The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-21
.ON THE TRAIL IF
 CHIEF DULL KNIFE Cowboys Recollection of Great
 indian Fight BATTLE WAS IN CANYON Courage Shown by a Young Lawyer, Now Banker in the State of Oklahoma-Echo From the
 Pioneer Days.
BATTLE WAS IN CANYON


 of 300 Northern Cheyennes broke loose from their agency in the Indian Territo- ", that, taking his shadow for his com pass, Dull Knife led this band nearly Q thousand miles in a northwest direction over the bloodest Indian trail ever re- corded in history says Col. ". E. Tiff of Fl Paso, Tex, a cowboy on the Kan sas plains in pioneer days and for many years later a Kansas newspaper man.
 Their horses were fat and beautiful, and the riders trained to do a bareback a blush, and for courage, it was that reckless type horn of desperation and nursed in despair,
 | News of the outbreak had travelled on swift horses and reached Medicine | Lodge while the Indians were still on the Cimmarones. Eight of us. just young men, hastily saddled and rode 50 miles to Nelson's camp, where our number in- creased to 30, and the next day we struck their trail in what is now known as Comanche county, Kansas. Well may 1t have an Indian name, for its soil has soaked up some of the best blood that ever pioneered new country.
 Armed with our old breech-loading buffalo guns and not even stopping to bury our dead friends who had been killed day or two before, we pushed on, hoping any hour to overtake the swift moving renegades, but already tired we had two days more of this whip and spur before we were certain of a fight.
 Leaving their trail on Kiowa creek, we rode into Dodge City, Kan, and our party was re-enforced by another 40 of their best citizens, a little over 31 years ago.
 ''The scouts had brought in the first reliable news. The Indians had made halt in short side canyon on Sand creek. then called Sweet Water Branch, about 45 miles south of Dodge City and Major Rendelbrook, with 200 soldiers, was camped five miles from them.
 Tt was but a gallop of 40 miles from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until bed time, when we joined these soldiers, who greet ed us with great hospitality, and at day break we were in the saddle again, mak- ing a detour of six miles to attack them from the south
 Many of us could not see why not ride straight to their camp and rough shod over their bloody carcasses, but be- fore nighfall we came nearer being the ones ridden over.
 'Fhe Indians had taken their stand in a short, deep canyon that led back a few hundred yards into the open prairie steam. They had piled up stone breast work all around the rim of this little can yon. which also inclosed their horses.
 Tt was beautiful sunrise as we rode around them seeking the most accessible spot to attack them, and it was an in- spring sight to see their scouts ride up close to us and then disappear as if by magic in some deep ravine.
 Finally we came to the last end of the majors strategem-to attack them from the south-and we had steep slope to descend to gain a ravine.
 We cowboys took the lead and for 400 yards were exposed to a hot fire. My own good horse stuck both fore feet in a wolf den and rolled over and over, finally stopping with his entire weight on ny breast.
 ''Too tired to even struggle at that in- stant l remembered that turtle can draw it's head and neck inside a shell or when pressed with a great weight, will extend it's head and neck. Two hundred and seyenty-eight men had passed and counted me and the horse as has-beens.
 But one other was coming. Would he, too, pass? It was Joseph w. McNeal. young lawyer of Medicine Lodge, Kan, but today a wealthy banker of Guthrie, Ok, and candidate for governor of Oklahoma.
 He sprang from his horse, and with q powerful effort rolled the weary horse from my body, when I had just one more breath to breathe.
 Then getting us both up, he went sev- eral rods and handed me my rifle, while the bullets were dropping all around us in the dust and sand like great drops of rain
 Riding up to government ambulance a few moments later. I asked for can teen of water which was handed to me by a correspondent of the Kansas City Times.
 Thus revived I took my place with the boys on the ridge overlooking the In- dans' breastworks, and We all saw the major creeping on his belly in the grass far below the danger line.
 About 10 o'clock the wind had risen to a gale and it was impossible to steady a gun barrel in our hands, and clouds of sand and dust blew in our faces, but as we had an unlimited supply of govern mental ammunition which exactly fitted our buffalo guns, we took great pleasure In bombarding their breastworks until about o'clock. Some captain of a gray horse troop numbering about 40 men, got per mission of the major to make circuit of the north and see if we could have any fun-just 40 of our cowboys volunteered to follow him.
 "The gray horse cavalry took the lead and when the Indians charged them, their spurs were too sharp for the weary COW horses, and we were left alone, Tar in the rear, and four of us, Charlie Nel- son, Charles Biddell, J. w. McNeal and myself, still further behind when sud denly two. lone bucks charged furiousiy upon the four of us.
 "Of course we dismounted to receive x.,it in they turned crosswise in front Of us ana gradually their back to us
 "The wind made it impossible to take rood aim, but we saw the leader fall for- ward and go under his horses neck, ana we knew he would never charge again Three of us remounted to overtake our company, but looking back thsre sat MIG Neal, the Medicine Lodge schooi teacner and young lawyer pumping hot lead arter that one lone warrior 500 yards away.
 we saw the Indian throw up his hands in mockery as Indians often do. but ne came off slowly and surely, almost grace fully. I might say. over the animals hips. and the beautiful horse swerved ana came back at full speed and paused an Instant before us, his bridle reins carried high above his neck by the strong breeze. ''There is something about peautirui horse in action and under excitement that wins orr admiration-his distended nos tris and ouivering of flank his eye like a meteor. beaming with courage and in- telligence.
 ."rhe soldiers said he was the same horse ridden the day before by Cnier Dun Knifes daughter, and was ridden this day by her lover, but for the second time we called McNeal the hero of the day "At night we found ourselves In camp with the 200 soldiers, several miles TUT considerable