The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-02
A BRAVE BOYS FIGHT.
lie Gave Battle to TWenty.0ne
Indians Till Rescued.

we were cavalry command of about
three hundred men, and were eneamped in
grove on the north bank Of the Big Wieh-
ita River in Texas. The stream was bank
full with the freshet and we had gone into
camp to wait until we could ford it. There
were plenty of hostile Indians about, but
they were not strong enough in numbers to
cause US to fear anything like q general at
tack.
On the afternoon OF the second day OF our
encampment three or four of us were on the
bank of the river strolling about, when we
heard the faint report of rife to the south.
The country ON the south side was perfectly
fiat, and one could see as far as on the
water. What we saw when we looked up
was figure on horseback making straight
for US, but still afar OFF, while strung out
behind was long file of mounted indians.
We couldn't tell whether the one in al
vance was man, woman or boy; we couldn't
tell whether he was white, red or black. W.
Jumped to the conclusion, however, that il
was white fugitive who wanted our pr0tec-
ton, and the alarm was at once given. H.
came Numbering down to within half mile
of the river, and then his horse suddenly
pitched headlong to the earth aud did hot
rise again.
The Indians closed up, formed circle
and began firing at the fugitive huggng the
ground.
About fifty of our men began catching up
thelr horses before any order had been given.
and some were ready to mount when thA
Major fatty refused to permit any one tn try
the crossing. The current was running like
a mlll-race, and it did seem impossible for
horse to breast it. However, when the men
began to cry out in Indignation, the Major
Went down 10 the bank, surveyed the circllng
Indians for moment, and then said:
Lieutenant Brown, you may try 1t with
twenty men if you wish"
1t wasn't minute before the twenty of
us had pushed our horses into the water
They had to swim from the start, but they
were fresh aud strong, and after being car
RED down about eight rods all OF US reached
the south bank In safety. When we were
in line the Lieutenant said:
" The reds haven't seen US yet Ride
right down upon them and shoot to kill
The Indians were so intent with their
prey that we were half way up to them be-
fore they got the alarm. They were then
so astonlShed that we decreased the distance
by ten rods before they turned to fiY. We
bad our Spencer carbInes, but no sa6ers.
L never saw those guns shoot better than ON
that day. | counted the Indians while we
were charging, and they numbered nine.
teen. We killed five outright mOrtalIy
wounded two others, and killed and disd-
6led eight ponies in pursuit lasting two
miles. When we finally drew rein and rode
Indians had been.
Sitting on the body of his dead horse and
taking things as coOlly as you please was Il
boy IA years of age. named Charlie White.
He was hatless and barefoOted, and he
looked as shy as any farmers boy ever called
IN to see company.
How many dead do you count Leuten-
anti" he asked as we came up.
We've got seven down."
''ADd my two make nine! There's one
over there, and here's another off here.
There were twenty-one in that crowd when
they first cirele1 me!'
1t was true. He had killed two warriors
white we were crossing, ana though 20 but
lets had been fired at him he had escaped
without Il scratch. About twenty-three
miles away was his fathers ranch. That
morning Charlie White had set out in
search OF some stray horses, and
about noon he got sight of the Indians
They had him cut off from the ranch.
and there was nC chance left but tn
ride to the north. He had 10 hopes of meet
Ing any one in that direction, and The H.
dams felt so sure of their prey that they did
not try very hard to come up with him until
he was within sight Of the river. His horse
was not exhausted, as we thought, but had
stepped in a hole and fallen in such a way
as to break is neck.
Many game fighter would have been in
despair when he found himself in such a
fix, but the boy Rugged down beside his
horse and kept his nerve. Both his shots
were long ones, and he must have had a
keen eye and steady hand. He looked a
bit pale and his chin quivered little as he
told US his story, but yet he was cooler than
any of the rest of u.s.
For years after on that border the story of
Charlie White was told at every campfire,
and the man who could truthfully say that
he was one of the rescuing party on that
day was considered bigger man than the
Governor of Texas.-M. Quad in ST. Louis
Post Dispatch