The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-23
A LUCKY ESCAPE.

and camps as scout and dispatch
rider. and In that capacity had my
share OF adventures. II was my for
tune or misfortune, almost at the out.
set OF my career to strike the Sioux a
blow which made them ever after
hungry for my life. This was in 1866.
while they were pretending to be ut
peace but actually killing every white
man who was found outside the forts.
! was then at Fort Mcpherson. and
while carrying a dispatch to small
body OF troops stationed on the Saline
fork. OF the Kansas river. encountered
J small band OF Indians. This was
about ten o clock In the forenoon. /
saw them emerge from dry ravine
and head to cut me of and at once
halted and dismounted. was then
on the crest Of a ridge. and close to a
natural sink. which would make q
good rifle pit II was big enough to
shelter my horse as well. and l was
all ready for the redskins before they
know had takon the alarm.
While not In ar-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 Winchester
rifle among the Indians ut that time
and not one In ten had seen one.
had one, while the nine redskins be.
fore me had old-fashioned muzzle-
loading rifles and / believed could
surprise them. They were led by a
sub chief named Little Feather and
among the nine 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 a
war-dance. 3.
1t was Little Feather that sum-
moned mo to surrender on pain OF being
burned at the stake and he was the
one who directed affairs when
shouted my refusal. The nine spread
out mounted on their ponies. until
they half encircled my refuge; then at
n signal they came charging up the
slope each one yelling enough to split
his throat Lying on my face. with
dead rest for my rife. tumbled Little
Feather and White Water out OF their
saddleS and that stopped the charge.
As they checked up killed Running
Bear and before they got out o! range
! wounded one o. the warriors The
living galloped of. and ! carried two
ponies and all accoutrements OF the
dead chiefs safely into the fort In
work entitled 1.-The Pioneers OF Ne.
braska," pages $3.50. is an account
OF this fight but not very accurate
one. The number OF killed Is there
put down at five and the name OF Run
ming 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 A reward OF ten ponies
was offered TO anyone who should kill
me- and twenty IL l were taken alive.
was advised by every body to clear
out OF that locality. but refused to
go until the long expected war finally
broke out and was attached TO a
moving column. The threats OF the
Indians had not greatly disturbed me,
as knew they would always be trying
their best to capture scout no mat
ter II they had never heard OF him.
Those were days when every white
man on the plains lived year in
every week and nevor forgot for n
moment that his life was in continual
jeopardy. Several plans. rs l after
wards learned. were formed to capture
me- but 1 slipped through.
was finally made prisoner undor
singular circumstances. l was re-
turning from the flying column to
Fort Wallace with dispatches. had
set out soon after dusk and made n
good twenty five miles when u heavy
fog settled down on the plains. 1t
wouldn't have bothered an Indian to
keep the points OF the compass. but
after had turned and twisted among
some dry ravine5 had TO own up that
l was lost My horse was just as
badly of. When / gave him his head
he came to stop The only thing
to do was to dismount and wait Tor
daylight was sitting on the ground
not feeling bit sleepy and my horse
was lying down. when band OF thir-
ty-seveu Indians, NIL mounted. walked
right on to me through the fog.
heard the footsteps OF their horses but
could not locate them In the fog until
It was too late. When leaped up it
was with the thought that l might
make break for IL on foot but before
could turn they were all about me-
and in another minute / was made
prisoner.
The Indians we're as much surprised
as / was. and 1t was broad daylight
before they identified me. Up 10
that time they had treated me fairly
we'll. When II was known that was
the scout whose life they had SO long
thirsted after half dozen bucks
tried their best to tomahawk me on
the spot. When their angry excite.
ment had cooled down there was as
much rejoicing as II they had cap
! tured fort. Six warriors were
called out as guard. and soon after
sunrise / was put In their charge and
started for big Sioux village on
Deer creek. between the two forks OF
2 the Republican river. / was Of
course disarmed Then my elbows
we're tied together my feet tied under
the horse and for fear the horse