New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
WILLIAMS'S FIGHT.
A STRIKING STORY OF OREGON ExPLORA-

or thcy wond have been attacked long before. VIII
iams and Holden strongly but unsuccessfully cpposea
Tho canoes landed trosdsd" uror he stcr, end
wsc Ms ScoasS ~ "A ae O Of
and armed with clubs long knives. and bows and ar
rows. Almost al the same instant there suddenly
darted into tho river from the little siouehs ana
hayous above ard below score or more OF canoes
the party could not believe there was any danger.
Williams ard lledden again Insisted upon showing
positc shore but without rumcnts warning all dis
cussions were suddenly closed by an Irresistible ehasg
made from every side by tn Indians. who nnmoeredd
not less than 100 Thor plans wero so well lao; ana
The attack was 50 sudden, tts ryan lol lan,n
Murphy and Pepper were Immediately struck ao~n
with clubs. willie every other person n the company
except Williams quichy d'smcd.
could escape. Williams rode IN The bow Of ihe lead
ing canoe. and had the instant II reached the shoo
stepped out. where he was in position 70 use eysry
limb and muscle 90 advantage, and thus avoided
being ovcrpower,d al the hie, onset. ITo p9"s ma
M indians seized bis gun orc by nc m9z1e ana o's
by the breech. while Williams maintained frin ho,a
mron the middle There ,nsned dcsp1rs,e s,rnssg
WIN the muzzlc downward. and the report gvins the
Indians fright, wlams succeeded In wsenehhis IL
The position Of Williams was critical IN the ex.
irene and he found himself surrounded on three sidrs
by arge body of Indians with the deep river on nc
remaining Side Ast sams and han ci ms rro
Ing with all the strength he possessed striking 70 inc
right and left knocking indians down At every NOV.
stood upon The cve bank NIX about twenty steps back
from the river tn, indians nad given way oe .1rp
he had left the margin OF the river. where the Fight
began, he completely surrounded and formed The
thirsty and armed baIbarians on every side.
Fortunately for Williams the Indians armed with
bows and the outer rim OF The circle,
while those forming The inner part were arm I'd With
savags humanity, IN order to keep from being
instantly crushed II was rece Sary 20 sirtc arr.
foro would fan back from a descend ng blow In
front al that moment was Williams in The greatest
from q fsfl M q
hacb aw How ' s,s,fer1g , lie stock Of The ife
the fragments flying in oil directions. leaving in VIII
sms's hands the heavy iron barrel. about thr'c fot
MhsR mn Ss gyns o h & Ges N''O" VII"
During this struggle H. ono could expes pee dnldnrs
were tadly bruised and at last a blow upon the
head Knocked him to the ground where ii the Indians
Sad sS'd s Upon b G neither s"s nred h or broke
any bones and Instantly jumping TO his fcei Williams ans
traeted As 70 leave scarcely room In which swing his
weapon. RcinC nervcd 10 desperation. he no d0uot
state OF lcss excitement. and soon made room IN
which to handle himself and the fight went on as
tcicre-the. whole force whoopIns bowling and y,ll-
ing As Indians only can: when Williams with de-.
pcTatr lungc succeeded for tn first tim" IN hFeafnl
be living wall ana Is 1t happened on the side opposite
IN" river. This was The hrst time since the hsht
began hat daylight had been visible through thc
through tn, gap the level prairie. ana say al
Us cds, tn" thick giocn timber fSint nash Of hops
thr opening thu mace, and a he ran locked back
tated and confused mind as to what the result Of this
new movement would be- vhon .r was struck between
penetrated tho abdomen and ln.scd about iwoihirds
Of FIR way through his body.
Animals running AT full speed are sometimes struck
ID snch manner IS 10 cause IN IN 10 stop snndeny'
aud ths arrow bad the sane cfec; upon Williams
ing OF the barb and also N. point Of the main shaft
TO which the barbcd point was attached No pain
gutdruncss with which tic harhcd point was drawn
OF insids The body vas 10 say The Least. painful
give way before ii: bit sinculsriy the excitement
overcam, thr pain and IN moment he had as good
The heht now assumed an altogether different
% @ to and o mG or OF h aa 6s dca back or to
IN ior,urlng any poor fcoT whose lic had not gus
q their own. XbOni af,cen or twenty. armed with
bows ara arrows scattered ont on each sd, OF VIII
vonry Of arrows from both sides at once.
From the positions thu. assumed II was impossible
for Williams IN brf1g himself near enough TO his
pursuers 10 strike any of th,m. as when move was
made IN any direction III, Indians IN front woud
rapidly gid away. keeping Just ont Of reach while
others were dischsrcng their arrows from both sides
and the rosr. Exhausted dlsh"arcned. bleeding from
hundred bruises, and feeling that he hsd alrsady
upon HIS rusuers and ran toward tho timber. The
shower Of sFrows bur soon the majority abandoned
ihc pursuit and fell back to thr river, leaving 10
each we'll armed with bows and full qhver OF arrows.
one OF them Carrying fhe also that hal been taken
These Two Indians al once placed themselves on
eHch side OF Williams and At ten feet distant hring
hsvns no ron, @ V Of r h manner IN ." wh
th"sc weapons ar handed by an expert Their CON
wnara, to dodge many Of their arrows. and II 10
rrnde' hl- can'eN o eca" moro hopeless his be"ohes
II was not time TO be piriIcular about toilet and
dangerous a. tho circumstances were. williams was
b no p ~ b Su sc p2 b5sn xc se
:. hof,r
Why Williams was not completely riddied during
his long running fight across the prairie. Is than
barrel. al that prevented the indians from closing
upon hm. Thy could PLAY all around him hui were
instrument. welded by 50 desperate and powerful a
a and h. od hST g Sayo NOR M s
earlier IN In" combat where h. was Struggling hand
Indian. anxious 10 preserve his life Interested
in keeping ont of the way Of that deadly eun.banrl
swiftly glide cut Of striking distance and with safety
TO themselves poster bin with
Upon reaching point about twoniy five yards from
thc timber Williams tuned his eyes from he Indians
10 see II were s.ible TO enter hc tangled OF
brush and brals along the margin. IN he should
be able 10 rr'ch III" woods; wh,n. stepping In little
hollow. he stumbled. ptchcd forward and fell headong
70 the ground The indians immediately rushed upon
bows snd arrow cooked lie cn ~" pbcd tbr mn, 9
against the breast Of Williams as he In the act Of
Williams knew The sun to be good one and loaded
ard as he fel ne mu1zc ag7,s his breast ;ckenlng
stood upon his brow. his limbs seemed 10 lose their
power and refused to obey his will: but when no
realized the fsct that the gun had failed 10 explod,
nee life seemed infused INTO his veins ard in an
instant he was upon his feet ric-bsrrpl IN hand
The Indian instead Of running. a. hid inva iahly
h~en n" cese before. me; him fare 10 face
brandishing the bfrech 81 the rife. The critical
moment OF the en'rr affair seemed To have now
arrived. and % Williams knew IT TO be the final
struggle he became. II possible. active than ever
He closed with the Indian. and the FIRST blow missed
him ontir"y BIZ on the second be was fortunate
ami with terrific force brought the heavy iron gun
head i'm
Instantly MEANWHILE the other Indian was NOT over
eeht feet away. irng his few remaining arrows with
all possible swftucss
Williams first impulse TO seize the bow and
arrows OF the dead Indian and defend himself with
those weapons but suddenly changing bis mind he
snaichcl up his comrades rife. Then indeed ,Ls
long Practice Of Williams hunter md
him good service To cock and posc his ride
the acts Oi single second and a single
notion: then aiming almost without sieh:tnr no
EM..ai The thgErr nnlck and slarn lnnnri fnln,nd