The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

All day long and far into the night we
were retreating from the frenzied Utes
into Camp Lookout. Our regiment was
shattered, and plunged wildly forward as
the night grew darker. The firing had al
most ceased, and with the exception of an
occasional bark OF carbine all that could
be heard was the rush of swiftly moving
feet and the curses Of the survivors of our
regiment.
Like a living column we wavered and
fought with our front toward the lava beds
during the day, but the whitening fire OF
the Indians had swept our right and left
wings until but bare handful of trappers
remained. On our right lay the tangled
mustard fields, to the left the low pass.
where three days before we had camped,
ard straight ahead, directly across our
path, the bed Of dry creek,
Far away through vista in the hills we
could see the watch-fires of our reserve
glimmer and flare up in the night. Would
it be possible to reach them before we were
swept from the field and killed like our
comradesP Overhead the night was per-
feet. 4 million stars twinkled and looked
down on the bloody scene. Not breath
of air stirred and the atmosphere sweltered
over us like melted lead. Our lips were
parched and dry with the heat and not
dozen men of those remaining had water
in their canteens. Those who had found
no time to drink it. We were moving
rapidly toward the creek, but just as we
reached it another volley OF balls from our
pursuers tore the ranks and about thirty
men fell as they ran. l was just step
ping down into the dry creek when
suddenly l felt the tingling sem
sation so well known to a soldier
as ball plowed through the fieshy part of
my neck. [ fell with the wounded and
dying, and lay there bleeding as small
detachment of booted feet trampled over
me. l drew two or three bodies around me
as protection and covered my head with
my arms. For a few moments after my
own comrades had passed over me / lay
very still, until l heard the patter of
moccasined feet. L knew the Utes were
coming then, and almost Immediately
afterward the air was filled with the stencil
of their perspiring bodies as they swarmed
over me by scores. Their bowls of derision
and wells of satisfaction drove me mad,
and | was almost on the point of rising
and running a few of them through with
nv bayonet, but in a few seconds they
were gone, and the sounds seemed
to drift away into the night. A
death-hke stiffness settled over the batch
of PROSTATE men. and | touched several
of them with my hand. None stirred.
Were they all dead? The blood had dried
upon their lips almost as s DON as it ap-
peared. raised myself up on my elbows
and looked in the direction of the fleeing
soldiers. A thin streak of light shot up
ward into the hot sky, and in few Sec
onds the crack of carbine rolled across
the sand l figured they must be mile
away. Painfully rolled over on my side
and looked into the faces of those around
me-into the faces of dead men.
A terrible thirst came upon me and
looked for can teen. Finally I succeeded
in turning over on 1.-THE left side, and M
heart bounded as l saw one within easy
reach. I seized and raised it to my lips.
It was half full. Before I had tasted a
drop of the precious stuff looked down at
the soldier from whom had taken it.
His eyes were wide open and ne was look
ing at me. handed it back and pressed
it to his lips. He drank long and deep.
while his face indicated his gratitude. I
offered it to him again, but he slowly shook
his head and faint smile escaped his
bloody lips. 1t was only then that / took
a long drink myself and felt its refreshing
influence as it gurgled down my parched
throat. Presently observed that he was
pointing to his knapsack, as though he
wished me to open it.
found that it contained about three
pounds of salt meat. This was gift from
heaven. l had not tasted food tor nearly
fifty hours and was faint from lack of
nourishment. offered him piece which
cut off, but he refused. l ate portion
of it myself and then turned to his care.
His face steadily grew whittier, and before I
could find his wound he stiffened in my