Show A DESPERATE CHANCE Story of Amos Chapman Scout Under Gen Miles Amos Chapman was 15 years In government gov-ernment employ as a scout on tho plains During his life of constant peril and exposure writes Mr Randall I Parrish In The Great Plains one of his most heroic deeds was performed formed while ho was bearing dls patches for Gen Mlles from his ramp on McClellan Creek to Camp Supply Indian Territory Tho dispatch party consisted of six men Early In the morning after a hard nights ride they wore suddenly attacked near the Washlta river by a bund of over a hundred Kiowa and Comanche warriors war-riors Capt Dodge thus describes what followed Tho first Intimation of tho presence of Indians was a volley which wounded wound-ed every man In tho party In an Instant In-stant the Indians appeared on all sides Dismounting and abandoning their horses the bravo band of whites moved together for a hundred yards to a buffalo wallow a shallow natural depression In the prairie Chapman and Dixon being but slightly wounded worked hard and fast to deepen this depression and as soon as it was sufficiently deep to afford some cover It was occupied and tho work continued from within Smith had fallen from his horse at tho first fire and was supposed to bet be-t r J r 1 l Now Boys Keep Those Infernal Redskins Off dead Chapman said Now boys keep those Infernal redskins off me and I will run down and pick up Smith and bring him back before they can get at me Laying down his rifle ho sprang out of the buffalo wallow ran with all speed to Smith seized and attempted to shoulder him I lay down said Chapman and got his chest across my back and his arms round my neck and then got up with him It was as much as 1 could do to stagger under him for he couldnt help himself a bit By the time I had got 20 or 30 yards about 16 Indians came for me at full speed of their ponies Tho boys in tho buffalo wallow opened on the Indians and Amos ran for it itWhen When I was within about 20 yards of the wallow he continued a little old scoundrel whom I had fed 50 times rode almost onto me and fired I fell with Smith on top of me but as I 1 didnt feel pain I thought I had stepped in a hole The Indians couldnt stay round there a minute The boys kept It red hot so I Jumped up picked up Smith and got safe into the wallow Amos said Dixon you are badly hurt No I am not said I Why look at your legl and sure enough the leg was shot off just above the anklejoint and I had been walkIng walk-Ing on the bone and dragging the foot behind me and In the excitement I never knew it nor have I ever had any pain In my leg to this day |