The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-02

small cedar trees moving down the
mountain on our left flank. Calling
Sans attention to it he said they were
Indians with cedar bushes or branches
tied to their heads and moving slowly to
the left and endeavoring to get to the
rear Of us thus cutting of escape en-
tirely. While We were so busily en-
gagged in watching the left we did not
hear Lieut.. Mobiles order to retire.
The Indians had located us exactly,
and a ball came through the crevice in
front Of us and left its leaden mark on
the rock in front Of our faces; Sam was
the first TO discover that we were alone
with the wounded man, and exclaimed ::
MY God, they have gone"
We could hear them yelling to us TO
get out of there; | was obliged TO think
quickly and take in everything at a
glance and not stand on the order Of
going but 20, or remain and be mas
sacred. There was an intervening space
between where we lay and a higher
ledge of rocks exactly in our rear, in
which [ thought 1 saw a rift or crevice
large enough for man TO pass through;
the only and great danger was getting to
it, as we were obliged to pass in plain
sight of the Indians through an open
space Of 40 yards or more on which there
was not log, bush, or rock to shield us
from their bullets and arrows.
sprang to the old man, took him by
one leg and Sam took the other one. We
intended TO run with him to the open
space, but he said i: Boys, leave me; |
am done for; save yourselves" Atonce
| commenced a series of ground and
lofty tumbling in the direction of the
rift in the rocks that would put circus
acrobat TO shame. / reached the rift in
safety and Sam at my back. / was
standing in the crevice looking below for
a second only, and Sam placing his hand
on my shoulder exclaiming as he did so,
{" for Gods sake jump, or we are gone"
Turning my head for an instant |
SAW A BRUTAL SAVAGE
with rock in both hands, uplifed, in
the act of smashing the volunteer citi-
zen's head. Their yells were simply in
describable. / dropped distance of
about 80 or 40 feet and struck the earth
without injury, and instinctively hustled
to the right, out of Sans way, as ! knew
he would follow at once. Sam came
down without accident more than
slightly sprained ankle. An accommo-
dating shelving rock to the right afforded
us protection. We were safe from any
further danger, and on level with the
entrance of the canyon.
The boys were in front with their
long-range carbines, and kept the In
dians from showing themselves too con-
spicuously, and under cover of the fir
ing Sam and j joined the main body. |
The citizen volunteer had son in the
party who was about % years of age,
who refused to accompany a rescuing
party for the recovery of his fathers |
body. This fact becoming known to
the officers in command, they decided |
not to jeopardize the lives of the men
unnecessarily again by going into the
Indian stronghold, but would linger in
the neighborhood, courting an attack
On better ground.
The column proceeded in the direc-
ion we came, and camped on the creek
where we first camped on the night of
the 9TH. Here we proposed to stay
short time, inviting attack, inveigling
them into fair, open fight if possible.
We buried Gillispie next day, with mill
tary -honors, at this camp, beneath cot
.onwood tree, the winds soughing
through the trees, singing a solemn
requiem for the peace of his soul. We
at this camp for short time,
put did not succeed in enticing the In
ilans from their stronghold. We could
zee the evidences of their close proximity
Zach night by the light of their fires in
he mountain. This is all we ever saw
of them during the Summer.
Camp life and scouting was becoming
nonotonous. and we gladly welcomed