Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-04-14
A RACE FOR LIFE.


of the early Rocky mountain traders
there is none more interesting than that
of Golfers race for life with over 800
armed and bloodthirsty Blackfeet In
dams, one of the most cruel of the west
ern tribes. Golfer had accompanied
Lewis and Clark in their expedition to
the upper waters of the Missouri, but
forming partnership with man named
Potts the two obtained permission from
Lewis to stop for the purpose of trapping
and hunting. Lewis at the same time
recommended them to exercise the
greatest prudence and cunning in regard
to the Indians, whom he had learned to
his cost to be as treacherous and as saw
age as panthers.
The plan pursued by the partners was
to set their traps late in the evening,
visit them at early dawn and, after re-
moving them and the game, lie hidden
all day. This course succeeded splen-
didly for some time, and the men grew
a little careless in removing all tyace of
their presence. One morning while
rowing up the river in their canoe they
heard heavy trampling as of many
feet Golfer declared it to be Indians,
and was for abandoning the canoe and
taking to the woods, but Potts, who
was the older man, laughed at him and
pronounced the feet those of buffaloes.
The question was soon settled by them
sending themselves by few strokes of
the oars right into the midst of several
hundred Indians that lined the shore.
Golfer, seeing in q moment that eG-
cape was impossible, obeyed them when
they called him to come ashore and
rowed close to the bank. He and Potts
were just stepping up, when an Indian
snatched Potts rifle. Golfer, power
full man, wrested the weapon away from
the savage at once and returned it to
Potts, who seemed to lose himself COM
pletely. He threw himself back into
the canoe and pushed it out into the
stream. Golfer, who hoped to release
them from their position by strategy,
called to him to come back, but the
panic stricken man kept out in the cur
rent, and presently cried to Golfer, "Oh,
am woundedv Golfer turned just in
time to see the Indian that had shot
Potts lowering his bow from his aim,
and while he looked he saw the Indian
drop dead and heard the report Of Potts
rifle.
A second after Potts lifeless body fell
back in the canoe, pierced by hundred
arrows. Golfer was now in for it. The
Indians stripped him of his clothes and
held consultation as to what was to be
done with him. Golfer, who knew thei1
language slightly, gathered that some
of his amiable captors proposed to whip
him to death, some to skin him alive
while others wanted to burn him at the
stake, but the chief, burly old chap
with some originality decided the ques
ton by declaring that if he was not too
swift a runner that he should have {
chance for his life. If he could get away
he might, but if he was recaptured they
would burn him alive.
The chief approached the prisoner and
asked if he was good runner Golfer
replied that he was q very poor one
while in reality he knew himself to bt
one of the swiftest foot racers on tht
border His answer was hailed with de
light by the Indians, who were promis
ing themselves great diversion with th'
white man. The 900 Indians were sta
toned at one point and Golfer given {
start of 200 hundred yards, that tn
sport might not be too quickly ended
With whoop from the Indians the rae
began.
Like an arrow from the bow the pris
oner shot forward, and the duped Black
feet saw that it would put them to al
they knew to overtake their huma
prey, or even to approach him nea
enough to shoot him. They had on
great advantage over the white mar
however, and they counted largely o
this to give them the victory. Thei
feet were protected by moccasins, whil
those of the trapper were naked and e1
posed to the sandburs and cecti, wit
which the plain was thickly set. Thes
pierced Golfers feet terribly, but b
could not pause for such trifes. He ha
run three of the six miles that lay b
tween him and the Jefferson fork Of th
Missouri, for which he had made befol
he dared to look back. When he did h
saw that he had, with one exception
left all his pursuers far behind. Or
warrior alone still held out, and wit
his spear held aloft came on with I'll
speed of a greyhound.
He was within hundred yards of IL
white man when Golfer, resolved to SAY
himself if it lay in human power, pl
forth a tremendous effort and tore {
with all his speed. The blood bur
from his nose and a slight hemorrhat
also filled his mouth, but he pushed Of
frantic at the idea of being retaken aft
his superhuman efforts. He had near
reached the river when he looked bat
once more, and to his dislnay he SO
that his pursuer was not thirty feet b
hind him and was just in the act
hurting his spear. With incredible C
lerity he whirled about, and before tt
savage could check his rapid course II
right into the Indians arms.
Golfers unexpected action and b
bloody appearance SO startled the Blac
foot that he stumbled, and the lane
thrown ten feet, stuck in the groul
and broke off. While the redskin tti
to recover his equilibrium, Golfer pick
up the piece of spear that retained t
head and drove it through the body
the Indian, pinning him to the ground
dead man. But fearing that the rest
the band would presently appear, t
trapper stopped only long enough to
cure the dead mans weapons and tn
ran on, reaching the river more de
himself than alive.
After rest of minute or two