The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-12-29
IN THE DE. .L'S POCKET.
An Old Soldier Tells How a Herd Of
Buffaloes Drove the Red
skins Away.

COl. hAWllnS, OF the Culteu otdES
cavalry, said: LED by our guide, my
command had taken refuge from an In
dian attack in the Devils Pocket" The
listeners smiled, but their smile faded as
the colonel continued:
.~The DEVILS Pocket proved TO be q
deep cleft on canyon in the side Of o
high bluff. The entrance was not more
than 4 dozen feet in width. but It
gradually widened as It penetrated the
bluff, until there was ample room for a
company OF soldiers. The place was 9
natural fortress, and ten skillfuI
marksmen could have held It against
1000 redskins.
''As soon as we had safely gained the
interior we dismounted, and, leaving
our horses at the further end of the can
yon, manned the entrance, ready to
welcome the redskins in case they con-
cluded to call on us, which we soon
learned that they did.
''Thrice they charged up the mouth
Of the canyon, and thrice we drove them
back. We wasted no shots and when
they fell back for the third time the
plain in front of our retreat was thickly
dotted with the bodies of dead and
wounded Indians and their ponies.
"The redskins were not used to this
one-sided sort of warfare, and it was
evident that they didn't relish it. In
stead of charging again they tried a
new tack Retiring out of range, they
encamped directly in front of our re-
treat, apparently with the intention of
starving us out Here they remained all
that night and the next day, and the
succeeding morning still found them
there.
"We had eaten the last of our scanty
provisions, there was no water in the
canyon, and the men were suffering
greatly from thirst and hunger, two
enemies, which it was evident would
soon accomplish what the redskins had
thus far failed in doing.
"The situation was fast growing des-
perate, and was about to order my men
to mount and force their way or die
bravely fighting for their liberty when
suddenly away off to the right cloud
of dust came rolling up over the hori-
zon. It grew thicker in volume as it
moved swiftly away in our direction.
Pointing to the unusual spectacle /
asked Hardy what it meant.
'Bufiers-that's what it meansp
chuckled the old scout. An it's mighty
lucky that we're in here out o thar way.
Jest wait till they get leetle closer an
see the Injins skeedadle!'
"'Think they'll be apt to run for few
buffaloes?'
Few, hey?' snorted Hardy. Thar
air thousands of the critters comm
along with that cloud of dust; an they're
erbout the only animal an Injin'll run
FROM
''Jack Hardy was right. Sweeping re-
sistlessly along beneath the advancing
dust cloud was countless throng of
shaggy beasts, with lowered heads and
flashing eyes.
"On they came, nearer and nearer,
headed straight across the plain in front |
of the bluff. The Indians, intent on
watching us, saw their danger when
1t was too late. They must either meet !,
that living avalanche and scatter 1t or
go down before it.
"A few ran for their ponies and quick
ly mounted, while the remainder await
ed the inevitable collision on foot They |
filed the air with piercing yells and
fired wildly at the approaching mass,
but all to no avail. Majestic and terrible,
that awful sea came rolling on.
'The mighty herd passed on, but in
its pathway no living thing was left to
tell the tale of that brief but deadly
struggle. Our savage swouldtrouble
us no Observation-Disclosures Inquirer.
unheard OF.