Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-20
WHIPPED BAND OF INDIANS
Raising Story Of Early Railroad
Days in Kansas.
EXPERIENCES OF THE BUILDERS
Hand-to-Hand Encounter Betweeu
Surveyor and Redslsins-Run-
ming Fight for Life and
the Escape.


ity. Kan has Just contributed to the
Kansas Historical society a paper on THE
carly Days on the Union Pacific" orig
nally named the Kansas Pacific. He tells
10 only OF the hardships the various pro-
noters encountered in financing the project,
but the thrilling adventures OF the work
nen who built Il.
II required seven years TO build the line
rom Kansas City to Denver and tho writer
old OF the innumerable financial obstacles
hat we're encountered and overcome.
But the thrilling part Of the story deals
With the troubles the worltmen had with
he Indians The redskins we're opposed to
white aggression and they never over
cooked an opportunity to retard the work
)r take a scalp. In one year-lS6S-along
he Union Pacific construction line In
lians killed eighty-two men and four chill
lren and outraged fourteen women The
following year thirty-four we're killed.
The real hair-raising story however, re-
ates to a hand to-hand encounter which
b young civil engineer, Pbnip Howard
schuyler, a Kansas boy, had with band
4 Indian warriors. II was Schuyler's duty
ID blaze the way Of tho graders He would
% ahead Of the grading gang several miles
nd mark the route with piles OF dirt on
.une 10, 1869, while out alone In the vicinity
+ what s now Sharon spr1ngH he was
ttacked by Indians in ambush. They op-
ned fire, striking his horse In the hin.
looking around he saw long line OF the
ed-painted devils on three sides OF him,
while on the fourth. in the direction OF his
5arty. was half a mile OF broken ground
ut up by deep. narrow ravnes. 1t took
)ut q moment to decide his line OF action.
'utting spurs To his horse he turned to
he only loophols OF escape, and, to the
urpriss Of the Indians, went leaping over
ne ravines, one after the other at the
isk OF his life, but with tho assurance that
hey could not follow him. as none OF their
)onies we're equal to the work. And to
.eep up the pursuit they were Obliged to
make a long detour.
Front and Rear Attack.
Having once got clear OF the broken
round, Schuyler. looking back found
limself well ahead. and was congratulaunE
imsef on so easy an escape, when he
aw directly before him. springing out OF
he grass. a formidable array OF Indians
nterceptinE his flight. Those pursuing in
he rear closed up and almost before hC
,ould realize the situation. he found him
ielf again entrapped. this time by a line
II Indians that entirely encircled him
numbering about 100 as nearly as he could
Judge. They rapidly narrowed the limit
II the circle and began taunting him witt
al manner OF insults and telling him Of th'
.ortures that awaited him, and of thu
low roasting that they proposed to Civ
i'm. For several minutes he sat on hi
iorse trying to reconcile himself to tn,
certainty that death was before him, bu
when the first struggle was over al
trembling ceased. and with as true aim a
ever huntsman leveled at a reindeer, h.
threw up his rifle and fired at the neares
man. killing him instantly. Earlier in tn
light he had realized that he was NOR
lightly armed than usual, having tina
morning left his belt with a brace OF pts
OILS and box Of cartridges in camp t
e cleaned. taking his winchester carbine
arrying only twelve shots. He now de
termined TO sell his life as dearly as pos
slble, and counting every shot, to be sur
hat he saved one for himself as a dernie
resort in case OF capture, since death b.
mis- own hands was preferable to slow tor
lure. Twice more he shot IN quick sue
oession, without fatal effect when he sud
denly put spurs to his horse and dashe
through their lines.
In Close Quarters.
At this moment there was a genera
scramble and rush for him. some tryin
Tor him with their spears, others seizin
ais legs and trying to unhorse him, II
succeeded IN tho twinkling OF an eye &
throwing them Off and even killed a sec
md man riding at his side-puttinE his arr
against his (ths Indian's) body and blasn
away, The blood sported over Howard
5uokskn loggingH. saddle and horse TIL
instant he freed himself from them an
GOT eleaF-aione, on open ground ahead O
hem, where they were not in danger Q
silllng each other in shooting at him-the
tired volley OF bullets and arrows at hin
Nine OF them hit him and up to this me
meht he was entirely unframed. Had hi
hsrse been equally fortunate this woul
have ended the fight, as the horse was
fine high-spirited animal. superior to an
Of the Indian ponies But the first she
received at the beginning OF the hostiliti5
had cut a small artery, and from this N
blood was pumping out a steady stream
that together with his violent exertion
was fast sapplng his strength, The Indian
seeing this, were encouraged TO continu
the pursuit, and their leader, mounted O
IN American stage horse (stolen the da
before at a stage station a few miles baoi
which they had burned, numbering all Il
inmates), succeeded so we'll In keeping pa,
with him that he could almost feel Il
breath from the nostrilS Of his pursuer
horse.
Brave Bat Foolish Buck.
Thus they rode. nose to tail, for q mi
or two. the Indian occupying the time
shooting Three pistols, siX-shOoters,
empued and bullets flew all around Schu
Ter on every side. Four more entered q
poor horse, already so badly wounde
q bullet pierced Schuyler's clothes at ;
side; another cut the strap OF his fie
glass. which was lost; another pierced q
wooden breeoh of his rifle as he CARR
Il In his hand almost striking Il from !
grasp; others struck the saddle and.
short they seemed to strike everywhe
but where they were aimed. All this iii
he was eadeavoring to reach over I
shoulder to get a shot at the Indian, b
az every such movement the savage slipp
under the belly Of the horse and was O
OF sight except a hand on the name a
a heel in the back Finally. all ammul
tiOn exhausted. the Indian resorted to
spear. and with its wooden handle ga
Schuyler one or two severe rapS on
head. trying to knock him out OF the 50
die, without avail; but at last the hol
that had been trottlng shRkily from L
OF blood fell on his knees. and the Indi
rushed up 20 end the contest. At q
instant the horse struggled TO his 4
again, and Schuyler saw that his OBJ