People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-28

of Sioux approached him, and asked !
him why he was not in the fight. He
replied that it wasn't his battle; that
the Sioux were running il. They |
asked the old warrior to take charge. |
This pleased the chief and he dOnned |
his war bonnet.
The scouts knew what that meant. |
Old Roman Nose was going to lead
charge. He gave some orders, aud
The Indians commenced to form,
Half a dczen scouts had been detailed
TO defend the lower end Of the island,
and they saw by the movements Of
the Indians that they would receive
the attack first. The order to charge
was given, aud the command, with
Roman Nose at the head, started
down the slope. The chief let out
thrilling warwhoop as he reached the
river. The yell was taken up by his
followers, but it was cut short by
vOlley from the scouts. As the
Indians dashed over the lower end Of
the island the scouts located there all
fred at Roman Nose and he fell dead
at their feet. The Indians were dis
MAYED by the death of Roman Nose
and retreated.
When the smoke of battle cleared
away it was found that Lieutenant
BeeCher, Surgeon MOOrs and three
scouts were dead; two scouts were
MORALLY wounded; General Forsyth
and eight scouts were severely
wounded, and a dozen scouts were
slightly wounded. The Indians lost
heavily.
Then came a seige. The Indians,
knowing that they could not whip the
scouts. decided to starve them out or
kill them one by one as they stuck
their heads out. The scouts had
plenty of ammunition, but were out
of grub, and it was $50 miles to Fort
Wallace.
The fighting from that time on vas
done at long range and on the ambush
plan. The scouts were completely
surrounded, but by night they had
built up ratification which afforded
them protection from the fire of the
Indians. The scouts made tie
wounded as comfortable as possible
under the circumstances, and buried
some horse meat in the sand for fut-
ure use, aud dug some water holes.
Then they settled down to watch and
wait, No one dared to sleep.
Just before dark the Indians trieu
to work the flag of truce racket. One
OF the scouts was selected to 90 the
shooting. The Indian who carried
the fay reached point just 200 yards
from the Island. The scout shot him
through the heart. The Indians ad-
mitted afterward that it was scheme
to ascertain how many scouts had
been killed and wounded.
Late the first night General Forsyth
sent Pierre Truedeau and Jack Still
well through the Indian lines with
dispatches TO Colonel Bankhead al
Fl. Wallace for help. They walked
backward and barefOOted, 50 as TO fool
the indians with their tracks. They
went slowly and cautiously, and sue
ceeded in getting through the picket.
LAY liS NJ Oduut uCiulC lh6t tldO OldN-
eled mile. All that day they lay 10
the waters edge with Indians passing
by the score within few feet. When
darkness came the scouts resumed
. their journey, walking backward.
They Travelled about four miles, and
the next day they again lay in the
water with nothing TO eat but horse
meat, which was not very palatable
! as it had been killed three days be
r fore, and the weather was extremely
!. hot. The third night they tray
: eled backward Till nearly morning
' when it began to rain. Then they
! faced about and put in some goOC
!. ticks. After many hardships they