The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-04-02

kspt up ths fighting until dark, makinga .
third charge at the close Of the day. The
loase1 in FOEsyth's band had bean severe
Every horse and mule had beon killed In
their tracks. Lieut. BeeeheF had been shot
beyond hope Of recovery, and had dio&
after vAinly pleading with bis comrades TO
put him out Of agony. Four scouts were
dead in their pits; volunteer surgeon, DR..
Moore, was dead and sixteen scouts were
wounded
Col. Forsyth had two wounds, one .
shattered leg bone. Il was evidsnt that
the distressed party would have TO stand
siege. They were Q hundred miles from
the nearest post, Fort Wallace, and no
other help was TO he looked for. The am
munition supply, thanks TO the self control
Of the men, was ample for some days. OF
bread there was q lack, but steaks from the
slaughtered animals would keep on famine
for days. The gallant leader said to his
survivors, 1--WE will win the fight yet or
sell our lives dearly in the attempt" On.
der his orderA spring was Soooped ont In
the sand, q paFapet was made all around
the island, and the bodies Of the dead
horses and their saddles were placed 20 a
70 stop the bullets The serviceable parts
Of the horsehesh were prepared a. food and
sprinkled with gunpowder as q preserva-
tive. Two scouts volunteered to try and
steal through the Indian lines during the
night and summon aid. and they left At
midnight, crawling stealthily the hrSt TIVE
miles.
The following day the Indians kept up .
hot fire on the imprisoned scouts and made
several attempts to draw them from cover.
False truces were put up, and these, fail
ing to be respected, the Indians went OF
out Of sight in the hope Of putting the
camp of its guard. When this trick did
not succeed the savages returned and vent
ured close enough ID fling taunts at their
enemies, TO goad them TO anger and re-
venge. But Forsyth's men were true
borderers, as cool as they were brave,
and submitted TO their fate like men. On
the second night Of the siege two more vol
unteers started out for relief. TO insure
Communication with Fort Wallace in case
the first two had met with disaster and the
second should be more fortunate. The
third day the savages kept up their demon
strations, but made no effort to charge the
camp. The wounded scouts suffered ter
ribly for want Of attendance and nourish-
ment. The hOrsemeat soon became spoiled,
and had to be chArred In the fire before Il
could be eaten. Fortunately q wild animal
was attracted to the camp by the odor Of
burning flesh, and that was killed and
served In scant morsels The third night
the two scouts who had Ventured abroad on
the second night returned, and reported
that the camp was hemmed in by hostiles,
and there was no hope of passing their
wary Sentinels.
The men In the camp passed several days
In their wretchedness, but preferred the
death that awaited them there, unless
speedily succOred, TO the inevitable cruelty
Of savage oonqueroH. On Sept. % the In
dians disappeared without offering further
battle. The loss Of war chief Roman Nose
had taken the fighting spirit out Of them,
and no remaining brave was able to rekindlo
their valor sufficiently TO hazard another
ahaaua