The Washington herald., 1914-07-26

would have been defended as long as
one of the four could lift a gun We
reached II at about II o'clock. II was
as We had feared. Over 200 Indians had
swarmed down out OF the hills at day
break the morning before, and though
they had lost a score of men. the dug
out had been carried by assault and its
defenders butchered. We waited here
half an hour to give the poor cOrpses
burial, and then pushed on toward
White Horse. 1t was not until We got
within two miles Of the station that our
fears were relieved. Then we heard the
reports of rifles and knew that the place
was still holding out.
The station was situated about midway
of a long, bare hill. To the west OF IL
was a couIee or dry ravine, with banks
twenty feet high. We had with Us q
couple OF scouts who knew every rod
OF the overland trail. and when within
mile Of the station these men were
sent forward to spy out the station.
They returned after awhile to report
that Spotted Horse and about 80 OF
his dog soldiers" the Cheyenues were
called, were laying siege to the station,
and had evidently occupied the ground
for two or three days. The ground
around the dug-out was 50 open that
the Indians dared not rush" the place.
Of powder without reckless exposure.
With their allies holding the trail to
the east, the Chyennes had entered upon
siege in hopes TO starve the employees
out. Their war ponies and most Of the
band were lying up in the dry ravine
for the night. This ravine had no open
ing to the south, and was therefore q
cul de sac
The frst signs Of dawn were in the
H., - taA nnI
the whole Of US pushed forward, led by
the scouts. for the mouth Of the ravine,
We had the Spencer csrbines, each with
a full magazine, and as we got the order
to charge each man began shooting.
When q carbine was empty. II was
thrown away and g revolver used In Its
place. When the revolver was empty, II
was cast aside for the sabre. Extended
from the bank to bank, we swept UP
the ravine, and we had nothing to dc
but kill. Taken by surprise the Chey-
ennes thought only OF getting away. We
had scarcely got to work when the eight
men who had been cooped up In the dug
out sailed out to take a hand in. and
Il was made the saddest sunrise the
Cheyenne tribe had ever seen Not q
pony could escape out Of the trap. Num-
bers Of the warriors scrambled up the
banks and got safely away, but nearly
every one left his weapon behind. The
fight did not last above thirty minutes.
and our loss was only three men
wounded.
Down In the ravine We harvested
seventy-eight dead Indians. and on the
banks above the stage men counted up
twenty-five more. We got upward OF q
hundred rifles. about nifty pistols, 80
ponies and a wagon load Of miscellaneous
stun. Every Indian lying there was q
dead one. Custer had said, "shoot 20
kiliF' and there was no wounded or pris-
oners. Among the killed were Spotted
Horse. Big Moon.i and White Bird. and
that fight broke the backbone Of tho
Cheyenne nation. Their part In the war
was to capture all the stations west Of
Burning HILL but they had only taken
Pawnee Flat They never rode to war
again. Within week they were suing
for peace. and they were the nrst to be
gathered on . reservation.