The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-11
A SCOUTS ADVENTURES.
Captured by the Indians and a
Lucky Escape.

Lucky Escape.
During the Indian troubles which
followed the close of the civil war
was attached to various western forts
and camps as scout and dispatch rider,
and in that capacity had my full share
of adventures. 1t was mg fortune or
misfortune almost 1T the outset OF my
career to strike the Sioux blow which
made them ever after hungry for my
life. This was in 1SG6. while they were
pretending 10 be at peace, but actually
killing every white man who was
found outside the forts. / was then a.
Fort Mcpherson, and while carrying a
dispatch TO = small body OF troops sta
toned on the Saline fork of the Kan
sas river, 1 encountered 4 small band
of Indians This was about ten o'clock
in the forenoon. / saw them emerge
from a dry ravine and head 10 cut me
off. and at once halted and dismount-
ed. | was then on the crest OF a ridge.
and close TO a natural sink which would
make a good rifle pit It was big
enough to shelter my horse as well,
and was ali ready for the redskins he
fore they knew / had taken the alarm.
While not N war-Paint they showed
every other sign OF hostility. and /
knew that II ! fell into their hands my
scalp would change owners within five
minutes There wasn't a Winchester
rifle amo-.g the Indians At that time
and not one in ten had seen one. Ihad
one, while the nine redskins before me
had old-fashioned muzzle-loading rifles,
and believed ! could surprise them.
They were led by a srb-chief named
1 @.l Il.
were two others named White Water
and Running Bear. These three sub
chiefs were warriors Of renown and
were then on their way to attend .
council and war-dancc.
1t was Little Feather yyho su.a--ioaoa
me to surrender on pain oT being
burned at the stake and ne was the
one who directed affairs whom /
shouted my refusal. The nine spread
out, mounted on their ponies. until they
half eucIrcIed my refuge; then Il a
signal, they came charging up 'l1
Iope, each one yelling enough to So
ais throat Lying on my face, with
dead rest for my rifle, tumbled Little
Feather and White Water ont OF their
saddles, and that stopped the charge
As they checked mp killed Ruunire
Bear. and before th.g got ont oi rang
l wounded oce OF the warriors. TEe
living gauoped off. and carried two
ponies and all the accoutrcncnts of the
lead chiefs safely into the fort. In
work entitled The Pioneers OF Ne
braslla, pages 355-G, is an account Of
this fight, but not a very accurate one.
The number Of killed is there put down
ct five and the name Of Running Bear
is given as Yellow Bear.
1t soon became known among the
Sioux what had happened, and every
branch of the great tribe swore to have
my life. \ reward of ten ponies was
offered 10 anyone who should kill me.
and twenty if / Were taken alive.
WAS advised by everybody to clear out
OF that locality, but l refused to go u-,-
Ill the long-eNpccted war finally bro's
out and | was attached 10 a movin.
column. Tho threats of the Indian.
had not greatly disturbed me. as
knew 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 lived year in every week
and never forgot for a moment that be
life was in continual jeopardy. Sever
al plans, as | afterwards learned, were
formed to capture me, but / slipped
through.
l was finally made prisoner under
singular circumstances ] was return
ing from the flying column to Forc
Wallace with dispatches. Ihad set out
soon after dusk and made n good TWEEN
ty-five miles when a heavy fog settled
down on the plains !: wouldn't have
hot Ind to
of the compass, but aft er had turned
and twisted among some dry ravincs
had to own up that l was lost. Ny
horse was just badly of. When
gave him his head he came TO stop.
The only thing TO do was 20 dismount
and wait for daylight. was sittin-
on the ground not feeling bit sleepy.
and my horse was living down, when
band of thirty-seven Indians, all
mounted, walked right on to me
through the fog. / heard the footsteps
of their horses. but could not locate
them in the fog until il was too late.
When | leapcd UP i was with the
thought that 1 might make q break Tor
il on foot, but before ] could turu they
were all about me, and in another min
ute | was made prisoner
The Indians We're as much surprised
as was, and it was broad daylight be-
fore they identified me. Up TO that
time they had treated me fairly well
When it was known that | was the
scout whose life they had SO long
thirsted after half dozen bucks tried
their best TO tomahavvlS me on the spot
When their angry excitement had
cooled down there was as much rejoic-
ir.g as if they had captured fort. Six
warriors were called out as Il guard,
and soon after sunrise ! was put in
their charge and started for a big Sioux
village on Deer creek, between the two
forks of the Republican river. was,
of course, disarned. Then my elbows
were tied together, my feet tied under
the horse, and ior fear the horse would
run off with me he was led by a lariat
At noon we made a halt OF half al
hour and l was given about half 1
pound of jerlSed buffalo meat as m,
share of the noonday meal Ny arm