Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1893-11-06
A,S INDIAN AMBUSH.
FRIGHTENED WILD ANIMALS PREVENT
 A HORRIBLE MASSACRE.

stone and Little Missouri rivers, hoping to intercept the Indians and turn them back. It had been hard, swift march a ride of over 400 miles-with no halt above four hours, and at 10 o'clock in the forenoon half the troops were sleeping in their saddles as their lean and lame horses picked their way over the rough ground.
 We had planned to reach the spot where the fleeing Indians would cross the Lit tie Missouri a day or two ahead of them. We believed we had accomplished it. At 10 o'clock we were within two miles of the spot. Then the head of the col umn halted for the men to close up. Our line had strung ont for mile or more Between us and the crossing, as the halt was made, nature had made highway. It was grassy road about 20 feet wide, twisting and turning like creek. Either side was lined with dense thickets. Half a mile down the highway it was crossed by creek with steep banks. Half mile farther on was a second creek. It was hardly more than a rivulet at this season, but the width from bank to bank was 40 feet, and the banks were 10 feet high. Our guide had never passed over the route.
 No man in the column of 200 men knew what lay beyond the first turn. The halt to close up was precautionary measure, but no one dreamed of danger. If the hostile Indians had not turned back or changed their route, they should be 40 or 50 miles to the south. The stragglers had come up, the sleepy troop CTS had braeed up under the eyes of their officers, and the bugler was about to sound the forward when the half breed guide and scout held up his hand in warning. A deer came running up the grassy lane at full speed and was within two feet of the colonePs horse when it wheeled to the right and vanished into the thicket. Next came fox, who ran under the feet of q dozen horses before he found shelter. Then a second deer, then three or four rabbits.
 What is it?' asks the colonel of the guide.
 Ambush" was the reply.
 "Where?'
 The guide waved his hand to signify that it was down the lane somewhere.
 How do you know2"
 ''See that?n
 A big gray wolf rounded the turn 100 feet away, coming at full speed. The hair on his back stood up, his tail almost dragged, and it was easy to see that he had been disturbed and was put out about it.
 "Tnjuns down thereF said the guide. ssWe are too latei They have got here first, and we are in ambush"
 But what makes you think so?" per sisted the colonel, who was impatient to go ahead and yet too prudent to need lessly expose his command.
 -rabbit-wolff' replied the guide. "All were frightened. All run ming away from something. Injuns down there waiting for us. Veg some other way"
 We turned to the left and f1anked the position. We had made a distance of seven miles when Indians were seen, and began, but they soon re- treated southward, and as we followed them up they crossed the Little Missouri. It was the band we had hoped to inter- cept, but why did they turn back with out fight2 Everybody asking the question when a few of us rode off to in- spect the ambush. The deathtrap had been set for us between the creeks. The lower end of the avenue had been blocked with felled trees and bushes, and trees partly cut down would have blockaded the upper end as soon as the last horse man had passed. The road here mar rowed to b feet. Wherever there was an opening in the bushes which lined the sides it had been closed with thorns.
 From sunrise that morning the Indians had been waiting for us Almost 200 warriors were in hiding behind the bushes, ready to thrust out their rifles and fire at the signal. Perched in the trees along the way were half hundred boys armed with bows and arrows. Hid den away under the banks of the creeks | were 100 or more squaws armed with hatchets, knives or clubs. It was not to be battle. but a massacre. No mercy was to be shown-not a prisoner taken. Scouts had observed our approach and When the head of our column had fairly entered the lane, the eager squaws and impulsive boys could hardly be controlled.
 In their moving about they frightened the wild animals out of their retreats and sent us the Warning. They did not know why we halted, hesitated and then took another way. For half an hour they waited, with the scow1 of hate on their bronzed faces, with the savage ness of devils in their hearts, with eyes which glared and giinted as they roamed l about in search of the expected prey. Then they whispered to each other:
 ''They have taken another wayi The Great Spirit sent them warning to turn asidel We cannot fight these men! Let | us recross the river and return to the cyr'-Wheeling Register.