Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19
AMERICAS CAMEST BATTLE
RecollectiOns Of an Engagement as
Heroic as the Alamo.
SCOUTING AMONG HOSTILE INDIANS
One Of the Few Survivors Of Beecher
Island Massacre In Kansas
HELPED Ia clear the
pIaIna.

Forty years ago the name Of Captain
Allison !. Pliley was known all over the
western froi Ter. When he vas "a years
old the little old man that now sits on
the shady porch OF his home, Kansas city.
Kan, was among the widely known scouts
Indian fighters and cavalry officers tina
cleared the plains Of Kansas and Nebrasks
OF the hostile indian tribes and paved the
way for the farmers and ranchmen thai
have made these states what they are
Captain Pulley had an active part in many
of the thrilling adventures OF the plains.
He was one Of the little band in the
"Beecher Island Massacre"
Allison J. Pliley was born in Ross county
ohio. April 20. lsI4. OF German and Scotch
parcntage. In 1855 the family. moved Ia
Kansas and settled near Topeka. -Four
years later the young man made a trip in
a prairie schooner to Denver. The next
year he made a similar trip. and on hi.
return. enlisted and served two years In
Company F. Fifteenth Kansas. on the
plains.
In 1866 he tried to settle down to the
study OF law in Topeka. but the call OF
the plains was too insistent. The blood OF
the H~ighlanders and Of a military German
grandfather. a revolutionary soldier under
General Greene, began to tell. He refused
a commission in the Eighteenth Kansas
and became a scout. There was more
chance for reckless adventure scouting.
The summer Of 1866 was one Of excite
ment on the plains. The Indians were
restless. Now and then a scout would be
found slain. Depredations became more
frequent, until in 1895 General Philip n.
sheridan established headquarters at Hays
city. then Fort Hays, Kan. Young PIley,
having thrown away his law books. Joined
a company Of fifty-one scouts under Col
onel George A. Forsythe.
Rode Into n Trap.
\ scout named Comstock had been killed
by Cheyennes and Sioux near willow
Springs, Colo. Forsvthe's command was
sent in pursuit. Twelve miles east OF Fort
Wallace they came upon the remains of a
wagon train. The bodies Of the emigrant,
were lying about, and some Of the wagons
still were burning.
They followed the fresh trail to the Re.
publican river and then to the Rlckaree
a branch OF the Republican river in Colo.
RADIO. Here a larger trail OF Indians Joined
the band that had killed the emigrants.
The older scouts told Colonel Forsythe
that his fifty-one men were trailing LOO
or loo Indians, but the colonel replied that
he did not care II there were 10000 or ~. O0
in the band. he had been sent after the
murdereTs. They camped that night on tn,
bank OF the Arikaree. opposite the island
since famous as Beecher's Island and be.
meath the bluff now called Squaw Point
The night was clear and beautiful and
Captain Pulley says. in spite OF the fac
that their rations had given out that day
and that they knew they were camping
near twenty times their number Of the
fiercest warriors on the plains, the mer
were in good spirits.
Just before daylight a small band Of In
dams dashed through the camp and sue
cceded in stampeding some OF the horses.
When 1t became light enough to see Colone.
Forsythe went up on the bluff and looked
over the plain with a field glass.
The world Is covered with Indians" hi
said on his return. They are coming
Fight as YOU choose"
Fighting for Life.
The small force crossed the stream TO thu
island, made their horses fast to the trees
and began to dig trenches. At 8 O'Clock
before they had finished the trenches. the
fight started. Confident in their numbers
the Indians encircled the small band
Swinging low on the sides OF their ponies
and shooting from beneath the necks OF
the animals, they charged time and again
Between charges the scouts worked a
the trenches In the first two hours
twenty-five were wounded. Five OF these
died that night. among them the surgeon
- a.. - - .-
Beecher, a nephew Of Henry Ward
Beecher, and for whom the island wa,
named. Colonel Forsythe was wounded
in the leg and scalp, but not dangerousl,
enough TO give up the Aftel
the first two hours the scouts had com.
pleted their bitches and after that tn,
bullets OF their enemies passed harmlessl,
over them.
That night Colonel Forsythe called fol
volunteers to so for aid. The nearest
troops were at Fort Wallace, more than 10
miles away. A. }. Pulley, Jack" Stillwel
night Pulley and Chauncey Whitney wer,
Trudeau were chosen.
They slipped out that night. The mex,
night Pulley and Chauncey whitney wer,
the volunteers. as no one believed Stnlwel
and Trudeau had got through the Indiar
lines.
Getting Through the Lines.
Chauncey whiteny was fat and untitled
for the work. and although they made sew.
eraI trials they did not get out that nigrn
Az one time they were within twenty-five
feet OF their foes when a flash Of heal
lightning showed them the Indians
stretched out on the ground in front OF
them. The third night Pliley and JACK
Donovan made the attempt. BY crawling
on their hands and knees, lying flat often
to allow parties OF Indians TO pass, they
succeeded in getting through the lines, TIL
next day, without water or food. they Law
In a buffalo wallow 10 resume theil
journey ~ night again. Tt avoid Leaving
a trail they were wearing Indian mecca,
sins, This was a mistake as the cactus
cut their feet until they sNelled horribly
Four days after they started they reached
Fort Wallace. SullwcI and Trudeau had
already arrived, but had found an INSULT
cient force there to go TO the rescue. Dono,
van and Plrey. ~footsore and tired. con.
unued their search for troops. Donovan
found Colonel Carpenter and Pulley traced
Colonel Brisbane.
Timely Relief.
Both companies reached the island th'
same dsy within a few hours Of each
N