The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-20
A MOMENT OF PERIL.
The Narrow Escape a Sergeant
Had From a SaYage's Knife.
a Wounded Apache Drags Himself Inch b,
Inch on the Ground to Drive a Knife
Into Soldiers Heart


OF numbers had they possessed the nerve to
charge en- masse. At 2 o'clock in the after
noon counted at least 200 of the hosties in
sight-every one mounted on his war pony
and armed with good rifle, If not VIM
chester.
Sixty troopers and thirty teamsters to 400
redskins. Big odds in favor of the whoop-
ing, screaming, defiant riders, and more so
because out of the thirty Transfers not
more than half wOuli fire shot in case Of a
grand charge Western men and not their
first sight OF Indians by a dozen lines. but
transfers are not the machine soldier Is.
AS the reds began to close in and become
more DEFIANT, l noticed many white faces
among the wagons, and l figured that many
man would cut loose his feetest mule aid
seek to escape by flight if the worst came to
worst.
We must give the Apaches a lesson in
manners. We had been waiting until the
tram should reach a favorable location.
ne moment had come. On this ground the
teamsters could take care Of it with ten
troopers to guide and direct, and that left
fifty OF us to act. The word was quietly
passed down the line. each man prepared
himself. and at note from the bugle won-
derful change took place. Our Captain
wheeled with twenty men and charged to
the rear; our single Lieutenant wheeled to
the left with ten men; Sergeant charged
straight ahead with ten more; l took nine
others and wheeled TO the right and rode
straight at body of eighty Indians punched
on knoll
JUST OUT OF RIFLE-SHoT.
=" Right wheel-steady, now; forward,
tr0t, gallop-chargep
Ten to eighty! Eight to one! Odds enough
to prove our mettle and make it exciting.
Every trooper in every squadron was cheer
ing as he rode. His carbne was strapped
to his back and his Saber was held aloft In
his right hand.
'' Rush 'em, boys; drive right into 'em;
make hole in the bunchw
Our plan had been executed so swiftly
that the reds were dumfounded. Only
three or four shots were fired at us as we
charged and the whole band sat there gazing
at us as We Numbered up. We struck them
with an awful crash-ten OF US in single
rank, and our sabers began to flash the
Indians thought only of getting out of
reach. We had them flying in two minutes,
and the order was in Case they took to flight
to keep together and run them for a couple
of miles, using our carbines on their backs.
had light horse. not much larger than
an Indian Ony. He struck and knocked
over two ponies, and as l cut warrior
down with my saber my horse pitched for-
ward and flung me heavily to the ground. |
WAS stunned, but remember that two OF
three horses stepped lie as the Indians
drew out and took to flight. When ! strug-
gled to sitting position it was to find N.Y.
self almost helpless. My right shoulder
| was broken, MY back severely injured and
my legs felt numb. was in a hollow, from
which l could not see the wagons, but l
could hear the fighting going on in all di-
reciienS. s
To the right of me was dead warrior, TO
the left second; further to the left dead
pony; to the right wounded one; directly
III front of me and twenty feet away was
redskln, kicking and struggling. L had just
got rest on my left elbow when he sat up.
The right side of his head was all bloody
from a saber cut which had shaved off an
ear, but this would have been
TRIFLE TO HIM.
He must have been dismounted by thu
shock, rs / was, and had also been trodden
on. His right arm hung limp and his back
was broken. He fell back as he tried to sit
up, and. rolling over half way, his eyes
looked sQuarely into mine.
Talk OF the fury in the eyes of tiger
brought 10 bay-of a lion crippled and wait
ing to strike dying blow-of the fires OF
hell burning in the eyes of mastif attacked
with hydrophobia and impatient to destroy.
The face of that Indian was the face of
demon fresh from the confines OF Hades.
The desire for vengeance burned out like a
blaze on hilltop OF midnight:
/ felt for my revolver with my left hand.
IL WAS III tne NnlSIST Oh MY MY car
bine was at my back, but | cOnld not get at
it, Injured as l was, anu the slightest move
ment giving me excruclating pain. Was he
armed2 Yes: / saw his left hand go down
and seize the handle If the tomahawk, ard
as he raised it he tried to utter shout OF
vengeance. lie could not sit up, and his
right arm was helpless, but shutting his
teeth tightly together to force back the pain
he waved the tomahawk three or four times
to get an impetus. and then flung. it at me.
1t passed over me and sank into the earth.
Had he any other weapon? He lay back,
painting with pain and exhaustion after his
throw, and again his eyes glared into mine,
while the blood onZeG from his wound and
ran down his throat and neck.
Hatei vengeance! fury! hope! despairl
j read each feeling as 1t passed through his
heart-read it from the eyes which burned.
| and glinted and bazed until | grew faint at
| their malgnity.
Then he moved his arm again and brought
up kuife-a long thin knife, which the
| liehtsSt blow would drive
TO A MANS HEART.
1t flashed and glistened in the sun, and my
flesh crept as the red devil, wounded unto
| death and almost helpless, reached out, laid
| the knife On the ground, and then sought TO
clutch the soil and drag his body toward
! me. An inch-two inches-three-fiye-
"a foot! If he can have time he will pull
himse If across that space TO within striking
| distance and then drive that knife into NE
He reaches out again-he groans in pain
| his fingers dig up the dirt-his eyes look
| blood-red an he calls up his thirst for VEN
! gpancs to help his muscles perform their
| york another inch & six inches another
| fGotl feel the ground around me again us
| far as | can. No weapon-nothing to stop
| his advance!
! Once more he reaches out and deposits
the knife-the black fingers sink into the
! soil and find hold-the powerful muscles
| OF single arm pull his crippled body
| along inch by inch. inch by incn. There's a
| brighter blaze in the eyes; additional fury
| creeps into that steady glare. He has been
wounded unto death. but If he can kill me
| he Will die without regret-aye, with q
| shout of exutation on his lips.
| Inch by inct-comlng, coming-nearer,
| nearer Two feet more and can reach ma
| and stab and thrust with that knife! But
| suddenly L notice that the firing has ceased;
| hear the hoof-b beats of galloping horses
| and now half-dozen troopers ride up and
| one OF them calls out:
BLESS my stars, but here's our Sergeant
| Hello, old boyl Catch a bullet? Down,
boys, and lock after him, and I'll just pnt
an ounce bali in the head of this red devil,
who's been picking his teeth with his hunt
ing-knife. Stand clear a minute, boys.
One. two, three-gone to Injun heaven. to
fool with no more wagon-trainsl IN. Quad
IN Y World