The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-12
lone and on the open plains. I

Cdlp; W dtLcLupt w IcbuAA w IoAo
Hays meant the same thing. had
,nly a couple Of minutes to think, and
here was only one chance Of escape.
There was big washout close at hand,
and I led the mustang into it and {
made him lie down. When I sat down
beside him we were concealed from the
sight of any one passing quarter OF
a mile away, and there we must put
in the day without food or water. l /
hadn't brought so much as mouthful
of meat with me, depending on reach
ing the station by daylight, and there
wasn't drop of water within a mile
Of us. We were scarcely settled down
before the station was vigorously at
tackled, and I estimated the number Of
Indians to be not less than fifty. The
three men were not surprised, though |
they had but slight warning. They
were provided with sixteen-shooters
and revolvers, and they returned the
fire with vigor.
The Indians must have known that
this station was not provided with
dugout, for they had come prepared
to burn it. The forage for the stage
horses had to be kept within, and its
infammable nature gave the savages
pointer to work on. 1t was an un-
fortunate thing, also, that the lay of
the ground gave them cover to creep
up within bow shot. For three or four
hours there was scarcely lull in the
firing, and during that time, as was
afterward ascertained, four or five In
dams were killed and a still larger
| number wounded. When the redskins
realized that the hut could be defended
against their rifles they sent men for
ward with prepared arrows, and in the
course Of half an hour fired the build
ing. Then their yells were terrific. I
could have seen them by climbing to
the edge Of the washout, but I feared
to leave the mustang alone. The
three men cooped up had no show
whatever after the flames took hold.
The Indians formed circle about the
station, and it was death within and
without. It was expected that the
men would rush forth when the heat
became unbearable, and orders were
issued to seek to take them alive. A
Dog Soldier or Cheyenne who was
there told me afterward that it was
planned to capture at least one of the
three and save him for torture. The
/ white men knew the fate in store fol
them, and they died game. They kept
up their fire from the loop-holes as
long as possible, and then yielded theil
lives to the flames rather. than be
taken. Their bodies were burned to 6
crisp. The wind blew the smoke
toward me, and I could figure pretty
closely on what was going on.
About noon the Indians prepared te
retreat, and now most curious thing
happened. The mustang had beer
very quiet, lying on his side, anc
scarcely moving leg. sat by his
head, knife in hand, and fully deter.
mined to cut his throat if he attempted
to get up. I sat facing the west, and
all at once heard the gallop of horse
Next moment an Indian warrior ap
peared to view. He turned to the
right to avoid the sink, half encircled
me, and disappeared in the east.
} saw him look me full in the face, bui
he came and went so suddenly that
was dumb with astonishment. / sup
posed I was discovered, but the thut
of his pony's feet grew fainter, ant
finally died away in the east. Will
rifle in hand | crept to the top Of th'
sink, and 1 could see the savage mil'
away, riding to join small band.
stood looking after him, head ant
shoulders above the sink, when sever
other Indians coming from the west
, passed me not over twenty rods away
; My heart stood still for tbs moment
for it seemed that all were looking
straight at me, but they galloped OF
} after the others and left me undis
turbed. Several years later met tn
. one who almost rode into the sink
His name was Man-Afraid-of-the-W Wa
ter, and he assured me in the mos
} solemn manner that must have beel
dreaming, as he would have been Ger
tain to see even a rabbit in the wash
out. l also met one Of the other war
riors, and he had the peMteAess to hir.
that mGss Aa~e been drunk. ,,ti
everything happened Just as { ha,
described.
gave t..le Indians aD hour to q,
out s4 o. sight, and then abandoned tt
=, I, sink and rode down to the station
r The house was still burning, and !,
, that time, as | could see nothing {
9 the men, I supposed they had bee
r carried off. After 1 left several Sc
e tiers reached the spot, found the bot
e les, and gave them burial. My missio
n was accomplished, and my orders wei
q to return to the fort. Between n
t and the post was full band of bloot
I thirsty Indians, and am attempt 1
progress in the daytime was foolhard.
t I secured water for myself and th
: mustang, and then struck off to tt
north for mile and descended into
!, dry gulch flied with sage brush. He,
8 was pretty fair shelter If we Law clos