.MTAxOA.Njc0MzM

From Newberry Transcribe
Jump to navigation Jump to search

come so as to keep concealed as we got near the camp we only saw one Indian we charged him, I was in advance & I got within ten feet of him, my gun snapped & he drew his bow to fire on me, & I threw myself on one side of my horse to save myself. Fremont saw the danger which I was in and promptly run his horse over the Indian, throwing him on the ground. Before he could recover his feet he was shot I consider that Fremont saved my life that day for in all probability if he had not run over the Indian as he did I would have been killed. We did not encounter any more Indians but fearing that the party that had been seen by Owens had returned to attack us we went back to camp. We got there safely but the Indians did not make an appearance again. Next morning we struck out for the valley of the Sacramento about four days march Maxwell and Archambeaux were travelling parallel with the party. They were about three miles distant and were engaged in hunting when they noticed an Indian coming towards them as soon as the Indian saw them he took some young crows from his quiver that were tied thereon, concealed them in the grass, and continued to approach. As soon as he was within forty yards he commenced firing at them. They did not intend to hurt him being desirous to talk with him but as he kept up a continuous fire on them and shot rather too close for comfort they were compelled through self defense to return his fire. At the very first shot he fell and was immediately scalped. We kept on our march till we struck the Sacramento. In passing down this river we found there was a deep and narrow cañon ahead of us. The Indians supposing that we would go through it had placed them-