Year: 1877

r. B. HAYES,


..... President of the United States.


Washington, D. c., October ID, 1877.


A THRILLING ENCOUNTER.


On the fourth instant, fourteen of Us found
ed this camp or diggings, which is thirty-seven
miles from Deadwood, and in locality much
infested by hostile Indians. Three of our
party are from Illinois, one from Canada, two
from Michigan, one from Omaha, two from
the city of Chicago, and the fourteenth man
was from Ohio-what section we do not know,
as we had only been in camp two days when
the affair am about to write of occurred.
He was a man about forty-6ve years of age,
stoutly built, sandy complexion, blue eyes,
sandy chin-whiskers, and the third finger OF
the left hand had been amputated at the joint.
It was very probably struck BY bullet years
ago, in the army or out, and part oft was
saved. He had no baggage of any account
when he left Deadwood with US, but was
armed with Henry rife and two revelvers.
Only two or three Of the party had ever met
before when we left for the Hills, and this
Ohio man being the last to join US, was called
mo. IA" when addressed. His friends or
family can doubtless identify him from the
description l have given, though it is sad news
I have for them.


On the morning of the eighth instant, soon
after we had disposed of breakfast, deer
was observed on the hillside, about a quarter
of a mile away. The Buckeye and the Ca
madam at once rushed for their guns, and we're
about leaving the camp to secure shot at
the game, when the entire balance of the par.
ty strongly protested against such recklessness.
We knew to certainty that there were hos
tiles all around US, and every frearm was left
where it could be grasped at moments warn
ing. Had the deer not appeared again IN
full sight, seeming to be surveying the camp,
the men would have returned to their shovels.
While determined to 60, they waited a moment
to prepare themselves. The Buckeye took all
his firearms, and the Canadian took double
barrelled shotgun and revolver. 7..-'


Work was suspended for few minutes ss
the men moved out Between our camp and
the deer, the ground was uneven and covered
with bushes tall enough to cover man. The
deer stood in an open spot higher up and
plain to the eye. Securing good positions, we
waited to note the success Of the shots. The
men crept through the bushes until within
close range of the game, and then both fired
at once. We saw the deer give convulsive
start as if hit, lose its legs for an instant, and
then bound up the hill under cover. In
about two minutes more the two men were
seen to cross the open space in pursuit. Ex.
pecting they would soon return, we resumed
work, and were not greatly concerned until
two long hours had passed. 1t was then
agreed that the men had either encountered
Indians or become confused and lost. The
country in that direction was strange to all Of
US, and consisted of broken ground, bills, ra-
vines and here and there grassy valley, long
and narrow.


What transpired after we lost sight of the
two men is told by the Canadian, whose name
is James Lennox, and whose home is in Otta-
wa. They believed the deer to be mortally
wounded, and followed it up the hill quar-
ter of mile along its crest, and then the
game descended the hill and continued along
a valley stretching back for two or three miles
between two ridges. This valley was not over
thirty feet wide at any point, and had proba-
bly, been quilted out by the spring torrents:
The men found blood on the grass here and
there as they followed the trail at lope, and
every minute they expected to see the deer
before them. The valley ran as tortuous
course as the average river, and while "loping"
around one of the sharp curves, fully expect
ing to find the deer beyond, the two miners
ran upon an Indian village containing twen-
ty lod ges. Squsws were sitting around the
fires, boys were running over the grass, and
from twenty to thirty warriors were grouped
around the deer, either dying or dead, few
rods above the camp. .,.


Lennox says they we're within thirty feet
of the frat lodge when they halted. Their
surprise was so great that they stood there for
a moment without moving or speaking.
Squaws and children returned their stare,
doubtless just as much amazed, but the In
dians we're the first to take in the situation.
A grand yell of alarm was uttered in chorus
to attract the attention of the warriors, and
then the two miners turned and fled. Both
fully realized the danger, and both put forth
every effort to secure all the start possible
This yell of alarm from the camp was answer
ed by the warriors, and about minute after
that there came another shout signifying that
the redskins we're in pursuit.


At this time there we're two bends or curves
between the flying miners and the Indian vii
lage, and they we're rapidly nearing another.
The Ohio man did not seem excited or fright
ened. He probably realized that they were
too far from our camp to evade the Indians
by flight down that narrow valley, and as they
ran he said to Lennox:


"As soon as we turn this bend we must
take cover; you go to the left and will 60
to the right, and we can Chamber up the ridge
and conceal ourselves before they sight u.s.
After they give up the search we must make
our way to the camp as best as we can."


After getting fairly around the bend each
dashed for the ridge. 1t was covered with
loose rock, bushes and stunted trees, and was
hard climbing. Lennox lost his gun before
he had climbed thirty feet. 1t fell and
lodged in the bushes at the base Of the ridge
and he climbed on without it. When about
fifty feet up, he heard the Indians coming
and rested where he was, afraid that some
noise might betray him. Their heavy boots
had left plain trail, and the redskins had