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Show INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 135 could get good shots at us while we could not see one of them. William Kearns was shot from his horse and killed while riding beside his brother Austin, who had to leave him where he fell, in order to save his own life. The following statement is from Austin Kearns himself : " When we made our second stand, after we had been fired upon by the Indians, I noticed one par-ticular Indian behind a big rock. He had loaded and fired his gun three or four times, and I asked com-rade Anderson, my companion, who stood near me to hold my horse while I went up the hill- side to take a shot at the Indians. I laid down, resting my gun on a root. While I lay there a ball struck near me, causing the dirt to fly in my face. When I looked up I saw my comrades were making a quick retreat down the canyon. I then returned to Anderson who handed me my reins and I mounted and followed the com-pany. But instead of my horse following the trail, he turned in the opposite direction, jumped into a patch of oak brush, and tried to force his way through. By doing so he got fast and was unable to get out. I had matcheres ( heavy leather covers) on my saddle; they spread out, holding me fast. While trying to get out the Indians were coming closer; they cross- fired in quick succession on me from three directions, and perhaps fifty or more shots were aimed at me while in that condition. At last the string in front of the horn of the saddle broke and I raised up letting the matcheres with my wool blankets slide off, freeing the horse. All my companions had gone, leaving me alone with the howling Indians who thought sure they would |