The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-13
FIGHTS WITH INDIANS.

Early in 1871 n party Of seven men left
Yankton for the Black hills, having In
charge a conpleteto sawmill outfit. The
mill belonged 10 Capt. Jack Branch, ana
his party was composed Of Col. John
Lawrence, Bud Taylor, Mayor Evans, Mt
Presho. II. c. Ash and Al Wood. Inc
party crossed the Missouri river at lank-
ton and took q northwest route through
Cedar and Knox counties, Neb., intend
ing 10 cross the Niobrara river a little
southeast Of the hills. IL was well known
that the Indians were ugly and determined
10 keep the white man out Of their favor
tie hunting grounds. Capt. Branch's
party was well armed, and had a oil
necessary preparations to fight their way
through all opposition. No Indians were
seen until the Niobrara river was reached.
TAYLOR and Wood were ordered 10 60 up
The river and hunt for a crossing and re-
turn in time for an early dinner.
Col Lawrence, an old indian lighter,
cautioned the boys shout Indian trickery
and ambush. Half n mile up the river on
the o~pDOsite side was observed a bunch
Of willows big enough TO conceal several
Indians and their horses. Taylor and
Wood watched the willows cautiously as
they advanced. When nearly opposite
the willow patch they both dropped 10 the
ground. as the unpleasant zip" OF bullets
told that there was trouble ahead. Lying
fiat on the ground, they wero fairly pro-
tccted, and soon saw the smoke OF the
guns curling out Of the willows. They
opened a rapid fire and pumped the bull
lets into The brush in q manne altogether
too hot for the redskins. In the course
of half a. hour two mounted Indians II
one on foot were discovered making good
time over q hill beyond the willows,
which had concealed their escape till they
were out Of rdugc. 4 ford was found
near By and the boys returned to camp 70
report Their comrades were all ready TO
move, having heard their guns. Dinner
over and the oXen were soon moving for
the ford.
The passage owes the river was made in
safety. After crossing, Col. Lawrence
said: "Wcll, boys, we're in for 1t now.
Let every man keep his eyes wide open.
BY making good time We can camp on
some OF tho numerous branches OF the
south fork Of the Cheyenne river" Taylor
and Wood made n visit TO the willow
patch. They found one dead horse and
evidence that one OF the Indians had been
wounded. The oxen were moved as rap
idly as possible, and by shutdown a good
camp was found, "a expected. No signs
OF Indians, but Col. Lawrence was salts
fed that their every move was being
watched. This gallant little party was
not disturbed during the night, except by
the bowling Of wolves and coyotes. No
trouble was looked for until they got into
IL. III Ill rNHa. ta, ..f1au nlgu1 II
was necessary to make a long march to
get through tho bad lands before night
again set in.
An early start was made and everybody
was fully alive 20 the situation. The bad
lands were reached before noon. What a
sight it was! The entire country had been
burned up at some remote period, leaving
here aud there vast piles OF shale and
burned clay resembling everything within
the range Of Imagination, from the ruins
OF ancient castles TO lhe majestic pillars
and domes Of the Turkish capital. Desc
lation In It's most %forbidding aspect sur
rounded the modern implement of civiliza-
ton and its escort as they hurried through
this hell Of ancient times. Gen. Sully
chased the Indians through the bad lands
once. He called it 'hell with the fires
" AAAa 1NEN"NANE1aA -
AT noon q halt was made TO feed the
stock and rest. A good watch was kept,
but no Indians seen. This troubled Col,
Lawrence, as it indicated serious trouble
when it did come. Tho march was re-
sumed and the bad lands left and hour be-
hind at shutdown. Camp was formed at
the foot of the hills of tho grange that leads
through Buffalo gap, the point by which
thn Marty lanai IN ngf fu RI tho hills The
party went into camp as usual, but after
darkness had settled on the camp the en-
tire party moved back some sixty rods.
The precaution was timely. Lawrence,
Ash and Presho returned to their first
camp ground and took post for the night.
Rolled up in their blankets they laid down
on the ground TO await events, nor did
they have long TO wait, for the practiced
eye OF Lawrence detected numerous OBJ
jects crawling toward their location.
These objects proved TO be hostile Sioux
hunting for the camp as first located.
The Indians got on their feet, and seemed
puzzled by the way they acted. They
could not account for the removal Of the
camp. Col. Lawrence decided TO surprise
them still more. He told Ash and Presho
to select two Of tho most prominent marks
TO the left, while he would look after the
right. The forms or figures Of the In
dams were not very distinct, still he risked
little in the attempt, as the redskins could
not return the fire. Lawrence and his
companions fired at tho signal. Two I'M
earthly yells followed, and all was still
again, but the Indians had vanished in
the darkness. Lawrence and his CON-
rades held their positions until daylight,
when they discovered two dead Indians,
as they supposed, but a closer inspection
found one alive, Col. Lawrence, who is
master OF the Sioax language, asked the
then nearly dead Indian who they were.
He was barely able 10 state that he was
Yellow Hair, of Two Kettle band, and the
dead savage was Jumping Thunder, Of
the Corn Planting band, Spotted Tails
agency. Capt. Branch and party joined
the Lawrence party just as the Indian
finished. Jumping Thunder was shot
through the left breast and Yellow Hair
through the stomach.
Ash scalped the dead Indian and the
other one was left to his fate. 1t was de.
termined TO get through Buffalo gap be-
A. ~alIr n.nt INnaHt orl hta