The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-03
COWBOYS IN EARNEST.

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vorite among the boys, end was greatly
dreaded by the Indians The rowing life
Of 4 cowboy upon the frontier plains
suited his tastes far better than the re.
straints Of q mail escort. while the oppor-
tunitie8 to score even with the redskins
were equally good.
It was during tine general round up
on the frontier border Of Texas in the I'LL
OF 1886 that "Arkansaw Charley. IN com
panv with nine other cattlemen. was
caught upon the plains bordering the
headwaters Of the Brazos by band Of
thirty i've Comanches all well mounted
and armed, and led by one Of the most
daring sub.chiefs. Curly Bill Thomp-
son. also born In Arkansas. but much
older than Charley was in charge Of the
round up lie was n cowboy OF much ex-
perience and was famous as an Indian
fighter The two were intimate friends
as the phrase goes out west. they were
partners what was owned by one be-
longcd % The other and many daring ex-
p!oits had already marked their career.
The cowboy. were all well mounted.
and each YVES armed with long range Win
chester rifles. and the cowboys friend, o
pair of six shooters They had plelty Of
ammunition. some jerlSed beef and 4 can
teen Of water.
Arkansaw Charley. although not more
than %. was the recognized leader when
an Indian fight was on hand. and when
the C0manches were discovered sweeping
down upon them from the direction Of q
skirt Of timber several miles 10 tho north
west. Arkansaw Charley, after a short
parley with Curly Bill, put spurs % his
horse 20 secure possession OF piece OF
high open ground apparently about a milo
away.
A lively race now began-the COWBOYS
TO gain good fighting ground Of their own
choice and the COmanches 10 cut them
off Arkansaw Charley was riding R
splendid black stallion. sure Of foot and
very feet. and the rest Of the boys had
TO put their horses TO fell speed 10 keep
Gp with their dashing young leader,
whose long faxen hair streamed out be-
hind him like the fan Of an eagle Not
more than 0ne-third of the distance had
been made when one Of their horses fell,
tumblng the cowboy in ditch and break
ing one Of his legs Instantly Charley
and Cnrly Bill halted 10 fight where they
were. rather than leave one Of their com
rades in the hands of the Comanches; but
seeing the disadvantage Of the position.
they roped the horse. placed the crippled
cowboy upon his saddle and babe him
follow toward the ridge
The delay had brought the Indians near
enough for showers OF bullets and arrows
TO fly at them. but happily over their
heads The cowboys were all expert
horsemen. aud were soon on a sweeping
run. and luckily gained the summit Of
the ridge. Quickly stalking the horses out
/ of range. they took position fiat on the
ground at the highest point and awaited
/ the approach Of the Indians who had
stopped about 900 yards away.
Presently. with a terrific yell. the saw
ages charged. throwing themselves on
the sides OF their horses and sending
/ showers of bullets and arrows at the little
band. but hitting wide Of the mark. The
Americans held their fire till the enemy
were within 200 yards, when they sent
yolley after vollcy from their Winches-
/ ters, and fifteen horses were seen tunl-
bling and charging in the throes Of death.
For some time not IN Indian seemed
/ TO have been hit. but before they r.
treated ont Of range two Of them wers
shot down.
The Comanches collected I'm squads and
were gesticulatiug 40 q frantic rate then
/ all at once they started in a run TO gain
+ the same ridge which sloped % tho north
FROM the point occupied by the cowboys.
/ A new danger now Threatened, for rs soon
as the Indians reached the low ridge the
7 horses were brought within range Of the
enemy. Arkansaw Charley had them i'm
modiately removed 10 q secure place on
/ the opposite slope of the hill.
When tho indiana discovered this they
/ made a very desperate charge, but were
again rcpulsed. four Indians and ten
/ horses being killed. Over half the Indians
were now afoot and council ensued,
and resulted in tho Indians dividing their
/ force so as 20 cover the whites IN
/ charge from both west and south, which
would again bring their horses in
range. Curly Bill and three men at once
moved lower down, SO as 10 cover the
stock with their rifles. while Charley and
/ the rest Of the BOYS held the summit.
On came the savages with defiant yells,
/ charging on foot and on horseback, but
again were they repulsed. with the loss
| OF Blk horses and ono Indian wounded A
long parley ensued, and presently dozen
or more Comanches were seen going over
the hill with their horses, and half an
! hour later the same number were seen
approaching afoot in a very stealthy man
ner, which was soon followed by like ma.
neuFers by the other two squads. This
change Of tac;its on the part Of the
Comanche chief greatly perplexed Char
/ ley and Curly Bill. They are now
creeping up on us through the grass to
lay for every man who exposes himself to
their sight" said Charley. Crawl into
/ the ground, if you can, boys"
In this way the fight was kept up till
thick darkness covered the plains. Two
Of the cowboys had been killed. both shot
IN the head. The broken legged boy, a
lad OF Il, though suffering great pain,
fought all the while. but Oh changing his
position TO ease his pain, was shot dead
+ by a musket ball.
/ Curly Bill crept back 10 the summit,
sending three men 10 guard the horses. A
council was held as to what was best TO
be done. The darkness gave the sayages
the advantage they being below could
not be sighted. but every time one Of the
cowboys raised his head il was outlined
against the sky SO plainly as to become a
good target for the Comanche marks