The National tribune., 1898-08-11

which we turned our course and ran down
a creek in the course taken by his men
J After flying at half speed fer "a bout tive
hours we reached creek which emptied
| into the Washita, and then a point near
the mouth of the creek, where we came
upon our late comrades, halted, and ready
for fight.
A SHARP FIGHT.
Casa Maria at once deployed his men
under cover
We were all well concealed behind
bushes, rocks, and trees, lying down as
closely to the ground as possible, to await
| the unsuspecting, Comanchcs, who be-
lieved that they had but two men to- con-
tend with. Nor did we lie long idle. Soon
the enemy, some 40 in number, came
securing in: at full speed, closely follow
ing the trail we had made, as if by in
Stinct
On they came, till they arrived within
rife range, when Casa@Aiaria drew from
his pouch a whistle made from the thigh
bone of an eagle, and blew one long, low
note, which was followed up by three
short, quick, piercing ones. Instantly a
vOlley from Caddoe rifles greeted the flank
OF the over-cOnfident and unsuspecting
Comanches, who broke in every direction,
some flying from the field not to return
again. 4ss.sss4.ssssaszs,sas,-s
a portion OF the Savages, however, more
resolute than the remainder soon rallied
and seemed determined to hold us till
rein.orcements arrived from the village,
well-directed fire. But they fought ut a
disadvantage, as we were thoroughly pro-
tected by our position, while they were
compelled to stand out upon the open
ground They did not dismount, as is
usual, but each warrior rode ,lp within
range, discharged his piece and galIoped
off to place Of safety, where he reloaded
and returned to discharge it again.
A word OF command from our chief
almost instantly changed the whole
aspect OF the struggle. The men, on hear
ing it, bounded from their places of CON
cealment, and with guns, pistols. bows
and lances, charged out upon the mounted
Comanches. Arrows flew thick and fast
for brief interval; and rapidly we were
nearing the Zoe, and a hand-to-hand en-
band had reached the spot where our
enemies stood, they wheeled their ami
mails and fled from the field, utterly foiled
| and beaten.
Once masters of the field, the whistle of
the Caddoe chief was heard again. and
instantly his men commenced disnosinp
OF the fallen COmanches. There were on
the ground seven killed and nine
wounded, and the dispatching of the lat
ter was at once commenced All were
siam, ana their scalps added to the
trophies Of the victory.
Some Of the wounded struggled fiercely
with lance and bow, but all were either
shot or tomahawlied by the Infatuated but
exulting Caddoes. Some yielded up their
| lives with stoical frmness chanting their
own death song, though suffering the
most intense agony until the Caddoes
would leap upon them and with a blow
of the tomahawk end their torture i'm a
bloody death. Others begged piteously
that their lives might be spared: but
| there was no mercy in the breast of the
victor for the foe, though fallen and help
| less.
BARBARIC SCENES.
| As long as the fight lasted l could
shoot and yell with the best of them. but
the struggle over and the success com
plete, my heart sank within me and l
sickened at the bloody work i'm which nv
comrades appeared to take SO great a de-
light.
The scalping concluded and the trophies
gathered up and secured another shrill
whistle brought the victors into their
saddles, and we began a precipitate re-
treat to our own village. For several
miles we marched in solid column, but
an order from the chief scattered the
crowd and every man took the direction
that best suited his fancy. ,&r
was now once more alone with the
chief. DsmOunting, we suffered our
wearied steeds to rest and Craze for some
time, keeping sharp lookout the while to
prevent surprise. After the last of his
men had disappeared, the chief mounted
ms horse, at the same time pointing in
the direction Of the Comanche camp. 1t
was now evident that our enemies had
been reinforced, and were returning to the
pursuit. .s"< 's = tt,~