Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-07

rocks and thick timber on foot. 1t seems
to be our only chance of escape
"Gruard advised this strategy, saying that
as the Indians occupied the passes east
west and north of us-all of them being
dlfhcult at the beSt-we could not possibly
effect a retreat on horseback, even if all
our animals had escaped unwounded. He
bluntly told the lieutenant that the posi-
ton was untenable, at such distance from
Crooks camp, and even If man could sue
coed in getting through to the general, we
could not expect timely relief. and all
would be over with us long before an at
tempt at rescue could be made. Therefore,
Gruard said. If the lieutenant did not
choose to take his advice, upon the officer
would rest the responsibility of whatever
might happen. Sibley, although very averse
to retreatfng. finally yielded to the calm ad-
vice of the scout, whose great experience
among the Sioux rendered him familiar
with all the methods of Indian warfare.
When retreat was decided on we acted
with an alacrity which only men who have
at some time struggled for their lives can
understand. couple of scattering volleys
the savages believe that we We're still In
position. AS we had frequently reserved
our fire during the fight, our silence would
not be noticed Immediately We then re-
tired. in Indian file. through the trees, ROCKS
and fallen timber in of us.
But We had escaped one danger only to
encounter another. Fully fifty miles of
mountain, rock, forest. river and canon lay
between us and Crooks camp We were
unable to carry any food upon our persons
The weather was close, owing to the thun-
der shower, and we threw away everything
super1fuous in the way of clothing. With
raving Indians behind us and uncounted
precipices before US, we found our rifles
and what remained of our 100 rounds of
ammunition each sufficient load to carry.
More Indians Seen.
After about an hours hexculean toll we
gained the crest of the mountain and saw
the point of mountain, some twenty miles
distant. where lay our camp and comrades
This as may well be imagined, was bliss
full vision. but we were half dead from
fatigue. and some of US were almost fam
ine-stricken. Yet the indefatigable Gruard
would not stop until we reached the east
ern foothills. where we made, SO to speak, a
dive into the deep valley to obtain water
our only refreshment on that hard, rugged
road. The leaves from the pine trees made
the hillside as slippery as glass, and where
there was neither grass trees the
broken stones and 'shale' made walking
absolutely painful. Scarcely had we slaked
our thirst when Gruard led us up to the
hills again. and we had barely entered the
timber belt, when the scout uttered warn
ing hush and threw himself upon the
ground, motioning us to do the same. He
pointed toward the north. and there. wheel
ing around the base of the point of the
mountain we had doubled so shortly before,
appeared another strong party of the Sioux
In open order. The savageS were riding
along quite leisurely, and although fairly
numerous were evidently only the advance
or rear guard OF some larger party. This
sight made us desperate. Every man ex-
amined his carbine and looked to his am
munition. We all felt that life would be
too dearly purchased by further fight, and
following the example OF the brave young
Sibley and gallant scouts, we took up po-