The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11
PAT DR|CE'S CLOSE CALL
A Story of Daring During the
Nes Perces Uprising.
FIVE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD
Got Caught In the Mixup And Only
by a Bold BLUM Did He Es-
cape Himself and Rescue.
q Wounded Girl.

Many stories have been told of the
Neg Perces uprising in 1877. but very
few people are aware that a citizen of
Anaconda took an exceedingly active
but involuntary part during the first
few days of the trouble in Idaho. pass
ing through experiences that the Mon
tanan of to-day can scarcely realize.
Pat Brice Is the gentleman's name. and
it was with extreme difficulty that a
Standard reporter finally induced him
TO relate a story of daring. capture and
hardship which reflects the greatest
credit on him as a man, and throws
much light on the times OF the Indian
uprising.
June II. 1877. Mr.. Brice was engaged
in mining at Warrens, on the Salmon
river, and was also engaged in selling
and buying horses. On the day men,
toned he was on his return from a trip
to Oregon, bringing a bunch of horses
with him. He was on his way home
TO Warrens, and that night stopped at
the house of a man by the name Of
Harris. on White Bird creek. He had
seen an unusual gathering of Indians.
n asked Harris the meaning Of 1t.
The camp was about a mile from the
house. at Rocky anyon n Harris
said they a gathered there for their
annual races, as was their custom.
But 1t was for an entirely. different
purpose that the Nez Perces a come
together at this time. Fancied wrongs,
many Of which had a foundation in
fact, had driven them into ar ugly tenn
per, and they were bent on revenge.
Had Mr.. Brice known hat the Ratchet
nae been dug up and hat the Nez
Perces were decked in war paint n
trappings of slaughter he could have
easily gotten away.
The next morning he cooked the
breakfast while Harris went for the
cows. During an Indian came
along. and Brice called him i'm n
gave him something to eat. but the red
skin said nothing about the outbreak of
hostilities. After breakfast Mr.. Brice
started for home. Going through a
hill, sitting down and holding their
horses by the bride. They could have
easily killed him then. but preferred
to let him run into the trap.
Continuing on my way to White
Bird creek" said Mr.. Brice. as he re-
edict house. Mrs. Benedict asked me
where i was going. and when l told
her I was on my way home she said:
"'You better not go any further.
The Indians rave broken out, and they
have shot my husband
Iuls was tIpS hIS Il htCW u II oot-
break. and I was naturally surprised
and alarmed. 1t was about noon. and
Mrs. Benedict insisted that l have din
ner with her. saying:
1T will be the last. perhaps. we shall
ever have together
Il had dinner and fed my horse. a $500
race horse, which I had with me. 1t
was my plan. hastily formed. to ride
back to Mount Idaho and arouse the
soldiers at the federal camp. After
dinner i started back toward Canvas
prairie. and shortly after / started met
Jim Baker.
Tn a goner,' was almost his first
salutation. as IL well aware of the fate
in store for him.
IT tried to cheer him up, but it was
no use.
They'll kill me on sight he said.
It's no use: I'm gone
There was a family up above a short
distance named Manuel 1t was pos
sibIe that they did not know that hos
tilities had broken out. and l consid-
cred it my duty to go up and warn
them. / went up while Baker stayed
on the fiat. l took the race mare and
went as fast as / could towards the
house. / met Manuel and his wife
coming from the house. They were
on horseback. and had just heard Of the
outbreak. Mrs. Manuel asked me to
help her father lock up the house,
olltIl AaStt ~ WI - NJ tfe t1e
of the game. But ! put my horse bach
in the brush and helped him lock up
Hardly had I finished when. looking up
I saw 800 or 400 Indians approaching
in the distance along the side of a hill
In the meantime the Manuels hac
Joined Baker on the fiat. and the In
dams soon surrounded them. Baker
was shot down and killed, and Manue
was shot through the hips. Then they
turned their attention to the woman
and her young daughter. After abus'
ing them at their pleasure. they let w
on their evil work and questioned hei
old them that there were two men
and that we were armed.
81 took my stand at the corner Of
the house. 1t was my plan to kill thu
chief. But the chief had a card vi
his sleeve. He told the woman tina
IL we gave up our I'M he would no
kill any of US. She told us. but I still
held on to my gun. She begged us Il
give up. and finally. knowing that 1
we didn't the woman and CIR
would be put to frightful %tortures. WI
did as she desired. The chief was a.
good as his word. and gave US no furth
err trouble.
Then we began to lay our plans.
told Mrs. Manuel that as soon as I
grew dark we would pick our wa!
through the pass to Mount Idaho. Their
was. besides myself. Mrs. Manuel. he
father, her daughter n a child a
the breast. Even while we were talk
ing we could see the burning house
along White Bird creek. where the In
dams were massacreing the settlers
But Mrs. Manuel was obdurate. Sh'