The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-12
New York SUM-
A SCOUTS BRAVE DEED.

On the 14th Of April, 1867, 1 left
Iort Hays, Kansas, to carry note to
he men at Lookout Station, nineteen
niles away, telling them to beware OF
he Indians. The red devils had cut
oose all along the Smoky Hill route,
md were thirsting for blood. All the
'tage stations, with one or two excep-
'lSas, were prepared for Indian at
Jacks. That is, each station was gar
risoned by three men, armed with the
best weapons, and the building was
bullet proof. AS further security
the men dug for themselves circular
hole in the ground, covered it over
with timbers and earth, and by firing
from the loopholes could stand off any
number Of Indians. This dugout had
an underground passage from the sta
BILE, and was always stocked with wa
ter and food. Lookout Station was
one of the exceptions. Why dug
out had not been provided l do not
recollect, but it was because Of this
negligence that was sent out from
the fort. / was then in Government
service as a scout, and was paid for
carrying my scalp to any point con-
venient for the Indians to take it.
Within fifty miles Of Fort Hays there
were at least 1000 Sioux and Chey-
ennes on the war path. Between the
fort and Lookout Station / might en-
counter hundred. On that day thir-
ty warriors had come within five miles
Of the post, and INDUCED in yells Of
defiance.
I left the fort soon after dark,
mounted on genuine Mexican mus
tang and armed with sixteen-shooter
and a revolver. While the direct
route was bad enough for any travel
er, I had to plan for worse one: My
only hope Of getting through would
be to avoid the travelled line. I got
well away and then took my bearings
to keep route about five miles to the
left Of the stage road. This would
take me over some very bad pieces Of
country, but prudence commanded
this policy. I knew when I set out
| that it would be all night in the sad
die, as the ground would be too bro
ken to permit of a fast pace, and up
to midnight, when I had made dis
distance Of ten mile in the right di.
rection, the mustang had scarcely
broken his walk. 1t came on pretty
dark, with ugly clouds driving across
the sky, and every few minutes there
was gust Of wind which had warn.
ing in it. While all my senses were
keen and alert, depended much or
my horse. He had campaigned il
Mexico, and would be the first to de
tect "signs." It was about midnight
when he suddenly stopped dead still
and threw up his head. That mean
l
Indians.
The next minute was an hour long
Then came a gust Of wind, singing
and signing over the barren plains
and it brought to my ear the footballs
of horses. They came from the direc
tion I was headed, and would pas
very near me. No two dangers have
the same situation. 1t might hav'
been a good plan to dismount and leat
my animal to the right or the left.
judged it best to dismount and remair
perfectly quiet. All men who hav'
studied the Indian will tell you that hi
eye is quick to detect moving object
and that his sense of hearing is won
derfully acute. Even in the darkness
they might see us moving, and if tn
horses foot struck a stone the sount
would certainly reach them. Th'
company of the mustang was bette
than that Of the oldest scout on tn
plains. I stood with one hand on hi
neck, and he was as firm as a rock
He realized the peril as fully as [ did
and I believed he reasoned something
like this:
"Those persons who are approach
ing are Indians. The slightest riois,
will betray us. We must remain per
fectly quiet, in hopes they will pass
If discovered, we will run for it,
In two minutes after receiving th'
first alarm the first Indian was vi
with us, and not over thirty fee
away. They were not riding in singh
file, but by twos, threes and fours
with the evident purpose Of making
as broad trail as possible. I coult
see every pony and warrior, and every
instant expected to see some move
ment to prove that we were discov
cred. The ponies were on the walk
and there were forty-two Indians il
the band. I believe they were ,on
or five minutes in passing, p, ID durin
Eevery second of this tira ;f NV hors
nao iieea ioos onamped his bit, G
nung MS ne ii, the sound would hay
oe'raye' US. 1t did not seem possibl
Una we were thus to escape, and whe
, the band had finally disappeared i
the darkness, / was not certain bu
there was some trick behind it.
climbed softly into the saddle, and le
1 the mustang pick his own way, and
lwas q full half hour before | was sal
Pisfed that we were not followed.
| We soon got into very bad spo
| cnt nm in all directions with guile