Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-30
0UTLAWED BIZ INDIANS

scout and dispatch rider, the Sioux ana
Cheyennes were consolidating for Tho
war which opened in the spring. Bands
Of stragglers were riding about tho
country, stealing and numbering when.
ever opportunity offered. and one day IN
October. while returning to the fort
from . long ride to the north after some
masginx horses. / encountered ono OF
these predatory bands. 1t numbered
twelve men. and son of the Cheyenne
chief known as Pawnee Killer was In
command. While war had not been de
clared, and while the Indians did not
hesitate TO appear at the forts and trad
ing posts, some one was being buschered
every day. had been on the watch for
providers and was as well prepared as .
lone man could be. l had Winchester
and two revolvers. and the only draw
back was that had found two Of the
horses and had them with me.
WAS skirting long. narrow ridge.
badly broken by outcroppings Of rock,
and the time was O'Clock in the after
noon. All Of . sudden caught sight Of
Indians about half mile away coming
up the same side Of the ridge. Indeed
heard them yelling before saw them.
and turned sharp to the left and forced
the horses up the ridge among a mass OF
powders and outcropping. The red
skins caught sight of me as went up.
but did not Immediately approach. l
could see that they were confused, and
dozen or more shots were fired, and
was puzzling over the matter when l
heard some one gathering over the
stony ground, and next moment a white
man jumped down beside me and ex-
claimed:
Stranger, for Gods sake stand EN-
off until I can get my wind. They are
Cheyennes, and have killedmy brother"
Three young bucks. ON foot. had been
III chase of the fugitive, and they were
within 200 feet of me as rose up. The
leveled rife brought them to a sudden
halt, and after gazing at me for a mo-
ment they turned and descended the
ridge 10 join the rest of the band. My
visitor lay down, andit was five minutes
before he could get breath to explain.
I'VE were out looking for cattle which
stampeded from our emigrant camp on
the Saline Fork These brutes killed
my brother and took me prisoner. That
was yesterday, and about mile below
here they had gone into camp and built
tire to torture me when l made a
break. Give me Your revolver, for
they'll be sure to charge us.
gave him one of the weapons, and
soon after an Indian appeared on the
foot of the ridge, made signs of peace
and asked for talk. Those on the lev
el below me drew away about forty rods
to convince me that they meant fair.
and left my shelter and advanced p
few PAGES to ask the errand of the young
warrior While was thus engaged the
man behind me was rolling the loose
rocks together to strengthen the position.
The redskin 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. They only asked for justice. had
their word that | might ride away in
safety. but the prisoner they would have
at any sacrifice, did not wait an in
slant before replying that the man would
not he given up, and that | was ready
for any move on their part to take him.
The buck had left his rifle behind him.
and l stood there also apparently uu-
armed As matter of fact each of us
had revolver. We were about half a
pistol shot apart. and as | gave him my
ultiinatum he half turned, whipped out
revolver and fired q bullet which
passed within an inch of my head. Then
he uttered yell and started to run, but
he was too late. My bullet struck him
under the right arm and went clear
through him, and he fell and curled uK
by bowlder to.die.
The situation was understood by the
Indians below Inc almost instantly, and
the entire crowd dismounted and charged
Up the ridge. twas very foolish move
on their part and proved the excitability
Of Young bucks. We had them dead un.
der our fire, and we killed three of them
with as many bullets. got bead on
Pawnee Killers son with my revolver
AS he urged his hesitating band to push
up the ridge. and when he went down
the fighting ceased. The survivors made
rush for their horses and then disap-
peared to the east. leaving the four dead
ones where they fell. was puzzled at
their conduct. and at first regarded it as
ruse, but when | came to stand up and
look around | saw'a party of thirteen
white men hunters. trappers, stockmen
and Notwithstanding up from the
north on their way to'the fort.
The name Of tho young man who 50
cleverly escaped was Austin Brice, and
for the next year he was in government
employ at the fort. He had not shot an
Indian. rs stated by the flag of truce
bearer, but the murder of his brother
was entirely unprowoked and cold blood
cd, and the Indians meant to torture him
TO death.
The 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, fol
lowed the line of the.lips down to the
left hand corner. and passed over the
chin. The result was to give him a most
horrible looking mouth. making him an
object of ridicule and contempt; and he
not only swore to have mylife, but Paw
nee Killer proclaimed the fact that he
would give five ponies and a revolver to
any one who would bring him my scalp.
Therefore. while actual hostilities had
not yet begun, there was price set upon
my head
The first attempt was made.about two
weeks after the fight on the ridge. A
Sioux Indian, who claimed to have been
outlawed from his tribe because he IA
vored peace with the whites, came into
Fort Hays, ostensibly for protection.
lie had no weapons, seemed to be honest
and straightforward, and all the men
had good word for him. On the third
day he came to me and asked my as
s1stance to recover his rife. blanket, .
lot Of powder and lead, and various other
articles. which he said he had cached at
a spot about twelve miles down the
Smoky Hill Fork in grove When he
described the spot remembered il
very well, and next morning, having
permission of the commandment, we &c.
out. was on horseback and the Indian
afoot. | had my usual weapons, while
he had 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 a cache?
"Why not?'