The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-27

Guilty keeping the trail, while he cold
was intense"
After Mr.. Cliffs experience as a pony
express rider he became a "freighter'
across the plains 20 Denver. He was
associated with 100 or more drivers like
himself on these freighter trains which
usually went in parties of from 100 TO
lI5 trains
1t was on one of these trips across
the plains that he was attacked by IN
dams and was wounded three times by
Sioux arrows
The wagon train was vending its
sinuous way eastward empty" 1t was
in two sections. The first comprised
125 wagons and was a quarter of a mile
in advance Of the second, in which there
/ We're twenty-five wagons.
The wagon train was nearing O'Fal-
Ions Bluffs in the early morning. 1t
drew up some distance from a spring
and stopped to water the stock and
prepare breakfast. Cliff, with a COM
panion, left the circle of wagons after
some drinking water. They neared the
spring and were dipping the bucket in
the cool. sparkling water. Suddenly
the air became hideous with the sound
of a wild medley of war Whoops.
CHANGING up. the two white men beheld
a band of seventy-fve Indians advanc-
ing upon them. They took to their
heels and made for the wagons as fast
as their legs could carry them Cliff
was nearing shelter after he had cast
aside water bucket and every other in
cumbrance
Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his
back The pain almost caused him 20
/ drop. But men viii do unheard-ot
things when life is at stake, and Clin
kept running The Indians almost
reached and he was forced to turn and
fight for his life. He drew his Colts
Z TeVOlVeTs and stood the redmen of as
he backed toward the wagons, suffer
/ ing eXcrueiating agony with every
step. He finally reached safety, and
his companion, i'm response to Cliffs
orders handed the wounded man his
rife.
Cliff lifted the rifle 20 his shoulder
and calmly taking deliberate aim al
/ the nearest savage, pulled the trigger
| The redskin dropped IN his tracks
/ Again the cool eye sighted along the
{ long rifle barrel. Again an Indian
dropped. mortally wounded
| At this jUncture one of the foremost
redmen stopped IN his advance and
pulling his bow to its utmost length
fired at the wounded white man. The
arrow struck him in the left breast
He did not fall He continued to pour
his whitening fire into the advancing
/ horde of yelling savages. Another ar
row pierced the arm that was support
ing the gun barrel and the death-deal-
ing rifle dropped.
Cliff feared that his days had come
| to a close. His companions had for
saken him for the larger train. BE
stood helpless, almost, but for his six
shooter. which he managed 20 keeI
going until ii was emptied Then he
+ retreated toward the enclosure.
The Indians continued their advance
upon the wagon train. But il was s0OI
| stopped
The men from the larger train, at
tracted by the scene of excitement anc
the sound of firing. rushed TO the res
cue of their belated companion. Then
advance was In the nick of time. After
/ some sharp fighting the Indians were
/ soon driven off and the two trains were
drawn closer together and prepare
D tions made TO receive second attack
but none came. The Indians had beer
defeated. and they mounted theil
d ponies and rode away.
3 Cliff called 90 his companion anf
T forced him to cut the arrow from hi.
back. III was a tragic scene. The com
paniOn had not the courage to pull i
out. az the arrow head had gone into
the flesh and was buried Cliff told
him to cut it out The man said he
could not
But you will.' was the stern wore
Of the wounded. You VIII do il or III
I blow your head Off" And. suiting tht
action TO the word he presented hi'