The morning call., 1893-09-24
A NARROW ESCAPE
After Indians on the Little
Missouri.
A CLOSE CALL ON DANGER.
Avoiding an Ambush-Fleeing AMI
mails a Warning of Hidden
Danger-CIever Sport.

We are going down the panInsula formed
by the junction of the I ellowstone and
Little Missouri River. hoping to intercept
the Indians and turn them back, says
writer in the Detroit Free Press. 1t had
been hard, swift march. ride of over
400 miles. with no halt above four hours,
aud 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 Little
Missouri a day or two ahead of them. We
believed we had accomplished il. At 10
o'clock we were within TWO miles of the
spot. Then the head of the column halted
for the men 10 close up. Our line had
strung out for mile or more. Between
us and the crossing, as the halt was made,
nature had made a highway. 1t was a
grassy road, about twenty feet wide, twist
ing and turning like creek. Either side
was lined with dense thickets. Half a
mile down the highway it was crossed by
a creek with steep banks. Half a mile
farther on was a second creek. 1t was
hardly more than rlvulet at this season,
but the width from bank to bank was
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 precauti onary measure,
but no one dreamed of danger. 1t the
hostile Indians had not turned back or
changed their route they should still be
forty or fifty miles to the south. The
stragglers had come up, the sleepy troop
ers had braced up under the eyes 1t their
officers and the bugler was about 10 sOunu
the forward when the hali-breed guide and
scout held up his hand in warning. A deer
came running up the grassy lane at full
speed and was within ten feet of the
cOlonel's horse when it wheeled to the
right and wants shed into the thicket Next
came q fox, who ran under the feet of
dozen horses before he found shelter.
Then a second deer. then three or four
rabbits.
What is it?" asked the colonel of the
guide.
AMBUSH" was the brief reply.
"Where?''
The guide waved his hand to signify
that it was down in the lane somewhere.
How do you know?"
See thatw
A big gray wolf rounded the turn a hum
dred feet away, coming at full speed. The
hair on his back stood up. his tail almost
dragged, aud it was easy to see that lie had
been disturbed and was put out about it.
''Injuns down there" said the guide.
I'VE are too late! They have got here
first and we are in amDuShI"
"But what makes you think SOP" per-
sisted the colonel, who was impatient to go
ahead, and yet too prudent TO needlessly
expose his command.
oX-rabbits-wolfP' replied the
guide. "AlI were frightened; all running
away from something Injuns down there
yU . n ftrn n a u -
We turned 10 the left and ianked the
position. We had made q distance of
seven miles when Indians were seen and
skirmishing began, but they soon retreated
southward, anu as we followed them up
they crossed the Little Missouri. 1t was
the band we had hoped 10 intercept; but
why did they turn back without fight
Every body was asking the question when
few OF US rode off 10 inspect the ambush
The death-trap had been set for US be-
tween the creeks. The lower end of the
avenue had been blocked with the feled
trees and bushes. and trees partly cut
down would have blockaded the upper end
AS soon as the last horseman had passed |
The road here narrowed down to fifteen
feet. Wherever there was an opening in
the bushes which lined the sides II had
been closed with thorns.
From sunrise that morning the Ind ians
had been waiting for us. a lmost two hun !
dred 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 bows
armed with bows and arrows. Hidden |
away under the banks Of the creeks were |
hundred or more squaws armed with |
hatchets, knives or clubs. 1t was not t. |
be battle, but massacre. No mercy was |
to be shown-nos prisoner taken. Scouts /
mad observed our approach and reported |
When the head of our column had fairly |
entered the lane the eager squaws and im- |
pulsive 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. hesltated and then took another |
way. For half an hour they waited with |
the scowl of hate on their bronze faces
with the savageness Of devils in their
hearts - with eyes which gIared and |
glinted as they roamed about in search of !
the expected prey. Then they whispered |
to each other: "They have taken another |
way. The Great Spirit seut them a warn |
ing 10 turn aside. We cannot fight these /
men, let US return, recross the river and re- |
turn to the agency"