The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-03

the fence to drive our stock away,whi
some had dismounted and entered the
house.
We gave them volley. and flen the
battle opened royalty. There were be.
tween fifty and sixty Indians, and at
our first discharge two or three
tumbled from their ponies. We con.
cealed our bodies as much as possible
back Of trees and poured continuous
deadly fire into their group that seemed
to have a very demoralizing effect.
In a few moments they laid their
bodies close to their horses necks and
dashed away out OF our range ana
halted. We foolishly came out from
cover and exposed our number. Had
we remained concealed there 10 but
little doubt but that they would have
retired from the valley, but when they
saw how many times they outnum-
bered our party, they were fierce for
battle and In a few moments COM
menced to circle around us. their Horses
on a dead run. so as to expose us to
a fire on three sides. It would have
been most magnificent sight to dis
interested party could he have seen 1t.
Horse and rider seemed to be one. The
long flowing hair and clothing of the
rider streaming in the air back Of them
made picture long to be remembered.
MY God" cried the Professor" they
will kill Karina."
mo" calmly replied Karina, ad-
vancing. Il am here. Had one of our
number fallen / would have taken his
rifle and shown them that Karina can
fight as we'll as die. Karina does not
fear DEATH"
Most noble girl" cried Charles.
conceal yourself as much as possible
until such a time arrives. Form men
In the shape of a half moon and lay
ing down conceal your bodies behind
trees. Keep cool. and when you get a
| shot let 1t be for the heart"
In moment the Indians wheeled
their horses and made dash directly
for us. 1t was an awful moment Of sus-
pense. Our lives seemed to be in the
balance.
Crack. and an Indian tumbled from
his saddle six hundred yards away
Crack. crack, went our rifles and the
battle was once more on. Almost ev-
cry shot seemed to take effect and q
brave. every now and then, was sent
to the happy hunting grounds.
AT fifty PAGES they slightly wavered
and then kept on. At twenty we
sprang to our feet with a revolver in
each hand and with yell Of triumph
poured such a terrific fire in their midst
that they beat hasty retreat. We con-
tinued firing at them until they were
fully out Of range
The battle over we looked over our
number and while no one had been
killed we found that most every one
was more or less severely wounded.
Charles had lost a thumb, Billy was
wounded in the thigh: Everett in the
shoulder: Alonzo in the leg. while the
Professor had an arrow sticking in his
thigh and serious wound in his right
arm. Wahkena escaped without q
wound, although he had fought brave.
ly.
Advancing to our house we found the
Mexican lying outside dead with a
| number Of wounds on his body. He
had put up bold fight and had slain
two Indians before they had killed him.
Aoheka and his wife lay inside Of the
house. Their scalrs had been removed
and both were dead.
Karina and .Wahkena were filled
with grief at the loss of their
parents and the terrible way in which
they had met their end. After we had
dressed our wounds received in battle,
we bore the bodies OF our dead to a
small building inside Of the inclosure,
near the outer edge of the park IN
which we kept our dynamite. We then
obliterated the traces of the bloody
deed in the house as much as possible.
The Indians during the meantime had
returned to the battle ground bearing
small dirty white flag and removed
| their dead and wounded.
knowing that We were liable to be at
tackled again by them before they
would be satisfied to retire. we pro-
ceeded to put every thing in the best
shape for our defense. The dynamite
was brought out just after dark and a
hundred and fifty pounds was planted
| under the direction of Charles, about
fifty yards from the house over which
the Indians must pass. unless they
crossed the creek. should they advance
on us. The wires were then attached
to the mass and run to the house and
| fastened to the battery. Having par
| taken Of supper we endeavored to calm
our wrought up feelings and procure
little rest before morning. Charles
and Wahkena remained on guard, peer
ing between the logs Of the house to see
~ TIC cHcHHy dppTodCueU. All, now
over, went well until about 8 o'clock in
the morning when We were aroused
from our slumber by terrific explcs-
ion that made the earth tremble so as
to throw us out of bed. The shock was
followed by falling bodies and rattling
stone. When we ventured out in the
morning we found hole in the ground
ten feet deep around which lay several
mangled bodies. The sight was shock
ing but there was no one to blame but
the poor wretches whose bodies lay
around. Such was our verdict as we
deposited them in the excavation and
!, covered them with earth.
The dead being buried we held a con.
sultation as to what was best to be
done and came to the conclusion that II
was only a question of time before q
larger force would be brought agains:
us and then we would, probably, he
eXterminated. We finally decided that
as soon as our wounds had healed sutfi-
GENTLY to allow us to travel in comfort
We would take our gold and depart.
| Having come to this decision we re-
moved the gold from the pocket which
we had uncovered and made all prem.
arations for the return journey. We