Jack Ophner — wounded volunteer in the 1885 battle with Geronimo’s band
He was shot through the leg and arm, both broken [5]. A bullet then struck his cartridge belt, exploding two cartridges and lacerating his body [3][5]. Despite his wounds, Ophner used his Winchester to help repel the attackers [2]. His comrade Kirker carried him to safety under fire [1]. After many months of suffering, Ophner recovered but wore a wooden leg in place of the one lost while hunting Geronimo [4].
Sources
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-09-25 (1891)e of getting their men a little later, had ceased firing and were given their attention to the horses and the pack animals. Kirker left his companion behind some rocks and ran to a spring, about three hun…
- his badly wounded comrade… (1891)his badly wounded comrade. The Indians saw him and opened fire, but Kirker ran on, reach- ing his partner in safety. Ophner was soon revived, and while helplessly wounded, was still able to use his Winchester, …
- to run down the canyon… (1891)to run down the canyon. They had not gone far when a bullet struck Ophner’s cartridge belt in the rear of his person, exploding two cartridges, from which his body was terribly lacerated. Kirker continued runni…
- Ophner, after many months of suffering,… (1891)Ophner, after many months of suffering, recovered, but wears a wooden leg in place of the one with which he started out to hunt Ge- ronimo. During the same year Gene Kirker and Chas. Reese were going from Tom…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-09-25 (1891), was shot downward through the shoulder and body. Ophner was shot through the leg and the arm, both being broken. McMann was wounded but managed to make his escape, and eventually reached the camp. Kirker…