The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-07

Was glad that the white. men exhibited 70
much bravery, - the honor Of defeating
them would Be greater. While his war
riors had been unsuccessful in the first
charge, the second would be certain to
win the victory, and he wanted them 70
be ready for it. This they speedily did.
When the lines were formed again every
warrior was in them, while the big chief
took the he'd: The. ssme tactics were
pursued q. before Such warriors as had
been diSmounted advanced on foot.
Again the gold hunters waited until the
/ enemy had como to close quarters, and
| again the field pieces belched, forth their
murderous fire - = signal. It was .
lesson the Comanche tribe never forgot,
In five inmates every warrior that could
get away had retreated, leaving the
ground heaped With dead and dying. A
count of the bodies brought the total up
to Ill. Those who were wounded we're
killed as fast - discovered. Eagle
Feather, although in the thick of the
fray, was not even scratched, aud as he
rallied his forces akain out of rifeshot he
realized that he must abandon his tactics
or withdraw altogether. He had still 500
men left, and he had no thought of aban
doning the field.
Gordon watched the movements of the
foe closely and anxiously, and he soon
discovered the plan of the coming attack.
It would be made on foot and the lances
would be abandoned for the rifles. There
was q 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 we're planted
to cover the points where a rush was ex-
pected and the men posted anew. Three
kegs of powder were taken down into the
ravine aud deposited among the rocks as
t0rpedoes, 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 of
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 breastworks for sudden rush.
Gordon had provided against this by
sending men out over the field, and their
fire kept the Indians off ID this direction.
The fight opened holly on the other sides,
however, and rs the. Indians were shell
tered in their advance, they soon began
to work damage. Their FIRE was concen-
trated on the Keld pieces, and within an
hour Gordon had four meu killed and
three disabled. From IL 80 to $50 the
firing was constant and almost entirely
confined to the rifles. The white men
were the best shots and were also more
securely sheltered, and, therefore, had the
best Of 1t. But few Indians had appeared
in the ravine up to the last hour named.
Then they began to gather for rush.
One of the gnns was turned upon them,
and when the she'll with which it was
charged exploded it likewise exploded
two Of the legs of powder. How many
were killed and wounded no one could
say, because The terrific explosions hnrled
down the high banks and filed the ravine
for a hundred feet. A dozen or more
bodies were found and parts of others
were blown almost 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.
| TIE ponies of the Indians had been left
on the prairie just out of rifleshot, guard
ed by few warriors. He opened on the
herd with shell, and in three or four
rounds had scattered it. Whenever the
redskins attempted to bunch in any con-
siderable number he shelled them, and
such horses as gallopped within rife range
where shot down by the-rlfemen. Eagle
Feather had more than enough before the
sun vent down. Once he rallied his var
riors as if for last desperate charge. hut
they were SO thoroughly whipped that
they refused to advance. As darkness fell
he began his retreat to the pass, and he
made no halt of consequence until reach
ing his village, hundred miles away.
None of his dead was removed, but all
of his wounded were taken away. Three
years later he gave his figures on the fight.
Out of his force of 480 men, he reached
home with only 1879 who had escaped
scot free. He lost in killed al, and had
140 wounded, more or less severely. OF
$50 ponies, he lost at least half Gordon's
party picked up enough lances and rifles
to load a wagon. They also got large
amount of ammunition and other plumber.
Among the Indian dead were two famous
medicine men and four subchiefs, and
Gerry was was also among the slain. He
had not been killed by the white men,
but Eagle Feather slew him with his own
hand as he retreated. It was not his
plan to open the fight as he did, but
Gerry bad assured him that the mounted
warriors could ride over all opposition.
The direct results were bad enough for
the tribe, but discussions followed to make
matters worse. Eagle Feather was de-
posed and became renegade, and the
tribe divided into three or four factions
which could never again he reunited. The
Kiowas to the east, took every advantage
of the split, and the Apaches raided in
from the West with great vigor, and
. tribe which had ranked a. the richest
and most powerful in the West was scat
tered and broken. Had not the Govern
ment stepped in and taken care of the
remnant the Comanches would have been
exterminated to the last representative
st. Louis Republic.
4. Competent Witness.
In one of our courts recently 9year.
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