Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-03-12

/ They were told there would be but a
two hours engagement, when they
would wipe out the band Of redskins!
They were called into line at dark,
each company forming in single file.
Then they started on their lonely
march on narrow trail down Grave
Creek AS they left thought and
wondered, with shiver, II they ever
came to an engagement how many
OF them would ever get back. 1t
must be remembered that the trail
down Grave Creek was very narrow,
through thick underbrush and heavy
fir timber.
Hair-Raising Episode.
Two weeks after the first outbreak
went over to Cow Creek, 10 miles
north, with a train for cargo OF
oats. We ran right into the whole
band. An OK team came down from
Smith to take Redfield's family
away, and had got about 200 yards
from the house when we looked back
and here came the whole band. Over
spur OF the mountain ahead ap-
peared about 80 bucks, each stripped
to the waist, with only breech-
clout, and each carrying rife. They
gave one OF their blood-curdling war
whoops that raised our hair. In five
minutes the house was In flames. The
bullets commenced whistling all
around, making beautiful music, but
on such high key that we could not
enjoy 1t! About that time we were
doing the kind OF travelling that
would put to shame the automobile
OF today. We had many very close
calls, but all got In safely. | will
probably write this up some day-it
was the most thrilling adventure Of
my life.
Well, to get back to Grave Creek,
these hardy volunteers, after STUN
bling, along all night over rough
trail, reached their destination before
daylight. oh, how | pitied them II
they ever came to a showdown!
we'll know, from personal experience,
that there were Indians, Siwash, In
that band, that would face anything
that wore hair.
Well, Captain Smith had the diff
ferent companies deployed, part to go
south and part to go north, and grad
ually work up TO the center No one
was to fire gun without orders. ano
they thought 1t would be picnic to
pick off each buck as he jumped up
out of his blankets, but they had
counted without their host" AS
they closed In they simply found 8
or 20 camp fires, but not a living
thing They Immediately took their
trail
Amhushcd.
They had gone over ridge and
down into deeD canyon and the vol
unteers were close after them, but
they came to a very sudden halt, as a
dozen guns were discharged and sew
eral men fell dead. The Indians were
too smart for them and had every ad-
vantage, They got down into this
deep dark canyon aud behind big fir
trees, while our people stood out on
the open top Of the ridge.
Captain Smith was brave man,
but he did not possess good iudg-
ment for an Indian fighter. He stood
right out In the open The bullets
were whistllng all around him when
Bob lladley, who crossed the plains
with me, stepped up and told him
that there was no use OF standing
there In the open for target, Had
ley took him by the shoulder and
pulled him into camp, thus saving
his llte 30 that he could be made a
general in the war in 81 In the East.
Hungry Hill"
Wen, those brave men and |
pioneers stood and fought those In
dlans all day on empty stomachs, and |
30 IL was called the battle Of Hun
cry I'M" The result was that there |
were some 80 whites killed and |
wounded and perhaps they killed |
three Indians, but no one ever knew
that.
Stampcdcd.
The next morning as soon as II
was light enough to see to charge
and rout them he had planned to
rout them out Of that canyon, for he
vowed not to leave that field without
few scalps Result No, was that
Mir Indian had. In the meantime,
made different arrangements, and be-
fore daylight, from the top OF the hill |
began shooting the soldiers, who
were SO completely surprised that
they became demoraliled and all
stampedcd like u bunch OF Texas
steers.
They all came Struggling back. all
that were lett living being very glad \