Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1888-11-23
COW BOYS IN EARNEST.

".arlSansaw Charley" was always IA
dreaded by the Indians The rowing life
of ~ cowboy upon the frontier plains
suited his tastes far better than the re-
straints of mail escort, while the oppor-
tunitics to score even with the redskins
were equally good.
1t was during the general 'round up"
an the frontier border of Texas in the fall
t 1855 that "Arkansaw Charley, in com
any with nine other cattlemcn, was
'Mght upon the plains bordering tho
@:Nwatcrs of the B:azos by a band of
..r,y I've Comanches. all well mounted
armed, and led by one of the most
,.ring subchicfs. Curly Bill Thomp-
~, go born in Arkansas, but much
ldcr than Charley, was in charge of the
round up He was a cowboy of much eN-
,cricnce, and was famous as an Indian
enter The two were intimate friends
-; The phrase goes out west, they We're
partners what was owned by one be-
lo.lgcd to the other. and many daring eN-
poi,s had already marked their career.
The COW boys were all we'll mounted,
;ll each was armed with long range Win
pair Of six shooters They had plenty of
ammunition some jerked beef and IL can
teen of water.
Arkansaw Charley, although not more
than %, was the recognized leader when
al Indian fight was on hand, and when
! the Coranches were discovered sweeping
down upon hem from the direction OF
skirt of timber several miles to the north
west, Arkansaw Charley, after a short
parley with Curly Bill, put spurs to his
horse to secure possession OF Il piece of
high open ground apparently about q mile
away.
| A lively race now bccan-thc cowboys
to gain good fighting ground Of their own
choice, and the Comanches to cut them
off Arkansaw Charley was riding a
splendid black stallion, sure of foot and
| very fleet, and the rest of the boys had
! 10 put their horses to full speed to keep
! up with their dashing young leader,
whose long faxen hair strealned out be-
hind him like the fan of an eagle Not
/ more than one third of the distance had
oecn made when one of their horses fell,
rumbling the cowboy i'll ditch and break
ing one of his legs. Instantly Charley
and Curly Bill halted to fight where they
! were, rather than leave one of their COM
r;,dcs 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 We're soon on & sweeping
run, and luckily gained the summit of
the ridge. Quickly stalking the horses out
of range. they took position flat on the
ground at the highest point and awaited
the approach of the Indians. who had
stopped about 600 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
vollev after volley from their Winches-
tiers, and fifteen horses were seen tum-
bling and charging in the throes of death.
For some time not an Indian seemed
to have been hit; but before they re-
treated out Of range two Of them were
shot down.
The Comanches collected in squads and
We're gesticulating at frantic rate, then
all at once they started in Il run to gain
the same ridge which slopcd to the north
from the point occupied by the cowboys
a nav danger How threatened, for as soon
as the laulans reached the low ridge the
horses We're brought within range of tho
enemy. Arkansaw Charley had them i'm
mediately removed to a secure place OK
the opposite slope of the hill.
When the Indians discovered this they
made very desperate charge, but were
again rcpulsed. four Indians and te,
horses being killed. Over half the Indians
were now afoot, and Q council cnsued
and resulted in the Indians dividing theil
force So as to. cover tho whites in {