS he was attempt
ing to put another cartridge In his gun |
threw up my rifle, saw his breast through
the sights, elevated the weapon. aimed at
his head, and crashed his skull just above
the eye. He tumbled forward upon his
gun, doubled up. He was between me
and the horses. l had found where the
Indians were, and saw that the animals
must be moved. As ran toward them l
passed the Indian, who had been straight
ened out by the dog. / took my hunting
knife, oircled the neck, and twisted the
head off. In going to the horses l was
shot at several times. When the horse
and mule had been moved sneaked back
and waited, fearing that the Indians
we're all around. l waited twenty min
utes and heard no sound. Then l took
the head, partially exposed myself, and
waved 1t above my head as high as 1
could reach. re
''rhey arose and shot at me. ! saw the
outline OF the form of one az he sank
again. I fred, and he stumbled forward
and lay there. The other fellow was not
game. 1 did not see either again, and
when an hour had gone | stole away, and
hen began journey. l would go half a
nile, tie up, pick my way back to prevent
hem slipping on me, ana then travel
again. l kept that up until dark, then
the mule and made flying ride,
using the mule and horse alternately. At
day break came TO a white mans ranch
aAd rested. From there / went to Cliff
ton. 1t was a good square fight, ana
won. Luck was With me when they had
the drop on me, and after tt at was even.
Yes, / was excited during the fight, but
could shoot better then than could now,
as 1 had been keyed up tight for twenty
but when l. felt that l had got
away from the gang, l had to get down
from my horse, battle my head, and lie
Down a few minutes. Two hours of such
suspense unnerves a man. No, | did not
have a Winchester rife. That's a good
saddle gun, but when man leads the life
do one shot is usually all he wants. aud
ne needs better gun than a Winchester.
had one of the latter kind in o fight with
4 bear once, and while was trying to re-
move she'll that bad lodged, the bear
nutilated me so that could not sit in the
saddle during the next six weeks. | had
! Sharp of 80 calibre in this fight. | am
yoing to wait until that scalp is thorough
" tanned, and then write its record upon
/ and give the ornament to my sister,
who has two Others that l took years
lgo."