Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-09-23
Captain swift and His Valiant Five.

pluck, endurance, suffering and desper.
alton was that of Captain Swift and
his five companions, near the forks of
the Big Cheyenne. They were all cit
jzens, and all on their way into the
Black Hills country on foot Swift had
been q captain in a border company
raised to fight Indians in Northern Ne
braska, and was the only one in the lot
who had ever met a hostile. Swift and
two companions found the other three
prospectors near the forks, and it was
agreed that all should push further
west in company. Every man was
armed with Winchester and two re-
volvers, and each carried several hun
slred rounds of ammunition. The men
lad broken camp fire five miles below
The forks, and were on the south bank
of the main stream, when they were at
tackled by thirty-fve mounted Indians.
The whites were. on foot and had the
shelter of timber along the banks, and,
although they were harasscd for a
cOsple of hours, no one was hurt, and
the march was not greatly retarded
However, as they reached the forks,
the force CT Indians suddenly increased
10 over one hundred, and, as they not
only barred the way but had cut off
retreat, Swift realized that the little
band must 60 into camp and prepare
for siege, They drove the Indians
down the south fork about half n mile
until getting possession of bluff
which was well covered with timber,
and here they intrenchcd. A natural
sink WAS deepencd with hatchcts and
knives, few rocks and limbs were
piled around the edges, and the men
got into the rifle pit knowing that the
odds were twenty to one, and that
there could not be the faintcst hope of
achievements.
The Indians could not approach the
bluff except under fire. After they
had maintained fusillade for upward
of an hour without harm to the party,
they sent forward flag of truce by a
lalf-brecd who could speak English
tolcrably well. Swift went forward to
the edge of the timber to meet him.
and the men in the pit were warned
TO be on their guard against trcachery,
and TO shoot down any other Indian
who sought to approach while parley
was being held. The half-brced came
forward without fear. 1t was evident
ly his object to get near enough to see
what sort of defense tho men had
erected and to be certain of their num-
Der, but Swift battled him in this by
meeting him outside the timber. The
two were in rifle shot of both forces,
and rs the half-brecd rode up he de-
manded the immediate surrender of the
party. He said that 12O Indians were
on the ground, with others coming up
in the afternoon, and that it was folly
for the white men to think of holding
out against such q force. In case of
surrender, they would be disarmod and
set at liberty to make their way out Of
the country but if the Indians were
compelled to fight them to q surrender
they could expect no mercy.
Swift replied that his party did not
seek war with the red men. They
were going into the Black Hills with
hundreds Of othors TO prospect for
gold, and only asked to be let alone.
They had been attacked without provo
cation, and they should fight to the
bitter end. The half-brecd had his
rife lying across his saddle while he
talked, while Swift leaned on his The
Captain suspected what would follow
his refusal to surrender. The half
freed once more put his demand, and
as it was refused he suddenly raised his
weapon and fired at Swift, and then
wheeled his pony The men were not
ten feet apart. and the bullet passed
between Swft's left arm and his side,
cutting through his coat. Had he
I'll sed his rifle to fire return shot he
would have been dead man, for the
action of the haIf-brecd vas the SIGNAL
for tiftv Indian r;fss to r;,o, ont Sy,;f+
drowned in his troc,,s and Grant hooE
70 the rife nit unharn,ed b,+ bo ,vos
reyenged brfore he ra,cbed II O,o
OF the men had kept the half breed
covered with his Winchester and as he
turned to gallon away ho received q
bullet in the back which fnnr him
from the saddle and loft him, le,d an
the ground, The redskins had boon
beaten at their own como and thew
gave vent 70 thcir c1~'rr;n and orro,
in shouts and wells and Individual %.
monstrst;ons In ten minutes +bey
were firing all olonr the line and some
of Them took ADVANTAGE of the Ground
to approach within nistol shot of N,
rifle nit
Swift's instructions 10 tbo mon war,
not 10 waste bullet The Indians bof
to expose themselves more ar less anr