The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-10-17

through an opening IN the tim DER an
Indian rode across che path.
We Lit out at lively gait and rode
till A. n, then camped on the far
ther bank of the Yellowstone river
till daylight. We then pushed on
toward Hot Springs again. When
about five miles from there we found
ourselves within 200 yards of anoth-
err band ofIndians containing at least
a score. We turned and headed for
the nearest timber they firing early
and often. The bullets whizzed
around our heads and knocked up
the dust near us returned their
fire and think we made fec good
Indians. Just then my horse stop
ped with a sudden shock and / got
off and found the blood pouring out
of a bullet hole in his side. / said,
Good by, Toby! I'll have to finish
my journey on foot now and ran on
up the hill for the brush as fast as l
could go. The Reds had dismount
ed and massed themselves behind a
reef of rock less than two hundred
yards away and kept pouring their
lead into the hill around me-
About this time Macs horse began
bucking and threw him off and then
ran away. We were now both on
foot our cartridges nearly gone and
the Indians still blazing away at us.
They fired fully fifty shots at me, but
only succeeded in cutting a piece out
of my boot leg Mac wanted to con-
ceal ourselves behind a fallen log
near by but l looked up and found
the Indians almost over our heads.
Macs spurs interfered with his run
ming so | stopped till he tore them
off standing on one foot at a time
with his hand on my shoulder. The
Reds gave us three shots during that
performance but nobody was hurt
We soon after reached the timber
and felt comparatively safe as the
wont follow a white man
away from shelter of some kind. At
ter an hour or SO we ventured out to
saw the Indians going
about four miles off, passed my dead
horse from which they had stripped
the saddle and bride.
We started once more for the
Springs tying our clothes in bun
die and putting them ON our heads
we forded the Gardener river at
dark which we found quite deep. We
were cold, tired and hungry and hid
only slept four hours in week, but
we expected to get something to eat
when he got back to the Hot Springs
where we had left Stone, Stewart,
DIETRICH and others. The door stood
open as we drew near but all was
dark. We called to the boys for fear
they might take us for Indians and
shoot but there was no answer; we
entered the house, struck a match
and looked around and there ON the
floor we saw poor DIETRICH lying stone
dead, shot by the red skins who had
been there in our absence and rifled
the place. Ben Stone again escaped,
this time by running out the back
door, scurrying up a gulch and
tree, an Indian rode di
rectly under the tree and stopped
and poor Ben said "Golly but l
was sure he'd hear my heart beat"
Then when the Indians had gone he
slid down the tree and made for a
hill covered with brush where he laid
ow all night and all the next day;
i've times he started out and five
times he faltered and went back;
finally huge bear appeared and de-
,ided him TO change his quarters.
'Golly." said Ben, II hardly knew
What to do. If stayed in the bush
The bar eat me and if | go out O the
push the Indian kill me-" He finally
ell in with a detachment of General
Towards troops who were in pursuit
If the Nez Perces and there Weikert
'ound him when he happened to run
into the camp the next day.
Ben was overjoyed and with tears
streaming down his ebony face said,
God bless you Andy, Inever spect
ID to see you again" 1t transpired
hat he had discovered there were
everal Indian scouts along with the
and he did not know
whether the Indians had the whites
n the whites the Indians so he
vas very much mixed as to the
afety or danger of his situation till
Andy appeared on the scene.
Accompanied by several soldiers
he next day l went to the Springs
md buried DIETRICH the best l could
lsing an old bath tub for coffin.
Six weeks later went from Hele-
ia and brought his and Kenck's bod
es home. l had to carry Kenck's
,ody for 80 miles on a horse as no
wagon could get near with a casket.
Then l travelled over 200 miles in
wagon with two dead men. 1t was
he loneliest ride l ever had. 1t took
lerve to do it and l don't want to do
again. | was still greatly worried
bout the other two men. | started
o Bozeman to borrow horses on
Which to look for them further, and
lear there l met a man who told me
hey had reached Virginia City. You
Jet was a happy man. | gave
hree cheers and went flying down
he canyon to Bozeman to get full
In 1880 this same man returned TO
yellowstone Park and made com
'lete tour of it under less dangerous
uspices, though he had one adven-
ure which many would consider
omewhat hazardous though he does
lot seem to think much of it. He
aid: 1--WE left Henry's Lake for the
over Geyser Basin and saw some
'retty wild country and considerable
anne, but did not shoot at any ex-
ept grizzly bear. l kept putting
all after ball into him from my re-
eating rifle but they only knocked
i'm over and he would rear up again
n his hind feet. / fred ten shots at
i'm and he was getting close by that
ime and had no tree close by, to
limb so l went for him with knife |
Ihich always carry when travelling.
nerved myself for desperate strug
lie but was happily disappointed |
Or when he got within ten feet Of
lie he tumbled over dead. When |
him / found / had put
wo bullets into his heart and eight
II 4 l. >, l