The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-30
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE,
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DAE"
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
Siagle-Ianded, John Shy Stood On
Seventeen Apaches - \ Whole
Family Maguetizch.
7 Ohm T. SHY, OF Demins, New
1 Mexico, manager of the Mis-
4 souri-Florida Cattle Company,
single-handel, fought and stood
Of seventeen Apaches all one after
coon. It was ten years ago when
Chief Geronimo WAS on the warpath
AMI wac making things warm for ranch
men and prospectors in Southern New
Mexico and Arizona. John Shy a.
lint time, the same rs now, was the
menager OF The cattle company, whose
range lies about the Florida Mount-
ain:, twenty miles south Of Demlng.
Wit, his wife ana little SOP, he re-
silel upon the ranch in n neat frame
house. IN cottage close By live
Mr. anl Mrs Yeager, from Missouri.
Mr.. Ye,ger was one Of the owners Of
the CALI, outfit. Everything hal
gone on nrosperously and pleasantly
since the ranch ha | been started, an
nll promised we'll for the future.
On 4 bright autumn morning IN
1885, Mr.. anl Mrs. Yeager drove to
Deming in their carriage. There
they made some purchases, called on
friends in towa, ana, in the after.
noon, started for home. 1t was taa
last time they were seen alive b. their
friends. Meantime, at the ranch,
John Say, who hal been hunting
strayel stock out on tao rll5e, clme
back to his house at noon, playel with
MS boy while dinner was preparing,
anl then the family sat down a. the
table.
Something darkenel the window,
and Mrs. Shy screamed. An Apache
stool just outside in the act Of aiming
gun at her husband. As Jsb1 Shy
sprlag for his rihs the In'lian fire l.,
missing him. Tnc yells Of baui OF
In lians AMI the tranpliny os hoofs
outsile cAmo simultaneously with the
Bursting upward of flames and smoke,
showing TINT the house hal been fire |.
Back OF the house was q hillside
thickly wooded with q low growth OF
pinou AMI scrub oak. Oat throu3:,
the back door the inmates broke for
the hillside, the husband coverin ,
their retreat with his rifle. Before
they could gain place Of shelter an
Apache bullet wounded the boy.
Dropping behind boulder John Shy
toll his wife and boy to secrete them.
selves in the thicket in the rear, an
then gar> battle to the Indians.
1t was mounted band Of seventeen
Apaches that he had to deal with.
While some o. them fired UPON him
from distance others distnounted
and crept as near him as they dared
taking advantage of every object anc
inequality of ground TO shelter thar
approach. They were we'll armsse
and every time he skassd his head it
brought een of bullets about him.
! y Vile HE the Indians nearest him kept
up their firing to compel him to re-
main closely under cover, the mount
ell ones suddenly charged upon him.
Peering from behind his sheltering
rock, John Shy saw ten Apaches rid
ing at top speed toward him, not a
hundred yar,ls away. Without heed
ing tue bullets from the enemies IN
:oncealment about him, he rose on
one knee, and, steadyiug his elbow
npon the boulder worked his repeating
ride with the skill that comes from
coolrsss and lifetime Of practics.
His first shot dropped one Of the
ponies dat, st his second warrior
rolled to the ground and at his fourth
or fifth shot another warrior dropped
bis gan anl clutched at his elbow.
That was enough for the rel riders
who came No further. but picking up
the fallen Indian from the ground
ciralel bsc.l and got away Out OF
range as fast rs they coul!. While
this was going Oh bullets from the In.
ttians lying in con eealmen5 were fall.
iur about him AMI repeate lily chi2pel
The rock, AMI tSo, glaaciag, passed
throu 3L his clothes with out wounIln3
him.
Presently the In lianz charge |
again, bat this time they NJ /
learned to respect john Shy's rifle,
and did not venture so near as befoce.
They circiel baci, AMI, after thtt, a
lev Of tham renamed with the pou:e'
while the other dismountel aud jolnel
those who were attacking him from
concealment. All the characteristic
sku.k;ns uul strsteyems OF The
Apaches were employed in the at
tempt to kill this lone white man.
Some Of the Indians crept roam i to
the hillside SO as to attack him Oh the
flank and rear, which compelled him
to leave the boulder anil crawl bac \
into the thicket behind him. Hero
the Indians were loatL to follow him,
not liking the notion OF coming TO
close quarters VIII a man who hal
shown such nerve and readiness in the
use OF his rifle. Somewhere among
tie scrub oak anl pinon he knew his
wife and boy were hiding, but he did
rot dare call to them, as every soun
or movement made in the thlckel
brought o volley from the Indian:
aimed at the spot. So he worked
5ac,, to the higher land, from which
10 Get better outlook and point of
vantage for firing upon the enemy.
When at last the Apacbes' firing
ceased it was as much CT all indication
Of strategem to entlce the whites
from cover as of the departure Of the
Indians for good.
l..l