The sun., 1888-06-17

ssrsetImes q scout Does Brave Deeds. but
Fails to Accomplish his Missien-uere's
n Cnse-Aud Yet it was q Fearful Hide.

Fails te Accomplish his Misston-uere's
u Case-And Yet ~ was q Fearful Ride.
On the f4th Of April, 1867, left Fort Hays,
Kansas. to carry q note to tho men at Lookout
Station, nineteen miles away, telling them to
beware OF the Indians. Tho red devils had cut
loose all along the Smoky Hill route. and were
thirstng for blood. All the stage stations. with
one or two exceptions, were prepared for indian
attacks That is, each station was garrisoned
by three men. armed with the bcst weapons
and the building was bullet proof. As further
security the men dug for themselves a circular
hole In tho ground, covered 1t over with tim
bers and earth, and by firing from
tho loopholes could stand OF any number
OF Indians This dugout had an underground
passage from the stable. and was always
stocked with water and food. Lookout Station
was one OF the exceptions. Why dugout had
not been provided don't now recollect. but 1t
was because OF this negligence that was sent
out from the fort. Twas then In Government
service as scout and was paid for carrying
my scalp to any point convenient for tho In
dians to take 1t. Within fifty miles OF Fort
Hays there wsre ut least 1000 Sioux and
Cheyennes on the warpath. Between the fort
and Lookout Station might encounter hun
dred. On that day thirty warriors had como
within Ave miles OF the post and indulged in
yells Of defiance.
I loft the fort soon after dark. mounted on
genuine Mexican mustang and armed with q
sixteen shooter and revolver. While the d.
rect route was bad enough for any traveller,
had to plan for worse one. My only hope OF
getting through would be to avoid the travelled
line. got well away. and then took my bear
ings to keep route about five miles to the left
of the stage road. This would take mo over
some very bad pieces Of country. but prudence
commanded this policy. know when set out
that 1t would be all night in the saddle. as the
ground would be too broken to permit Of fast
pace, and up to midnight, when had made q
distance Of ten miles in the right direction. tho
mustang had scarcely broken his walk. 1t
came on pretty dark. with ugly clouds driving
across the sky. and every few minutes there
was q gust Of wind which had warning in it.
While all my senses were keen and alert, do
pended much on my horse. He had campaign
ed IN and would Se the Fss H bs aeist
denly stopped dead still and threw up his
head. That meant Indians.
The next minute was an hour long, Then
came gust of wind, singing and signing over
the barren plains, and 1t brought to my ear the
ton was headed. and would pass very near
me. No two dangers have the same situation.
1t might have been good plan 10 dismount
judged 1t best to dismount and remain perfect
~ quiet All men who have studied the Indian
ii a
moving object. and that his sense of hearing is
wonderfully acute. Even in the darkness they
%Ght see us INC m6osng ana Il the
them. The company OF the mustang was better
than that Of the, Oldest scout on the plains.
stood with ono hand on his neck, and he was
as firm as q rock. He realized tho peril AS fully
hs did. and believe he reasoned something
Indians. The slightest noise will betray u.s.
We must remain perfectly quiet In hopes , they
In two minutes after receiving the first alarm
the first Indian was with us. and not over
gle file. but by twos, threes and fours, With the
evident purpose OF making as broad a trail as
ment to prove that we were discovered. The
ponies we're on the WALK. and | there were forty.
every second Of this time. II my horse had lift
the sound would have betrayed us. It did not
seem possib that We We're thus to escape. and
when the band had finally disappeared in the
trick behind 1t. I climbed softly into the sad
die and let the mustang pick his own way, and
shst Mas We were a not na ooWed IG .'e
Sst eeys eaa up
our M progress progress was | slow. The mustang naturally
before daSshs snad9n Tas sna,
strong escort could be had: while the Indians
MOI. travel 1t, but pulled Of to the left again,
and as CONSEQUENCE daylight came while |
mis Y Hpd Kbt nall was sae ssnn
Sssn ssid fs nj dEss
= the men started cut e e saSs: @ Thsy were @
On 'GSs Ss leg hut psns S hsss asns pushed fed
% ao ofs HaSs 81 he ap
there was only one, chance Of escape, There
mustang into it, and made him lie down:
When sat down beside him we were concealed
day without food or water ! hadn't brought
80 much as q mouthful OF meat with me, de-
Of us. We were scarcely settled down before
timated the number OF Indians to be not less
than atty The three men we're not surprised
Volyers, and they returned the fire with yigor.
=, The Indians must have known that this sta
had come prepared to burn it Tho forage Tor
the stage horses had to be kept within and its
creep up within bow-shot. For three OF four
and during the time rs was aiterward nscer-
tanned, four or FIVE Indians We're killed and a
still larger number wounded. When the red
skins realized that the hut could be defended
against their rifles they sent men forward with
hour fired the building. Then their yells were
Ing to the % edge % Of sH The washont. wash but but i
feared to leave the mustang alone.
SThe three men cooped up had no show what
ever aiter the flames took hold. The Indians
formed circle about the station. and it was
III
that the men would rush forth when the heat
became nnbearabe. and orders We're 9 Issued to
Cheyenne who was there told me alterward
that Il was planned to capture at least one OF
the three and save him for torture. The white
men knew the fate in store for them, and they
died game. They kept up their fire from tho
loop holes as long as possible, and then yie dcd
their lives TO the flames rather than be taken
Iheir bodies We're burned to crisp. The
wind blew The smoke toward me, and could
figure pretty closely on what was going on.
About noon the Indians prepared to retreat
and now most curious thing happened. The
mustang had been Very quiet, lying on his side