, 1888-10-19
COWBOYS IN EARNEST.

fOAALO dLlOhB lIt DOyS, ana was greatly
dreaded by the Indians. The rowing life
of a cowboy upon the frontier plains
suited his tastes far better than the re-
straints of a mail escort, while the oppor-
tunities to score even with the redskins
were equally good.
1t was during the general round up"
on the frontier border of Texas in the fall
of 1886 that ''Arkansaw Charley, in COM
pany with nine other c%attlemen, was
caught upon the plains bordering the
headwaters of the Brazos by a band of
thirty five C~omanches, all well mounted
and armed, and led by one of the most
daring sub-chiefs. Curly Bill" Thomp-
son, also born in Arkansas, but much
older than Charley, was in charge of the
round up. He was n cowboy of much ex-
perience, and was famous as an indian
fighter. The two were intimate friends
as the phrase goes out west, they were
''partners'-what was owned by one be-
longed to the other, and many daring ex-
ploits had already marked their career.
The cowboys were all well mounted,
and each was armed with long range Win
chester rifles, and the cowboys friend, a
pair of six shooters. They had plenty of
ammunition, some jerked beef and a can
teen of water.
Arkansaw Charley, although not more
than %, was the recognized leader when
an Indian fight was on hand, and when
the Comanches were discovered sweeping
down upon them from the direction of a
skirt of timber several miles to the north
west, Arkansaw Charley, after a short
parley with Curly Bill, put spurs to his
horse to secure possession of a piece of
high open ground apparently about a mile
away.
A lively race now began-the COWBOYS
to gain good fighting ground of their own
choice, and the Comanches to cut them
off. Arkansaw Charley was riding a
splendid black stallion, sure of foot and
very fleet, and the rest of the boys had
to put their horses to full speed to keep
up with their dashing young leader,
whose long fiaxen hair streamed out be-
hind him like the fan of an eagle. Not
more than one-third of the distance had
been made when one of their horses fell,
tumbling the cowboy in n ditch and break
ing one of his legs. Instantly Charley
and Curly Bill halted to fight where they
WERE, rather than leave one of their com
rades in the hands of the Comanches; but
seeing the disadvantage of the position,
they roped the horse, placed the crippled
cowboy upon his saddle and babe him
follow toward the ridge.
The delay had brought the Indians near
enough for showers of bullets and arrows
to fly at them, but happily over their
heads. The cowboys were all expert
horsemen, aud were soon on a sweeping
run, and luckily gained the summit Of
the ridge. Quickly stalking the horses out
of range, they took position fiat on the
ground at the highest point and awaited
the approach of the Indians, who had
stopped about l 200 yards away.
Presently, with a terrific yell, the saw
ages charged, throwing themselves on
the sides of their horses and sending
showers of bullets and arrows at the little
band, but hitting wide of the mark. The
Americans held their fire till the enemy
were within 200 yards, when they sent
Volley after volley from their Winches-
ters, and fifteen horses were seen tum-
bling and charging in the throes of death.
For some time not an Indian seemed
to have been hit; but before they re-
treated out of range two of them were
shot down.
The Comanches collected in squads and
were g~esticulating at n frantic rate, then
all at once they started in u run to gain
the same ridge which sloped to the north
from the point occupied by the cowboys.
A new danger now threatened, for as soon
as the Indians reached the low ridge the
horses were brought within range of the
enemy. Arkansaw Charley had them i'm
mediately removed to a secure place on
the opposite slope of the hill.
NSheh the INDIANS discovered this they
mace a very desperate charge but were
yam REFUSED; iour indians and ten
were now afoot, and q council ensued,
and resulted In the Indians dividing their
lIrce 50 as TO cover the whites in a
cnarge from ooth west and south, which
would again brlng their horses in
range; Jury bll II three men ut c
moved owe down, SO as to cover the
STOCK with thelr rifles while Charley and
the rest OF the boys held the summit.
On came the sayages with defiant yells,
charging on loot n on horse back, but
again were they repulsed, with the loss
OF SIX horses and one Indian wounded. A
long parley ensued, and presently a dozen
or more Comanches were seen going over
the NIL with their horses, and half an
hour later the same number were seen