Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-08-02

had arrived in position. We knew
ly the yells of the Indians and the
great commotion among them that we
were discovered, aud we began the at
tack. Firing began on both sides of
them at once, and this caused what at
first promised to be panic among the
Indians that would make our victory an
easy one, but suddenly an Indian of
enormous statue and build. his face
hideously streaked in crossbars with
bright yellow and vermillion paint,
came dashing into the midst of the sur
prising and panic-s stricken land from
some place among the rocks riding a
black pony. His yell could be heard
above everything else as he dashed to
and .iro among his warriors, aud the
effect of his presence Immediately
changed the whole situation. In less
than two minutes every Indian was in
position behind some rock or tree, and
knew that the fight would be desperate
one.
1--WE were in a secure position, but
the Indians were Just as secure as we
were. The only way We could hope to
defeat them was to charge upon their
stronghold, dislodge them, and settle
the affair by a desperate hand to hand
fight. We were ordered to charge down
the hill upon the enemy, and we rushed
headlong right into the Indian camp,
every man of us yelling as hideously as
the red devils themselves. As soon as
we had emerged from the woods we
were met with rifle balls from every
side, and good many poor fellows
ndver reached the camp. The detach-
mEnt in the rear of the camp came into
tlh conflict from that side, and we
ffccd the Indians out from their hid
iiB places to the open ground, and the
bittle wagcd right among their tents.
Hhck Kettle seemed to be every where.
lis hideous presence alone prolonged
the fight. He held his warriors to their
ground, and the fight became free and
general. The Indian women, and even
tlls children, took part in it. aud among
| tfslcad that soon strewed the snow
saw@ and pappooses were mingled. In
iaIie iNetes the snow for rods around
81 -. with the blood from the
dead and wounded as the paint OF
BhcS Kettles face.
~ In handto-hand fight like this
of course, it was every man for himself
and soon found myself on one odgc O
ffc camp firing and bayonetting an,
clubbing my gun just as the situation
for the moment required. A messmat
Pf mine, who was fighting by my side
was killed hy,an In liam who fired iron
behind tent, and he fell so wa
obliged to step over him. As ] di,
that ball shattered my am at the el
bow and it fell helpless at my side
Immediately following that shot BIZ
Indian, doubtless the one who ha,
killed my messmate, sprang from chin,
the tent and r rushed a--sass ~ tlril;s toTia
hawk raised. NV gua was empty, anC
my left hand being useless l could no
load. l would have run my bayone
through the advancing Indian, though
before he could have used his tomahawl
on me, but an Indian woman had stolei
up behind me, and she threw one arm
about my neck and jcrkel me backward
in the snow.
"'Nont of our men were near me, al
the thickest of the fl yht was in anothe
part of the camp. The big Indian VIII,
had come at me with his tomahawE
seemed to be also the only warrior o
this band who was not in the genera
engagement. The squaw who hat
jerked me down in the snow held mt
there by the hair and lot of othe
squaws and children came swarmins
from tents in all directions to the spot
They surrounded me, spit in my face
jumped on my body, kicked me. pinched
me, thrust the points of knife blades il
my flesh, and tortured me in every way
they could think of Bes des, my arm
was paining me Tremendously and dye
ing the snow all around me will
the blood that flowed from tn,
wound The big Indian stood by Will
his tomahawk in his hand, and, fortu
nately for me, he gave the women and
their young devils too much time TO hav,
their sport with me, for suddenly ther,
came the sound of gun near by, ant
two squaws fell dead in the snow by m,
side. One of our boys had discovered
my situation. The other squaws anC
their young ones scamperei away, bu
the big Indian determined to run thu
iisk of getting my scalp any way, ant
he pcunced down on me, with his knee
ON my chest, drew his knife, and thu
next second, although it seemed hour
to me, the top of my head was in hi
hand, and he was gone.
q Imagine some one who hate, yot
with the utmost intensity Sanbertsor
said. in describing the sensation of til,
| scd1Ip5ing. Tand he Suddenly gta0bfng
handful of your hair, while you ar,
lying PROSTATE and helpless, and giving
quick, upward jerk with fore,
enough almost to loosen the scalp; then
while this painful tension is not relaxed
imagine the not-particu!ariy- sharp blad'
Of knife being run quickly in cir
/ i. o.o,,.,I ,-0...