Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-04-27
FlTzHUoH LEE AS A FIGHTER,


How He Used Virginia r>.sr.u.., r..,
In Deadly Combat.
One OF the best stories heard In +ha
hotel corridors for q long time was told
by Capt Jack Hayes, the Indian fiobte,
and friend of Bill Cody, to Star renra.
sentative. Capt. Hayes is from Cleve.
Land, O. He is the bosom and I;selono
friend OF Gov. Fitzhueh Lee. and n the
parade he occupied the honorarv r,,s;-
ton of chief of Gov. Lees star
1T was in the winter of 1870 nj c.ur
@Ooiofado' Tex, said Capt. Hayes. ssOur
scouts reported body of Indians that
nac massacred settlers and driven of
ener STOCK. Gen. Van Dorn-then
"aJor-was in command. Gov Lee
was a lieutenant and was a
ougier. 1t was night and showing
nara. We started after them, made
eighteen miles that night, fifty the next
Gay and camped. 1t happened thatsthe
INDIANS we were pursuing had camped
out three miles ahead of u.s. AS / said.
1t was cold and the Indians had their
blankets over their heads, SO thew did
not hear us, as the next day we came
upon them suddenly, and they would
not have discovered us until we would
nave been right on top of them had not
one OF our menaccidentally discharged
ms revolver. We charged. The In
dams scattered. There was a ridge Of
timber a few miles away. Two of the
braves made for the timber. Gen.
Lee and pursued them. Wekilled one.
Wepursued 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 gulches- In few moments we dis
covered his pony. Turning, we saw
him on the other side Of an undulation
In the prairie. As he reached the ton
OF the divide he waved his shield and
yelled defiance at us. We put after
him, but could not find him in the lodges
OF rock. Lee then proposed that we
separate, which we did
Tt seems that the Indian was about
thirty feet from Gen. 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 his arm, breaking off.
The Indian was a chief-a big, tall,
powerful. muscular fellow, over six
feet in height. Gen. Lee was then a
small man, but he is the bravest and
Quickest man in the city to-day. In
moment more they were locked in
each others arms in death
struggle. The general was carving
his revolver in his right hand. The
Indian grasped the barrel and the
weapon was discharged, but he was not
hit The pistol dropped to the ground
90 In hot he
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 adversary's
body. / started to his rescue, but did
not dare to shoot as advanced, as they
were twisting and writhing so that 1
was afraid of killing my comrade. In
another minute they were on the
ground and Leee 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 the checks and
mouth of the savage without
even knocking out a tooth, for his
mouth was open in a yell. In another
second, however, the next ball crashed
in his brain. AS the general olsen
gagged 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. / was fearful
lest he had been injured, and asked
him how he felt. He replied: oh,
am all right-just getting my muscle
up raising his arm as if he were tight
ening the bicep. When 1 went to col
lege,' he continued, 4 used to be very
fond of wrestling, and it came in very
good service to-day. At the last mo-
ment thought of the Virginia back.
heel" trip and down the redszin WENT
Washington Star.