The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-18
FORT VICKERS.

The report of the recent death of
Capt. A. J. Vickers, at his home in
Pittsburg, Kansas, calls to the mind of
old timers the days when this gallant
old fighter lived in Hays. He was re-
ceiver of the U. S. Land office which at
that time was located in the room now
occupied by Geo. Philip & Son as a
hardware store. The Vickers family,
consisting of the Captain, his good wife
and two children, lived up stairs over
the land office. 1t so happened one
beautiful June day, that a band of
Pawnee Indians to the number of about
eighty, returning from the Nez Perc
war in the northwest, passed through
Hays and went into camp along Big
Creek, on the south side, some distance
east of Fit. Hays, which at that time
was garrisoned by but one company
(about thirty, men of the 18th U. S.
Infantry.
Soon the town was filled with aborig-
inees of the Pawnee persuasion in quest
of whatever they could pick up in the
way of stray dogs, fre-water or any
thing else. If the red man could not
buy what he most coveted, he did not
hesitate to appropriate it without pay,
leave or license. 1t was this peculiar
characteristic on the part of Hon. Mr.
Lo, that raised all the trouble, and
nearly some of the hair, in our fair city,
that calm and beautiful night
Along about the hour of nine o'clock
p. m, Rachael Skinner, damsel of
mixed colors Cblack and white FREEDOM
inating), rushed into Tommy Drums
emporium of mixed and straight drinks,
shouting that someone was breaking
into Hill Wilson'S store, which was in a
building located on the present site of
Isaac Zeigler's store. ''By the boot
by the boot!' declared this most famous
of all far famed high ball mixers, ''he
must be arrested at once" In a trice
the chips ceased to rattle and the cham
payne parl0rs were speedily emptied of
their rough and rugged votaries; Jack
WILDER. a somewhat noted plains char
acter, leading the run. WILDER made a
straight dash for the store. As he ap-
preached, the Indian, who was about to
enter, seeing him, took to flight down
Chestnut Street; WILDER the while call
ing halt, to which order Mr.. Injun fail
ed TO respond, and WILDER began firing.
Three shots were fired in rapid success
sion. The Indian turned west through
little alleyway between DIR. Snyder's
Office (which stood near the corner
where Wiesner's store isl and fence
to the north, and ran to a stone pile a
few hundred feet farther on where he
sat down to rest. In few seconds he
was surrounded by a crowd, and draw
ing long knife from his belt, rose to
his feet and stood in defiance, a fierce
red man at bay, a model such as any
artist would have coveted. However,
the attitude of defiance crumbled speed
lily as Sheriff Geo. Rardsley, the brav-
est of the brave, advanced and took the
threatening weapon from his appraised
hand. The prisoner was hurried to the
courthouse, where it was discovered
that he had been shot through the liver.
He was then hurried to the hospital at
FIT. Hays.
Soon did the news spread to the camp
on Big Greek that the favorite son of
Red Willow, chief of the Arapahos.
had been shot by some white man in
Hays. The announcement to the red
men was like a match to a powder
magazine. All was confusion and bus
tie. A large council fire was lighted,
weapons were gathered and all prepar-
ations made for war. AS the flames
rose, the Indians danced about its ruddy
glow, giving vent to their heart curdling
war cry until the very heavens seemed
to Fe=echo the dread sounds which seem
ed to threaten the lives Of every living
white. Word was brought to town that
the city would be laid in ashes and every
their scalps, dripping with warm red
blood, soon would be dangling from the
belts and wigwam poles of the noble
red men. Is it any wonder the women
trembled and turned pale while the lit
tie ones chung tightly to mammas'
that brave men, fully armed and ready
for any emergency, with hearts which
knew not the word fear, gathered the
helpless women and children into the
home of the gallant Capt. Vickers, and
placed themselves at vantage points for
defense.
Nearer and nearer came the bowling
tempest of wrath and scorn. They had
crossed the creek when 10, single rifle
shot rang out, and then another and
another. There was a sudden hating
and a sudden silence. Someone ad-
vaneed and asked for parley. "What
do you want with a parley?'' said a
voice from FIT. Vickers. I'VE want the
man who shot the son of Red Willow
said a red voice in good English
s'You viii never sea him. said the
white voice. until you have killed
every old buffalo hunter, cowboy and
gambler on the plains Buffalo
huntersi cowboysI heap too many for
red man," as he turned to his compan-