Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-15
HELD BY INDIANS.

Fort Wallace, and from their maneuVer-
ingseemed TO be spying out the chances Of
cutting out the stage station, half mile
from the fort. The station was guarded
by four or FIVE men at the time, and the
corral held about thirty-fve horses. l
had Just come in that morning from q
long scout, and was asleep when the In
dams were first seen. AS soon as routed
out ! took two men with me and rode
down Ito the station. We picked up a
fourth man there and headed direct for
the redskins, who were then mile away.
We were nota quarter of amile from the
station when became suspicious that it
was plot to draw us away. We brought
our horses to a walk, and after getting
half mile from the station we turned
to the left as If to circle back. AT that
moment 300 Cheyenne warriors, led by
old Roman Nose, burst out of the dry
ravines where they had been lying con-
cealed for two hours and made straight
for the station.
The plan would have done credit to
brigadier. About 200 warriors threw
themselves between the station and the
fort, SO as to be ready for any move on
the part of the soldiers. Thirty attacked
the adobe huts constituting the station.
About fifty made for the inclosure where
the horses were kept, and the others
rode to cut us four off the fort. Only
one part of the plan miscarried. The
men at the station made such fight
that the Indians could not break in on
them. They killed three warriors and
wounded seven, while they suffered no
loss themselves. They got the horses,
partly destroyed three stages, and kept
the soldiers off, and the four of US, seeing
that escape to the fort was cut off, rode
to the west in hopes to outrun our pur-
suers. Unfortunately for me, was
mounted on my own horse, who had
done sixty-fve miles the day before and
was iaded. For three miles he showed
q good leS, but then he began to weaken.
We were then on level ground, and l
held him up with voice and spur for
another mile, or until we had gained
spot covered with outcropping of rock.
Those who wrote about this incident at
the time held the three station men up to
contempt for deserting me. I did not
blame them at all. They were only en-
ployes of the stage company. None of
them had ever been at close quarters
with Indians before, and it would have
been strange if they had not been rat
tied. They were ahead of me as my
horse went down, and do not believe
they missed me. Poor fellowsl Had
the four of us been there in the natural
rife pit among the rocks we could have
stood the redskins off in handsome
manner. AS it was I was captured, and
they were shot down one by one as they
continued their fight.
Only thirty-fve Indians took up the
pursuit. When my horse fell with me
fifteen of the warriors remained behind
to effect my capture. I rolled into a
natural hollow, pulled saddle and blanket
off my horse, and then as he struggled
up I drove him limping away. 1t was
an unfortunate thing. He was only 30
feet from me when they shot him dead,
and as he fell I saw that he was in line
with dry ditch up which the enemy
could creep and shelter themselves be-
hind the body. That was just what they
did do They didn't dare charge me, al
though fifteen to one, but they secured
positions from which they could shoot
me if raised my head six inches from
the earth, and when I realized that /
was helpless I surrendered. There was
httio formality about it. Among the
besiegers recognized an Indian named
Dark Day. called out that would
surrender, and the fifteen walked in on
me.
When an Indian is in luck he is good
natured. Those who had pursued my
three companions were now returning
with their scalps, horses and guns. /
had not hurt anybody. Roman Nose
had deied the fort and got away with
the station horses. There was every rea-
son for rejoicing, and as they formed a
circle about me every face wore q smile,
and several of them greeted me with a
'showdyY' They knew me for govern
ment scout and rider. They knew / had
killed three Cheyennes on the Smoky
Hill fork only the week before. They
knew that had balked two of their
raids on stage stations, and that / had
once ridden right through q camp of 200
Of them and carried off the best horse
Roman Nose ever had.
An Indian sizes man up according
to his deeds. They took my rifle, re-
volver and knife, but were very respect
full about it. I was then mounted ON a
station horse, my feet tied under KS
belly, and he was led behind warriors
pony. They headed to the northwest,
and about an hour after dark we carle
up with the main party, which was en-
camped in grove Of cottonwood ON a
small creek. had no sooner dismount-
ed than was taken into the presence Of
Roman Nose. History has said that he
was one of the smartest chiefs any wesd-
ern tribe ever had. He was smart only
as an Indian. He was q liar, hypocrite
and assassin. lie had the smartness of
a.coyote in avoiding a superior force,
and the cunning of q serpent in ap-
preaching foe. / knew he could hold
a-conversation in English, but as he did
not know that was aware of the fact
he called up half breed to act as inter.
r9ster. was pretty well up in the
cheyenne tongue, but Roman Nose cd
e. y. Pennington, the air ship inven
tor, ID preparing papers ior q lioel SUI