The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-03-16


give raraura ana MS InnumerabIe scalp
hunters q warm reception. q couple Of
scouts were sent out to make a recon-
uoissance Of the condition Of affairs In
front. They returned in about an hour,
having successfully made their way 10
within few hundred yards Of the gath
ering savages. They discovered them
concentrated in the sand hills ON the
south side Of the Arkansas, numbering
more than 1000 warriors, according to
their best Judgment, and were evidently
aware Of the proximity Of the paymaster
and his escort. for they, as the cavalry
man had before reported. were going
through their savage tactics usually
preparatory to an attack.
Major Smith gave positive orders for
no one TO fire a shot at the Indians until
they committed the overt act by COM
mencing the attack. One Of the ridicu-
lous provisions Of the so called "peaoe
policy" inaugurated ct Washington by
the humanitarians In congress was that
army, under any circumstances, was to
shoot at an Indian unless the savage
himself commenced hostilities under
the penalty Of punishment by court
martial 1t Is safe TO presume, however.
that the order was better observed in
the breach than in its performance, for
no one was quite fool enough TO permit
an Indian to get the "drop ON him, not
on the plains or in the mountains Ct
least
All stood ready. however. with rifles
at carry, to repel the first demonstra-
tion Of hostile intent. They did not have
to wait long. With blood curdling yell
Satanic, at the head Of his warriors,
charged furiously ON the little camp,
thinking. no Doubt they could ride over
1t like herd Of buffalo tumbling over
q bluff. They had a very poor concep-
tion, however, Of the mettle Of the few
determined men who stood behind tha4
Gordon Of half a dozen wagons; men
who were familiar with ell their devil
ish tactics, who had encountered the no
BILE savage more than once On his own
heath.
Down they came, riding like the tor
nado, making the usually quiet spot re-
sound with their unearthly yells-such
yells as only the plains Indians can give
utterance to. Bang, bang! went their
guns. Whiz-z-zl showered the arrows
around the camp, one Of which stuck
right through the top Of the majors am
bulance, but their efforts we're in vain
They could not make those men waver,
all Of whom had passed eventful lives
on the plains and we're perfectly at home
to such warlike demonstrations ON the
part Of "poor Lo"
Now came the moment for them to
act. The major gave the word, and
clearly, as one discharge, rang out on the
evening air the repeating rifles Of the
besieged. So effective was the reanlt
that the savages. as quickly as theyARer
did In their whole lives, threw item
selves on the of side Of their ponies and
scattered mighty lively for the friendly
shelter of the "sand Dunes" ont Of the
reach Of the unerring balls from the
magnificent weapons Of the victorious
little party.
1t was give and take, the psymaster's
handful Of men holding the vicious
horde Of Satanic q warriors at bay, after
repeated charges, until the next morn
ing. During the night Major Smith had
dispatched one Of bis trusty ecouts to
Fort Dodge TO inform the commander Of
that post Of the situation Of affairs at
Cimarron crossing. and requesting aid
Immediately. A company Of the famous
CAv~HxA
was ordered ont at once. and by forced
march. leaving the garrison at midnight,
arrived at the crossing at 4 o'clock with
out the Indians having the slightest idea
Of their coming. The latter, full Of bril-
liant hopes. were Just making ready for
one Of their daybreak charges, that hour
In which they love we'll to commit their
devilish deeds. But as they were in the
act Of crawling stealthily toward the
watchful little camp some Of their run
ners" saw the cavalry approaching, and
the whole band Of savages fed, afraid
to attack the boys whose flashing sabers
had done such effective work among
them on more than one occasion. So the
besieged party were relieved from their
embarrassing situation.
There is no doubt that II IL had not
been for the opportune arrival Of the
troops the paymaster and his Escort, to-
eether with his "strong box" would
have fallen a prey to such an over
whelming force Of savages; their am
munition would have shortly become
exhausted. The Indians would have con-
tinued to annoy them. and they would
have been obliged to succumb, perhaps
not one left to tell the story Of their
capture and eventually terrible death
by the most refined torture -KAnsas