The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-07-17
A Trap For Indians

Benton cutting telegraph poles for an
army line. On the third day a private
named Brisbane was left in camp 60
act as cook. He had been instructed to
fire his musket In case be saw Indians,
and. having heard no alarm. we start
ed for camp at 5 O'Clock with a feeling
that all had gone well.
We reached il to find the man miss
Ing. His musket had been left behind.
AMI nothing about the camp had been
disturbed. For an hour we expected
his return at any moment. thinking he
had wandered away. but when night
| came and passed we We're sure that the
Indisns had had something to do with
his disappearance. 1t turned out 50.
While he WAS out after berries during
the afternoon Little Bears band had
bounced upon him and made him cap
tive.
We heard nothing of him or them
until about sunrise next morning. We
We're about to set out on Il search
when he appeared at the mouth of the
valley with an ndian beside him.
Brisbane had been stripped of ali his
garments, and the blood of Il hare had
been daubed over him anti lie appear
~ ~ ~ " o6C IAftN ~.
The Indian with him could understand
English very we'll. and the captive had
been told what to say. AS our attention
was attracted he called out:
Sergeant. the redskins captured me
yesterday. and | have Il message for
you. They say if you will come out and
surrender yourselves they will hold IA
for ransom and treat us we'll. Ii you
refuse. they will attack the camp and
wipe you all out. There are about tliir-
ty Indians In the band
Jim" called the sergeant wheT he
had recovered somewhat from his sur
prise. are you talking dead square?'
NO. The force consists of only elev.
en- men. There are six of you. and you
can stand them off for a week"
But how can we save your"
There is no way. Make ready for n
row and fight to the last. 1t serves me
right for not being on the watch yes
terday. Goedby, boys. and do the best
You al and tell 'em at the fort how It
was with me-
He turned and was soon hidden from
view. and we at once began epa
tions for defense. We could be APP
preached only from the front. anu the
six of us felt ourselves a match for
| tAC utDIDC "a dlI1l III
half an hour we heard nothing moe
from them. Then from a point down
the valley came walls and cries of pain
and distress. as though the captive
We're being tortured.
Our first thought was to rush out.
but after listening more closely all de-
clared that the tones were those OF an
Indian and that the plan was to draw
us into an ambush. When it was found
useless the cries ceased. and an hour
later Brisbane appeared on the same
spot az before. At the bidding OF his
guard he houted:
Little Bear has been Joined by TWEEN
ty more warriors. and unless you sur
render yourselves all will be killed.
You are to have half an hour in which
to make up your minds"
Are yon prevaricating, Jim?' asked
the rgean in reply. using a term
which he knew the Indians could not
understand.
"The biggest kind. sergeant. There
are 10 new arrivals. and don't let them
humbug o into surrender"
The captive spoke so fast that the
Indians could not follow him; but. sus.
pecting something wrong. they led him
away. Then we lay ready and waiting
until close upon noon, when Brisbane
suddenly appeared at the mouth of the
galley. running toward our camp at the
top of his speed. Behind him were
he Indians. who had planned 1t that
way. thinking we would hesitate; t"
fire for fear of killing our comrade.
That was just what happened, and but
for a strange circumstance the band
would have been upon us before a gun
| xuoc Grod THIRTY mr. Forfv vor9o in
front Of us was a shaky spot in the
ground. We had noticed 1T in walking
around. but had given it no special at
tention.
As the Indians reached the spot in a
solid body he earth gave way. and all
went out of sight in an instant. A
crust of earth about thirty feet square
went down. and when we rushed out 1t
was to look down INTO d hole twenty
five feet deep. with the Indians lying
In Il huddle at the bottom. Two were
killed by the fall and two others badly
hurt. while the soldiers neck was bro
ken as he landed at the bottom. s,
We made the Indians send up their
weapons and their dead and injured.
When all were out we realized that the
colonel at the fort would not thank us
for bringing in a lot of troublesome
prisoners to be cared for n that. we
must make some other disposal OF
them.
Little Bear and all the rest Of the
living and ~unwounded were tied to
trees. and. cutting a generous supply
Of switches. we took turns at the fla.
therly act" and did not rest until each
one Ind been soundly licked. There
80 ..1I - at -