The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-06-29
Could Never Forget


IF I should live to be a hundred
years old never will / forget the SEN
sations of that moment" said Dris-
coll in one of those rare instances in
which he was induced to discuss the
matter, ''as one by one those Indians
approached my hiding place and be-
gan to circle around me as is their
CUSTOM
Bang" went the soldiers rifle
and a Sioux Indian gave death
shrek and dropped in his tracks.
Bang" and another plunged for
ward as he ran. An Indian bullet
thudded near him and the faithful
blind mule dropped dead. Mean
while the approaching warriors were
uttering their blood-chilling whoops,
waving their tomahawks and dane
ing like fiends as they advanced to
the attack.
Driscoll slipped away from the
rock and behind the dead body of
the mule. Lying on his stomach, he
took careful aim across the carcass
and determined to make every shot
count. He fired carefully, every bull
let finding target in a painted
body. His unerring aim and rapid
ity of fire was too much for Indian
bravery to undertake a frontal at
tack, and the rocks protected him in
the rear. Besides, being Indians,
they were resourceful and felt that
their end could be accomplished just
as effectually and without loss, by
burning him out. So they set fire
to the grass. The storm of the night
before had soaked the vegetation and
the grass burned slowly and with a
dense smoke.
The young soldier, who knew more
about climbing a ships rigging than
he did about frontier warfare tao
tics, was quick thinker. When the
smoke became dense he wriggled
away on his stomach from his rocks
and made his way into the midst of
the smoke pillows. The attack had
lasted nearly all day. When Dris
coll broke from the smoke cover on
the edge of small stream it was al
ready night. Unmindful of chuck |
holes and of the icy water he plunged |
into the stream and travelled all |
night. Since he had left the beleag-
uered detachment SO precious hours
had elapsed, all of which time he
had been either travelling or fight
ing. When daylight broke he found
himself almost within the confines of
an Indian camp. His approach caus-
ed an alarm by the dogs and the In
1ians came for him pell-mell with
heir weapons in their hands. Dris-
coll Immediately took cover. The
braves opened fire. Driscoll return
I'd it, picking mark and hitting it
each time he fired An Indian bullet
Wounded him in the foot but did not
his fire. He fired so rapid
y, shifting his position after each
hot, that the Indians we're impress
ID with the thought that there were
everal in his party. Being unable
o hit him and afraid to rush an un-
,nown number, they withdrew. With
he withdrawal of the Indians, Dris-
oil, now crawling, now limping,
low attempting a staggering run,
made for the Backbone mountains, {
rom the top of which he expected to s
ocate the fort. He arrived at his t
estimation after heart breaking
truggle. He could not discern the &
tockade. The retreat" had already I
cen sounded. The flag had been t
owered. Driscoll, somewhat bewild- '
red, struggled onward. Presently '
q struck a well beaten trail. He !
it as the wood road to the |
ort.
Falls Senseless on Trail
He had been 48 hours on the road