The Detroit times., 1914-08-31
ID FIGHTERS
WIDOW WRITES
BIZ PROWESS
" Dixon, Who Followed Gus
! and Miles, Dictates Story Of
Hair Raising Adventure
ok PART IN THREE.DAY
lATTLE AT ADOBE WALLS
IN Congressional Medal Tn
Fight Against Kiowas-
Saved Companions

rExLINE. Tex Aug. 20 -As 9
insman. scout. Indian tighter and
falo hunter. few men were more
lely known In the Southwest than
late william C"Billy'') Dixon. who
q recently at his home In Cimar'
county, Oklahoma. near the little
,n OF Gresham. A book In which
my of his thrilling experiences are
Rted Ii being published by ms
low, Mrs. Olive Dixon. The ma.
ial was dictated by Dixon to hin
& shortly before his death.
When q mere boy Dixon reached
nsas City the day the battle OF
kstport was being fought. His am.
Ion was TO fight Indians and kill
faloes. and he continued on his way
Fort Leavenworth. where he found
ployment az q bull-whacker with q
vernment train that made the trip
Fort Collins. He helped haul NUM-
ms OF war to Camp Supply from
3rt Hays when Gen. Custer went
nth on his Washita campaign IN
bS. Dixon became one OF the most
ccessful buffalo hunters on the
Aims. For nine years he was a gov
hment scout at Fort Elliott, Tex.
Ter which he homesteaded a ranch
Hutchinson county. in the Texas
nhandle. building his log house on
8 ruins OF the original Abode Walls,
here he was postmaster and proprie-
+ Of q email store that was patron
ID by cowboys.
In q Three-Day Fight.
|Dixon's most notable Indian fights
|bre at Adobe Walls and Buffalo Wal
Nv. Hunters from Dodge City, Kan.
% established headquarters at Adobe
tails In the spring OF 1874. number
adobe buildings having been erect
! for that purpose. They were at
Ecked at early dawn June 81 by q
Ar party OF TOO or 500 KiQwas, Co
|anches, Cheyennes and Araphahoes.
he flight continued more or less act
kely for three days. The Indians
|ere unable to dislodge the hunters
I'D finally retired after many war
|1rs had been killed. The hunters
|st three men. bat" Masterson was
|nong the fighters. Dixon's mark
|pnship did much to win the fight. He
He'd one Indian at q distance OF l.
10 yards.
Dixon's narrowest escape from death
- at Buffalo Wallow. between the
aeeby and the Washita. In the Pan
andle. In September, 1874. For his
eroic' conduct he was awarded the
ledal OF honor, which likewise was
Iven to his surviving companions,
7oodhull, Rath Harrington and Amos
fapman. Dixon and Chapman were
sour Chapman Is living at Selling.
kla The party was on its way to
0rt Supply with dispatches from Gen.
[iles. then In the field against the
tribes.
Upon reaching the top OF little
noll the white men found themselves
lce to face with an overwhelming
Or party Of Kiowas. The Indians IN
'anty attacked, and the soldiers
prang from their horses to shelter
iemselves. Trooper George Smith
ltchad forward on his face, q bullet
trough his chest. Chapman's leg
~ shattered at the knee, requiring
All the other soldiers
ere more or less seriously wounded.
Iron, luckily. received only slight
ullet wound In the calf of his leg.
II blouse silk shirt front was riddled
18th bullets.
last Stand In Buffalo WaIlow.
Realizing that II they remained
here they had made their first stand
u would be killed, Dixon ran about
Tree hundred yards to a buffalo wal
~ In mesquite fiat, calling to his
to follow him. All save
hapman and Smith were able to
zach the spot, and with their butcher
nivcs threw up Q sandy intrench-
lent foot or 50 In height that gave
lem some protection.
Smith was thought to be dead. Al
. had not moved since he fell. At
10 risk Of his own life Dixon went
Chapman through hail Of bullets.
fted Chapman on his back and car.
led him to the wallow.
~ the day wore on death seemed
levftable. The Kiowas, with their
ores running at top speed, often
lme forward as II to spear the be.
,agured men with lances. The hunt.
- shot coolly and carefully and the
adams suffered SO severely from the
Ell directed fire that they grew more
nd more cautious.
About noon one of the soldiers Loaf
10 nerve and said there was no use
ghting longer. At that moment a
uliet struck In the soft bank near
I'm and completely filled his mouth
18th dirt. The incident was so hum
rous that It brought fresh courage.
saved companIon's Scalp.
The Indians tried many times IA
pproach the PROSTATE form of Smith
2 set his scalp and gun, but each
me they were driven on. The men
2 the buffalo wallow were runnins
hort Of ammunition, and one va
snt to set Smiths belt or Cartridges
vhen he returned he said that Smith
- alive. Rath and Dixon took smith
. the shelter Of the wallow. Smith
- n such agony that he asked 10
. shot: he was watched closeIv ~
rovent his committing suicide. iafs
hat night he died. u
The soldiers suffered intensely from
INST Late In the afternoon, masses
6 inky clouds began piling up IN the
!est Rain fell In torrents. Thourh
Wa crimson with the cIotted blood
2 the wallow the desperate men
reedily drank the water that collect,
q IA the depression where they lay
DIXON believed that this rain saved
ae'r lives. A chilling wind came
rom the north. and the men shivered
their thin clothing. The Indian has
Q liking for rain, especially q cold
~. and the Kiowas withdrew to q
uDide where they sat on their horses