The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-26
A FIERCEFIGHTFOR LIFE
MULES AND COACH STUCK FULL
OF AHROWS.
Charles 3. Blake and Ills seven Fell
low Passengers in q Stage Coach
Figh: I75 Indians.

the route now followed by what was for
merly the Kansas Pacific railroad, now, the
Kansas Division Of the Union Pacific was
the scene Of more desperate aud bloody bat
ties with the Indians in early days than per-
haps any other locality in the west. It was
the favorite southern route for emigrant
trains and stage coaches, and Immediately
after the war the Cheyennes, Arapahoes and
Kiowas made it their business to lie in wait
for the richly laden wagon trains, the prairie
schooner OF the emigrant and the mail
coaches with which the road was dotted at
all times. The freight trains and emigrants
managed generally to travel in large COM
panies, and thus defy the Indians. In fact
at times when the redskins were paCticu-
larry troublesome it was the custom of the
commanders OF the military pc It's, which are
located here aud there along the line Of
the road. to hold the emigrant teams which
came along until a sufficient number had
collected to make the men numerous
enough to cope with the Indians and thus
be able to prevent the murderous fields
from killing the whites and robbiug the
trains. Occasionally adventurous peopl e
came along who avoided the vigilance Of
the military authorities and took the
chances rather tnan to delay their journey.
Some of them passed through safely, but the
remains of burned wagons and human
bones bleaching upon the prairie told the
tale of the fate of many others. or course,
the military authorities could not control
the movements Of the mail coaches, and it
was customary to dispatch with each coach
load of passengers another coach loaded
with y nited States soldiers as a guard A
non-commissioned officer was usually in
charge.
On the morning of June 15 1867, at 4
O'Clock, says the Pueblo Coll Chteftdin
one of the coaches OF the United States
Express Company rolled out from Fort
Wallace, Kan, bound for Danver. 1t con-
tanned four passengers and was drawn by
six mules. The passengers were Charles II.
Blake of Denver, now of this city; Louis F.
Bartels of Denver. Harrison OF Boston
and Brownell Of illinois. In this coach, in
addition to the passengers. were the driver,
the sergeant in command of the military es-
cort and one soldier, seven in all. in the
horses, were thirteen soldiers. The
indians were numerous along the
trail, and had committed many deprada-
lions. The sergeant who commanded the
party had but little c0nfidencs i'll his own
ability as an Indian fighter, and hence it
was arranged that in case of an attack Mr..
Blake, man of undoubted grit, who had
the party.
II was also agreed that when the fight
commenced the coaches were to be drawn up
side by side, leaving a space of ten feet be-
tween them, and that the passengers and
soldiers should get out Of the coaches and
hglt on foot, dropping behind them when it
became too bot.
The distance between Spring Hill Station
and Big Timber Station Is about ten miles.
sra an ha - - afr 4,
in these days was small fertilization, and
was at ali times prepared for an Indian
siege. Most old-timers will remember the
coyote forts" which we're usually located
short distance from the station buildings.
and accessible from them only by an un~
foreground passage. They we're not very
great specimens OF military engineering,
being composed of a square hole in the
ground, covered by thick dirt roof ele-
waited q couple Of feet above the surface of
the surrounding prairie, so as to allow loop
holes through which the inmates could fire
on their approaching enemies with but little
danger Of being injured in return. They
were effective, however, and have been the
cause of the ret eat OF many band of red
maurauders.
When about half way between the two
stations above indicated band of Indians
was noticed coming in single file mounted,
from the bluffs, and in few minutes after
another band advanced from the creek bot
tom on the other side of the road in the
same order. They approached one another
uutll the two parties met in the middle of
the road, forming q V-shaped line behind the
coaches. Ths Indians soon opened fire, and
those in the passenger coach dismount cd and
formed skirmish line, opening fire with
their rifles, with which they were all armed,
upon the advancing Indians, and expecting
those III the other coach to join them. To
their conformation they soon discovered
that the coach which contained thirteen
gallant defenders OF their country was
making its way as fast as good team could
take It on dead run toward Big Timber,
leaving those in the other coach, which was
| drawn by slow-movlug mules, to shift as
best they could One of the soldiers ON the
roof OF the runaway coach fell OF, and was
killed by the Indians while attempting to
| join the other party.
Finding themselves left to their own re-
! sources the passenger and soldiers in the
| remaining coach commenced one Of the
! most desperate fights ever known in the
| history OF the west. Seven men fought
| over rs indians commanded by old Roman
Nose, one of the meanest redskins ever
| known In this section Of the c)untry. The
whites soon found that they could not cope
| successfully with their numerous foes
and conceded to take the coach
| and do the best thay could to
| beat their assailauts off until thew
could reach Big Timber or until cid
! could come from that point. Mr.. Bartes,
who was large, heavy man, and as brave
an Indian fighter as ever fired gun, last his
! footing and fell while attempting to get
| into the vehicle. MIR. Blake, who was young
and an athlete in those days, picked up his
| $50 pound friend and tossed him into the
coach like a feather pillow. MIR. Brownell
was killed outside of the coach and as
scalped by the Indians. The Indians ap.
| preached as near es they dared and the
coach was riddled with balls, and both il
and the team were stuck full OF arrows.
The mules, with q stoicisrh derived from
| their Spanish ancestors, though wounded IL
many places by arrows, refused TO move
faster than quick walk, and Mr.. Blake
| LETT the vehicle many times during its per.
ious progress toward Big Timber to punch
up the unfortunate animals with the but
Of his rife. Mr.. Blake was, at that time
! engaged in merchandising in Denver anc
many of the attacking party were vel
acquainted with him. At one time the
Indians came very near the coach
and one Of them, lying hbeind
sage brush, cried out, "Ha, Blake, -
-, got you nowm But tine shoe hap
pened TO be on the other foot, and bulle
from Mr.. Blake's rife laid the noble rec
man in the dust Of the prairie. The driver
though badly wounded, held on 90 his line
and encouraged as much as possible bis fas