The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-18
SHFS INDIAN FIGHT.

Rihe--A Single Handed Contest with One
of Geronino's Bands of Marauders-It
Lasted All One Afternoon and Put to
Blush Long Haired Fighters Stories.
He was standing on the station plat
form at Las Vegas to take the south
ward bound train--a quiet business
like man, evidently ranchman or mi
ner A resident of the town called the
attention of a tourist to him and said:
That's John Shy. Never heard of
him? John T. Shy of Deming, manager
of the Missouri Florida Cattle compa-
ny? Talk about your long-haired In
dian fighters! They amt in 1t with
him That man single handed fought
and stood off II Apaches all one af-
noon. 1t was ten years ago when Chief
Geronimo was on the warpath and was
making things warm for ranchmen and
prospectors in southern New Mexico
and Arizona. John Shy at that time
the same as now, was the manager of
the cattle campaign, whose range lies
about the Florida mountains, 20 miles
south of Deming. With his wife and
little son he resided upon the ranch in
neat frame house. In a cottage close
by lived Mr. and Mrs. Yeager from
Missouri. Mr.. Yeager was one of the
owners of the cattle outfit.
On a bright autumn in 1885 Mr.. and
Mrs. Yeager drove to Deming in their
carriage. There they made some pur-
chases, called on a few friends in town,
and In the afternoon started for home.
Itewas the last time they were seen
alive by their friends. Meantime at
the ranch John Shy who had been hunt
ing strayed stock out on the range,
came back to his house at noon, play
ed by his boy while dinner wss pre-
pairing, and then the family sat down
at the table.
Something darkened the window,
and Mrs. Shy screamed. An Apache
stood Just outside in the act of aiming
a gun at her husband. AS John Shy
sprang for his rifle the Indian fred.
missing him. The yells of a band of
Indians and the trampling of hoofs
outside came simultaneously, with the
bursting upward of flames and smoke,
showing that the house had been
fired. Back of the house was hillside
thickly wooded with low growth of
pinon and scrub oak. Out through the
back door the inmates broke for the
hillside, the husband covering the re-
treat with his rifle. Before they could
gain a place of shelter an Apache bull
let wounded the boy. Dropping behind
a boulder, John Shy told his wife and
boy to secrete themselves in the thicket
~, o,,I ha+ 10 Ia
Indians.
ut was mounted band of seventeen
Apaches that he had to deal with.
While some of them fired on him from
distance others dismountcd and
crept as near him as they dared, TAX
ing advantage Of every object and inc
quality of ground to shelter their APP
proach. They were well armed, and
every time he showed his head it
brought rain of bullets about hin.
while the Indians nearest him kept up
their firing to compel him to remain
closely under cover the mounted ones
suddenly charged upon him. Peering
from Behind his shelterfng rock, John
Shy saw ten Apaches riding at top
speed toward him, not 100 yards away.
without needing the bullets from the
enemies In concealment about him, he
rose on one knee, and, steadying his
elbow upon the bowlder, worked his
repeating rifle with the skill that
comes from GOODNESS and lifetime
practice. His first shot dropped one OF
the ponies fiat, at his second war
rior rolled to the ground under his
horses Belly, and at his fourth or fifth
shot another warrior dropped his gun
and c1utched at his elbow. That was
enough for the red riders, who came nc
farther. but picking up the fallen In
dian from the ground circled back and
got away out of range as fast as they
could.
presently the Indians charged again
but this time they had learned to rec.
pect John Shys rifle and did not ven.
ture SO near as before. They circleG
back, and, after that, a few of then
remained with the ponies while the
others dismounted' and Joined those wnt
were attacking him from concealment
All the characteristic skulking anG
strata gems Of the Apaches were EN-
ployed In the attempt to kill this lont
white man. Some of the warriors crep
round to the hillside SO as to attacl
him on the flank and rear, which com
PEELED him to leave the bowlder ant
crawl back into the thicket behind him
Here the Indians were loath to follow
him, not liking the notion of coming II
close quarters with q man who hat
shown such nerve and readiness In hi
use Of the rife. Somewhere among tn
scrub oak and and pinon he knew hi
wife and boy were hiding, but he dill
not dare call to them, as every sount
or movement made in the thicke
brought volley from the Indians aim
ed at the spot.
"a cowboy riding by at distanc
saw the burning house and heard tn
sound of firing at the Missouri-Florid
ranch. He set spurs to his horse an
rode into Deming. A volunteer part
was quickly mustered. Half way t
the ranch they came upon the first evi