Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-25
THE OFFICERS STORY


A Terrible Experience Among the
Fiendish Comanches,
1t was in a group Of army officers,
longing carclcssly about a blazing
campfire, ON Il Northern Dakota prai-
RE, one chilly evening last fall, that
the following story was told by an
elderly, gray-haired veteran of innu-
morable Indian campaigns;
at was the same spring in which
you got into the scrape that you have
just told us about, Colonel, that | had
IL pretty close call as well,N he began.
81 was a captain in those days, and
was out on Il scout with my troop of
cavalry. The Comanchos aud ktowas
had not as yet declared war, but it
was expected daily that they would,
SO that it was not safe to trust any
wandering band of Indians met on the
plains. ! had with me a couple of
Usage scouts, most skillful t|railers,
and brave enough fellows, as Indians
go, and when we went into camp one
day at about noon, ! took one of them
Sly Fox by name-and rode off to
look for an antelope for supper.
"Sly Fox didn't seem to relish very
much the idea Of leaving the camp,
although, like all of his race, he was
passionately fond Of hunting. Upon
questioning him, ! found that he was
afraid that we might possibly run foul
Of some Comanches, with whom his
tribe were constantly at war, He eX-
planned that whether the Comanches
had taken the w~ar-path against the
whites or not his scalp would not be
safe if We should meet any of them,
and that in all probability mine would
suffer the same fate as his.
Il laughed at him, and assured him
that two of u could hold any number
of Comanches at bay until help could
arrive from camp; and he seemed to
get the better of his fears. We had
ridden some distance without finding
antelope, when Sly Fox discorned,
several miles away, three specks
which he pronounced buffalo. We at
once rode toward them, and when
they discovered us we gave chase.
After half an hours hard riding we
overlook and killed a fine, almost full
grown calf, and giving the others up,
dt mounted to dress it.
I'VE had been engaged in this for
may be a quarterof an hour, when Sly
Fox suddenly stopped work, jumped
to his feet, and shading his eyes
with his hands, grunted out the single
word:
Comanche.'
'Looking in the direction that he
indicated, | saw coming around the
base Of Il low hill, two horsemen-or
rather, ponies, for their riders were
out of sight, hanging on the further
side of their steeds. The one in adj
vance halted, and was quickly Joined
by the second, behind whom followed,
in quick succession, ten more, raising
the total number to twelve. All of
them were hanging out of sight on the
other side OF thor ponies, and n mo-
ment's thought made it clear that they
had intended surprising us, hoping
that should We discover their approach
too soon, we would take them for Il
herd Of mustangs.
Our W horses we had turned
loose to Craze, and they had wandered
a few yards away; but it was the work
of only Il moment TO re-catch them and
vault into the saddles.
"As o as the attacking party saw
that they were recognized, they re-
sumcd upright positions, and came for
us at a run, uttrring yells that reached
us distinctly. knew that there was
little use in running, for our horses
were already somewhat jaded from the
buffalo chase; and yet, the spot where
we were was the worst possible for de-
Tending ourselves. Back about three
quarters of Il mile. ! remembered, was
Il butte, such as dot most OF the prairie
land OF the Indian Territory. At its
top it was more than half an acre in
extent, but in three directions its sides
were almost as perpendicular as walls,
while on the fourth side, fortunately,
the one turned toward us, the ascent
was much more gradual.
.Sly Fox remembered the butte as
well as |, and we had hardly reached
our saddles when, as by a common
impulse. we turned our horses heads
on the back trail. The Indians in
our rear, thinking that we were in.
trusting our safety TO fight, increased
their yclls OF exultant pleasure. The
race was "A short but exceedingly
exciting one, but we reached the butt,
some minutes before the Indians cam
in range OF us. Nehobbled the horse.
in IA little hollow, and loosening oul
cartridge belts, seated ourselves OF
the very top OF the butte, our rifles il
our laps and ready for service.
The Indians halted about a thou
sand yards away, ana seemed to b,
discussing the situation. They wer,
evidently pretty mad. and ! began L
fear that they would forget their usua
prudence and charge us. An Indian
as a rule. Is brave, but he lacks tn
courage that m Of discipline. II
party OF Indians know that there Is u,
almost certain probability Of one o
more OF their number losing life In
certain venture. 1t Is seldom that the,
viii undertake 1t, each believing tina