Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-08-23

"A va 'io souuS warrior.
While was thus engaged the man be.
hind me was rolling the loose rocks to.
gether to strengthen the position.
The rcdskin said he came to demand a
prisoner. They had no quarrel with me.
but the prisoner had shot one of their
number in cold blood and must die.
lhey only asked for justice. had their
word that | might ride away in safety,
but the prisoner they would have at any
sacrifice. I did not wait an instant be.
ore replying that the man would not be
given up and that | was ready for any
move on their part to take him. The
buck had left his rife behind him. and
stood there also apparently unarmed.
AS matter of fact, each Of US had re-
Voiyer. We We're about half pistol shot
apart and as | gave him my ultimatun
he half turned. whipping out a revolver,
and fired bullet which passed ithin
an inch Of my head. Then he uttered
yell and started to run, but he was too
/ late. Ny bullet struck him under the
right arm and went clear through
him, and he fell aud cured up bv
boulder to die.
The situation was understood bv the
Indians below me almost instantly, and
the entire crowd dismountcd and charged
up the ridge 1t was a very foo Ilsh move
Oh their part, and proved the excitability
OF young bucks. We had them dead
under our fire, aud we killed three Of
them with as many bullets. got bead
on Pawnee Killers son with my revolver
as he urged his hestating band to push
up the ridge, and when he went down l
thought had killed him. With his fall
the fighting ceased The survivors made
rush for their horses and then dis
appeared to the east, leaving he four
dead ones where they fell was puzzled
at their conduct, and at first regarded It
ruse, but when came to stand up and
look around | saw party of thirteen
men-hunters, trappers, stockmen and
Notwithstanding up from the north
on their way to the fort.
| The name Of the young man who so
cleverly escaped was Austin Brice, and
for the next year he was in Government
|
employ at the fort. He had not shot ar
Indian, as stated by the flag of truce
bearer, but the murder of his brother
was entirely unprovoked and cold
blooded, and the Indians meant to tor
ture him to death
TIE bullet which struck the young
chief did not kill him, as | at first sup
posed 1t struck him alongside the
nose, ran down to the corner of his
mouth, followed the line of the lips
down to the left hand corner, and passed
over the chin The result was to give
him most horriole-looking mouth,
making him an object of ridicule and
contempt; and he not only swore to
have my life, but Pawnee Killer pro-
claimed the fact that he would give five
ponies and a revolver to any one who
would bring him my scalp. Therefore,
while actual hostilites had not yet be-
gun, there was price set upon my
7 ool
than if the redskins were on the war.
path.
The first attempt was made about two
weeks after the fight on the ridge. A
Sioux Indian, who claimed to have been
favored peace with the whites, came in
to Fort Hays, ostensibly for protection.
He had no weapons, seemed to be honest
and straightforward, and all the men
had good word for him. On the third
dav he came to me and asked my assist
ance to recover his rifle, blanket, a lot OF
powder and lead. aud various other arti-
cles which he said he had cached at a
spot about twelve miles down the Smoky
Hill Fork in grove. When he de-
scribed the spot | remembered it very
we'll, and next morning, having permis-
sion Of the commandaut. We set out.
was on horseback, and the Indian
afoot had my usual weapons, while
he hal an army musket. He gave US
his name as Little Smoke, and was a
! typical warrior in build and demeanor
Before we left the fort an old hunter
called me aside and said:
-..Do you believe thar is cache i
"Why notf
"Bekase an Injuu says thar IS. Allu:
take EN- contrary to what they say. Il
your scalp nailed onl''
DO you mistrust the mar" !"
'Never saw one yit that didn't I'm