Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-21

just east of where Gregson Springs is
now located, and such a spot as he be-
lieVed would afford him natural advan-
tage in a fight with the indian He was
satisfied that by abandoning the proven
der and thus Tightening the weight the
horse was carrying he could easily dis
lance his pursuers, but the chase would
be a long one, nevertheless, and he would
have to make a long detour to get into
the Jefferson valley. Being pugnacious
in temperament and reluctant to yield
his property to the marauders, he deter
mined to give them a taste of his metal
before resorting to precipitate flight.
Having formed this resolution, he
s~lackened the pace of his well-trained
horse, and looked back, warily watching
for the first shot from the enemy, in or
der to u the range of their guns.
Two minutes had hardly passed when the
fight opened. The foremost Indian,
mounted on a particularly fine pie bald
horse. had gained an advance of more
than 100 yards in front of his fellows and
about 800 yards in the rear of
Beidler, when he raised his gun and
fired. Beidler watched closely and no
ticed that the ball fell short a few feet,
Instantly refining his horse to a stand
still he wheeled in his saddle, and draw
ing a bead upon the redskin, who, by the
impetus of his horses unrestrained speed
had been carried hundred yards nearer,
shot him through the heart.
The agonized yell of the death-strick-
en- brave had scarcely ceased to rever-
brate When the remainder of the band
reached their fallen comrade and, with
Vengeful yells, as with a common i'm
pulse, fired at the fleeing white man. But
Beldler had put spurs to his horse and
already gained a safe lead. He again
slowed his pace and waited for a repeti-
ton OF the The Indians, how
ever, had quickly learned to respect his
uherrlng craftsmanship, and as they APP
proached within possible range of his
weapon kept their persons carefully con-
cealed along their horses Sides.
Beidler, elated With his success. and
with the thirst for battle suTging in his
veins, determined to enhance their re-
spect for his roWes and suddenly halt
ing he took deliberate aim al the leading
warriors horse. Tbs latter animal, in
stinctively stopping as Beidler's animal
Matted, the warrior who bestrode him as
lnstinctively raised his head above the
horses Withers, and the ball from Beid-
lers carbine, intended to break the
horses shoulders, carrying a trile high.
crashed through the Indians brain. the
wretch rolling to the ground without a
groan.
The now Infatuated Indians maddened
to reckless frenzy, charged the white
man in a body, bat the latter. cool and
dlscreet, gave rein to his horse and speed
ed for the rocks. He had calculated his
chances and he knew that any delay
IN reaching Virginia would inrpel his
friends to come to his rescue and that
another day at most would bring them,
lie determined - make a stand in the
rocks. he reached that haven sufficient
~ IN advance of his foes to climb to the
summit With his horse, and then finding
that the Indians ardor in the chase had
somewhat cooled, and Thai they We're in
no hurry to approach within rifle range.
he busted himself in strengthening the
natural Notifications of the place.
OUTLAWS AND INDIANS MEET.
The sun had reached the meridian and
Bender was congratulating himself on
the strength of his position and the in
herent tlmldlty of the ndian about at
tacklns' a fortified foe, when his atten-
tlon a sattracted to a commotion among
'HS ASAiS ina pIeSdSeu something un-
usual. The Indians We're secretine their
horses behind rocks and boulders at the
base of the hill, and seeking shelter for
their persons, all out of range of Beid-
ley.
The reason for this was soon apparent.
coming along the recently made trail
from the mouth of the pass were four
white men, we'll mounted and, as seen
in the clear aty,ncphar ~ ..-
armed. Beidler quickly guessed that the
purpose Of the Indians was to ambush tha
white men, out of range of his assistance
to the latter, and he determined to fms.
trate their plans. He waited until the
newcomers We're within double rifle
range of he Indians, then exposing HIM
self to fun view he fired one of his re-
volvers in the air, expecting that the
strangers would stop and investigate the
situation.
To his intense amazement the four me,
put spurs to their horses and charged
directly on his position, firing at him as
they came within range. When the adj
vancing horsemen reached a position di-
rectly in front of the ambushed Indians
the latter leaped from their concealment
and fired at the white men. Owing to
the terrific speed at which the white men
Were riding, the volQey from the Indians
apparently failed to hit the men. al
though three of the horses went down
under it. Then ensued one of the iercest
hand-to-hand conflicts in the annals of
border warfare. Twelve Indians to four
whites. The white men with desperate
bravery, turned and attacked their red
foe. The Indians, with equal despera-
tIon, induced by the loss of their two
brave charged down upon the whites,
The crack of the Indian rifles and the
tWang of their bow strings, informing
ling with the sharp defamation of the
American revolvers. told Beidler of a
border tragedy being enacted such as but
few people have Witnessed. For a NOM
ent the smoke Of the combat obscured
Beidlers vision. In another moment it
had lifted. The end had come. The fight
wa owen NV