The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-04-11
AN ADVEN TURE
WITH INDIANS
BY IA TLtY @. PRESTON

While | was in the employ of the
government shortly after the death Of
the gallant Custer, l ran down and cap
tured an Indian quarterbreed who had
stolen some things from Fort Larned.
lac was imprisoned for several weeks.
and some of bis 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 ratlons at the
agency, and were supposed to live
within the limits, but as a matter Of
fact. were prowlng over the country
most OF the time, ripe FOR amy mis-
chief
l 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 % miles of the journey / had a
stage road and was sure of company.
For 20 miles farther the country was
fairly safe, because of the hunters,
trappors and scouts about. The dan
gorous portion of the journey was con.
fined to about % miles 1 believed
knew where the Indians would attack
me If they held to their threats. It
was where the trail left the base Of
the mountain to take to the valley,
whore was a canyon making into the
hin, and the tran ran within 30 feet
of its mouth before turning to the left.
IL the weather was good I always
passed this point in going west at
about nine o'clock in the morning. In
going the 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 l rode up to the
spring, or very soon after l had dis
mounted. It is the unwritten law OF
the frontier that when a man threatens
your life, even IL he is drunk at the
time, you are expected to protect your
self by shooting him first. / had wit
/ nesses that these Indians had threat
ened to wipe me out, and l 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 a
lookout could see me five miles away.
Half mile from the spot, however,
was a wooded ridge TO hide my i'm
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 l dismounted,
tied a string tightly around my horses
right knee and then advanced, leading
him. The cord caused him to limp
as If he had gone lame suddenly.
slouched along as careless as possible
until l reached the ridge. Then | sent
my horse forward alone, knowing he
would halt at the spring and wait for
me.
AS soon as he was gone I 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 l crawled upon hands and
knees.
My horse had stopped by the way
to catch up a mouthful OF grass here
and there, and got my first look into
the mouth of the canyon Just as he
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 rifle
for use.
They waited three or four minutes
to see why l did not come up, and
then were about to move forward when
opened fire. l dropped Half Moon in
his tracks, tumbled Cloudy Day over
as he sprung for shelter, and fired
J 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
J but in his sudden surprise he made
three or four leaps and took shelter be
tween me and the spring.
p should not have fired upon him hat
he run off, and II he had asked for &
truce would have come out had We
: been left undisturbed, but the horse
presently came to my aid. The firms
excited him, and he had been trained
to look upon an Indian as an enemy
He saw the redskin behind rock anC
> charged him savagely. The fellow
sprang up, thus exposing himself ant
r | was waiting for the opportunity.
? The three Indians had come to th'
/. ambush on horseback. | took thei
3 rifles. ponies, and other truck to tn,
3 post, and turned them over to the com
r mandant. He sent word to the heat
y men of the tribe at the agency Of wha