The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-08-23
OUTLAwED BY INDIANS.

OF stragglers were riding about the
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
missing horses, I encountered one of
these predatory bands. It numbered
twelve men, and a 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 butchered
every day had been on the watch for
prowlers and was as well prepared as
lone man could be. 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
mp 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 mass of
bowlders and outcropping. The red
skins caught sight of me as went up.
but did not Immediately approach. |
could see that they were confused, and a
dozen or more shots were fired, and !
was puzzling over the matter when l
heard some one clattering 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 can get my wind. They arc
Cheyennes, and have killed my brother!"
Three young bucks, on foot had been
in chase of the fugitive, and they were
within 200 feet of me rs rose up. The
leveled rifle brought them to sudden
halt, and after gazing at me for mo-
ment they turned and descended the
ridge to join the rest of the band. My
visitor lay down, and it was five minutes
before he could get breath to explain.
"We 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 a mile below
here they had gone into camp and built
fire to torture me when made u
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 lew
81 below me drew away about forty rods
to convince me that they meant fair,
and left my shelter and advanced q
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 redsldmsaid 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 l might ride away in
safety, but the prisoner they would have
at any sacrifice did not wait an in
stant before replying that the man would
not be given up, and that l was ready
for any move on their part TO take him.
The buck had left his rifle behind him,
and stood there also apparently un-
armed. AS matter of fact each of us
had a revolver. We were about half a
pistol shot apart, and as gave him my
ultimatum he half turned, whipped out
a revolver and fired a 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 up
by bowlder to die.
The situation was understood by the
Indians below me almost instantly, and
the entire crowd dismounted and charged
up the ridge. 1t was very foolish move
on their part and proved the excitabiHty
of young bucks. We had them dead un.
der our fire. and we killed three of them
with as many bullets. got bead OF
Pawnee Killers son with my revolver
as he urged his hSsitatihg band to push
up the ridge, and when he went down
thought had killed him. With his fall
the fighting ceased. The survivors made
rush for their horses and then disap
peared to the east, leaving the four deaC
ones where they fell. was puzzled Al
their conduct, and at first regarded it al
3 ruse, but when l came TO stand up an(
look around l saw party of thiTteeI
white men-hunters, trappers, stockmer
and adventurers-coming up from the
north on their way 10 the fort.
The name Of the young man who s,
cleverly escaped WAS Austin Brice, anC
for the next year he was in government
employ at the fort. He had not shot an
Indian, as stated by the flag of true,
bearer, hut the murder of his hrothe
was entirely unprovoked and Geld blood
ed, and the Indians meant to torture hin
TO death.
|, The bullet which struck the younl
chief did not kill him, rs at first sup
posed. 1t struck him alongside the nose
ran down 20 the corner of his mouth, fol
} lowed the line Of the lips down to tn
} left hand corner, and passed over tn
! chin, The result was to give him a mos
horrible looking mouth, making him a
J object Of Iidicule and contempt; and h
not only swore TO have my life, but Paw
nee Killer proclaimed the fact that h
would give Ave ponies and a revolver t
any one who would bring him my scalT
Therefore, while actual hOstilities ha
not yet begun, there was price set upoi
my head.
= The FIRST attempt was made about tw
weeks after the fight on the ridge.
: Sioux Indian, who claimed to have bee
outlawed from his tribe because he fl
vored peace with the whites, came int
. Fort Hays, ostendbly for protection
BE had no weapons, seemed to be homes
aud straightforward, and all the me
! had good word for him. On the thir
day he came to me and asked my a
distance to recover his rifle. blanket.
IoU OF powder ana lead ana vanous otne
articles. which he said he had cached a
/. q spot about twelve miles down tn
! Smoky Hill Fork In a grove. Whom h
! described the spot | remembered
| very we'll and next morning, havin