Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1895 — Indians Fear Modern Rifles. [ARTICLE]

Indians Fear Modern Rifles.

“Indians sometimes face Hght firearms with great courage, but they fight shy of the attentions of any weapon that sends a large projectile,” said Col. F. A. Blake, who has had wide experience on the Western plains. “The rush and scream of the heavy bullet frightens them, and they prefer to keep away from their range. To that not unreasonable prejudice is due the fact that the buffalo hunters of the early 70's, who in following their business were constantly exposed to the attacks of hostile Indians, were molested comparatively little by them. The long, heavy rifle, with telescopic sights and the knowledge of the deadly certainty of the buffalo hunter’s aim, almost Invariably served to make the red man keep his distance, and set him temporarily free from the notion of scalp hunting. “One buffalo hunter, by the name of Murdock, that I knew, was creeping upon a herd on the Staked Plain when he spied a band of Comanches riding toward him. He instantly leveled his gun upon them as a warning that they should not approach too near. Checking his warriors, the chief of the band pointed with his hand to a buffalo in the distant herd, then mentioned in the Indian sign language that the hunter should shpot It Murdock fired as the chief Indicated and the buffalo fell. The Indians gave a loud ‘How’ of approval, waved their hands, turned their ponies and swept on past the hunter, leaving him to pursue his shooting of the buffalo unmolested.”—New York Sun.