St. Landry democrat., 1892-06-18

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charged. The first line was half a mile
away, and the ground was clear of oil
obstruction. The gold hunters were Or
dered to reserve their fire until the field
pieces were discharged. This did not
happen until the first line of warriors
was within fifty feet of the breastworks.
| The charge was checked in an instant,
and the slaughter was something horri
| BILE. As was determined by actual count,
| tifty-threc warriors and seventy ponies
were left behind when the force drew off
and returned to the spot where Eagle
Feather had posted himself to watch and
direct. The field pieces fired only two
rounds apiece, and some of the ritiemen
only got i'll one shot.
Within half an hour after being driven
| back Eagle Feather sent in word that
he was glad the white men exhibited so
much bravery, as the honor Of defeating
them would be greater. While his war
riors bad been unsuccessful in the first
charge, the second would be certain to
| win the victory. and he warned them to
make ready for it. This they speedily
did. When the lines were formed again
every warrior was in them, while the big
chief took the lead. The same tactics
were pursued as before. Such warriors
as had been dismOunted advanced on
foot Again the gold hunters waited I'M
til the enemy had come to close quarters,
and again the field pieces belched forth
their murderous fire us q signal. 1t was
lesson the Comanche tribe never for
got. In five minutes every warrior who
could get away had retreated, leaving
the ground heaped with dead and dying.
A count of the bodies brought the total
up to III. Those who were wounded
were killed as fast as discovered. Eagle
Feather, although in the thick of the
fray, was not even scratched, and as he
rallied his forces again out Of rifle shot
he knew that he must change his tactics
or withdraw. He had still 800 men left,
and he had no thought of abandoning
the field.
Gordon watched the movements Of the
foe closely and anxiousIy, and he soon
discovered the plan of the coming attack.
1t would be made on foot, and the lances
would be abandoned for the rifles There
was ravine leading up from the prairie
to the lower basin. The Indians would
be certain to come up that; others would
advance from the south, and others still
would advance through the brush on the
west side. The field pieces were planted
expected and the men posted anew.
Three kegs of powder were taken down
into the ravine and deposited among the
rocks as torpedoes, and everything was
ready by noon. 1t was half an hour
later when the Indians divided into three
commands and moved to attack. Gerry
had taught them how to march on foot
and they moved off almost as orderly as
regular infantry. The object OF those
advancing from the south was to secure
the bodies of the dead ponies for shelter
and thus creep in close to the brcstworks
for rush.
Gordon had provided against this by
sending men out over the field, and their
fire kept the indians off in this direc-
ton. The fight opened hotly on the 9TH
er sides, however, and IT'S the Indians
were sheltered in their advance they soon
began to work damage. Their fire was
concentrated on the field pieces, and
within an hour Gordon had four men
killed and three disabled. From half
past twelve to half-past four the firing
was constant and almost entirely con-
fined to the rifles The white men were
the best shots and were also more secure
ly sheltered, and therefore had the best
of it. But few Indians had appeared in
ha 10 ia Il
Then they began to gather for rush
One of the guns wss turned upon them,
and, when the shell with which it was
charged exploded it likewise exploded
two of the kegs of powder. How many
were killed and wounded 10 one could
say, because the terrific explosion hurled
down the high banks and filled the "a
vine for a hundred feet A dozen or
more bodies were found, and parts of
others were blown into the upper basin.
The calamity in the ravine ended the
attack on the part of the Indians, and
Gordon at once assumed the aggressive.
The ponies of the Indians had been left
Oh tire prairie, and Just out of ri1eshot,
guarded by a few warriors. He opened |
on the herd with shell, and in three or
four rounds had scattered it. Whenever
cOnsidera number he shelled them,
and such horses as sal oped within rifle |
range were shot down by the rihemen.
Eagle Feather had more than enough be- |
fore the sun went down. Once he rallied |
MS warriors as if for last desperate
charge, but they were SO thoroughly |
that they refused to advance.
As darkness fell h. began his retreat to
he pass, and he made no halt of con
sequence until reaching his village, a
hundred miles away.
None of his dead was removed, but all |
he wounded were taken away. Three
years later he gave his figures on the
light. Ont of his force of $50 men he
cached home with only 1919 who had
escaped scot free. He lost in killed al,
md Cd 40 wounded more or less
severely. Of his $50 ponies he lost at
east I';aIf. Gordon's party picked up
enough lances and rifles to load wagon
they also got large amount of ammu-
lition and other plumber. Among the
indian dead we're two famous medicine
nen and foul sub. chiefs, and Gerry was
llso among the slain. He had not been
,iIled by the white men, but Eagle
leather slew him with his own hand as
le retreated. 1t was not his plan to open
he fight as he did, but Gerry had as
ured him that the mounted warriors
'ould ride over all opposition
The direct results were bad enough
or the tribe, but dissensions followed to
make matters worse, Eagle Feather was
|eposed, and he became renegade, and
he tribe divided into three or four fac
ions which could never again be reu-
ited. The kiowas, to the east, took
very advantage of the split, and the
Apaches raided in from the west with
reat yigOr. and within three wears q