The morning call., 1893-03-26
FITZHUGH LEE.
How He Used Virginia Back-tieeI
Trip in Deadly Combat.
Washington Star.

Washington Star.
One of the best stories heard in the hotel
corridors fer long time was told by Cap
tain Jack Hayes. the Indlan-fghter and
friend of Bill Cody. Captain HAYES is
from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the bosom
and lifelong FREUD of Governor Fitzhugh
Lee. and in the parade he occupied the
honorary position of chief of Governor
Lees staff.
1T was in the winter of 1860. at Camp
Colorado. Tex" said Captain Hayes. "Our
scouts reported a body Of Indians that had
massacred settlers and driven off stock.
General Van Dorm, then major, was in COM
mand, Governor Lee was a lieutenant and
was bugler 1t was night and showing
hard. We started after them, u ade eighteen
miles that night. fifty the next day. and
camped. 1t happened that the Indians we
were pursuing had camped but three miles
ahead of us. As | said, it was very cold and
the Indians had their blankets up over their
heads, so they did not hear us, the next
day we came upon them suddenly, and
they would not have discovered us until we
would have been right on top of them had
not one of our men accidentally discharged
his revolver. We charged. The Indians scat
tered. There was ridge of timber a few
miles away. Two of the braves made for the
timber. General Lee and | pursued them.
We Killed one. We pursued the other fellow
through the timber for several miles, his
trail being visible in the snow. When we
reached the open plain he had disappeared.
We knew that he was hiding in one of the
Rulches. In few moments we discovered
his pony. Turning we saw him on the
othtr side of an undulatlOn in the prairie
As he reached the top of the divide he
waved his shield and yelled defiance at US.
We put after him, bui could not find him
In the ledges of rock. Lee then proposed
that we separate, which we did.
1T seems that the Indian was about
thirty feet from General Lee at the time,
hiding behind the ledge of rocks. As Lee
came up he fired at him. Lee saw him in
time to dodge and the arrow went
through lis arm, breaking off. The
Indian was chiei-a big, tall, pow
erful fellow over six feet in height.
General Lee was then a small man.
but he was one of the bravest and pluck
lest of men. Iu a moment more they
were locked in each others arms in death
struggle. The general was carrying his re-
voiVer In his right hand. The Indian
graSped the barrel and the weapon was dis
charged, but he was not hit. The pistol
dropped to the ground. Lee knew that his
only salvation was to hug the Indian, for
the latter had his knife in his hand, and as
they sWayed to and fro packing the snow
beneath their feet he was unable TO plunge
his knife in his adyersary's body. started
to his rescue, but did not dare to shoot as
advanced, as they were twisting and wTith-
ing 50 that | was afraid of killing my COM
rade. In another minute they were on the
ground and Lee on top. As luck had it,
they fell near the revolver. In the second
of time allowed Lee seized the pistol and
discharged it, the ball going through ths
cheeks and mouth Of the savage without
even knocking out tooth. for his mouth
was open in a yell. In another second,
however, the next ball crashed in his brain.
As the general disenGaged himself from
the tight embrace Of the savage and
rose to his feet he shook himself and felt of
his body to see whether he was wounded,
for the knife had cut his coat. l was fear
full lest he had been injured, and asked him
how he felt. He replied, 'Oh, I am all
right-just getting my muscle up raising
his arm as if he were tightening the bicep.
used 10 be very fond OF wrestling, and it
came in very good service to-day. At tie
last moment l thought of the Virginia
back-heeP' trip and down the redskin
", MT"