Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-15
FIGHT WITH INDIANS.
The Noble Battle OF Some Besieged West.
ern Border Women.


The Noble Battle OF Some Besieged West.
ern Border Women.
One of the bravest defences ever
made by settlers against Indians was
one in which not man figured, MOI
any boy above the age of fourteen. II
took place on the banks of the White
Mans Fork of the Republican river, In
northwestern Kansas. in 1867, on the
occasion of the last great Indian up
rising in that part of the country. The
story is frequently told at fresides in
Kansas, where most of the survivors
OF the fight live at the present day.
1t was in June, In the year named,
when a band of Indians under the sub
chief Little Bear, swooped down on
the settlement on the White Mans
Fork and separated from the rest of the
village party of men who were on
the lookout for them. Though the
white men fought bravely, they were
driven away by the overwhelming
force of Indians.
In the center of the settlement there
was a hut or cabin belonging to man
named Carter, which had been built in
such way as to afford some defense
against an Indian attack. twas TWEEN
ty feet square, one-roomed; it's sides
were of cottonwood logs and its roof
of poles, sods and stones. There was
one door and one window, protected by
shutters, and there were loopholes all
around to shoot through. Though the
sides were not bullet-proof, the cabin
afforded some protection, especially as
it stood in the midst of cleared field
In this cabin seven women, two boys
of fourteen and several small children
took refuge. They had four rifles,
shotgun and three revolvers, with
plenty of ammunition; for the surplus
ammunition of the whole community
was stored in Carter's cabin. 1t had
rained steadily for two days before,
and the roof of the cabin was thor
oughly soaked.
AS soon as the women and children
had gathered in the cabin, resolute
woman, forty years of age,
Mrs. Wellman, assumed command.
She saw that the Indians were
at the time busy with the other
party and in pillaging the outlying
cabins. She set the two boys to fill
ing two barrels Of water, and then to
wetting the sides Of the cabin, so that
it would hardly take fire if fire were
built against it.
Then the ammunition was made
ready, and pit was dug with shovels
in the middle of the earthen floor, into
which the children could be put, out of
range of bullets which might fly
through the house.
And now Little Bear and his Indians
dashed up with white flag. Advanc-
ing to within thirty feet. the chief
called out that he knew they were
only women and children; that if they
would surrender their lives would be
spared, but if they resisted they would
be put to death. Mrs. Wellman re-
piled resolutely that they would not
surrender.
The Indians waited half an hour.
They counted upon the weakening"
of the women. Little Bear summoned
them again to surrender, but they
refused again. Then the Indians
opened fire, and the women and boys
answered it.
The Indians began encircling the
ca bin, yelling and firing. Several bull
lets came through, but no one was
hurt Darkness came on, and during
it the Indians dug rife-pits as near as
they dared, and remained in them, fir
ing sharply. Several of them were hit
by the besieged party as they were at
work. sd
For three long days the siege was
kept up. The two boys did excellent
shooting, and Mrs. Wellman blazed
away ceaselessly. At least a dozen
Indians were killed, and several others
wounded. Many bullets came in.
The small supply of provisions in the
hut gave out, then the women fed
their children, and went hungry them
selves.
At the close of the third day the In
dians fired last volley into the hut
and rode away. Early the next morn
ing company of soldiers arrived from
the fort. The men of the settlement
had the worst fears as to what had
happened in their absences; and they
were overjoyed to find their wives and
children all safe, though half-starved.
Youths Companion.