Oxford eagle., 1888-07-26

the rear bowling with pain.
"Iie close. boys. and shoot every one
that approaches. - said Maxwell. Night
shu, down on the bcsieged, and it was
a. still a. death again. The fires OF the
Indians could be seen on the hill. but
none of them came near. Two OF the
men slept while the others kept watch,
but the night passed without event
Early in the morning the Indians
wanted to talk
Come come on cried Maxwell.
II am spelling for fight | don't
want talk Why don't you fight. you
cowardly red r5uscsrls2 Here goes for
you9' and no fired his piece at
the nearest warrior. The In
dians fell back in aaste, no
doubt thinking the very devil was
in old Maxwell But they soon rallied
and came on and the battle became
general again. The white men were
surrounded on every side, and ii 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 a halls fighting the Indians
fell back for a 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 A. the men
had no protection for their backs and
heads this proved most formidable
mode Of attack. One of the men WAS
soon severely wounded. and May Max
well 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 and
walked down toward it. lie kept on
until within sixty yards of the brest-
works when he suddenly fell dead.
pierced by 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 and thought that the
white men could not hit him with u
bullet.
As soon rs the medicine-man fell the
Indians drew of 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 siege. Not head
or hand in the garrison could be raised
without bullet being fired at it. The
bcsieged had to lay close: but old
Maxwell raised the devil about mid
night by making sudden attack. and
the Indians. thinking he was coming
sure enough. ran of little. Next
morning Maxwell surprised the saw
ages by building large fire. showing
them he had wood and water. Mrs.
Maxwell had also had tent put up.
and the Indians observed th., condition
of the garrison was much improved. as
IL they liked it and were going to stay
there and fight II out il it took all sum
mer. Dashing down on 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 circlcd around
the hesiegned for nearly an hour. hut
it was observed that they did not lire
much.
They are getting out Of ammuni-
ton" said Maxwell Let Us give
them bIuiT. and, jumping up, all the
men poured in a steady and rapid ire
for "A few minutes. The reds fell back
and counseled again. and then one of
them came down aud called out:
Goodbye; We are going now"
Don't" cried Maxwell. Give Us
one more good fight before you 20; do. :"
Then the Indian could be heard laugh
ing as he called back:
High, high, You are heap much
too braver'
Who are you people?" asked Max
we'll
Sioux and Nez Perces," he replied;
good men, but you are too tough for
us. Goodbye"
lis it on the square?" asked one Of
the men of Maxwell
Il guess so," he said, but We will
take no chances and keep close
The Indians then rode off. Maxwell
and his little party kept close to thu
| fort, but never saw an Indian again.
They had killed eight reds in the fight.
and only two OF their men were
wounded. During the battle Mr.. Max
well had close call, ball cutting
away "A lock of his hair and another
one grazing his jaw. Mrs. Maxwell
had ball wound in her arm; another
ball carried away part of her shoe
The man Maxwell sent out on the
first night of the siege reached Fort
heogh in safety. and Colonel Baker
with party OF cavalry was Mt once
sent to the relief OF the beleagured lit
tie garrison. He reached there the
day after the Indians left and found
Maxwell and his party enjoying them
selves. He brought them back to
Miles City. where they were feasted bv
the citizens and made much of. Mr..
Maxwell gave up all idea of
settling on the Little Mis-
souri, and became citizen Of
Miles City. He was the pioneer in
starting line of stages from Miles to
DeadwOod by way of the Tongue river,
and | think is running them still. /
got quite well acquainted with Max
well while | was stationed at Fort
heogh. He was small man, very
quiet, and not over thirty-fve or forty