El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-14
FOUGHT INDIANS
WITH CAPT. HALL
Oklahoma Man and Former
Ell PasO Sheriff Were
Pals in Early DAYS.

Chickasha. Okla, April 15.[den
| who have figured IN real early day
| pioneer Indian battles in the Chtcka-
] saw nation country are now few and
| far between. but Ike Cloud, Of Chicka-
: sha. has the distinction Of being one
I Of the few men whose life was saved
( by a very narrow margin from the
tomahawk Of a savage Kiowa indian
Thrilling are the stories that are told
by Cloud Of those early day Sklr-
mishes and none OF them are recorded
/ in detail in the history Of the state.
Ike Cloud, who IS now So years OF
age. lived IN OSlahOma-Indian territory
during the pioneer days when govern
ment officials had charge Of the IN
dian ratiOns and when cattle and buf-
falO had free range on the pratrtes-
He figured in indian fights cattle
stampedes, roundupS, organized lodges
operated government stores, herded
cattle lived for months without meet
ing a woman, freighted, made money
and lost it. in fact experienced all o.
the old timers Sensations Of life
Colonel Cloud settled in Indian terri
tory at Erin Springs in 1856, where he
established the first COW ranch in this
section. The Cloud ranch house was |
the first improvement and habitatOn ]
erected on the Washtta river between !
Smith PauIs farm, now Pauls Valley, I
and Fort Cobb J. q. McAltster, or /
Sasakawa- Seminole county. was work /
assisted in the work Of building the I
house. Another man who worked for /
HIM during those early days and was ,
with him in many OF his campaigns
was Florence J. Hall, OF FL Paso, |
Texas, recently sheriff Of that county.
Meets General Hazen.
During the first year OF the Clouds
residence in the Washita valley, Mr.
Cloud met general William D. Hazen,
OF the United states army, whose wife
Is now Mrs. George Dewey General
Hazen was at that time located at
Fort Cobb, Okla Through his &C
CUaintance with general Hazen Cloud
secured his first beef contract and
many subsequent contracts to furnish
beef to the Kiowa and COmanche in
dams. Only two persons beside him
self are now living who were citizens
OF this section in an early day. They
are Florence J. Hall, Of FL PasO. and
J. ". McAlister. OF Sasakwa, Okla
Fight at Beaver Creek.
It was during his residence at Sug-
den that Mr. Cloud figured in many in
dian skirmishes. Forty-two years ago
p skirmish with a band Of savage Co
manChes and kiOWas came near ending
his life Six white men. Cloud, Capt
lack Hart, Zach Galloway. Charles
Purcell. Pete Hester and CluxtOn. I
we're on the old Fort Sill trail between I
the Whaley and Cloud ranches when !
0f the white men was killed and one
wounded The white men /
we're just crossing a divide near BeaV- Z
ar creek when the indians came upon I
hem from ravine and attacked them I
Cloud in speaking Of the battle said.
We dismOunted in the open prairie
when we saw the band OF savages
upon US. knowing full well
hat should we scatter they would run [
IS down separately and scalp each
ran. After dismounting. holding our {
horses 5y the bride reins, We formed
/ semicircle and prepared to defend
ourselves. During the conflict we were
'ften standing with our backs tOgeth-
r shooting In every direction, but We
we're killed. but all of the horses es-
aped- The white mems fire arms put
he warriors to flight and the lives OF
he men were saved. The saddle horse
.wned BY Purcell got away and The
indians gave chase. dividing their
Orces- The men were able to stand
n those who stayed and finally got
way Capt Jack Hart received
ullet in his leg and Purcell was
illed. When men were killed in
hose days rude collins were made out
I Wagon beds, and one Of these fur
ished the coffin for the men killed in
his indian fight"
Saved HIS Scalp.
Capt. Jack Hart was one Of the in
srestlng early day friends OF Cloud
nd he once saved Col IOe's life in an
ldian sHirmish. Cloud and Hart were
eng chased by band of kiOWa war s
-ors when Clouds horse slipped and
IL The indians were in hot pursuit.
nd one had raised his toEsahawk to +
,alp Mr.. Cloud as he fell from his
orse. when a bullet directed by the
itthful hand OF Capt. Hart knocked s
lie warrior from his saddle. Capt.
art was for 10 years a government q
out and was stationed at Fort Har-
Pr. Kansas. when Lincoln was assas-
mated. He carried the message from
lat pOfnt TO Denver. n distance Of All
lies. making the trip I'm - hours.
r Cloud was at that time raising II
= In % he anlalars at Eorf SlI |.