Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-21
M Indian Attack and a Nufdsf'

to the savagos with tho courage COM
mon 10 western frontieTsmon. The
struggle was brief a. far As related 10
Johns companions, who were, In the
early stage Of the attack, both fhoi
down and almost Immediately ex'
pired.
Young Fife being LETT alone In such
an Unequal struggle, was In ex-
ireme peril. He saw that his
chances OF escaping violent
death were overwhelmingly against
him, but he never TOT an instant lost
self control. Ho made adash for olui'
ter Of large rocks ON the face Of n slope
aud managed 10 make his extempofized
fertilization mors secure ny rapidly
flllng In some openings with smaller
stones.
The Indians changed their positions
with view to commanding the young
mans miniature fortress, but every
time one of the attacking party showed
himself, crack went Johns rife, aud
his assailauts soon leAraed tho neoes.
sity OF caution. Meantime they kept
up an ihocssant fire, and johns posi-.
tiOn became, N possible, gradually
worse. A bullet struck him In the
thigh ami plougbed through
tho flesh lengthwi,e, and au-
other made an ugly wound
In his wrist and, 10 add 10 the peril Of
his situation, no soon discovered that
his ammunition was nearly exhausted.
A few more shots and he would be At
the mercy VI the ssvages. Finally bis
last shot wns fired and he expected
that tho band would at once rush In
and finish him la thort order.
The IndiAne now changed their
tactics. John's rife being silent, they
emerged from hiding, but they did net
attempt 10 carry the little fort by storm.
IL was evident they thought thai
John was rseetvlng few shots
for close quarters. Anyway they
collected large smount OF brush,
which they piled all around the hid.
ing place Of the young man at bay
and set II on IRE, expecting that he
would come out ana they could then
easily shoot him down.
To say thnt iohn WAS IN hot place
would be putting It mildly. He was
soon In tbs centre OF n circle OF lire.
The flames toarod and cracked, being
famed by rising breeze. He was
lying nj full length ON the ground,
aud the fre reached bis feet and
burned the heel OF his boot. His sen.
sations were In unison with the terrible
character Of the situation. The last ray
Of hope OF escape had about taken
flight, whom tho bToeEs stitiened and
blew the smoke Of tho encifcling fire
down the canyon. suddenly he was
seized with an impulse, which oc.
CURED a. II an audible voice had suR.
gesled II. Actlug upon 1t he arose,
dashed through tho flames and, keep
Ing In the line Of the smoke, ian dow n
the canyon. lie felt that II was a race
for life. ana the thought, noIwithsland.
ing his wounded thigh, gave impetus
10 his speed. He never stopped until
he had covered n distance OF three
miles, when he reached n smelter COM
pletely exhausted from loss OF blood,
his tremendous exeftipn and the ten.
zion OF his feelings during tho ordeal
through which he had passed.
The people at the sinister took care
OF the young man for the time being,
and sent n messenger to his father 10
inform him Of what had occurred.
The msnner OF young Flies escape
was marvellous. but II seems that the
Apaches who were waiting eagerly L
murder him the msment he should
emerge from his hiding place, made n,
pursuit OF him. Ono Of the Tsnegadel
OF the gang afterwards told ono oil
General Crooks Indian scouts the
reason for their not doing so. Thsy