Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-22

Fires Six Bullets Into Count Ignatieff
Instantly Done in Hall of Mobiles
Failing to Suicide, Was Captured

back, on the left side, and at the
same time another Indian dismount-
ed and discharged his gun at me.
laid low on my horses neck, and as
rode along at furious pace, Chaska
stepped to the edge of knoll near
the lake shore and, fired at the Indian
who shot at me; causing our pursuers
to scatter. "-s
Gas Lieutenant Freeman dropped
from his horse, asked him if he was
hurt. He replied, T am gone.' He
wished me to cut piece of the string
which was around his neck, and sup
ported portion of the antelope meat
he was carrying. AS I cut the raw
hide, though he changed his position
more on his side; resting his head
higher up on the rising ground. He
now family called for water, and
while 1 was getting it for him the
scouts drove the indians back from
the lake shore. I then took Lieuten-
ant Freeman's rife and revolver and
followed the scouts, who were hastily
leaving us; the wounded officer being
dead.
"The Indian seeing the lieutenant's
horse, which was following me; left
us in pursuit of the riderless animal
which went galloping over the plain.
Their delay in catching the horse al
lowed me to overtake the scouts. We
rode about four miles before we were
4 again surrounded by the Indians;
4 near the edge of a little marsh. We
all jumped off our horses. The
scouts firing at the Indians. causing
them to scatter; when Chaska mo-
toned for me to hide in the tall rushes
on the marsh, which I instantly did.
Fl saw no more of the scouts, who sue
ceeded in making their escape. The
Indians now all rushed down to where
our horses were, eager to secure them.
l cooked my rifle, and lay in the thick
rushes within ten steps of them as
they passed me in pursuit of the ami
mails. They got into wrangle about
the horses, drawing their weapons in
angry gesticulations; but they pres
emily started off, taking a course
around the marsh, evidently being
frightened away by the movements of
our victorious troops on the battle
field. at Big Mound.
Il lay hid in the rushes about one
hour, and in putting down the ham
mer of my rifle, during a slight shower
of rain it accidentally went off; caus-
! ing me to become frightened at my
exposed position. | Immediately
at my back. followed this direction
two days, stopping in the tall grass,
in marshes, during the nighttime.
struck the James river at night, of the
second day, which was clear water,
running in southerly direction.
From there l took a new direction,
my endeavors to find the Sibley trail;
striking it on the afternoon of the
third day.
''The next morning I started back
on my return to camp Atkinson, near
lake Jessie, and made it in two days
arrived there between eight and
9 o'clock on the second night bare
headed, barefooted, and without a
coat I entered the camp near a de-
tachment of Captain Chase's company
of the Ninth Minnesota infantry, who
received me near their came-fire as
fell to the ground unable to raise
again. I lost my coat, hat and knife
in the fight with the Indians ON the
first day. Luckily, 4 had taken Lieu
tenant Freeman's knife with me, and
with it made moccasins of my boot
legs; my boots SO chatting my feet in
walking. that could not wear them
These rudely constructed moccasins
were constantly getting out of repair,
and my knife was SO much needed to
keep them in order for use, as to-
make them in the first place. Just be
fore reaching the trail Of the expedi-5i
tion, 4 lost Lieutenant Freeman's
knife, This loss, felt at the time,
decided my fate il I had much farther
to go; bSs kind providence was inI
my favor for almost the first object