Cañon City record., 1903-12-17
FRONTIER SKETCH
The Heroism of Woman to Res
cue Her Captive Child From
The Indians.

The Indians
In the early sixties Indians made an
attack on the Divide and massacred
the men at the Hibbons ranch east of
Jimmi-'s camp. Then they took Mrs.
Hibbon. and her little boy and started
south During the night, confident that
Mrs. Hibbons could not escape with
her child and trusting to her mothers
love to prevent her leaving it, the
Indians allowed her to lie unbound,
not even putting out guards. 1t was
bitterly cold and wrapping themselves
in their buffalo robes they were soon
sound asleep. Mrs. Hibbuns knew as
did her captors that there was small
hope Of rescue from the discovery of
her murdered relatives and realizing
that the only hope lay in herself she
resolved to rescue her child.
There was no time to lose, as another
days travel would take her SO far be-
yond the reach OF the settlements that
it would lie impossible for her to pro-
cure help before the savagcs reached
their stronghold. So she wnited until
assured by their breathing that her
captors were asleep when summoning
all her courage she carefully tucked
the robe about her sleeping child and
stole away, leaving him to the mercy
OF the brutal barbsrians. She felt
sure the river they had crossed was the
Arkansa and knew there were settle
ments below; how far down she had M
only means of esca she made straight
back to the river and hiding her tracks
in its icy waters hurried away as fast
as the darkness would permit.
Not daring to leave the shelter of
the heavy bottom timber she fol-
lowed down the stream, sometimes
wading in the shallow water along the
edge and again working her way
through the brush and briers, tearing
her clothing and lacerntinR her flesh,
never pausing in her painful journey
ill late in the afternoon. when she
came upon the first sign Of civilization
in some gentle COWS feeding in the
river bottom. Perceiving that they
were milk cows she felt that she must
be near white settlement, but she
dared not attempt to call assistance
least the Indians be in pursuit, SO she
secreted herself near the cows which
she surmised would soon be going
home and waiting till they had finished
their evening meal followed them into
the fort, having spent nearly twenty
four hours in travelling . distance OF
only ten miles on open graund.
Fortunate beyond hope in finding as
sistance she implored Colonel Bent to
save her child. Hastily dispatching
supper the colonel took his rough riders
and hiked out. They soon found the
trail fresh and well defined as il the
m ,rauders we're exercising neither
haste nor caution in their retreat, hav-
ing no doubt spent good portion OF
the day in fruit!ess search for the
escaped prisoner. About 10 O'Clock in
the morning hey came upon the bucks
just preparing to break camp. Taken
completely by surrrise they broke for
the shelter Of a cedar brnke, leaving
everything except such weapons As
they hastily snatched as they started.
The men captured all the horses and
other plunder and achieved the main
object Of the expedition. which was the
rescue Of the little boy. The Indians.
careful Of their little captive, had
wrapped him warmly in buffalo robe
and tied him on mule preparatory TO
resumiDg their journey. When rushed
upon they had no time to remove hin
and the mule being startled by the
charge started to run. One Of the men,
not seeing that the rider was a child.
gave chase and putting his gun against
back of the boy pulled the trigger.