The Jersey City news., 1890-12-10

y
instead Of IA hour longer. A stake was
driven while was eating, and before |
had finished the warriors had begun col
Letting brnsh.
It was written OF me by a correspond
ent at Fort Wallace that Providence
saved my life. Soon after the stake had
bcel driven it began to rain. Although
tae Indian is half animal ne dreads the
rain, and the storm soon took all the en-
thusiasrn out of my captors. At the
same time almost . scout. came in with
some news, and was soon told By the
half breed that / had been respited.
This scout, as afterward appeared, had
discovered that the fort had neither can
non nor Notifications, and it was be-
lieved that tine soldiers were demoralized
and would surrender If attacked. At
about midnight. when the rain began to
hold mp, all but five men set ont in the
direction of the fort. The FIVE were left
to guard me. They did not hesitate to
tell me that the fort was to be attacked,
and that they were sure of victory.
l slept from midnight to daylight,
being staked out at the ankles and hav-
ing a warrior on each side of me. Soon
after daylight my guards were astir,
and when breakfast had been prepared
my feet were tied together, and l was
allowed to sit up and help myself. We
were fully twenty miles from the fort,
and no news was expected until late in
the afternoon. When they asked me
what thought Of the chances / an
swered that Roman Nose would be
beaten of, and we argued the matter
pro and con without the slightest i'll
feeling.
What happened at the fort I did not
learn for some days afterward. Had
Roman Nose made secret approach to
within striking distance and then
charged in he would have won speedy
victory. The presence of his force was be
trayed at an carly date, and the garrison
threw up a breastwork from whatever
could be had, caught up their horses,
and the first charge took all the conceit
out of the 800, several being killed or
wounded, and the chief himself sustain
ing a severe wound from bullet. One
charge en- masse would have swept every
cayalryman off the earth, but it was not
made. After an hour of long range
firing the redskins withdrew, excusing
their cowardice by saying that the evil
one had sent men with black faces to
blind their eyes. This referred to few
negro soldiers who took gallant part in
the defense.
About 4 o'clock in the afternoon a
courier reached us. knew, as did all
the others, long before he reached us,
that he had no good news. He told big
stories Of the prowess Of the Cheyennes,
but had to admit they were driven of
with loss. My guards were directed to
report with me at certain spot on Red
Deer creek, about sixteen miles away, to
which the main party had resorted after
being driven of. When / learned that
Roman Nose had been wounded knew
what was in store for me. He would get
some small satisfaction for humiliation
by putting me to the torture The cou-
rier did not wait to go with US, but rode
off to notify small party which had
been sent in another direction.
During the entire day had been pas
sive, and betrayed no anxiety, telling
the guards that had friends at the fort
who would pay the chief a big ransom
for me. This lulled their vigilance and
they treated me more as guest than a
prisoner. Another friend had been
working in my interest during the day,
but did not discover it until an hour
before the courier arrived. A bottle Of
whisky had in some manner come into
possession Of the guards. The bottle
was kept out Of sight, and it was only
when their demeanor betrayed them
that knew what they had been up to.
None of them was drunk, bnt all were
happy and quite good natured.
1t was after 8 o'clock before we were
ready to set out. The FIVE ponies and
the station horse were brought up and
bridled and saddled. This wo1k was
done by three of the warriors, while the
other two were gambling for blanket.
l sat about ten feet away from them.
There had been no time since noon when
/ could not have cast off my bonds al
will. There had been no opening fol
escape, but one was made now in q
manner totally unexpected.
The two gamblers got into dispute
and the three warriors approached te
quiet them. Some one was struck, and
this led to quite row. The instant il
began I cast off the thongs, whirled
about. and at one jump was beside a
pony. Five seconds later / was in the
saddle and digging his ribs. and believe
was out Of the grove before was miss
ed. Every horse followed mine, and
went to tho south as fast as horsefesh
ever travelled the plains. Half dozen
shots were fired after me from the grove,
but they only added to our speed. The
run lasted for ten miles before the pace
was decreased, and when night fell had
added six or seven more. Until midnight
kept jogging, bearing to the left TO ap-
proach the fort from the east. From
midnight to daylight I rested. and al
sunrise next morning was run on to by q
wagon train and escort rroceedinc To the