Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-13
WILD HILLS IRON NERVE.
Riding single-Hnnded Into q Hostile
Camp and Capturing His Man.


BY O'Clock in the morning fully 300 In
dams had gathered at the agency. says a
writer in the Kansas City Times. Every
one of them was armed with rife or re-
volver. and many of them had both. There
was no drinking and but little talking Scar
Faced Charlie HAD escaped from the guard
house at the fort the night previous and
sought their protection. They were ready
to fight whole regiment sooner than give
him up. They expected the soldiers to
come. and they had planned how the at
tack should be made. Scar Faced Charlie,
armed with Winchester, revolver and
hunting knife. was the center of a group
at the -four house. To reach him the SOL
diers would have to ride across the agency
grounds between the lines of Indians They
would have to pass five sheds and houses
behind which the Indians could find shell
ter. The excavation for a new storehouse
would make a rife pit for fifty redskins.
At o'clock the agent telegraphed over to
the fort
Don't come. You couldn't take him
with 800 men,"
the road with his mustang going at an
easy canter. While he was yet a rife shot
away the Indians recognized him as Wild
BILL and there was an uneasy movement
among them. Every man was watching
him as he turned to the left and rode into
the agency. He might have a dispatch for
the agent, or he might want to make a
purchase. When he did not draw rein at
the store the uneasiness was more marked.
The Indians gathered in groups and con-
versed in whispers. AS the rider reached
these groups he uttered q brief "howdy,"
but did not check his pace. At that same
canter and with his gaze fastened on the
group at the Hour house the famous scout
rode down the avenue and made no halt
until he reached the group. He nodded to
two or three Indians whom he knew and
then said to Scar Faced Charlie:
have come after you. 1t IL not far.
and my horse will carry double"
There was the man who had sworn never
to be taken alive. Around him were 800
friends who had promised to wipe out any
force sent to capture him. Instead of 200
or 300 soldiers. here was one lone man.
Every one looked at him in blank amaze
ment He knew why they had assembled
had knife and revolver but he did not
dare to put a hand to either.
II will not go!" replied the half-breed. but
there was indecision in his tones.
II am sent for you. ! shall take you
dead or alive. Give up your arms and come
along"
For thirty seconds every Indian seemed
to hold his breath. and all stood as rigid
as posts. One well-aimed bullet would have
settled the scout. but not a gun was raised
to fire 1t. Half dozen Of those stalwart
men could rush him off the grounds to re-
turn at his peril. but not a foot moved. A
regiment would have been attacked long
ago. company would have been wiped
out with a volley. A squad would have been
hacked to pieces with tomahawks. But one
man, and that man Wild Bill!
Scar Faced Charley looked to the right
and left and half raised his rifle. Then he
handed 1t to the man on his right followed
1t by the revolver. cast his knife to the
ground with curse, and stepped forward
and mounted behind the scout. The latter
had entered the agency with a smile on
his face. 1t was there as he rode up to
the flour house; there as he delivered his
message: there as he rode away with his
prisoner behind him. When they were out
Of sight behind the ridge the Indians broke
up into small groups and returned to their
camps They had been awed and overcome
by a single man, but they feared that man
more than a regiment of soldiers.