The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19
'MASTERSON'S RAGGED RECORD.
1t Has Had Adventure Enough to Make Up Big Library of
Romance of the yellow Sort

celebrated Adobe Wall fight. which
marked the beginning of hostilities. In
early times two Frenchmen named
Bent and Bouvien had established an
Indian trading post close to the south
ern border of Kansas. about q mile
from the Canadian river. The post had
fallen into decay and only the adobe
walls from which the place took it's
name. were standing when the firms of
Wright d Rath and Leonard & Myers
established the post, each conducting
supply stores for the buffalo hunting
outfits which made headquarters there
The Indians attacked the settlement
which consisted of two stores. a black
smith shop and a saloon, at daybreak
on the morning of June p, 1874 and
ii was by the merest accident that
every person in the place was not mas
acred. Masterson and eleven others
were sleeping in a log house when the
center beam of the roof. which was
old, broke down about an hour before
daylight, II seemed as though by Prov
idence. All hands had to turn out to
help repair the roof, which was ac-
complished in about an hour, but not
a minute too soon, for Just as they
were about to turn in again, one of
their number discerned in the faint
light a file of Indians coming over the
brow Of the hill about a quarter of a
mile distant. He gave the alarm and
the eleven men flew to their arms. They
We're we'll equipped with Sharps' needle
guns, the most advanced firearms of
that time, and placing his ammunition
handy, each man took his station by
window. They had not long TO wait,
for the redskins Immediately formed
column. solid phalanx 500 strong. and
charged the building. The handful of
whites waited till the savages were at
close range and at n signal all fired III
unison. llVerN shot told and tine In
dams. having no previous intimation
that they were discovered. Were so sur
prised by the volley that they turned
and retreated. As soon as the red
skins recovered from their surprise
they renewed hosfilities and charged
again and again. being knocked down
like ten pins and each time being driv-
en- back by that little band of brave
men. The Indians kept up the fighting
all day without taking the stronghold.
The next day they dug rifle pits and
began a siege which they kept up till
July II, Is days, during which the
whites dared not venture out even to
bury their dead, for four of their num-
Der had fallen, three from the shots of
the redskins and one by his own hand.
They We're the Shadler brothers and
Billy Tyler, killed by the Indians, and
Billy Ole, who accidentally shot him
self. At the end of the IL days the
Indians gave up the siege and with
drew and the whites, knowing il was
no longer safe to remain In the local
ity, made their way to Fort Dodge.
Among the little band who stood off
so many times their number and who,
but for the fact that the cabin was
well stocked with provisions. must have
starved to death after their brilliant
fight, or gone out and faced the red
skins on the open plain, were Fred
Leonard, a prominent politician and
mining man of Salt Lake, James
Laughton, another well known resident
of Zion" and James Hanrahan. of
Boise, Idaho, a member of the Idaho
legislature.
Thus ended Masterson's first Indian
fight as well as his first really menu