The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-11-13
A LUCKY ESCAPE.
by NJ. QUAD.

attached to various Western forts and
camps rs scout and despach rider. and
in that capacity bad my fiif share or adj
ventures. 1t was my fortune or misfor
tune almost at the outset Of my career to
strike the Sioux blow which made them
forever after hungry for life. This was
In 1906, while they were pretending to
bc at peace, Lut actually killing cyery
white man who was found outside the
forts. Twas then at Fort Mcpherson
and while carrying a despatch to small
body Of troops stationed on the Saline
Fork of the Kansas River, encountered
small band of Indians. This was obout
~ o'clock IN the forenoon. saw them
emerge from dry ravnc and head r.,
cut me oil, and at once halted and dis
mo 1ted. was then on the crest of n
ridge, and close to a natural sink which
would make good rifle pit 1t was big
enough to shelter my horse as well, and
was all ready for the redskins before
they knew had taken the alarm.
Mhls s not II in -ys.r.p war paint they showed
il l fell into their hands nv sca,p would
change owners within five minutes Tbcro
wasn't a Winchester rifle amonp tbo In
naa seen one. L had one, while the nine
redskins before me had old fashioned
muzzlc loading rifles, and believed
could surprise them. They were led Inv
sub chief named Little Feather. and
among the nine were two others named
"h'te Water and Running Bear. These
three sub-chicfs were warrior, of re-
nown, and were then on their way to at-
tend council and a war dance.
1t was Little Feather who sumuoned
me to surrender on pam of being burned
at the stake, and he was the one who
directed affairs when l shouted my re-
iusal. The nine spread out, mounted ON
'heir ponies, until they half cncircled NV
refuge then, at signal, they came
arHthhs cnonahh " up the slope, each one yelling
my face, with a dead rest for hyipqg on
tumbled Little Feather and White Water
out Of their saddles, and that stopped
the charge. As they checked up 1
killed Running Bear, and before they got
out of range l wounded one Of the Y.11-
riors. The living s"ifoPed OIL ""o
carried two ponics and all the accoutre-
mcnts of the dead chiefs Uafciy into the
Co., the
It soon became knowu, and every
c;oux what hsfeat tribe swore to have
h-~~-.e. < reward of ten ponies was
offered to any one who should kill me,
and twenty ii | were taken alive. Twas
advised by everybody to clear out of
that locality, but refused to 90 until
the long expected war finally broke out
and was attached to moving column
The threats of the Indians had not
greatly disturbed me, as l knew they
they would always be trying their best
TO capture a scout, no matter if they had
never heard of him. Those were days
when every white man on the plains
hVcd n year in every week and never
forgot for moment that his life was in
continual jeopardy. Several plans, as
L atterward learned, were formed to
capture me, but | slipped through.
4 was finally made prisoner under
r-slnaular eirn,.sAs.~noc-. Twas returning
from the flying column 10 Fort Wallace
9 with dispatches. | had set out soon
after dusk and made a good twenty-five
miles when heavy fog settled down or
the plains. 1t wouldn't have bothered
an Indian to keep the points of the com.
pass, but after | had tuned and twisted
among some dry ravines had TO own ur
that | was lost. My horse was lust rs
badly oil. When | gave him his head
ne came toa stop. The only thing to dc
was to dismount and wait for DAYLIGHT.
was sitting on the ground, not feeling
Il bit sleepy, and my horse was lying
down. when Il band of thirty-seven In
dians, I'll mounted, walked right on to
me throught the fog. heard the foot.
nj thnt,
cate them in the fog until too late.
when | leaped up it was with the
thought that | might make a break for
1t on foot, but before I could turn .hey
were all about me, aud in another min
ute was made prisoner.
The Indians were as much surprised as
was, and it was broad daylight before
they identified me. Up to that time they
had treated me fairly well. When il
was known that ] was the scout who's
llie they had so long thirsted after half
dozen bucks tried their best to toma.
hawk Inc on the spot When tbei,
angry excitement had cooled down there
was as much rejoicing as if they had cap
'urcd tort. Six warriors were called
out as guard, and soon after sunrise !
was put In their charge and started for
Dig sioux village on Deer Creek, be
tween the two forks of the Republican
River. | was, OF course, disarmed.
Then my elbows were tied together, my
feet tied under the horse, and for fear
the horse would run oil with me he was
lied by lariat.
AZ Iloon we made halt of half .ap
h0sz7fhd | was given about half pound
Of jefked buffalo meat as my share of the
noonday meal. My arms were unbound
that might eat, but the whole six con-
stantly kept their eyes on me. When we
set off again was bound as before, and
we rode at a gallop until 10 o'clock at
night before the village was reached.
understood the Sioux lingo very well,
though did not let on to, and the talk