People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-07-11

when a picket on duty on one Of
the bluffs overlooking the island
shouted, "Indians!%
In an instant every scout had
dashed away sleep, sliced his gun
and started for his horse, as he
knew the first efforts Of the reds
would be to stampede the stock.
Over the hills they came, waving
their robes and yelling like 6ends
incarnate. Some of the horses
and pack mules broke their lariats
and stampeded away, to later
become the spoils Of war. Major
Forsythe issued the command,
TO saddle and the brave fell
lows were doing their best to
equip their frightened and snort
ing horses, when Tom Murphy
happened to look up and saw a
sight which caused him to ejacu-
late, Great God, Major, look at
the Indians!!"
Well might these devoted
plainsmen tremble at the view
which unrolled itself across the
low sand hills. From every side
poured the red devils. Finely
mounted, with eagle feathers
braided in their long scalp locks,
painted the red hue Of satan's
imps and yelling like demons let
loose, it was sight to daunt the
stoutest heart. Forsythe grasped
the situation at glauce. He
was surrounded and overwhelm-
ed, but with a calmness borne
almost of despair he gave his
orders with the slow elaboration
of a drill master safe within the
walls Of some peaceful post. Un-
der a terrible fire the scouts de-
ployed themselves about the
little island. Some Stunted BUSH
es gave them an opportunity to
tether their horses, the bodies of
which formed a Gordon, inside Of
which the besieged men awaited
the terrible charge which was
sweeping down upon them,
More than 1000 yelling warriors
surrounded the little island, while
just out of rifle range could be
seen the squaws and papooses
watching with gloating eyes for
the outcome Of the unequal strug-
gle, the hills re-echoing their d.
abolical death chant, while the
medicine men" danced and
howled about the verge of the
valley, inspiring the young war
riors to deeds of valor.
A volley from the beleagured
scouts checked the wild charge,
and then began a desultory bat
tie in which the casualties were
numerous on both sides. Be-
tween volleys the scouts scooped
holes in the loose sand, which
gave them some trifling protec-
ton. At almost the first fire two
of the scouts were killed and
many wounded, Major Forsythe
himself was wounded. The sur
geon, who had dropped his instru-
ments to sieze a rifle, was shot
through the brain and instantly
killed. Another terrible volley
and Major Forsythe was shot
through the ankle, the ball per-
forating the bone as perfectly as
if done with an auger.
The fire of the scouts had been
doing terrible execution among
the reds. Riderless horses could
be seen scurrying across the
prairie in every direction; at each
successive charge of the reds the
cool, deliberate fire of the scouts
moved down their foremost rid
ers. Every horse belonging to
the scouts had been killed, and
when the last one fell one of the
warriors, whose voice could be
heard across the sand dunes,
shouted in good English, There
goes the last d-n horse"
At this juncture the Indians
determined upon a grand charge,
They mustered into line about
700 warriors, under command OIL
the famous chief, Roman Nose
Superbly mounted, almost naked
and painted in the most hideous
manner possible, the reds formed
a column with a front of about
sixty men. Down on the little
island lay only about thirty-6ve
grim and blood-stained men
with the cold glitter of uncon-
querable courage in their eyes, tc
withstand this awful onslaught.
Think of the terrible odds
Tweuty-one red 6ends to one
white man!