The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-10-28
OUTLAWED BY INDIANS.

war which opened in the spring. Bands
of stragglers were riding about the
country, stealing and numbering when
ever opportunity offered, and one day in
October, while returning to the fort
from long ride to the north after some
missing horses, | encountered one of
these predatory bands. 1t numbered
twelve men, and a son of the Cheyenne
chief known as Pawnee Killer was in
command. While war had not been de-
clared, and while the Indians did not
hesitate to appear at the forts and trad
ing posts, some one was being butchered
every day. | had been ON the watch for
providers and was as well prepared as
lone man could be. had Winchester
and two revolvers, and the only draw
back was that 1 had found two of the
horses and had them with me-
| was skirting a long, narrow ridge,
badly broken by outcroppings of rock.
and the time was o'clock in the after
noon. All of a sudden / caught sight of
Indians about half a mile away coming
up the same side of tine ridge. Indeed
heard them yelling before saw them,
and turned sharp to the left and forced
the horses up the ridge among a mass of
powders and outcropping. The red
skins caught sight of me as went up
but did not Immediately approach.
could see that they were confused, and a
dozen or more shots were fired, and |
was puzzling over the matter when |
heard some one Gathering over the
stony ground, and next moment white
man jumped down beside me and ex-
claimed:
Stranger, for Gods sake stand EN-
off until l can get my wind. They are
Cheyennes, and have killedmy brotherv'
Three young bucks. ON foot. had been
in chase of the fugitive, and they were
within 200 feet of me as 1 rose up. The
leyeled rifle brought them to sudden
halt, and after gazing at me for mo-
ment they turned and descended the
ridge to join the rest of the band. My
visitor lay down, and it was five minutes
before he could get breath to explain.
eve were out looking for cattle which
stampeded from our emigrant camp on
the Saline Fork. These brutes killed
my brother and took me prisoner That
was yesterday, and about mile below
here they had gone into camp and built
fire to torture me when | made a
break. Give me your revolver, for
they'll be sure to charge us"
gave him one of the weapons, and
soon after an Indian appeared on the
foot of the ridge, made signs of peace
and asked for talk. Those on the lev
Ell below me drew away about forty rods
to convince me that they meant fair,
and left my shelter and advanced p
few PAGES to ask the errand of the young
warrior. While was thus engaged the
man behind me was rolling the loose
rocks together to strengthen the position.
The redsl1in said he came to demand a
prisoner. They had no quarrel with
me, but the prisoner had shot one of
their number in cold blood and must
slie. They only asked for justice. had
their word that l might ride away in
safety, but the prisoner they would have
at any sacrifice. did not wait an in
slant efore replying that the man would
not be given up, and that | was ready
for any move on their part to take him.
The buck had left his rifle behind him.
and l stood there also apparently I'M
armed. AS a matter of fact each of us
had a revolver. We were about half a
pistol shot apart, aud as | gave him my
ultimatum he half turned, whipped out
a revolver and fired bullet which
passed within an inch of my head. Then
he uttered yell and started to run, but
he was too late. My bullet struck him
under the right arm and went clear
through him, and he fell and curled NJ
by bowlder to die.
The situation was understood by the
Indians below me almost instantly. and
the entire crowd dismounted and charged
up the ridge. 1t was very foolish move
on their part and proved the excitability
of young bucks. We had them dead un
der our fire, and we killed three of them
with as many bullets. l got bead on
Pawnee Killers son with my revolver
as he urged his hesitating band to push
up the ridge, and when he went down
thought had killed him. With his fall
. 6he fighting ceased. The survivors made
a rush for their horses and then disap
peared to the east, leaving the four dead
ones where they fell. was puzzled al
their conduct. and at first regarded it a,
a ruse, but when l came to stand up anC
look around l saw party of Thirteen
white men-hunters, trappers, stoclzmer
and notwithstanding up from the
north ON their way to the fort.
The name of the young man who 81
cleverly escaped was Austin Brice. and
for the next year he was in government
emDlov at the fort. He had not shot al