Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

Aiobhcl, you hcS HOit VIZ
cave, but get some water and be ready to
load and cool the guns
In a few moments an unearthly yell
rose up from the ravine, and the Indians
charged that side of the fort. They were
repulsed. but soon dashed at the other
side of the fort, riding and firing. The
men in the fort let them ride and fire as
fast and as much as they wanted, lying
Pretty soon the Indians drew off and
commenced throwing up signal lights.
"We shall have it now, said Maxwell.
"Keep cool and wait"
In about an hour a long line OF Indians
were seen coming up from the south to
join the others.
"There they are" said Maxwell, ''and
if that is all there is of them we will soon
lift their hair" It was a brave express
sion, but the men knew only too well. it
was made to keep their courage up, for
there were at least ten Indians for every
white man in The fort, and as bloodthirsty
looking set of red devils as ever rode
the plains or scalped white man.
They rode down quite close to the fort
and called out: GLOW! How! Come out
and give up!''
''Not much" cried Maxwell. eve have
been waiting for you to come. Why have
you been so long? Come on; we are
spelling for a fight; but mind you no
more get eff. l want at least ten scalps."
The Indians dismounted and began
crawling toward the fort. The grass was
high and gave good shelter. Eve must
not let them get too close" said Maxwell,
"for there are too many of them. Pick
outsa man each of you, commencing on
the right. There is fellow fattening
himself on the earth. think I can get
him, though he is about as thin as a pane
of window glass and as long as a willow"
He took careful aim ana fred, and the
savage sprang up and then pitched for
ward on his face and lay still.
"He is down." cried Maxwell, "and now
for the rest, boys"
The Indians had opened, and the firing
soon becam6 general. For two hours it
went on without intermission. The
Indians worked up nearer and nearer to
the fort despite the resistance of the
garrison. For three hours nothing could
be heard but the noise of the guns, the
yelling of the white men and Indians,
and the cries of the women. Maxwell and
his men fought like demons. Mrs. Max
we'll loaded and cooled the guns, aud May
went about among the men, helping her
mother and carrying the men water and
food. After five hours hard fighting the
Indians drew off, held council and theu
went into camp. They divided into two
parties, one party encamping on each
side of the fort SO as to prevent the garri-
son from escaping during the night
Several of the Indians came down quite
close to the fort in the evening and
wanted to speak to the garrison, but after
one was shot they gave no more trouble
on that score.
"Come! come onm cried Maxwell, ~ am
spelling for fight. | don't want to talk.
Why don't you fight, you cowardly red
rascals? Here goes for you'll" and he
fred his piece at the nearest warrior.
The Indians fell back in haste, no doubt
thinking the very devil was in old Max
we'll. But they rallied and came on and
the battle became general again. The
white men were surrounded on every
side, and it was with the utmost difficulty
they could keep the Indians out of the
fort. Charge after charge was made,
but the brave garrison stood true. After
an hour and half's fighting the Indians
back for rest and smoke. They next
commenced throwing arrows from their
bows, shooting them up in the air and
letting them descend point foremost into
the fort. AS the men had no protection
for the ii backs and heads this proved a
most formidable mode of attack. One of
the men was soon severely wounded, and
May Maxwell got an arrow through her
foot. About noon an Indian, who had
been observed smoking all forenoon on a
hill near the fort, suddenly rose up aud
walked down toward it. He kept on IN
til within sixty yards of the breastworks
when he suddenly fell dead, pierced by a
bullet from old Maxwell's gun. He was
probably medicine man who had lied
SO long and so much to the Indians that
he came to believe his own lies aud
thought that the white men could not hit
him with a bullet.
As soon as the medicine man fell, the
Indians drew off and held a council.
They seemed to think the only way now
was to watch the garrison and starve it
out. Creeping up close to the works and
picketing the stream they began their
patient seige. Not a head or hand
in the garrison could be seen without a
bullet being fired ct it..
The besoiged had to lie close; but old
Maxwell raised the devil about midnight
by making a sudden attack, and the
Indians thinking he was coming sure
enough, ran off a little. Next morning
Maxwell surprised the savages by build
ing large fire, showing them that he had
wood and water. Mrs. Maxwell also had
tent put up, and the Indians observed
the condition of the garrison was much
improved, as if they liked it, and were
going to stay there and fight it out. is it
took all summer. Dashing down at the
fort, they fired over hundred shots at
the tent, but Mrs. Maxwell bravely stood
her ground and quietly went on with her
cooking. The Indians circled around the
beseiged for nearly an hour, but it was
observed they did not fire much.
"They are getting out of ammunition"
said Maxwell. "Let US give them bluff, y
end jumping up, all the men poured in a
STEADY and rapid fire for few minutes.
The reds fell back and counseled ag ain,
and then one of them came down and
called out: "Good-bye; we are going
now"
Don't" cried Maxwell. "Give US one
more good fight before you go, do" The
Indian could be heard angling, as be
called back:
High! high! You are heap much too
braver
"Who are you people?" asked Maxwell
"Sioux and Nez Perces," he replied
| "Good by"
SIS it on the squares" asked one of the
men of Maxwell.
81 guess So" he said. shut we will take
no chances, and keep close"
The Indians then rode off. Maxwell
and his little party kept close to the fort
but never saw an Indian again. They