Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-15
FIrzHuoH LEE AS A FIGHTER.
How He Used Virginia Back-Heei Trip In
Deadly Combat.

FITZHUCH LEE AS A FIGHTER.
How He Used a Virginia Back-Heel Trip In
Deadly Combat.
One Of the best stories heard in the
hotel corridors for a long time was
told by Capt. Jack Hayes, the Indian
fighter and friend of Bill Cody, to
Washington Star representative.
Capt. Hayes is from Cleveland, Ohio.
He is the bosom and lifelong friend
of Gov. FitZhugh Lee, and in the
parade he occupied the honorary po-
sition Of chief of Gov. Lees staff.
1T was in the winter of 1860, at
Camp Colorado, Texas" said Capt.
HAYES. Our scouts reported body
of Indians that had massacred set
tiers and driven off their stock. Gen.
4 Van Dorn-then major-was in COM
mand. Gov. Lee was lieutenant
and l was bugler. 1t was night and
showing hard. We started after
them, made 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 blan-
kets up over their heads, so they did
not hear us, as 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 dis
charged his revolver. We charged.
The Indians scattered. There was u
ridge of timber a few miles away.
| Two Of the braves made for the tim
Der. Gen. Lee and / pursued them.
We killed one. We pursued the 9TH
er fellow through the timber for sew
eral 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
discovered his pony. Turning, we
saw him on the other side Of an un-
dulation in the prairie. AS he
reached the top 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.
1T seems that the Indian was
about thirty feet from Gen. Lee al
the time, hiding behind the ledge OF
rocks AS Lee came up he fired al
r him. Lee saw him in time to dodge
+ and the arrow went through his arm,
, breaking off. The Indian was &
: chief-a big, tall, powerful, muscular
: fellow, over six feet in height Gen
Lee was then small man, but he il
, the bravest and pluckiest man in thu
t city to-day. In moment more they
were locked in each others arms in ;
: death struggle. The General wa
. carrying his revolver in his RICH
' hand. The Indian grasped the bar
r rel and the weapon was discharged
q but he was not hit. The pisto
i dropped to the ground. Lee knew
! that his only salvation was to hui
! the Indian, for the latter had hi
knife in his hand, and as they swaye
J. to and fro packing the snow beneat
r their feet he was unable to plung
). his knife in his adversary's body.
started TO his rescue, but did not dar
to shoot as / advanced, as they wer
twisting and writhing so that | wa
: afraid of killing my comrade. In ar
0 other minute they were on the groun
. and Lee on top. AS luck had it, the
u fell near the revolver. In the secon
+ of time allowed Lee seized the pistC
u and discharged it, the ball goin
l. through the cheeks and mouth of tn
! savage without even knocking out
u tooth, for his mouth was open in
Il yell. In another second, howeve
= the next ball crashed in his 0rail
y AS the General disengaged himse
y from the tight embrace OF the savag
d and rose to his feet he shook himSe
y and felt of his body to see whether
:, was wounded, for the knife had CT
~ his coat. ! was fearful lest he hS
IL been injured, and asked him how
felt He replied: oh, | am a
- right-just getting my muscle VI
~ raising his arm as if he were tigh
~ ening the biccp. when l went
= college, he continued, Il used to
* very fond Of wrestling, and it can
10 in very good service to-day, AT Il
~ last moment | thought Of the "Ni
ie gihia back-heel" trip and down Il
- redskin went.'"