The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-04-05
AN ADVEN TURE
WITH INDIANS
BY HARTLEY O. PRESTON


government shortly after the death oil
the gallant Custer, ran down and cap
tured an Indian quarter-breed who had
stolen some things from Fort Larned.l
He was imprisoned for several weeks
and some of his friends declared that
| should pay for the indignity with my
life
The three whom | had to fear we're
called Red Earth, Half Moon and
Cloudy Day They drew rations at the
agency, and were supposed to live
within the limits, but as matter OF
fact, were prowling over the country
most of the time, ripe for any mis-.
chief
was then riding between two posts
about so miles apart, and the Indians
knew full well where to find me at
any time within the week. for, count.
ing the halts at each end Of the route,
the round trip was made every seven
| days.
For 25 miles of the journey ! had q
| stage road and was sure Of company
For 20 miles farther the country waa
fairly safe, because OF the hunters,
| trappers and scouts about. The dan
gerous portion of the journey was con-
| fined to about 25 miles. / believed d
knew where the Indians would attack
me If they held TO their threats. Itl
was where the trail left the base oG
the mountain to take to the valleyt
where was canyon making into the
hill, and the tran ran within 30 feet
| nf ftg pRnnfh hafnpn e., ~ Ia !
II the weather was good | always
passed this point in going west at
about nine o'clock in the morning. In
going tho other way / arrived about
sunset, and made my camp In the
bushes growing around a spring.
l figured that the Indians would
shoot me down as | rode up to tho
spring, or very soon after | had dis
mounted. II is the unwritten law on
the frontier that when a man threatens
your life, even II he is drunk at the
time, you are expected TO protect your
self by shooting him first 7 had wit
nesses that these Indians had threat.
ened to wipe me out, and | was ex-
pected to shoot any one of them on
sight.
knew they would not act upon their
threat at once, as they would expect
me to be on guard. and perhaps have
an escort. Therefore, | waited until
my second trip before carrying out
my plans. The Indians would reach
the canyon in the afternoon, and
lookout could see me Ave miles away.
Half a mile from the spot, however.
was a wooded ridge to hide my inn
mediate approach, and this ridge ran.
around to the canyon.
Moderating the pace OF the horse to-
suit my plans, l approached the valley
half an hour ahead OF my usual time
When three miles away dlsmounted.l
tied a string tightly around my horse'sl
right knee and then advanced, leading
him. The cord caused him to limp
as If he had gone lame suddenly. r.
slouched along as careless as possiblel
until / reached the ridge. Then l sent
my horse forward alone. knowing ha
would halt at the spring and wait for
me.
AS soon as he was gone | struck into
the timber and circled around to get
as close to the mouth Of the canyon
as possible. The last 200 feet OF the
distance | crawled upon hands and
knees.
My horse had stopped by the way
to catch up mouthful OF grass here
ard there, and | got my first look into
the mouth OF the canyon Just as ha
approached the spring. For a moment
| was ready to acknowledge that was
beaten at my line OF reasoning. as
could not see a redskin, but while the
horse was drinking the would.be assas-
sins came into view, each with his rife
for use.
They waited three or four minutes
to see why | did not come up. and
then were about to move forward when
| opened fire. dropped Half Moon In
his tracks, tumbled Cloudy Day over
as he sprung for shelter, and fred
upon but missed Red Earth as he
lodged behind a great bowlder. Had
he jumped backward into the canyon
he would have had all the advantage.
but in his sudden surprise he made
three or four leaps and took shelter be-
tween me and the spring.
l should not have fired upon him had
he run of, and II he had asked for a
truce / would have come out had we
been left undisturbed, but the horse
presently came to my aid. The firing
excited him, and he had been trained
to look upon an Indian as an enemy.
lie saw the redskin behind a rock and
charged him savagely. The fellow
sprang up, thus exposing himself, and
| was waiting for the opportunity.
The three Indians had come 10 the
ambush on horseback. | took their
rifles, ponies, and other truck to the
post, and turned them over to the COM
mandant. He sent word to the head
men Of the tribe at the agency of what
had happened and three men came for