Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-20
SHY'S INDIAN FIGHT.
HE STOOD OFF SEVENTEEN APAcHEs
WITH HIS RIFLE.

TOnllhOs bhnus OF AlarauderS-lt Lasted
All One Afternoon and Put to Blush
Long Haired Fighters Stories.
Hewas standing on the station platform
at Las Vegas waiting to take the south
ward bound train-a quiet, businesslike
man, evidently "a ranchman or miner. A
resident of the town called the attention
Of "A tourist to him and said:
"That's John Shy. Never heard of him?
John II. Shy of Dcming manager of the
Missouri Florida Cattle company? Talk
about your long haired Indian fighters
They amt in it with him. That man sim
gle handed fought and stood off II Apaches
all one afternoon. 1t was ten years ago
when Chief Geronimo was on the warpath
and was making things warm for ranch
men and prOspcctOrs in southern New
Mexico and Arizona. John Shy at that
time, the same as now, was the manager
of the cattle company, whose range lies
about tho Florida mountains, 90 miles
south of Dcming With his wife and little
son he resided upon the ranch in neat
frame house. In cottage close by lived
Mr.. and Mrs. Ycager from Missouri Mr..
Ycager was one of the owners of the cattle
outfit.
"On bright autumn morning in 1885
Mr.. and Mrs. Yeagcr drove to Dcming in
their carriage. There they made somd pur-
chases called on friends in town, and in
the afternoon started for home. 1t was
the last time they were seen alive by their
friends. Meantime at the ranch John Shy,
who had been hunting straycd stock out
on tho range, came back to his house at
noon, played with his boy while dinner
was preparing, and then the family sat
down at the table.
Something darkenCd the window and
Mrs. Shy screamed. An Apache stood just
outside in the act of aiming gun at her
husband. AS John Shy sprang for his
rifle the Indian fired, missing him. The
yells of band of Indians and the tram
ping of hoofs outside came simultaneous
ly with the bursting upward of flames and
smoke, showing that the house had been
fired. Back of the house was n hillside
thicllly wooded with low growth of pinon
and scrub oak. Out through the back door
the inmates broke for the hillside, the
husband covering their retreat with his
rifle. Before they could gain n place of
shelter an Apache bullet wounded the boy.
Dropping behind a bowlder, John Shy told
his wife and boy to sccrcte themselves in
the thickct in the rear and then gave bat
tie to the Indians.
at was mounted band Of II Apaches
that he had to deal with. While some of
them fired upon him from distance,
others dismOunted and Crcpt as near him
as they dared, taking advantage of every
object and inequality of ground to shelter
their approach. They were well armed and
every time he showed his head it brought
rain of bullets about him. While the In
dams nearest him kept up their firing to
compel him to remain closely under cover
the mounted ones suddenly charged upon
him. Pccring from behind his shcltcrlng
rock, John Shy saw ten Apachcs riding at
top speed toward him, not 100 yards away.
Without needing the bullets from the en-
emics in concealmcnt about him, he rose
on one knee, and, stcadying his elbow
upon the bowldor, worked his repeating
rifle with tho skill that comes from cool
ness and lifetime practice. His first shot
dropped ORG of the ponies fiat, at his Sec
ond a warrior rolled to the ground under
his horses belly, and at his fourth or fifth
shot another warrior dropped his gun and
clutchcd at his elbow. That was enough
IOr INC Ttu IiNltIS WIN IttlllN III l''lllLNl'
but picking up the fallen Indian from the
ground circlcd back and got away out of
range as fast Us they could.
Presently the Indians charged again,
but this time they had learned to respect
John Shy's rifle and did not venture so
near as before. They circlod back and,
after that, a few of them remained with
the ponies while the others dismOunted
and joined those who were attacking him
from concGalmcnt. All the characteristic
skulking and Stratagcms of the Apachcs
were employed in the attempt to Kill this
lone white man. Some of tho warriors
crept round to the hillside so as to attack
him on the flank and rear, which COM
PEELED him to leave the bowlder and crawl
back into tho thicket behind him. Here
the Indians were lOath to follow him, not
liking the notion of coming to close quar-
tors with man who had shown such nerve
and readiness in the use Of his rifle. Some
where among the scrub oak and pinon he
knew his wife and boy were hiding, but
he did not dare call to them, as every
sound or movement made in the thickct
brought a vollcy from the Indians aimed
at the spot.
"a cowboy riding by at n distance saw
the burning house and heard the sound OF
firing at the Missouri Florida ranch. He
set spurs to his horse and rode into Dcming.
A volunteer party was quickly mustered.
Half way to the ranch they came upon the
first evidences of the Apachcs' work. The
carriage of the Ycagers, who had left DEM
ing that afternoon, lay overturned beside
the trail and near it was stretched Mr..
Yeager, shot to death and mutilated. Far
ther along they found the body of Mrs
Yeager.
fastening on through the gathering
darkness, the rescuing party drew near the
ranch A frightened disheveled woman
came hurrying along the trail to meet
them. 1t was Mrs. Shy, who the sound Of
the firing having long since died away
had crept from the thicket, laid hel
wounded boy near the embors of the house,
thrown over him her calico dress to shield
him from the frosty air and now was on
her way to Deming for help. For dread
that Indians might still be lurking near
she had not dared call out for her hus-
band, who she feared was killed. She
turned and went back to the ranch with
the rescuers, who with calls and signal
shots set out to find John Shy. At last
their voices reached him and were under
| stood He appeared from the bushes at the