The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-03-04


sergeant in ringing voice gave the
command ',leady, aim, fire" and Sc
venteen Ute braves leaped into the
air and then fell to the earth with
their bodies perforated with balls from
the rifles of my trusty little band.
Those who were not killed outright
dropped the ram and fed prenipitate
ly to the shelter of the fog and open
ed fire upon the block house from ri
fes and bows, but without effect.
A desultory fire was kept up witt
out any damage to us: but when an
Indian brave exposed his person be
either dropped in his tracks or went
off yelling with pain and rage to a
more secure retreat.
he Indians soon tired of this I'M
even contest; their fire almost ceased,
and it became evident that they had
retired up the bank of the creek to
devise some new plan of attack.
Going up in the tower to ascertain
if possible, the character, force and
direction of the next movement, l be-
held Bent and Maxwell with their en-
tire force of ranchmen, some thirty
five or forty, just crowning the crest
of the ridge before referred to, and in
a moment more they were sweeping
down at full speed toward our little
beleagured garrison. Their move
ments although executed with all the
celebrity of practised frontiersmen,
were not unobserved by the vigilant
savages, and before the ranchmen got
within half mile of the block house
the Utes. who were we'll mounted and
over four hundred strong, rushed from
their covert in the chapparel that I'm
ed the bank of the fawnee, and swoop-
ed down upon the brave little b and of
whites, intercepting their advan &C, and
in less time than it has taken me to
tell it the frontiersmen were attacked
in front and flank.
The yells and whoops of the sava-
ges now rose above the din and rattle
of arms, and relying upon their great
superiority of numbers the Ute war
riors fought with reckless despera
tion seldom exhibited by the crafty
savages of the plains. Unable to main
tam his ground, Mr.. Bent, who had
command of the ranchmen, was fore
ed slowly back to the ridge. Our
horses, which were protected by a
palisaded stable adjoining the block
house, were now ready, and waiting a
moment to give signal to our friends
the door was thrown open and we
sailed forth at full speed
So admirably did MIR. Bent and his
gallant men engage the attention of
the savages that we were close upon
them before they were aware of the
sortie. and the CONSERVATION into
which they were thrown by our ap-
pearance gave US decided advantage
over them.
My orders to my men were to emp
ty their firearms first and then ride
the Indians down aud use the saber,
and right bravely was the order exc
cuted. Falling upon their rear and
center my gallant soldiers but right
and left, and wherever the Ute warri
ars made the most stubborn resistance
there were my men to be found. A
junction was soon effected with the
force under Mr. Bent, AID forming the
| combined forces in line, the command
was given to charge. and in less than
ten minutes the Utes were driven from
the field.
In cutting Cur way through the enc
| my's line, had been twice wounded.
| though not seriously. and in this last
charge,as approached the Pawnc /,
Fork, was struck in the forehead
with an arrow which so stunned aud
| blinded me that had not the strength
to turn my Lorse 10 the left, as l had
directed the others to DO, In order to
avoid the enemy's fire from their co
vert in the bushes, and l had nearly
reached the thicket when / saw the
flash Of a gun on my right and felt a
| stinging sensation lr my neck, and my
horse, turning suddenly at the same
| time to follow the others, was thrown
senseless to the gIound.
When | recovered consciousness an
Indian was standing over me, with mis-
right foot firmly planted on my neck
his left hand grasping my hair. while
in his right he held a scalping-knife
with which he was busily engaged in
removing my scalp. 1t took but &
moment to complete the operation but
the agony endured was like the con
centrated torments of an age. By al
almost superhuman effort l neryed
myself 10 endure the torture without &
groan, knowing we'll that in case ex
hibited the least sign of life that mo
ment would be my last With vel
of triumph, which the Indians OF the
West always utter when they take tro
phies which they prize, the Ute was
about to attach my scalp TO his belt
when with low growl Roland came
bounding to my side, and springins