Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-04-06
FlrzHvoH LEE AS a FIGHTER.
How he Used a Virginia Back-Hcei Trip In
Deadly Combat.

FiTzHUoH LEE As A FIGHTER.
How Ne Used Virginia Back-Hcei Trip In
Deadly Combat.
One OF the best stories heard In the
hotel corridors for long time was
told by Capt. Jack Hayes, the Indian
fighter and friend OF Bill Cody, to a
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 stan.
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.
Van Dorn-then major--was in COM
mand. Gov. Lee was lieutenant
and / 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
ridge of timber 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 a few moments we
discovered his pony. Turning. we
saw him on the other side OF an I'M
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 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 small man, but he is
the bravest and pluckiest man in the
city to-day. In moment more they
were locked in each others arms in
death struggle. The General was
carrying his revolver in his right
hand. The Indian grasped the bar
rel and the weapon was discharged,
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 swayeo
to and fro packing the snow beneath
their feet he was unable to plunge
his knife in his adversary's body
started 10 his rescue, but did not dare
to shoot as l advanced, as they were
twisting and writhing so that l was
afraid of killing my comrade. In an
other minute they were on the ground
and Lee on top. AS luck had 1T, they
fell near the revolver. In the second
of time allowed Lee seized the pistol
ana discharged it. the ball going
through the cheeks and mouth -ths
savage without even knocking out
tooth, for his mouth was open In
yell. In another second, however
the next ball crashed in his brain
AS the General dlsengaged himself
from the tight embrace OF the savage
and rose to his feet he shook himself
and felt of his body TO see whether III
: was wounded, for the knife had Gu
his coat. l was fearful lest he ha(
been injured, and asked him how b.
felt. He replied: oh, / am al
right-just getting my muscle up,
, raising his arm as IL he were tight
ening the bicep. when / went t.
i college, he continued, Il used to b
very fond of wrestling, and it cam
in very good service to-day. At tn
, last moment / thought of the "Vir
|, ginia back-heel" trip and down tn
, redskin WENT"