The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-13

about 4 hundred Yards and again dis
mount and feel for il. and in this way kept
the column IN fast walk until daylight.
A. daylight another short halt was made
and some hardtacS and raw bacon eaten.
as 70 fires were allowed % be lighted. the
degree Of heat left tn the droppings Of the
ponies e the Comanches indicating that
they were nos far ahead
When the march was resumed the chief
and one Of his most experienced warriors
led the advance, being about half mile IN
the lead.
The surface Of the country had changed
and was broken I'D by a number OF small
rsvines and gullies. favorable places for an
amouscsde. and the greatest care and cap-
ton was observed on the march, ard IL
was not until about O'Clock IN the after
noon that the chief and his companion re-
Joined the command and stated that tina
Indians We're sncsmped among the mes
quite bushes On the open prairie about a
ME ahead
Immediately all was excitement and
hustle: the war ponies were caught and
sad3led, arms and ammunition were look
ed 10. the covers We're taken OF the
shields and the long plumes shaken CUT.
Here grim warrior. naked. with the ex-
coPtion % hreech-clout. with piece ~
broken mirror VAS deliberately painting hts
face. there another was dauhinE red paint
upon the body Of his musfaCg. while in a
fierce whisper the war cry Of the tribe
-koon- ack-ha." was passed from
mouth 10 mouth.
In an incredibly short time all was
ready. the extra ponies and pack animals
We're securely fastened - trees. and the
march was resumed, The chief selected
four Of his Youngest men 10 stampede AMI
drive of the horses Of the enemy. which
doneA theX were 70 return "a quickly as
possible and ioin in the fight. The ser
gesnt realizing that this was an Indian
battle wisely refrained from offering any
suggestions. simply saying that he would
with his troopers support the scouts 10 the
best al his ability
Slowly and cautiously the party adj
vanced. and soon the red blankets OF the
zoe were seen spread upon the bushes, in
the shelter of which lay the sleeping Com
sncheS. Nearer and nearer crept the Ton
kawas until not hundred Yards separated
them from their enemies; then the chief
waved his arm and like a flash the four
youths dashed At tho herd shaking their
blankets and yelling like fiends. and swept
u away. Like A comet. leaving a murky
trail Of dust behind them. the Toakawas
Circied around the dismounted Comanches.
and in the FIRST onset succeeded in killing
quite a number OF them. The loss OF his
horse - a plains Indian is the greatest
possible disaster that can hefall him The
Comanches were trained 10 fight on horse
back and for a time Their loss denoralze1
them they soon rallied. however, and
boldly sustained their prestige ~ warriors.
and finally succeeded IN taking refuge IN
one OF the numerous gullies aoourding
there. and frQm this position II was found
Impossible 10 dislodge them
Boldly the Tonkawas and the soldiers
charged. hut lost some killed and others
wounded. and finally dismounted and re-
sumed the fight on foot.
Matters commenced 70 look dark for the
scouts: the enemy were securely entrench-
ed and still out numbered them. when sud
denly the crack Of rifles was heard on tho
other side of the gully, and a hand Of cow
bows led by the husband ~ the murdered
woman appeared. taking the Comanchcs In
the rear Between the two fires they were
driven out OF their entertainments and
rnercilessly shot down. not a man escaping.
twenty-nine dead bodies being found upon
the field,
Then began the most horrible ssiurnaiie
Of bntchery ever Witnessed. The blood or
the Tonkazvas was up This was the first
chance they had had ~ their foes since the
massacre in the Indian Territory and moth
ing could stop them. The bodies or the
dead comanches were mntliaieh
vond description They were scalped.
diserhhowsled. and other name.ess mntlla-
tions made hands and feet were cut on
and fastened TO the bride re4ns of the VIC
torious Tonkawas, and while no evidence
OF cannibalism was witnessed by the ser
that il was nracticed. In vain he pro-
tested ard threatened the scouts with the
guard house They were aided and ahet'ed
nv tho husband ar the murdered woman
and kept up the orgie far into The night
TWO DAYS after they reached the post.
stiu hearing the CHASTITY trophies dangling
from their bride reins.
This was Indian warfare. and RECOGNIZED
bv the commanding officer AZ Fort grimm
as such but never after THIS were ths
Tonkewas allowed 10 % on the warpth
without a sufficient escort 70 prevent the
recurrence. ~ ssch atrocities.
This powerful tribe that once proualy
dominated what II now the largest state
= "a pslussa1daI Non 81 'uciul sul ~
miserable handful iocated N the norihern
norton ~ the Indian Territory far away
from their hereditary enemies. the CO.
,nanches AMI Kiowas. who F'nl regarh
than with the most bitter and uhayins
hatred.