Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-03
STORY OF FIGHT AT
CAMP COTTONWOOD
Anderson Kills Nine Indians
Before He Is Slain by
Chief Spotted Tails
Band.
trrom . stuff correspondsn..,

historian and continually digging up
history Of the past which at a time
when the state is about to celebrate
its semi-centennial is interesting read
ing. Following is his latest:
Memorial day exercises held at the
National cemetery at Cottonwood, .
few miles east OF North Platte. call
to mind many of the stirring events
that occurred at this place, Here y
was that Eugene Ware, in the fall OF
1864, was authorized to construct .
fort for the protection OF emigrants
passing over the trails.
.The story of Camp Cottonwood
was full Of adventure. Probably one
OF the most thrilling episodes in con-
nection with the camp was described |
by lanes Belden, the white chief. An |
epidemic OF smallpox made one OF its
periodical raids along the trail to the |
west in the year 1865. II was more |
deadly with Indians than with. white
people, so that for short time hostili-
ties had ceased in this vicinity.
'Feelng secure, Captain Mitchell,
with a party--namely, Bentz, Ander-
son and Gramer and number Of con-
valescent soldiers--went up Cotton
wood canyon to gather plums. Nit
chell and Anderson were the only
ones to carry arms,
when they started to return on
that beautiful autumn afternoon the
Indians were observed pouring into
canyon to head them off. Mr.. Bentz,
who was mounted on . fine black
horse, rode ahead with such rapidity
and suddenness that he passed the
closing gap Of Indians and escaped
unharmed amid fusilade Of bullets
and flying arrows.
captain Mitchell saw that the
slowly moving ambulance could not
hope to thus escape, and he ordered
the driver to turn sharply up the slop-
ing bank OF the canyon, hoping to
reach the level land over Its rim, and
then it would be,a running fight in the
open toward the camp.
Driver Shot from Seat.
sThe Indians pursued and the driver
was shot from his seat. Anderson
seized the reins and held them until
IFamer couia come iotwa1ul Men u
turned e me use q nis Iine, ans
noTses WIN neasy amoulshce n. ,;sn. eou'a oaa
TIL aa;s nesp sna pss s ssd " 4 snon ss'rs hreame
evident that the Indians would close
around them. Captain Mitchell and
Anderson were shooting, but the
roughness OF the prairie and the shak-
uncertain. The captain finally deter-
mined IA stot, ,,nor, ri, emincnce ahead
and faht Il out or stand Of the In
d;ans until Bsntz could return with
assistance.
sIramer. the driver, lost his head
AID disobeyed. He kent on lashing
tie horses past the strategic point.
Anderson snranr forward ID lam his
feet upon the brake. but d sudden
lurrh NJ the coach sent him rolling
unon the prair;e. Then Captail
MjtrhefI sttempted Ia reach Inc driv.
cris scat. but another jolt sent him
"a tie around ana the unattended
ambulance with It's Wild driver and
sick soldiers went numbering on.
Mitchell Rolls Into Gully.
aM;teheIl rolled into ! puljy near
where he feit And Al he ana 20 he
saw Anderson Ride in the scrub brush.
TN indians immed;ately followinr
ram, n H. ridge and sfonned. Il be-
M main MAI Hose ahead ware close
Il s "A the l,rkiess ambulance and IL
nreur,rts M 80 ". 81 "'''''T '''
e9ne ~ The Indians dismounted and
etaad ioak'ng ;ntsntIv s an ths Sro,,,,d
- thnurh r. ! brown study. He
wors srottei h,ad dress II wild
turt.v fcsrhsrs gavIv roiored and
tutNsy SesHSsss s-,g 80