Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
Bearers Desperate Fight Against Big Odds

wounded, and Smith, who had been brought to the
ground by bullet during the desperate run, lay
out on the plain
Without uttering word to the Others Amos
Chapman the scout, laid down his rifle and started
back for him: When he got to Smith and tried to
lift the limp body, it slipped from his Then
back, and staggered off. of Indians came
galoping up. They knew the scout we'll They
grirnaced at him as they sung their rifles into
position. Amos, Amos!' they yelled, we've got
YOU now!'
Chapman reached for his revolver; but he could
not use it with heavy man upon his back. At this
moment the soldiers fired sharp volley, followed
by several Others and the savages rode off quickly
they had come. Another party dashed up This
time the scout went down, with Smith on top of him.
He thought he had only stepped into a hole. He
got up again somehow, and under of the hot
fire of his comrades managed to carry the man the
Amos, said Dixon, look at your 1egl You are
badly hurt
At this moment the scout began to be conscious
of burning pain; he saw that his leg bloody.
The Savaees' Pulling Tactics
EOR the rest of the day the Indians remained at a
L distance The soldiers were puzzled to think what
new plan the savages would attempt to carry out.
About a hundred yards to the northeast the grass
grew waist high in one place, and at least one of
their number was always watching this spot with
plainsman S peculiar gaze, for slight movement of
the blades might mean the presence of concealed
braves At bottom the felt in their hearts that
it practically all with them; that the Chew
ennes were simply hiding their time
The sun went down in bank of long gray clouds,
and night came on, dark and thick. A gloomy
silence enveloped the soldiers after counting their
ammunition, they had discovered that no more than
eight rounds apiece remained. 1t was misty and
the air felt cold big drops of rain began to spatter
the hard bottom of the wallow and finally il
came down in steady pour creating muddy pools
where they were lying. Although this added to the
discomfort and misery of the wounded it afforded
relief to their thirst which, now that the tension
was little relaxed, seemed uncomfortable. The hours
passed. Smith, who had the most serious wound of
all, lay in obscure at one side; he was out
of his head, and muttered nonsense all the while
In the morning, under the BARE white arch of the
sky, the men, with their livid soi1ed countenances
scarcely found courage to look at another; but
they were watchful before. Every now and
then a of Indians would come into view in the
distance.
Suddenly Dixon gave an exclamation He saw
puff of smoke rise slowly in the damp air; then
another. The savages were firing, but not at them.
May be it's the advance guard of the wagon
train, Woodall nuttered in a half whisper; "or
some of the boys from the FORT thought Others
And now sudden revulsion of feeling went through
them; just few minutes before they had felt
that escape impossible that their death was
close at hand, they felt sure of rescue.
And, in fact, in few brief moments they saw
the Indians break up into small groups of horsemen
suing them were Prices Cavalry
Poor Smith had died; the others came out from
the wallow and showed themselves. They were at
once mounted on horses and taken as quickly as
possible to camp.
The story of their fight against odds of twenty
five to one was made by Miles the subject of
special report to the War Department. He asked
that this instance of indomitable courage Skill
and true herosm be fifty recognized. And each
of the survivors was awarded Medal of Honor