The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-27

Guthrie, O. T, Dec 26.-The following
Indian adventure was told by enc of
! Kiowa county's first settlers, cd Van
| RaLsaleer Barnhart, who lives near the
town Of Wildman. He is a "forty-niner.' y
| having, as a boy of sixteen, driven an OK
/ team across the plains TO the land of gold.
After making a fortune in California, Mr..
Barnhart became an Arizona rancher-
About forty miles to the north of the
/ towns of Globe you come 10 high noun
] tain at the base of which flows a small
stream, both of which still bear the name
Of this old man. who lived for twenty
| eight years at this SPOT.
HIS STORY
In the fall of the year of 1867, after hav-
ing spent five months over on the range
in Nevada, l returned 20 California. It
was late on an October afternoon, when
l rode into the town of Susanvi1e. i
most unusual connection greeted me The
lower fairly swarmed with Infatuated set
tiers. On inquiring, I found that band
Of Piuque Indians h&ds the night before
made a most devastating raid, killing
number of settlers and driving aft about
so horses.
This was not a new experience to the
settlers of this region, for the Piuques,
whose reservation was about 100 miles dis
tant, We're great thieves and they rarely
let year rass without maraud-
ing tour None of these, however, had
resulted in any such loss this one.
AS a rule, some outlying settler or two,
would be killed and perhaps forty or
fifty taken. Then the redskins would
make ii back to the reservation before
search could be organized. 1t seemed
now. though. that this last raid could
not be neglected; it was Itself the price
of two luke-warm an attitude toward the
thieves.
As L rode into Susanville, the effort
was going forward to organize a voun-
teer force to follow and, if possible, over
take the thieves.
Though a stranger to all, but three
four of those in the place. was at once
beset to join the search party. This L
consented to on the condition that we
leave the next morning by daybreak
The character OF some of my suggestions
stamped me in the minds of the most ex-
perienced of the force as not quite
novice in Indian fighting. and made a
sort Of following for me ut once
\ man by the name Of Cock had been
elected captain of the party. for no bet
ter reason than that he was very earnest
in work-up volunteers. His zeal in the
work certainly left him as soon as we
were on the march In one of the four
wagons, which l Supposed contained ra-
tions and bedding, he was placed on the
morning of our starting, drunk; and he
was not otherwise five minutes Of the
day and half l was with him.
The first day We rode with only short
stop for dinner until near sunset. At this
time, and at a place where there was
no water for our horses. the captain
ordered camp. This was absolutely sense
less as it was only six miles farther
to Smoke creek. where there was plenty
of water / told him this. yet he held out
for camping on the spot. At this a num-
Der of rs ordered our packs and told the
others We were going 20 the creek. They
could overtake us next morning if they
wished. This induced the captain 10
change his mind, and we moved on to the
creek.
AS no orders had been given in regard
TO the matter a number of the men be-
gan to make preparations to build fires.
This 1 knew wouldr un the risk of re-
vealing our Nvherea bouts to the Indians.
and not only enable them to elude US, but
provided their party was large enough,
lay us liable to an attack. Calling the
boys together. l told them this. and they
consented TO forego coffee and bacon and
eat their crackers and jerl1ed meat.
We were off in good time the follow
ing morning. and moving steadily forward
when. 40 my utter amazement, the drunk
en- captain ordered camp. l looked at
my watch 1t was just 9:3o
At once l went to Cook apd begged
that he recall the order. l told him the
Indians could not be more than 8 or 80
miles ahead; for they could not possibly
make better time than that with so large
a drove of horses. l urged further, that
the fugitives would PROBABLY be resting
very contented and none too vigilantly
having gone now two days and nights
without sight or sound of any enemy.
All to no avail. Captain Cook answered
me that they couldn't fight Indians with
out food
Food, the devil" said /. haven't you
got four wagons of it here?"
No replied he. "an we have will not
last us more than three more days
Then said l. 1t is the more neces-
sary that We do everything we expect %
do within the next twenty-four hours.
If We wait here TO send back for more
food. the Indians will he fl their reserva-
ton among 1890 friends before We are
ready to move again"
Still to no avail. morbid fear seemed
to me TO have settled on the man. His
do-nothing policy was taking the spirit
of capturing the Indians
I decided to go To the top of noun
tain about eight miles dis. ant and If l
could not get some sight Of the Indians
10 return home, l took my ld-glasses
and. mounting my pony. Sode 70 the lead
al the canon. Leaving the pony there. /
climbed to the highest point of the noun
tain. No sooner had l set my glasses 70
my eyes than / saw. there in the valley
20 the east. the whole herd Of horses and
a solitary Indian. on horseback He was
leaning forwerd and closer inspection
showed him TO be browsing. l knew that
his companions must be near. but could
see no signs OF them. excepting number
Of ponies These l counted There were
fifteen. allowing three or four OF these
as pack animals. would leave up. l calcu-
lated. about dozen Indians to deal with
Crawling carefully down the eastern slope
I at last reached a point where I could
overlook the whole plain Setting the
glasses to my eyes. carefully scanned