Year: 1876

| A WARN ENCOUNTER.


Fosr Hours gighting with 1ndsnws ne


tween Cheyenne and the Black niiis,


Cheyenne sun. May 10.


Capt. A. A. Patterson. an old wagon
master and man well trained in the life
Of a plainsman by years of experience
on the frontier, left Cheyenne the latter
part of last month for the hills, with a
large amount Of drugs and medicines,
tobaccos and cigars. AT Fort Laramie
they formed train of fourteen wagons
and forty men, of which Mr.. Patterson
was elected captain. They left the fort
about the fourth Of May, and proceeded
on their way. On the fourth day out,
at Hat creek, they were attacked by
small party Of Indians who attempted to
stampede their stock, but they were too
well trained, and had lived too long on
the frontier TO have few redskins get
away with their baggage, and the six
scouts that were with them, some of the
best to be found, could not be caught
mapping. After this they proceeded on
their journey twenty-five miles farther,
to the last water on Indian creek. Here
the road winds along, first on one side Of
the creek and then on the other, with
washes and breaks in the ground or prai-
rie, and hills on each side forming natural
ambushes or Notifications where willy
red men can lie in waitin large bodies,
entirely concealed from view, and when
the unsuspecting party gets within range
they fire deadly volley in upon them
and stampede the stock. Here the
scouts, who were some distance in ad
vance and raising the brow of a hill, were
suddenly attacked by about twenty-five
or thirty Indians, who completely sur
rounded the little band. They fought
in the true Indian style, circling around
the small body of men at long range, and
firing at them at intervals. One of the
shots took effect, hitting Henry LEM
in the breast and killing him instantly.
This man was from Ecoffey & Cuney's
rancho. Capt. Patterson corralled the
teams Immediately, but finding himself
within two hundred and fifty yards of
several washouts, he ordered his men to
move farther out on the prairie, which
they did. again corralling and doing the
work steadily and coolly. Here they
rolled their blankets up in tight bundles
and lay Down behind them until they
had a chance TO get out few sacks of
meal to form temporary breastwork.
They then dug rifle pits and lay in them.
The scouts in the meantime having
made break and got in the corral,
the fighting continued at long range.
The Indians seemed to be better
armed, having Sharp's rifles and needle
guns One Indian fired distance of
seven hundred yards when the captain
raised his head for moment and the ball
whistled within about one inch of his
head and buried itself in chest behind
him. The fight lasted for four hours,
there being only one more man wounded
He was lying in the body of wagon
when ball pierced it and struck him in
the breast, inhicting only aslight wound.
-Four OF five horses were killed, and they
had to have one thousand five hundred
pounds of freight carried by party 60
ing out, and if there had been another
horse shot they would have been obliged
to leave several thousand pounds There
were two Indians killed, one of whom
was known by a powerful white horse
which he lode, and who is said to have
caused more trouble than any other on
that route. He rode up within short
distance of them, not thinking, it is sup
posed, but what they were armed like
some of the tender-ieet, with a single
barrel shot gun or pistol. But he took
his last ride. He was shot through the
head, falling in shallow washout, where
the Indians tried for two hours to get
him, but the boys made it NO hot every
time one of them showed head that they
did not get him until dusk. The other
one who was shot was supposed to be a
medicine man from his trappings. There
were several seen to fall from their horses,
but they got away by some means. Four
Indian ponies were also shot.


There was meeting held after the en-
gagement was over and vote taken as
to whether they should go on or return.
The majority voted to return to Fort
Laramie and see about getting an escort
of military. They came back that night
about seventeen miles, or to this end of
the Indian creek, and met Heck's train
of about forty men. The next day they
escorted Mr.. Heck back to Hat creek,
where they all corralled that night. Just
aitci udih tue inultus dttiCktu tne en-
tire body, again killing several head of
cattle and running off others. Meeting
company Of cavalry the next day they
requested an escort that they might go
to the hills: they were refused, the officer
remarking; "We are out to fight In
dians, not to escort trains"


1t was reported at Fort Laramie that
the Indians had all left the agencies.
Captain Patterson says that some one
who has since C me in. reported that the
man who wasshot and whom they buried,
was dug up by the Indians and scalred
and horribly mutilated, and then thrown
into the road and left. The captain
further states that the danger is becom-
ing 81 great on the road it is not safe for
any train to 60 through without a mill
tary escort. He and his party will wait
here until the road is opened and then 60
through. He says men come out of the
hills because they cannot get any provi-
sions or prospect without endaugering
their lives. Almost all will return as
soon AZ the country is safe. Captain Pat
terson has the confidence OF many of our
prominent business men, and they rely
upon his word.