The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-08
IL

"By the time Jim had finished his lit
tie speech the Indians were no more than
four hundred yards away, and now be-
gan to shoot from all parts OF their tri-
angular line, along the whole length OF
which their firearms seemed to be pretty
evenly scattered But this salute did us
no harm whatever, and we were great
ly relieved to find. from the flashing
lock pans and round, full reports, that
all their pieces were the old fintlock,
smoothbore buffalo gunsa weapon far
inferior to even common army musket
Hardly checking their speed after
this first volley, and reloading without
the use of ramrods, as they scurried
along the enemy, emboldened by oul
silence. charged rashly ON until within
seventy-fve yards. then drew sharply up
and delivered a mixed fire of arrows and
bullets Most of the former, of course,
fell short, and the latter did no damage
other than piercing one or two of the
wagon tops. The captain was about to
give the order to fire, and some of the
men were already taking aim, when one
of the women, Mrs. Morris, who could
not be kept in her safe retreat, suddenly
screamed Great heavens, captain look
therep and to our CONSERVATION we saw
rushing down on US. from the mouth OF
the pass, a compact body of mounted
Indians, ninety or q hundred strong.
"The ruse of the cunning redskins
was now plainly apparent Those at
tacking us ON three sides were to keep
us in play and engross our whole atten-
ton, while their allies, taking their cue
from the firing, hoped to approach un-
observed ON the fourth and get among
US with tomahawk and knife, when our
complete annihilation would be easy
and certain. The situation was one of
imminent peril, but our veteran guide
did not for a moment lose his head.
Quick as lightning he moved eight of us
to the new point of danger. leaving the
same number on each face of the corral,
and then, foT the first time raising his
voice to shout, clearly heard above the
increasing din. delivered his short, sharp
commands with sort of grim pleasant
ryi Wal boys, he said. its root, hog
or die with US now | reckon. Well do
the rootin an let the reds fill tother part
in the bill Don't waste q ounce NV lead
no ways, only ter plant 1t in the carkiss
Nv boss or Injun. Now then. Shoot
keerful; fret
'By this time the fresh assailants.
fortunately still III huddled mass and
sitting erect on their ponies. were rather
nearer to us than Were the other bands,
and as the eight rifles allotted to that
side belched forth their contents no less
than eleven of them bit the dust-three
Of our bullets having evidently found
double billets. The discharge was abso-
lutely simultaneous all around the de-
fenses, and when the light wreaths of
smoke cleared away we saw that nine
teen ponies in all lay upon the ground
some already dead and others struggling
yainlys to rise. All the unhurt riders
took. refuge behind the carcasses, but
some, mot so fortunate, were stretched
lifeless upon the plain.
1--WE had thus, at the verysfrst fire,
Killed., disabled or unhorsed a number Of
the foeigreater than their own, but yet,
though Temporarily staggered, theEfour
bands, supposing'us to be now defense
less, came on, while their arrows few
in hurtling clouds and their demoniRcal
yells of rage rent the air with a harrow
ing discord which only Interviewing
hosts of hell might hope to rival. In
less than ten seconds they would be
upon usl To reload and cap would take
even our practiced hands twelvsl But
now the revolvers came into play. pour
ing out their fifty-four shots In one con
tinuous stream, and with such effect
that several zOf,-tba wild zideEaAfelLa at