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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37922-h.zip b/37922-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..55003db --- /dev/null +++ b/37922-h.zip diff --git a/37922-h/37922-h.htm b/37922-h/37922-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e3cf84 --- /dev/null +++ b/37922-h/37922-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10016 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Indians' Last Fight, by Dennis Collins</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + body {margin-left: 12%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; font-style: normal;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + + hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .giant {font-size: 200%} + .huge {font-size: 150%} + .large {font-size: 125%} + + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .poem {margin-left: 15%;} + .chtit {text-align: center; font-size: 125%; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + .caption {text-align: center; font-size: small;} + + .right {text-align: right;} + .center {text-align: center;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + a:link {color:#0000ff; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#6633cc; text-decoration:none} + + .spacer {padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Indians' Last Fight, by Dennis Collins</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Indians' Last Fight</p> +<p> Or The Dull Knife Raid</p> +<p>Author: Dennis Collins</p> +<p>Release Date: November 4, 2011 [eBook #37922]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INDIANS' LAST FIGHT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Bryan Ness<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org">http://www.archive.org</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/indianslastfight00collrich"> + http://www.archive.org/details/indianslastfight00collrich</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">Yours Truly,<br />DENNIS COLLINS</p> + +<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="center"><span class="giant">The Indians’ Last Fight</span></p> +<p class="center">OR</p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">THE DULL KNIFE RAID</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"><small>BY</small><br /> +<span class="large">DENNIS COLLINS</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT RESERVED<br /> +BY<br /> +DENNIS COLLINS</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">PRESS OF<br /> +THE APPEAL TO REASON<br /> +GIRARD, KANSAS</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + +<p>The work of writing a book is one that requires a vast amount of +knowledge, natural ability and educational advantages, to produce +something that is reliable, as regards information imparted, unimpeachable +authority, and, at the same time, a power of expression that will present +the matter to the reader in a manner that will convey the proper meaning +of the author. I would not have undertaken the present work, were it not +that I was encouraged by the friends of former days who felt confident in +my ability to portray the scenes to be depicted in a fitting manner. I +should probably be able to perform the task before me with greater success +if I had some of the advantages of what is called Higher Education, but, I +set out on my journey through this new domain, encouraged particularly, by +a statement made by a certain ex-President, that he did not believe in all +the “Ph’s”, and “Ch’s”, that are in common use in our language; that he +believed in a plain, intelligent expression of ideas that conveys the full +meaning of the speaker or writer, without any unnecessary verbiage.</p> + +<p>My own personal qualifications for undertaking the task before me, might +be considered too inadequate to many. True, I have not had the advantage +of a University Education, but with a solid foundation of learning laid in +the little school of boyhood in Canada, supplemented by a wide course of +reading through all the years I have spent in the West, I feel that the +difficulties before me are not too great to be overcome, especially as I +have the example of so many men before me who have become self-educated by +an earnest application of time and energy to the opportunities presented. +If I have developed any facility of expression, I must attribute it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> to +the wealth of good books I have had the good fortune to have at my +disposal at various times.</p> + +<p>Another motive that has impelled me to undertake the task of presenting +the “West” to the general reader, is that there has been so much written +about it that is not veracious, and that many have a false notion of what +the term really means. I shall endeavor to set before the public a true +account of many of the recent happenings in the vast country that lies +west of the Mississippi, that they may have a better idea of its history +and its people. I have read in numerous Magazines and Journals, accounts +of the habits and customs of the Western People in general, and of the +cow-puncher in particular, with a full description of the Indian at peace +and at war, that, from the reality, it would be impossible to recognize +any of them. I am quite satisfied that the authors of the so-called +narrations did not have an opportunity of studying the subject at close +quarters, and, consequently, were not in a position to do the topic +justice. As a consequence of this unreliable mode of narration, people who +do not know, imagine that the cow-puncher was half-man and half-horse, or, +if not so bad as that, pictured him as a ranting, roaring, rollicking, +bloodthirsty, oath-emitting, unconstrained son of perdition, whose chief +occupation was murder and rapine, and whose avocation was herding cattle. +As for the Indian, he was supposed to have no other qualification for +attention than murder and pillage, totally depraved, and beyond the scope +of all civilizing influences. Such ideas are based on imaginary authority, +and are as far from the truth as it is possible for any narrative to be. I +shall endeavor to set before the reading public a proper appreciation of +both the Indian and the cow-puncher. Both had faults, but, in view of +their surroundings and circumstances of life, they both will bear +comparison with those who have had all the advantages of the higher +education, and the influence of civilization. One thing that will always +stand in their favor is that they were “men,” and played the game of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +life, in “man” fashion. Smallness, or rather, pettiness of character was +entirely lacking in their general scheme of life; that remained in the big +cities of the East.</p> + +<p>Having spent more than thirty years among the cow-men and the Indians of +the different tribes, from the Dakota line to the Panhandle of Texas, I +feel that I am not presuming when I say that in that time I have acquired +considerable knowledge of both classes of men, their habits, and ideals, +and I trust that the present narrative may be interesting to all my old +comrades of the “Plains” as well as instructive to the friends of my +boyhood days in the “Land of the Maple Leaf.” I have the further hope, +that if any of the readers of this little work contemplate coming west to +grow up with the country, they may find the difficulties of the way +overcome, and the rough places made smooth. They will find a generous +welcome awaiting them from the whole-souled men of the Great West, and +will discover that their lot has fallen on pleasant places.</p> + +<p class="right">THE AUTHOR.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="table"> +<tr><td colspan="3"> </td><td align="right">Page</td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I</a></td><td>General Conditions</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II</a></td><td>Santa Fe Trail</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III</a></td><td>Freighting on the Trail</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV</a></td><td>No Man’s Land</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V</a></td><td>Cattle Round-Ups</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI</a></td><td>Good Men and Bad</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII</a></td><td>Catching Wild Horses</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII</a></td><td>Why I Came West</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX</a></td><td>A Cow Boy Love Affair</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X</a></td><td>Entertaining the Hobo</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI</a></td><td>The Man From Missouri</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII</a></td><td>Organizing in Self Defense</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII</a></td><td>A New Venture or Hard Times</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV</a></td><td>Returning to Kansas, The Phenomenon</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV</a></td><td>Postmasters of Early Days</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI</a></td><td>Messiah Craze</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII</a></td><td>Savages on Warpath</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII</a></td><td>The Whirlwind Raid</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX</a></td><td>The Indian Sun Dance</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX</a></td><td>The Adobe Wall Raid</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI</a></td><td>The Dull Knife Raid</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII</a></td><td>The Great Awakening of the West</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII</a></td><td>P. H. Sheridan’s Arrival</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV</a></td><td>Capture of Comanches and Kiowas</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV</a></td><td>California Joe’s Weakness</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">XXVI</a></td><td>A Period of Unrest</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_292">292</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">XXVII</a></td><td>A Decade of War</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">XXVIII</a></td><td>Trouble With the Northern Cheyennes</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>CHAPTER</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">XXIX</a></td><td>Observations in Conclusion</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td></tr></table> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p class="chtit">General Conditions.</p> + +<p>Someone has said, and I think very truthfully, too, that one-half of this +world doesn’t know how the other half lives, and if he had added that +one-half did not care, he would have hit the nail on the head. In order to +verify this statement, go to the frontier of any new country, and you will +readily see that the progressive, or producing class, is too busy and too +much interested in trying to make a little home, and in providing the +necessaries of life, for himself and family, to stop and inquire into the +cause of such conditions which surround him. He is busy, very busy, with +his own affairs. He must dig a well, build a dugout, and plough the sod to +roof it. He must make a storm cave, as it is one of the essentials in +Oklahoma and in Kansas, as a cyclone is liable to make a visitation, and +he himself and all that he has, may very likely be nothing more than a +memory. A storm cave is a very valuable asset, as it gives the family a +place of safety in storms, and is a very great factor socially, as the +neighbors, if there be any close enough, are most likely to drop around +should there be a threatening cloud in the sky, for the sake of mutual +encouragement and consolation. I have seen twenty-two persons in one cave +that was no larger than eight by ten feet, and all seemed to be satisfied; +at least I was.</p> + +<p>At one time, of the early settlement of Western Kansas, Indian Territory +and Western Texas, there were no mail routes established except between +the military posts, Fort Dodge, Kansas, Fort Elliot, Texas, Camp Supply, +Fort Reno and Fort Sill, I. T. About this time, 1870, Dodge City, Kansas, +sprang into existence, and became the Mecca for the cowmen of the +Southwest, and like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> Rome, all roads led to it. If mail was wanted, or +trading was necessary, one had to go from fifty to seventy-five miles for +the purpose, and in no case less than twenty, as the S. F. R. R. had a +land grant of twenty miles on each side of the roadway, and one could not +homestead inside of that limit more than eighty acres, and that is why +settlers who wanted 160 acres went farther out.</p> + +<p>In making those trips two neighbors usually went together, leaving their +families in one place until their return. Their outfit for the journey +consisted generally of a few blankets, a shot gun, a Winchester, a coffee +pot, a frying pan, tow lariat ropes to picket out the horses, and a box of +axle grease. The time required for the trip from three to five days and +sometimes longer, owing to the distance and condition of the roads. There +were no hotels on the way. In fact, there was nothing but the open +prairie, and when it came to camping out time they picketed out the +horses, gathered some buffalo chips for a fire, made coffee and flapjacks, +fried some bacon and then satisfied their appetites with the fare at hand. +Supper over, they discussed prospects for the future and then rolled up in +their blankets for a good sound sleep with nothing to disturb them but the +howling of the coyotes that were around looking for something to eat. At +times something would stampede a herd of antelopes and in their mad flight +they would create a noise like the roll of distant thunder. One thing that +was in the favor of the camper-out was that it seldom rained and any dust +that was made on the trail was blown away, leaving the way as clean as a +pavement. The wind generally blew from the South for four days at a time, +or thereabouts, at a rate of about forty miles an hour, and then returned +at the same rate from the North.</p> + +<p>On a trip of this kind, one became the messenger and delivery boy for all +the neighbors. It was mail for one, paregoric for another, Epsom Salts for +a third, and tobacco, coffee, sugar and other commodities which they were +in need of at the time the journey was undertaken.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> The return of the +expedition was looked forward to with as much interest and anxiety as is +the return of the Cunard steamer at the port of New York. Each day found +the children on the hillside watching and waiting for the return of the +dear ones, and night was made hideous by the howling of the family +watchdog wailing over the absence of his master. The neighbors, too, +shared the general feeling and called several times a day to see if any +tidings had been received of them, or if there was anything they stood in +need of.</p> + +<p>The next step in the way of progress was to sink a well. This was a +necessity of the first degree, as the early settlers were compelled to +haul water from the distant creeks, or rivers, in barrels, and the quality +of the supply was not very high class. The presence of a well near at hand +would solve the problem and at the same time save a lot of time which +would naturally be required to bring it from a distance. The task was the +work of two men, as the well had to be sunk from one hundred to one +hundred and twenty-five feet before water could be found that would meet +the needs of the situation. One man could not do the work alone, so a +neighbor lent his assistance. By means of a derrick and a cheap mule +purchased for the purpose they raised the water when the well was dug. The +animal was left at the well and each man that went to draw water was to +see to it that his muleship did not suffer from want of attention.</p> + +<p>The above were only a few of the difficulties that the pioneer encountered +in his endeavor to get a start in life. Those who came to the country in +’79 or the early 80’s found difficulties in abundance. As it rained very +little during those years, their means were soon exhausted, and a great +many were forced through necessity to abandon their claims and return East +in search of employment. All would have been compelled to go were it not +for the carcasses left by the buffalo hunters who had taken nothing but +the hide and the hump. Buffalo bones were worth about $14 per ton, and the +pioneers that remained gathered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> them up and hauled them to market at +Dodge City. It took from eight to ten days to gather and market a load of +bones. This source of revenue, while not very remunerative, served as an +opportunity for them to keep body and soul together. By the time the bones +began to disappear entirely, they had succeeded in getting some land in a +state of cultivation and raised a fair crop of millet, sorghum and Kaffir +corn, crops adapted to the dry climate. Besides these things, a few +chickens and a cow or two relieved the situation a great deal. Most of the +old-timers who had the courage to stay, or rather lacked the means of +getting away, are today in good circumstances, and the land that was then +almost a desert, is now as productive as any in the United States.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Santa Fe Trail; How It Was Obtained; Freighting, Etc.</p> + +<p>The man who enlists in the army under the influence of patriotic speeches +delivered by some great orator, accompanied by a brass band, has no +conception of the nerve, energy and enterprise that was required of the +first man who popped his bull-whip over the backs of his oxen at little +old Westport on the banks of the Missouri River, and shouted to his men, +“Come on, boys, we are bound for Santa Fe.” There were no mile posts +before him to direct him on his way, and no scouts in advance to warn him +of impending dangers. There was nothing before but the open prairie, +trackless as the ocean, but onward he pressed across the unmarked plains, +over hills and canyons, across creeks and rivers, until he reached his +destination. His whole route lay through dangers from hostile tribes who, +if not on the warpath one day, were liable to be on the next. Everybody +was supposed to sleep with one eye open, otherwise he would be likely to +wake up in an unknown land, while his poor habitation of clay would be +left minus part of its thatch. Such were the conditions confronting the +heroes who opened up the trail and made it possible for the immigrants to +take Horace Greeley’s advice to “Go West and grow up with the country.” It +is true that there was a great profit in the freighting business in the +early days, but the difficulties and dangers were proportionally great. +The Indian was not the only risk—there was the prairie fire, the Texas +fever, and numerous other dangers confronting one at every step. When the +Texas fever seized the cattle,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> as the ox teams were called, the game was +up. I knew one man who drove into Dodge City with over a hundred head of +fine work oxen, and in less than six weeks he did not have enough stock +left to pull the empty wagons out of town, such was the fatal results of +the Texas fever.</p> + +<p>The prairie fire could be handled in most cases if it caught in the short +prairie or buffalo grass. All that was necessary was to start a back fire, +drive onto the burned space and wait until the head fire had passed. But +if it caught one in the river, or creek bottoms, where the grass grew from +four to six feet high, the only hope lay in flight with the chances very +much against one.</p> + +<p>Such were the principal difficulties to be encountered on the trail. There +were others of a less serious nature, but, nevertheless, very irksome and +sometimes dangerous, such as bogging down in the quicksand while crossing +a river, or creek. If the sand was not thoroughly packed by driving the +cattle back and forth over it before driving into it with a wagon, one was +liable to lose a wagon or two, and possibly the entire outfit.</p> + +<p>Freighting soon became quite an important industry. New trails were laid +off from the little towns that sprang up along the Santa Fe trail to the +different ranches in the Territory and Texas. The price paid for +freighting was at one time two to three dollars per hundred pounds, to the +Panhandle ranches. I have seen a train of wagons half a mile long going to +the Panhandle. It was about this time that the great American promoter, or +capitalist, came out of the jungles with a railroad scheme, went before +Congress and begged assistance for the infant industry. The idea was to +build the Santa Fe R. R. westward from Kansas City, and they could not +afford to do it without a land grant. It is needless to say that they +received it. It consisted of each alternate section for twenty miles on +each side of the track. The same railroad at about the same period gave +birth to another railroad (they came near being twins.) That is the branch +that runs southward through Kansas and the Indian Territory, through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> the +richest oil field in America. It is needless to say that they got this +grant through Congress also. I may here remark that I have watched our +legislators for a number of years and have never seen them make any +special effort to protect the farmer’s infant industry, though the farmer +outnumbers the promoter and the capitalist five hundred to one. The same +can be said of the mechanic’s infant industry.</p> + +<p>Moreover, it is to be noted that in a time of national distress, it is the +farmer and the mechanic who take their places in the ranks of the army to +fight the battle of the country. I have seen Congress take a hand in the +protection of the cattlemen in the Cherokee Strip, but at the same time +there was a certain Senator from Kansas who had interests there and who +wished that tract of land to remain a sort of “No Man’s Land” for the sole +benefit of himself and the Cattle Syndicate in which he was very much +interested. This condition endured for fourteen years. During this time +Payne and Couch organized a colony of settlers or “Nesters” as they were +called, and set a movement on foot to take up some of that land, and +establish their homes. Although it was unclaimed land, as soon as the +settlers had their little homes built and things in shape to take up the +burden of their lives, the soldiers through the influence of the Cattle +Syndicate swooped down upon them, arrested the settlers, tore down their +houses, and drove the offending parties back across the Kansas line. +Through all these discouraging conditions the settlers maintained the +fight and finally won out against the powerful Syndicate, but at what a +cost! Payne was arrested and taken to Fort Smith, handcuffed like a +criminal, and was held there for a long time but was not given a trial, as +there were no legal grounds for his arrest. Poor Payne did not live to +enjoy the fruits of his labors for the early settlers, but he made it +possible for them to make homes for themselves and enjoy them in peace, +unmolested by the powerful Syndicate and those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> who were in league with +them. Were it not for the fight put up by Payne and Couch, the land now +occupied by homes of thousands of happy and contented farmers would now be +the grazing ground of cattle owned by the Syndicate. Verily the wheels of +Justice move slowly when the interests of the poor man are at stake.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Freight Outfit on the Trail.—The Difficulties and Hardships Endured.—Different Kinds of Outfits, Etc.</p> + +<p>The freighter’s team was composed of from four to six yokes of oxen, +sometimes more, driven by one man called a “bullwhacker.” The train +consisted of a “lead” wagon and one or two “trail” wagons. The “lead” +wagon, being the heaviest and largest, usually carried a load of about +five tons. The “trailers” were loaded considerably lighter, carrying about +two or three tons each. In ascending steep hills, or crossing streams, the +“trail” wagons were usually “dropped” if the conditions of the road +demanded it. If the river crossing was quicksandy the cattle were taken +out and driven back and forth across the stream until the quicksand was +packed sufficiently to be considered safe. This decision was left to the +judgment of the foreman, or the “boss” of the train. Then the wagons were +taken across one by one until the whole outfit was landed safely on the +opposite side.</p> + +<p>The old-time freighter invariably crossed the streams in the afternoon or +evenings, for two reasons. First, the teams, whether oxen or mules, would +pull much better in the evening than when hitched up fresh in the morning +as they usually had sore shoulders, and in the morning were very reluctant +to go against the yoke or collar in a very heavy pull. Secondly, it might +rain during the night and the rivers or streams would become so swollen +that passing would be impossible, and they would be compelled to remain in +camp until the streams returned to their usual shallow condition.</p> + +<p>The foreman always kept one or two saddle horses, a pair of forty-five +six-shooters, a Winchester, and a slicker, as it was one of his duties to +ride a few miles in advance of the train to pick out the crossings and to +avoid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> all difficulties of the journey, and to keep the teamsters posted +on the best route to follow. Very frequently the foreman kept the +commissary department of the train supplied with fresh meat, as deer, +antelope and other large game were plentiful, and the prairie was +literally covered with buffalo. It was no difficult matter to kill such +game, as they were unacquainted with the sound of a gun, or the sight of +man, which condition changed as they soon learned that the proximity of a +man spelled danger and consequently they became very wild. When a buffalo +or deer was killed, it was skinned and the hide salted and taken along for +use, or to sell. The hide of the antelope was considered worthless. The +meat that was not intended for immediate use was cut into strips, dipped +in salt water and hung on a line or the wagon bows to dry and was then +preserved for future use. Flies never bothered meat treated in this +manner. Such meat was said to be “jerked,” and would remain in good +condition for use for over a year.</p> + +<p>The outfits usually made a journey of about twelve miles a day, as it was +impossible to carry enough feed along for the stock and have at the same +time room enough for the freight. Consequently, it was necessary to graze +the stock, which required a considerable time and caused much delay. It +was necessary also to have the cattle graze during the daytime owing to +the fact that the Indians had a penchant for stampeding a herd at night +and running it off to parts unknown for their own use. As a result of this +condition, what traveling was done was accomplished in one shift, as it +would require too much time and trouble to hitch up twice in the same day. +At times, when the grazing was exceptionally good, the freighter remained +in such a place for some time, as some of the stock would be footsore and +besides the wagons needed greasing, the harness and the rest of the outfit +had to be examined and repairs made where needed, sore shoulders had to be +given medical treatment, and, in fine, everything had to be done to keep +the expedition in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> proper shape. The teamsters particularly spent +considerable of their spare time in looking after their own accoutrements, +as it was a matter of pride with a teamster to have his implements in +proper condition. The whip to the teamster was the same as the rifle to +the soldier. It had to be looked after with care. New tips, called +“poppers,” or “crackers,” had to be provided. The lash, usually about +twelve feet in length, required considerable skill in the handling of it. +A green hand was as likely to wrap it around his own neck as to hit the +object intended to receive the blow. The whip in the hands of an expert +was a different weapon, and he could perform wonders with it. I have seen +drivers wrap the tip of their whip around the neck of a prairie chicken or +a grouse and jerk it into the wagon without leaving their seats. If it +were necessary some of them could tear a patch of hide off the side of a +refractory mule with the deftness of a surgeon.</p> + +<p>In going into camp there was one rule that the old-timers always lived up +to rigidly, and that was to form a corral by driving one part of the +wagons to the right and the other part to the left, making the two lead +wagons meet and forming a circle with the trail wagons six or eight feet +apart. The space thus left open served the purpose of a gate, and they +usually made their beds inside the corral. The stock was usually held +inside the corral for the night, or if permitted to graze were driven in +to be hitched. If any of them proved unruly, they were usually roped and +drawn up to the wagon while being yoked and harnessed. In case of an +attack by the Indians the corral offered a good protection for the men as +well as the stock.</p> + +<p>The third trail wagon attached to some of the teams was never as heavy nor +loaded as heavily as the others, but was used as a sort of trap-wagon or +“catch-all” for all the extras that were brought along to supply the place +of any of the parts that were broken or suffered damage. Each man looked +after his traps and particularly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> his own bed, consisting of a blanket. +When not in use it was rolled up and carried in the trap wagon.</p> + +<p>With each large outfit there was a night herder, or a horse wrangler. It +was his duty to go out with the stock during the night and bring them into +the corral in the morning. In case the Indians were on the warpath or were +reported near at hand, he had to stand guard over the outfit, as the stock +in such a case would be left in the corral until daylight. This system was +maintained by all outfits, whether they drove oxen or mules.</p> + +<p>The cowman’s outfit was entirely different. He never used more than two +wagons, one the lead wagon, and the other the trail, to carry his supplies +and cooking utensils. He always used mules or horses in preference to +oxen, as oxen were too slow for the needs of his business. The trail wagon +was used principally for carrying bedding. In the rear of it there was a +cupboard, or grub box, built about three feet in height and fastened to +the wagon by means of bolts. The door of the cupboard, instead of swinging +as in ordinary articles of the kind, swung downwards and was used as a +dining table. The interior of the cupboard was so arranged that the dishes +could be safely stored away together with some canned goods, if it were +possible to obtain the latter, as they were seldom seen in the early days +along the trail. Outside of the necessary articles required for the +journey, nothing else was carried, so that the cowman and his party had +little opportunity to enjoy any luxuries. As supply points were few and +far between, the price of goods, especially bacon, baking powder, salt, +tobacco and other essentials was very high. The lead wagon was used for +general supplies, and it required an abundance of the same to carry the +outfit from one replenishing point to another. I am speaking here of what +is called “through herds,” that is, herds on the way to market.</p> + +<p>While provisions were scarce and difficult to obtain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> it is a remarkable +fact that the ranchers never tried to improve the situation in any +appreciable degree. They never planted a garden. No vegetables ever +appeared at mess excepting, once in a while, potatoes and onions. +Nevertheless, all kinds of garden produce might have been had at a very +small outlay, and with very little labor, but the average, and you might +say, all the cowboys had an aversion for anything that had the appearance +of farming, which they considered degrading. I have been at a number of +ranches that maintained from twenty-five to thirty thousand head of cattle +and did not see a pound of butter or a drop of milk on the table. Eggs, +chickens and fresh pork were unknown to them. In fact, they produced +nothing but cattle and considered everything else unimportant.</p> + +<p>When the railroad was extended to Dodge City, that place became the +shipping point for the beef-cattle of the whole Southwest. When that +assembling point was established to supply the Eastern market, it relieved +the tedium and difficulties of an overland journey to Kansas City. As a +consequence of this, the cattle industry in Indian Territory received an +impetus, and many cattlemen moved into that district from Colorado and +Texas, and established themselves along the North and South Canadian +rivers and their tributaries. Quite a number of them became very wealthy +in a few years owing to the rise in the price of beef and the low cost of +production. While some of them grew wealthy through taking advantage of +the natural resources, others lost all they possessed owing to the severe +winters, lack of protection for their stock and an insufficient supply of +food for their herds. The result of their misfortune was that they slipped +back among the vast army of the luckless ones and were seldom heard of, +while those who had the foresight to provide against all the contingencies +of the uncertain climate by putting up hay in the summer time and +protecting their ranches from the destructive prairie fires, prospered +handsomely.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p class="chtit">No Man’s Land.—First Settlers.—Branding Mavericks, Etc.</p> + +<p>About the year 1878, as the last buffalo was about to disappear, the +hunters were compelled to seek some new field of labor, or devote their +attention to some other occupation. It was about this time that the first +house was erected in what is now called Beaver City, the county seat of +Beaver county, Oklahoma. At that time the county was unsurveyed, and a +man’s possessions were limited to what land he could use, or furnish +cattle to graze upon, as there was plenty for everybody, and no need of +disputing ownership.</p> + +<p>I shall briefly mention a few of the earliest settlers.</p> + +<p>Two ex-hunters, Jim Lane and Nels Cary, brought their families and built a +sod house. With an eye to business, they put up hay and built corrals for +the accommodation of freighters and cattlemen. Seeing their way open to +further development, they put in a stock of groceries and provisions of +all kinds, and were soon doing a flourishing business by providing for the +wants of man and beast.</p> + +<p>The Healy Brothers came from Galveston with their herds of cattle, and +located their ranch on the North bank of Beaver Creek, where their efforts +were crowned with success.</p> + +<p>The Kramer Brothers, Lou and Frank, with a brother-in-law, Mr. Hooker, +established a ranch west of Beaver City and also another one on Clear +Creek, where they devoted their time and attention to the improvement of +their stock by raising thoroughbred cattle.</p> + +<p>The Cader Brothers, formerly engaged in the hunting business, chose for +themselves a ranch on Paladuro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> Creek and met with great success, if rumor +is to be believed.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hardesty, more familiarly known as Old Jack, established two +ranches, one in Beaver county and another on the Cimmaron river, which +were known as the “Hardesty” and “Smith” ranches, and at one time claimed +to have forty thousand head of cattle.</p> + +<p>Another successful ranchman of those early days was John George, who is +still residing in the district where he met with such success. After the +opening of Oklahoma Territory for settlement, he was chosen to represent +his district in the Oklahoma legislature, and was one of the very few +members thereof who gave complete satisfaction to his constituents. He was +a staunch Democrat, an honest and upright man, just the kind that was +sorely needed in the Territorial Legislature at that time, and of which +there was a lamentable scarcity.</p> + +<p>Fred Tainter, of Boston, Massachusetts, established a ranch on Cottonwood +Creek, and bred a fine grade of stock. He remained in those parts for +years.</p> + +<p>There were many others who succeeded in attaining success in the business +of raising cattle, but I mention only a few of the most successful ones.</p> + +<p>I here mention another branch of the ranching business that met with great +difficulties in its day and which, to the cowman, was most unwelcome. The +Tarbox Brothers, Rufe and Wall, moved in with a drove of sheep from +Colorado and settled on the Cimmaron river. A sheepman is always received +with scant courtesy in a cattle country. There has always been ill feeling +between the sheepman and the cattleman, and in the trouble that generally +ensued on their meeting, the sheepman was the one to move to other +quarters. In fact, even if the cattlemen were left out of consideration, +the sheepmen would be compelled to move by force of circumstances, as +sheep are very destructive feeders, and soon ruin the range for themselves +as well as for the cattle. In a very short time after their arrival, +every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> vestige of grass will disappear from the range, and the prairie +will be converted into a desert. The reason lies in the fact that the +sheep crop the grass into the ground and cut up the soil with their hoofs +so that the high wind which invariably blows drives the sand before it, +cutting off the new grass that may spring up. This, together with the long +dry periods, soon kills out the roots, and the prairie is left a waste. +Moreover, cattle will not eat off the range that has been grazed over by +sheep, so of the two industries it was a case of the survival of the +fittest.</p> + +<p>The struggle between the cattlemen and the sheepmen was little, if any, +short of war. This condition existed for many years in Texas, Indian +Territory, Western Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and in all of +the states adapted to the raising of stock. The usual arguments advanced +by both sides of the question, in order to determine who was to hold any +particular section, generally sounded like the exhausts of a few racing +automobiles. One of the sufferers of misfortune due to the habitual state +of hostility between the two industries was the firm of Tarbox brothers, +who gave up the business of raising sheep, moved to Dodge City, Kansas, +where Rufe was afterwards elected Mayor.</p> + +<p>As the most desirable location for the establishment of a ranch was along +the creeks and rivers, through the necessity of having plenty of water for +the stock, and as the rivers and creeks were few and far between, all the +choice sections were soon taken up.</p> + +<p>As none of the ranchers cared to venture into the semi-arid plains that +lay between the far distant sources of their water supply, and being +equally unwilling to depend upon the deep wells that would be required if +they would branch out into the open flat lands around them, they left that +part of the prairie for the small farmer, or the “nester,” as they called +them.</p> + +<p>Each cattleman had his own private brand which was duly registered and was +known to every other <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>cattleman in the entire West. They were, also, very +careful to employ the said brand on all cattle, mules and horses, and any +young stock that had been weaned and was not running with the mother was +classified as a maverick and belonged to the first man who put his brand +upon them.</p> + +<p>There were many men who became very wealthy in the cattle country, whose +sole assets in the beginning were, a branding iron, a rope, a pony and a +saddle. They branded mavericks, and the natural increase of their original +find belonged to them also. In this way, in a very short time, they +accumulated quite a herd. Then, by establishing their headquarters +somewhere, they became full-fledged ranchers without the outlay of any +capital whatever. This was successful as long as they were not caught, but +woe to the man whose brand was upon a calf that was running with a cow +that carried another brand. The meanest way such men had of carrying on +their nefarious trade was to kill the mother cow after the calf was old +enough to live on grass, brand the calf and run it off to another part of +the range.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Round-Up.—Difficulties.—Some Incidents, Etc.</p> + +<p>Every Spring and Fall occurred the general round-up, which consisted of +all the cattlemen in the country, who assembled all the cattle found on +the ranges in which they were interested. They rounded them up, or bunched +them at a common center in different districts, each ranch being +represented at each place. All the increase was branded and marked by the +owner, the ownership being decided by the brand borne by the mother cow. +The beef-cattle were cut out and shipped. Here occurred at times a +combination of forces. Ranchers two or more in number lumped their herds +together, and drove them to market, each one bearing his proportion of the +expense, and receiving his proceeds in accordance with the number of +cattle in his part of the drove.</p> + +<p>Between round-ups it was surprising how the cattle would drift. Even +though the cowboys took all precautions, when the round-up came there was +always a great mix-up in the brands, some of the stock having wandered as +far as two hundred miles from its own ranch. These, when found, were +separated and thrown back on their own range. During the summer while the +cattle were grazing, the rancher usually put up hay for the season when +the grass would be covered with snow. As soon as the Fall round-up was +completed, sheds were erected and windbreaks made to protect the stock +from the inclemency of the “Northers” as the storms were at that time +called.</p> + +<p>A few buffalo that had escaped the hunters still remained on the range, +and frequently furnished diversion for the cowboy during the dull season. +It was his sport and, at the same time, a test of his skill, to rope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> a +buffalo calf and bring it to the ranch to be mothered by an old cow that +already was devoting her time and energy to raising a young one of her +own. Then was displayed the motherly instinct for the protection of one’s +own. As soon as the young buffalo was introduced to his foster-mother +there ensued a vigorous protest against the additional burden imposed upon +her by the scheming of others. Strenuosity was displayed at all angles, +particularly fore and aft, in her efforts to rid herself of the new-found +charge. She kicked and hooked and kicked again till kicking was a failure. +The more she objected, the more the self-adopted buffalo persisted in +devoting his time and attention to her. Once he had a taste of that cow’s +milk he hung to her with all the persistency and tenacity of an Oklahoma +office-seeker, and she finally submitted with more or less bad grace to +the inevitable, and consented to act as mother to the mascot of the +ranch.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Beaver County.—Peculiar Conditions in Vogue.—Good Men and Bad.—The Vigilantes.—Personal Experiences.</p> + +<p>About the year 1876, if I remember rightly, the U. S. Government made an +appropriation to have Beaver county surveyed. The contract was let and the +county divided up into sections or townships, each six miles square, and +zinc monuments were erected at the corners of each, but as the +appropriation was insufficient to meet the costs of the survey, the work +was abandoned for a considerable time, and it was not till some years +later that the completion of the undertaking took place.</p> + +<p>It soon became known that there was no law in that section of the country; +nor had the U. S. Government any control over, nor authority to arrest +criminals, nor even to prosecute them there. Consequently it soon became +the dumping grounds for fugitives from justice and criminals of all kinds. +Saloon men who had been paying license for the sale of intoxicating +liquors, ceased contributing to the general fund, but continued to deal +out their wares with impunity. One man built a still and manufactured his +own whiskey and did a flourishing business, although he had to freight his +corn from Kansas to produce his wares. To give honor where honor is due, I +must confess that he produced a very good quality.</p> + +<p>There was considerable immigration into this county in ’79 and ’80, as +most of the desirable land in Kansas had been pre-empted. Hundreds of good +men and women came in and selected homes, and those who could not find +locations along the water courses went out into the flat prairie lands, +erected houses, fenced their fields to protect them against the range +cattle, broke up as much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> land as they could conveniently handle, and made +what improvements their means would permit. As soon as the neighbors +became acquainted with one another, they organized Sunday Schools, held +meetings at some convenient place weekly, divided the districts into +school sections and built schools. Each school house served the purpose of +a meeting house for Sunday services as well as for any other business that +required a meeting of the people. In a short time the county began to +develop the earmarks of civilization.</p> + +<p>Following in the footsteps of those law-abiding citizens came a class of +criminals who migrated from their native heaths expecting immunity from +the punishment due to the crimes they had committed, and which caused +their departure to this haven of refuge. Nor did they abstain from their +criminal pursuits while in this “refugium peccatorum,” or asylum of the +wicked. As soon as they had become familiar with the topography of the +county, and, as they were too lazy to work, they soon took up their old +practice of lying in wait for the unsuspecting and carrying off his goods +when possible. They usually drifted from one ranch to another pretending +to look for work, and imposed upon the hospitality of the rancher, who +provided for their wants free of charge as long as they cared to remain. I +may here remark that the hospitality of the Western people has never been +surpassed, and I may say, never equalled. A cowman considered himself +insulted if one should leave or pass his ranch at meal time without +partaking of his hospitality. Not only this, but as nothing was ever +locked up, it was considered the proper etiquette if no one were at home, +to enter and help oneself to his supplies and to make oneself perfectly at +home. No one was ever asked whence he came or whither he was going. If he +volunteered the information without being asked, it was received, and if +not given the result was the same, namely, no questions asked. In this way +it was a very easy matter for the criminal to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> gain an intimate knowledge +of conditions, which they used to their own advantage later on to the +detriment of people generally. They did not confine their depredations to +Beaver county only, nor to No-Man’s Land, but thoroughly organized +themselves into bands and extended their nefarious business to Western +Kansas, Indian Territory, and West Texas. Those who actually stole stock +from the farms and ranches, usually took them a few miles and passed them +on to their companions in crime, so that no familiar face was absent from +the scene of the theft, and thus they avoided suspicion. When a settler’s +stock was stolen, he very seldom had the slightest idea of the direction +to be taken to recover them, and in most cases was financially unable to +make an extended search in any direction. Many a time the loss of a few +head of cattle meant all that he had, wiping out his whole accumulation of +years of hard work and privation and just at a time when he began to see +better times ahead as he was getting something to work with. This +condition of affairs could not be permitted to continue, and while the +means employed by the settlers to terminate this organized pilfering, and +at the same time make some return to the culprit for the wrongs suffered +at his hands, may seem hard to the people who were never subjected to +conditions such as prevailed in that country, they were as a matter of +fact nothing more nor less than cold-blooded Justice. Those who are +ignorant of the conditions must remember that the loss of a milch cow +meant the principal part of his family’s support, and his wife and +children were thus put in a state of actual want thereby, and as there +were no means of obtaining legal redress for such losses, they had the law +of self-preservation to guide them and from it there was no appeal.</p> + +<p>At this point the idea forced itself upon the settlers that they must +organize, as it was a physical impossibility to combat a well-regulated +band of outlaws single-handed; so, after calling a meeting of the best<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +citizens and discussing the matter carefully, it was decided to organize a +Vigilance Committee and see what effect the hanging of a few of the +“rustlers” would have upon the remainder of them, and at the same time how +it would affect the welfare of the settlers. The moral effect of the +organization of the Committee resulted in checking to a certain degree the +depredations of the criminals, but it did not wipe it out entirely. A +great many of the more timid ones abandoned their evil ways, but the more +daring were willing to take a chance and abide by the consequences, which +several of them experienced. The Vigilantes occupied the positions of +Sheriff, Judge, Jury and Executioner, and when a culprit was caught +red-handed his case was summarily disposed of in about thirty minutes, +except for the funeral and burial services, which were left usually for +anybody that cared to participate in them.</p> + +<p>I had a ranch in Texas during those troublous times, and was one time +wintering a herd of cattle near Fowler City, Kansas. Consequently I had to +make a number of trips through that unsettled district, sometimes on +horseback and at others in a buckboard, and it seemed almost invariably my +good or bad fortune, as you wish to call it, to enter some place or other +at a time when a tragedy was being enacted.</p> + +<p>I was once crossing in a buckboard in the direction of Englewood, Kansas, +with a consignment of eggs that were beginning to suffer breakage owing to +the roughness of the journey, and I began to look for a place to dispose +of them to some settler. I soon reached a place that bore the sign, +“Groceries,” and there sold my eggs, bought some tobacco and a few other +necessaries. While talking to the store-keeper, I noticed a group of men +at another sod building, and I inquired of him what they were doing. “Oh, +nothing much. They have just been hanging a man over there.” I asked him +what the unfortunate had done. “Well,” said he, “he has been stealing +horses.” I went out to water my horses just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> as a part of the group were +passing. Recognizing two of them I inquired of them what the fellow had +done and where they had arrested him. They replied he had been stealing +horses both in the neighborhood and in Clark county, Kansas. The sheriff +had followed his trail and caught him South of where we were then, and was +taking him back to Kansas. He was bringing him through that section and +they took him away from the sheriff and hanged him. I asked him if he did +not think the punishment rather severe. He replied that he did not think +so, and besides there was no use of letting the sheriff take all the +trouble of bringing him back to Kansas where the judges would turn him +loose in ninety days and then he would be back at his criminality again. +Mike Shrugrue was the name of the sheriff who had the prisoner in charge, +and a braver man was not to be found in the State of Kansas, but he could +not stand off the Vigilantes. To attempt anything of the kind was to +invite disaster. It would be only throwing away another life needlessly, +as the one was doomed under any circumstances.</p> + +<p>The difference between the Vigilantes and a mob must be thoroughly +understood to be appreciated. The one stood for law and order, was +organized from necessity, as there was not any law than theirs, and was +approved of by the residents of the country in which they operated in the +interests of justice; the other, the mob, is a hot-headed, angry, or +rather frenzied crowd that usually defeats the claims of justice by taking +the law into its own hands in most cases where the law would handle the +case in a more satisfactory manner, if allowed to take its course. This +mode of procedure is always condemned by the better class of citizens, +while the actions of the Vigilantes, who were, with few exceptions, of the +better class, were performed usually through stern necessity, rather than +from anger. The trial given was usually very short. In most cases the +guilt was very clear, as the criminal was nearly always taken manifest,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +as he was usually taken in the act of committing a crime. If the prisoner +had a plausible story to tell, it was investigated before any further +proceedings took place. If he happened to be one of the notorious class of +criminals, which was commonly the case, the culprit was given short +shrift. Neither mode of procedure is to be recommended as the safest +course to attain the ends of justice.</p> + +<p>The greatest difficulty to be met with in the interest of justice, was in +handling the cases of “rustlers,” as there were always some of the same +ilk on hand to prove a complete alibi. Fifty men could be assembled on a +day’s notice to prove that the accused was a hundred miles away from the +scene of the crime when it was committed. As a consequence of this, most +of the accused were released, or, if caught red-handed in their rascality, +were admitted to bail, which was furnished by their companions in crime, +and then they forfeited the bail and took leave to parts unknown.</p> + +<p>My next experience occurred not long afterwards while making a trip from +Timms City, Texas, across the country to the Fred Taintor ranch. On this +occasion my family accompanied me in the then up-to-date means of travel, +namely, a lumber wagon. The trail was in good condition and we were making +good time. One day, about dinner time, I was keeping a lookout for a good +camping place for the purpose of supplying the needs of both the family +and the cattle. It was impossible to build a fire, as the wind was blowing +a gale, and the prairie was very dry and a fire would likely spread and +lay waste the whole county. Seeing the impossibility of camping, though I +had found a suitable place, I determined to push on to some ranch where +our wants would be supplied. I knew where a man by the name of Kingston, +from Illinois, had put up a small frame building and had laid in a stock +of groceries. I finally reached the object of my search and when +approaching the store I had to pass another building occupied by a family. +As I was passing a woman stepped out and asked me if I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> was going to the +store. I replied that I was, and told her what my business was there. She +informed me that it was of no use as Mr. Kingston had been murdered the +evening before. She showed me where they were burying him at that moment. +She also informed me that one of the bullets fired at Mr. Kingston had +passed under the cow she happened to be milking at the time. It is +needless to say that I did not tarry long in that neighborhood, but went +on until I finally reached the Taintor ranch, where the latch string +always hung on the outside of the door. The reception we had and the +supper provided soon made us forget that we had had no dinner. After a +good night’s rest we proceeded on our way to sunny Kansas.</p> + +<p>In the meantime I had learned the circumstances leading up to the Kingston +tragedy. It appeared that Mr. K—had received through the mail a draft for +several hundred dollars and the Postmaster had mentioned the fact to a +neighbor. The conversation had been overheard by two cut-throats who +waited until they thought it had been cashed and then hatched up a plan to +murder him for his money. It seemed from the appearance of things inside +the house that they had intended to hang him so as to give it the +appearance of suicide and then get away with the cash. The room was not +ceiled and a rope was found hanging over a joist with a noose in one end. +While making their preparations it seemed that he had broken away from +them and had reached the prairie in front of the store, where they shot +him.</p> + +<p>Someone has said that the way of the transgressor is hard, and in this +instance it proved undoubtedly correct, for the Vigilants set out after +those men, ran them down in the brakes of a creek and sent sixteen bullets +through one of them; the other escaped and made his way to Dodge City, +Kan., where he proceeded to fill up on whiskey and made other arrangements +to take in the town. The City Marshall’s opinion was that the town was too +small for two men to run at the same time, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>especially as one was a +stranger who had not been duly elected for the position. As a result, a +gun argument was introduced to settle the question and the bad man was +killed in the first round. His funeral occurred next day with all the +ceremonies befitting a man of his calling and he was interred on +“Boot-hill” without flowers on his casket, or tears shed over his demise. +It turned out afterwards that Mr. Kingston had not cashed the draft, so +all the money that the rogues obtained by murder and robbery was what was +in the cash drawer at the time.</p> + +<p>The Vigilants, for the time being, performed valuable services for the +settlers and were largely instrumental in driving out of that country a +lot of thugs, thieves, and cut-throats, who were preying upon the people. +But, strange to say, time proved that some of themselves were not entirely +above suspicion, as the following incident will show. One day as I was +riding along the divide between Kiowa Creek and the Beaver, I met a man +whom I recognized to be Jake Smith. I use the name Smith for convenience, +as that was not his name, and I do not care to use his rightful cognomen +as he left that country shortly afterwards, went over to Kansas, married a +nice girl, went into business and became a leader socially and a pillar in +the Church, is generally respected and is living an upright life. Knowing +him well, I hailed him.</p> + +<p>“Well, Jake,” I said, “your horse looks pretty well jaded, you must have +had a long ride.”</p> + +<p>Said he, “Oh, that’s nothing. I must ride to Alpine tonight as there is +to be a meeting of the Vigilants at eight o’clock and I want to be there.”</p> + +<p>“Do you belong to the Vigilants?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes,” he replied. “I was one of the first to join them and have been +working with them ever since.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Jake,” said I, “you’re a jewel, a regular diamond. You know that +you have been stealing cattle and branding ‘mavericks’ ever since you +landed in this country, and all the old-timers know it, and now you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +running your horse to death to catch a rustler. That is a great joke!”</p> + +<p>“I see plainly that you do not understand,” said he. “The situation is +this: I had to join them for self-protection and also to look after the +interests of my friends. Talk of running my horse to death! I have just +been returning a favor. I have just been up to the head of Clear Creek to +tell Slim Jim to skip, because if they catch him he will stretch hemp for +stealing Old Dusenberry’s mules, and besides, Slim ain’t no bad fellow +when he has a good paying job.”</p> + +<p>I have never had the pleasure of meeting Jake since, but if I ever visit +Kansas I shall be certain to call and see him to find out how he managed +to keep from stealing his own goods and hiding them out in the canyons, +through force of habit after having resolved to leave other men’s chattels +alone.</p> + +<p>It seemed to be the custom whenever a small settlement was formed, for +some one to put up a grocery store, locate a postoffice and call it by +some high-sounding title and establish the nucleus of a city. For +instance, there was Boyd City, Beaver City, Benton City, Alpine City, +Neutral City, and Gate City, mostly located on the divides, or flat +prairie lands on the established trails. “Sod Town,” whose name was not so +high-sounding as descriptive, soon sprang into existence as the Monte +Carlo, or sporting center of the whole country. It was there at round-up +time, each spring and fall, that the boys were accustomed to meet and run +their horses, discuss matters of common interest, and, in general, to have +a good time. As nearly every ranch had a fast horse or two, also a prize +roper, whenever the convention took place, things were bound to be lively +and at times quite a little money changed hands on the result of a horse +race, or other contest of skill.</p> + +<p>Among the famous horses of that day that I recall, were “Old Pumpkin,” a +general favorite, “Stick-in-the-Mud,” “Greasy Heels,” “Wobble Shanks,” and +“Sore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> Toes” with a dozen or so of others to select from, and each and +every one had its backers and admirers.</p> + +<p>Frank Biggers, Jim Mahoney, Sour-dough-Charlie, Heel-Fly Bill, Snake +Eater, and Bull Joe were generally the leading spirits at the race course, +and as Frank Biggers was a lover of fair play, he was usually chosen to +act as judge; besides, he had a manner of enforcing his decisions which +commanded respect and the compliance of the wildest and wooliest of the +assembly.</p> + +<p>For the benefit of the readers who are unaccustomed to the ways and +phrases of the Western people, I shall here state that the nicknames of a +great many of them were acquired from their calling, or from some incident +or occurence on the range. If one were to drop into the Panhandle country +and inquire for Mr. Chas. Deitrich, Mr. Joseph Parish, or some others who +were mostly known by nickname, I doubt very much if the inquirer would +find his man, but if he were to ask for Sour-dough Charlie, or Bull Joe, +any one could tell them at once where to find them or what their business +was. Some of the names allotted to individuals may seem rude to the elite +of the East and give the impression of vulgarity and rudeness, but on +acquaintance one would find them good, kind, and obliging men as ever +saddled a broncho or branded a maverick. The congregation at Sod Town was +composed of men who knew one another and any money won or lost was taken +as a matter of course, and there was no grief over spilt milk. Theirs was +a vigorous life and healthy outdoor sport appealed to them. When their +sport was over, they were off to the ranch again in good spirits.</p> + +<p>Among the early settlers of Sod Town were two young men, named Ellis and +Fiske, who opened a Grocery and Supply store. They kept a large stock of +provisions, as well as, boots, shoes, slickers, and other articles adapted +to the trade of the cattlemen. In a short time they built up a good trade +and were liked by all. One night, two bad men, or would-be road<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> agents, +called at the store and rapped for admission. This was not at all out of +the ordinary as the cattleman’s business kept him at all hours. It was +nothing unusual for him to rout out the store-keeper at any hour of the +night and have his wants supplied. On the night in question, when Ellis +heard the rapping, he donned his trousers and fortunately had his +six-shooters in his waistband. As soon as he opened the door of his store +he was commanded to put up his hands. He proceeded to do so, but in the +act of raising his hand he drew his gun and shot one of the bad men, +wounding him badly. Both turned to flee. Ellis pulled down on them in +their flight, and by the aid of light from a prairie fire that was burning +at the time, fired at the fleeing bad men and killed outright the man he +had wounded at the door. The other villian made his escape into the +darkness. Of course, Ellis was arrested and taken before the U. S. Court +for that district and was honorably discharged. He should not have been +arrested for a case of that kind, but there were milage fees to be +considered, and the marshall seldom if ever overlooked an opportunity of +the kind for increasing his wealth. I have never heard of any other bad +men calling on Ellis and Fiske in search of assistance in a financial way, +especially in the manner mentioned above.</p> + +<p>Sour-dough Charlie had a little ranch of his own on Wolf Creek where he +kept a few horses. He raised a few colts each year, and to fill in his odd +time he tanned deer skin, made gloves for the cow punchers, and at times +used to cook for a round-up as he was an artist in that line of work as +well as being a very entertaining fellow. His chief work of art was the +construction of sour dough bread and he had the reputation of being a +master in the work. One afternoon a cow-puncher pulled up to the wagon and +called for his chuck-a-way, and said he wanted it at once as he had to +return to the herd and stand guard while his partner came for his supply. +The cook told him he would have to wait for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> awhile as he did not have +things in shape to get an extra meal. Without further parley and without +any warning the puncher picked up a crock full of sour dough and struck +the cook over the head with it. The contents spilled over his head and ran +down into his eyes and mingled with his whiskers. Right then and there was +originated and conferred upon him the title of “Old Sour-dough Charlie,” a +name that will remain with him as long as he lives.</p> + +<p>Nicknames and titles, in this county, amount to about the same thing +although conferred in different ways according to conditions. The man who +succeeded in accumulating a herd of cattle amounting to one or two hundred +was given the name of Captain. If he acquired five or six hundred, he was +addressed as Major, and a man who through good management and perseverance +numbered his stock by thousands became the “Old Colonel.” There was one +very noticeable change in the habits, manners, customs and character of +the men who had acquired the title of Captain, Major, or Colonel, and that +was shown in their dress. The styles of their garments differed, they +dispensed with the snake-skin band, they changed their underwear, +frequently had their whiskers trimmed and hair cut, and occasionally +became a power in local politics. The question was never asked when and +how these men became possessed of such large herds in such short time, but +to the old-timer it was plain that the Old Colonel was a great business +man, or was an expert with the lariat and an artist with the branding +iron.</p> + +<p>How different is the conferring of titles in foreign lands, especially in +Great Britain, where titles have to be ratified by supreme authority and +approved of by local potentates, and even there we find some titles +resting on tottering foundations and others hang by a very slender thread +which is liable to part at any time and leave the possessor in a pitiable +mass of social wreckage. The ceremonies on such occasions are calculated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +to dazzle the eye and deceive the judgement of the spectator. The +sleight-of-hand performer and the street fakir practice the same system +and the man with the three-shell game and the three card monte man are all +on the same level, but Royalty claims age and dignity wherever you find +it. When Capt. Drake returned to England after his expedition of murder, +plunder, and piracy, and his arrival was announced to the Good Queen Bess +who was on the throne at the time, she at once called for a royal banquet +to be held on board his vessel. After rounding up all her Royal +roustabouts, flunkeys, and followers, she proceeded direct to the ship +where she was going to preside in state until she had knighted the Capt., +whose hands were still red with the blood of his murdered victims. When +the time for the ceremony was at hand, at a motion of her magic wand the +Captain dropped to his knees at her feet to receive the power and +authority to take and keep any property on the seas that he felt like +confiscating; which meant any that he might be able to lay his hands on. +The ceremony consisted of laying the sword of authority across his bald +pate and telling him that henceforth he was at liberty to do as he pleased +and that he should remain her loyal subject. She then commanded him to +arise and he did so, but was so dazzled with the great honor conferred +upon him that I do not suppose he could tell whether he was a duck or a +drake.</p> + +<p class="poem">A prince can make a belted Knight,<br /> +A Marquis, duke, and a’ that,<br /> +But an honest man’s aboon his might,<br /> +Good faith he muna fa’ that.</p> + +<p>The price of titles, like other commodities, depends greatly upon the +locality where they are granted. In England, the title cost Sir W. Raleigh +his head; in Texas, a title cost Sour-dough Charley but a few loaves of +bread. Imagine the difference.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Wild Horses; Traits; Difficulties of Catching Them; Preparations for the Same; Personal Experiences.</p> + +<p>My experience has taught me that there has not been another animal on the +plains as inquisitive and suspicious as the wild horse, or mustang, as it +is called. The early horse hunter took advantage of this characteristic +inquisitiveness to approach sufficiently close to effect his capture. This +was done by placing a wagon sheet, or a bed quilt on a stake and then +hiding in the bushes or grass in the vicinity. The hunter was compelled to +remain perfectly quiet in his lair as the slightest sound at times would +stampede the horses and render his quest futile. The mustangs, on +discovering the strange object in their neighborhood would commence to run +round and round in circles, reducing the radius of the circle each time +until finally they were within a distance of about two hundred yards of +the object of their curiosity. Then they would stand perfectly still and +that was the time there was need of caution on the part of the hunter, as +the breaking of a twig, the sound of a voice, or any slight noise that +would be likely to reach their ears, would start them off in wild affright +to return no more as long as there were any indications of disturbance in +the neighborhood. If the hunter remained quietly in hiding and gave no +sign of his presence in any manner, their curiosity would bring them back +again to make a further exploration of the strange phenomenon. In this +manner the old horse-hunter used to entice them close enough to “crease” +one of them, as it was called. This “creasing” consisted in taking a very +careful and deliberate aim with a rifle and shooting the horse in front of +the withers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> through the top of the neck close to the spinal cord. This +stunned or shocked him so that he would fall in his tracks, paralyzed for +the time being, giving the hunter time, if he moved swiftly, to run from +his hiding place with his hobble-rope and hog-tie him before he recovered. +It frequently happened that the hunter arrived there too late as the horse +often recovered from his shock and was up and away before his arrival; or, +the shot being badly aimed, reached a vital spot and the horse would be +dead before he could get the hobbles on him. If everything worked out +satisfactorily, and the mustang was secured, he would place a “Hackamaw” +on his head in such a way that it could not be shaken loose in the +struggle that was bound to follow. I shall here explain that a Hackamaw is +a sort of halter, or headstall, made of the end of a lariat rope and put +on in such a manner that it holds the head of the mustang firmly without +the danger of choking the animal. When the animal was secured, the hunter +gave his partner a signal to bring up the saddle horses that were held at +a distance and out of sight so as not to scare the herd before capture. +The fun commenced in earnest when the hobbles were removed and the +captured mustang was permitted to rise. The first thing on the program was +to try to escape back to the herd. That failing, he would go on the +war-path and it took a skillful horseman and active ponies to bring him +under subjection. It usually required, at least, two, each with his lariat +attached so as to prevent the mustang’s reaching the other. Several hours +of hard fighting then ensued, but in the end when the mustang was +conquered he made the toughest and wiriest of cow-ponies.</p> + +<p>It very frequently happened that two of these bands of wild horses met and +then trouble began. Every herd was headed by a stallion that exercised +supreme authority over the whole band at all times, and never allowed any +intruder to trespass on his rights and privileges. As a result, when two +herds encountered each other, war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> was at once proclaimed by the two +stallions for the complete control and management of both herds. Never did +knights of old covered with armor, go forth to battle with more dignity +and determination to protect their lady loves, or to maintain the honor of +their own good names, than was displayed by those mustang stallions. With +ears turned back and their noses to the ground, they dashed forth to the +deadly conflict. The meeting of the two champions was of the fiercest +nature. At times they fought standing on their hind feet with their teeth +sunk in each others neck, and at others they waged their mortal combat +standing on their fore feet using their hind feet as weapons of offence. +Sometimes these battles terminated fatally to one or both of the +contestants, but more frequently ended when one of the struggling brutes +became so exhausted that he was unable to continue the fight, and +acknowledged defeat by retreating to the protection of some canyon or sand +hill with his little band of mares and colts, provided the other stallion +did not have sufficient energy left to run them into his own harem leaving +his defeated adversary to a lonesome existence on the bleak prairie.</p> + +<p>I had an old friend at one time who followed up the pursuit of catching +wild horses for a living, and for patience and perseverence he never had +an equal among his contemporaries. He met disaster and disappointment with +unflinching energy and returned to the conflict with unabated courage. +Though the renumeration was small, there was a fascination about the work +that he could not resist. Before entering upon an expedition of this kind, +he fitted up a camping outfit consisting of a few blankets, a tarpaulin, +slicker, coffee pot, skillet, knife, fork, hobble ropes, a supply of +lariat ropes, a winchester, six-shooters, and some bacon, the latter being +taken along for grease to be used in cooking, as fresh meat was to be had +at all times. The prairies were alive with antelope, turkey, deer, and +occasionally a stray buffalo was discovered. Such buffalo, deer, and +wolves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> as were taken, were skinned and the hide salted for sale on the +market. He used no wagons in his business, but took two mares with him, +one to be used as a saddle pony and the other for the purpose of serving +as a pack animal. His favorite pony was called Topsy, and was the mascot +of the expedition. He had raised her and trained her from colthood and she +was trained to such a degree of perfection that she would obey the sound +of his voice, whistle, or signal given by the waving of his hat, and never +did a railway engineer, or brakeman respond with greater promptness than +did Old Topsy when she received the signal from her master. At the word of +command she would lie down or rise, and owing to this peculiarity of her +training she was frequently used as a wind shield during a cold storm from +the north, her master making his bed beside her for protection.</p> + +<p>Preparations for these trips were usually made in the early autumn, during +the month of September, as the heat of the summer was somewhat lessened by +that time, and he generally managed to set out when the moon was new so as +to travel by night if necessary. He was so thoroughly acquainted with the +country that he knew every creek, and canyon, every spring and waterhole +where the mustangs were accustomed to get water. He was not compelled to +scour the country for his quarry as every wild horse within a range of +five miles seemed to know by instinct the arrival of his pack animals and +ponies. Such uncertainty of knowledge did not satisfy them, but to satisfy +their curiosity they came along on the run to make an investigation into +the character of the intruders who had so uncerimoniously intruded into +their domain. By the time the huntsman had unpacked, had his camp-fire +built, and was preparing his meal, they would be encircling his camp, +running, romping, and playing. The stallion usually took the lead in these +diversions with the mares and young colts by their side trying to keep up +to his advance. Finally they would come to a standstill and remain +perfectly quiet until<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> some noise would startle them and off they would go +pell-mell only to return and repeat their investigation into what was the +new element that was disturbing the peaceful possession of their range. +This hunter’s method was different from what was usually followed by +others. It was not his intention to excite or disturb the wild horses in +any way; on the contrary his object was to get them accustomed to his +presence, get them acquainted with the domestic mares, and render them +peaceful and quiet. In a few days his object would be accomplished, and +then he proceeded to set the herd in motion to drive them back to the +settlements where they could be corraled and handled. He never permitted +them to get a moment’s rest, day or night, once he had them in motion, and +as little chance to graze as possible. In the mean time he saw to it that +his own mares had every advantage possible. In a few days, such a system +could not but have its effect on the mustangs and they would as a +consequence become more docile. Gradually he got closer to them without +the danger of stampeding them, until within the course of ten days or two +weeks they showed unmistakable signs of weariness and weakness which +allowed him to get in closer touch with them. In fact, so much was he in +their presence that they came to look upon him as one of the herd. Then +took place the working out of his design. He headed Old Topsy for home +over the hills, through the canyons and creeks, never stopping for +anything, gradually moving along, slowly and quietly nursing them into +captivity. Such was the care that he exercised that he made no more than +five or ten miles a day on his straight course. At times, before the herd +became too wearied, the flight of a bird or the barking of a coyote would +stampede them and thus he would lose five or ten miles that he had gained +with so much difficulty. On he went after them, doing over again all that +had been done before. In case there were no unforeseen difficulties, or +accidents, he would finally drive them into the neighborhood of some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> good +strong corral where, with the permission of the proprietor, he would run +them in until such time as he would be able to hobble the leaders, which +usually required a week or more.</p> + +<p>A mustang is so sensitive and observing that I sometimes thought he could +count the buttons on one’s clothes. In fact, I know, that should one +change his clothing while breaking one of them, he would have all the work +to do over again until the mustang became accustomed to the change. He +received everything with suspicion and even a fence-post would call for an +investigation. The corral was a new world entirely for him and it took +days of patience and perseverence to induce him to enter it. Old Topsy +would go in and out and make herself at home, but not so with her +associates, at least for quite a long time. Finally they would venture in +little by little, the hunter permitting them to pass in and out several +times before putting up the bars on them. As soon as the mustangs found +themselves unable to get out they became badly frightened and excited, +especially during the absence of the hunter. His return seemed to pacify +them very much. He had to manage them with great judgement until he +managed to hobble the leaders, which, as I said before, took days to +accomplish.</p> + +<p>It is true that he could have roped and hobbled them in a short time once +he had them in the corral, but this was not the way with my friend. He +said often times that once he had gained their confidence, he could not +betray it. After the mustangs had been corraled for some time and had +grown accustomed to the presence of men, then the interesting work took +place. They had to be broken to the saddle and bridle and ridden by +somebody, and I wish to state that it was a work that required an expert, +all green-horns and tenderfeet barred. Around all ranches was to be found +a man whose sole occupation was to do this work. He offered to accomplish +the task of reforming the wild mustang at from two to five dollars a head, +and he usually had the work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> assigned him. By the time they were broken +they were usually sold at a fair price for that class of stock while the +hunter made preparations for returning to the plains for another lot of +mustangs, a work which he seemed to enjoy.</p> + +<p>These mustangs did not command a very high price as most of them were too +small for cow-work, and too light for single drivers. Sometimes one could +pick up a team of these ponies and find them the toughest and wiriest +animals that were ever hitched to a buckboard. They could travel from +sunrise to sunset at ten miles an hour and never turn a hair. But viewed +from all angles the business was not a financial success and the men +engaged in it never cleared up any great amount of money, as I proved to +my own satisfaction later on.</p> + +<p>Before what is now called Meade County was established, there was nothing +there but the open prairie. A fence was an unknown thing except where some +settler had built one around a stack of hay to protect it from the range +cattle that were roaming the plains in great numbers in those days. It was +necessary for him to do this as a small stack of feed would be a tempting +morsel, in cold weather, to the thousands of cattle wandering loose and in +search of fodder. In case they did succeed in reaching the tempting +supply, it lasted about as long as a water melon at a negro picnic. It had +been reported on what I considered reliable authority that there was a +black stallion running on the flat between Crooked and Sandy Creeks, about +nine miles southeast of the present county seat of Meade county, Kansas. +The cowboys had often tried to capture him, but in every instance failed. +He was described to me as standing about fifteen hands high, which was +exceptionally large for a mustang, with long flowing mane and tail, and he +could trot faster than any cow-pony could run. After weighing the matter +carefully for some time I decided to go out and capture him. From the +description given, he was just what I wanted for a saddle horse. I +determined to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> him provided I could enlist the services of G. W. +Brown, an old Indian scout, and former companion of the buffalo range. He +was, moreover, an expert with the lariat rope and was considered one of +the best trailers in the country. The other man I wanted, and whom I +finally succeeded in getting, was C. M. Rice, formerly of Jasper, Ind., a +veteran of the Civil war, an old and experienced plainsman who knew every +creek and trail in the country. After discussing the matter carefully in +all its different aspects, we decided to capture him regardless of trouble +and expense attached to the undertaking, even though it took all summer. +We had to take a camp wagon, grain and provisions enough to last several +weeks, as we would not be able to return for more if we happened to run +short. We took our favorite saddle ponies and started early so as to get +in operation as soon as possible. It was our intention to locate him early +in the morning and have the whole day for the first run. We were fortunate +in finding him shortly after daybreak, but his looks were rather +disappointing as he did not seem as large as he had been pictured to me by +the cowboys. However, we were there to capture him and determined to do +so. One thing favored us and that is one of the peculiarities of the +mustang, he will not leave his range unless driven from it. He will take +his departure very reluctantly and will return at the earliest +opportunity.</p> + +<p>Our first night was one of rest, with nothing to disturb us but the +howling of the coyotes and the bawling of the cattle. Morning found us up +early and ready for the chase. We knew it would be useless to try to catch +him on a straight run as he would have, at least, half a mile start on us. +We decided to run him in a circle, keep inside of his course, and keep him +on the run until he became jaded and exhausted and then let him get a +chance to drink his fill of water as he would surely be very thirsty after +a long gallop. The consequence of this strategy would be that the mustang +would become stiffened and it would be easy to run him down and rope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> him. +After making the first large circle, C. M. Rice, seeing his horse lathered +with perspiration that trickled down from the flanks of his horse, his +favorite Old Tom, decided to return to camp and prepare something to eat +for himself and us on our return. If we did not return by night-fall he +was to keep the camp-fire burning to act as a beacon for our guidance. In +order to save our horses, Brown and I decided that one of us should keep +on the chase whilst the other rested his horse. This gave each of us +chance to refresh our mount with water and grass until it came his turn to +take up the pursuit. In the meantime the mustang was not allowed to have a +respite from his exertions, but was kept on the move until about three or +four o’clock in the afternoon. Nature asserted herself in his case and +frequently, after that time, he would stop to look around and see if his +pursuers were likely to give him a chance to rest and refresh himself. It +was plainly evident that the pace was telling on him, but he found that +his pursuers gave him no opportunity to rest his weary legs. Closely and +more closely they came in spite of all he could do to ward off their +unremitting pursuit. The moments he took to stop and look around offered +us an opportunity to draw closer. Then we both took up the chase at the +same time. We divided our forces, one going on one side of him and the +other on the opposite. By this time we were within twenty rods of him. By +this strategy we headed him for Gypsom Creek in the hope that when he +reached it he would stop and drink his fill. That would give us an +opportunity of roping him. Everything worked out as we had planned. When +the thirsty brute reached the water he drank abundantly of the refreshing +fluid. It seemed as though he would never stop. When finally he had his +fill we ran him off to the mouth of a canyon where, if once we could get +him to enter, there would be no opportunity of his escape as there was no +outlet at the other end. I say none, or rather should have said there was +one but it was practically out of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> question for him to make it. It was +about a mile away and the road was filled with boulders and sand heaps and +was up hill all the way, and we knew that in his present condition his +wind would be gone before he could again reach the open prairie. Now came +the opportunity to rope him if he was to be captured at all, as there was +nothing left for him to do but choose between the rough boulders and +ledges of the other end of the canyon, or strive to evade us by seeking +safety in the way he entered. Brown went around and awaited his arrival, +while I followed as best I could until I saw him disappear at the head of +the canyon. Then I retraced my way and rode around on the divide so as to +be in on the final chase. When I came in sight of Brown, I saw that he had +him roped securely, but on reaching him I discovered that he had captured +him in a prairie-dog town and in the struggle that followed the roping he +had jumped into one of the holes and broke his leg between the knee and +the fetlock, and the bones were protruding through the flesh. Under those +conditions, as he would be of no value to me, and also, as it would be +inhuman to turn him loose to suffer and starve, or become the food of +mountain lions, or coyotes, I thought it best to end his misery without +further delay. This being done, we tightened up our saddle cinches and +returned to camp very weary and much wiser than when we set forth in the +morning. Thus ended my first, last, and only chase after a wild mustang +stallion on the plains of Kansas. As per agreement, Rice had kept the camp +fire burning and had, moreover, prepared a supper of hot beans, biscuits, +antelope steak, and coffee, which was a feast fit for a king and one which +I think no guest of Delmonico ever appreciated more.</p> + +<p>The next morning we arose and went to look after our ponies. What a +pitiful sight we beheld when we came upon them in the secluded place where +we had tethered them! They were gaunt, covered and caked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> with +perspiration and dust of the preceding day’s chase.</p> + +<p>We gave them a good rub-down and plenty of food and water, which refreshed +them very much. After a good breakfast, we took a farewell look at the +camp and returned to the ranch. The black stallion with his flowing mane +and tail became a matter of past history of the plains. In conclusion I +shall say that my two companions of the chase of thirty-two years ago are +still both hale and hearty business men in the Queen City of the Canadian, +El Reno, Okla.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Further Reflections on Western Life; Also on the East; Why I Came West; Some Men I Have Met; Cowboy Acquaintances, etc.</p> + +<p>When commencing to write this semi-historical work, it was my intention to +confine myself to the early settlement of “No-Man’s-Land,” but find that I +must include the Panhandle to Texas and the South-western part of Kansas, +as the soil, climate, and social conditions were almost identical. The +industries of all three localities were very much the same, excepting that +the Panhandle was much better adapted to cattle raising than to +agriculture. In fact, farming was looked upon by cattlemen as too menial +an occupation for them to engage in, and, consequently, they knew little +about it and cared less. Their indifference to agriculture was such that +they would prefer literally to starve to death than endeavor to gain +subsistence from the soil. The difference between the old-time cow-puncher +and the Chyenne Indian as agriculturists was very little. The former might +do a little at farming if he knew how, and the latter might know how if he +would only do a little at it. It seemed to be the height of the average +cow-puncher’s ambition to ride on a fifty-dollar saddle, wear a ten-dollar +Stetson hat, a pair of silver mounted spurs, a pair of ten-dollar +high-heeled boots, leather leggings, a slicker and a forty-five calibre +white handled six-shooter. This made a complete outfit to suit his vanity. +Riding broncos, roping wild cattle, running races, and branding mavericks +were his principal business and amusement. Attending the spring and fall +round-ups, and driving beef stock to market rounded out his season’s work.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>It is true that there are some exceptions to the general rule. As an +example, about twenty-eight years ago I became acquainted with a green +cow-puncher, fresh from some Texas town, a tall, fair-haired lad, who was +rather reticent, but very punctual in his work. He was the first out in +the morning, last in at night and was ready for anything that was to be +done in the meantime. His manner lacked the boisterousness of the +swaggering swearing, blow-hard that was very frequently encountered in the +days work. It was apparent to all that he was a man of reliability and +integrity. He was employed by R. M. Wright and Martin Culver to +superintend the “W-L” ranch. He was successful in his management and at +the same time displayed an honesty that was something new to some of the +settlers in his neighborhood. He never permitted a man to rope an animal +until he was certain of the brand, and knew to whom the property belonged. +Such a man was certain to rise in the world and today one would find it +difficult to recognize in Mr. R. A. Harper, president of the First +National Bank, Meade, Kansas, the stripling greenhorn of thirty years ago. +Another of the old-time successful cow-punchers, who fought the battle of +life alone and single-handed as cowmen, farmer, merchant, sometimes +overtaken by adversity but never discouraged, who plodded on until he +reached the top of the financial ladder beyond the reach of want, is Mr. +C. M. Rice, of El Reno, Okla.</p> + +<p>The majority of the early settlers who stayed throughout the first hard +times, managed to do fairly well, accepting the changed conditions as law +and order moved in, while a few developed foolish notions about the +curtailment of their freedom, as they called it, and resented the +encroachment and manifested their disposition by holding up trains, or +other depredations. Such a course of conduct invariably proved a failure +and brought disaster upon the defenders of such a cause. The state prisons +are still harboring some of those <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>misguided men, protecting them from +themselves as well as defending society at large from their peculiar +notions. It may seem strange to the reader, but the greater part of the +so-called bad men of this country came from the East where they first +conceived a false impression of the wildness of the West. The origin of +their idea arose from the reading of a poor class of literature. Such +reading created in their young minds the idea of being “bad men of the +West” and they were not long in putting the idea into practice. Just to +mention a few of the most notorious, I shall set down the names of Billy +the Kid, from New York, Dutch Henry from Michigan, Sam Bass from Indiana. +I might mention dozens of others whose careers of iniquity did not last as +long as those mentioned above. As for the real Western-bred bad men, they +were very few in number and were usually driven to it by being credited +with the crimes of others.</p> + +<p>One of the principal causes of the development of the outlaw was, as I +said above, the publication of fiction and falsehood in such papers as the +New York Weeklys and dime novels. These were scattered broadcast over the +country in cheap editions and the result was the creation of false +impressions of the West, and at the same time inflamed the imagination and +corrupted the minds of many of the then rising generation.</p> + +<p>Well do I remember my introduction to the name of Buffalo Bill. It was in +the columns of the New York Weekly, in 1874, when in a lumber camp in +Northern Michigan, that I read of his alleged engagement with the chief of +the tribe of the Sioux Indians. It ran as follows, as near as I can +remember it: “They met on the plains and each measured his chances to +overcome his adversary, etc.” It would take no great philosopher to tell +that the Indian with no weapon but the bow and a bunch of arrows, stood +but a very meager chance with Bill armed with two six-shooters and a +winchester. “At the first crack of Bill’s trusty rifle the wily savage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +toppled over and fell to the ground. Then, as if by magic, about fifty +braves galloped out of a canyon and set out to capture the heap-big pale +face who had slain their chief. That purpose was more easily planned than +accomplished, for at the psychological moment Bill was re-inforced by his +favorite scouts, Little Buckshot and Hotfoot John. After a brief +engagement in which they killed about fifteen warriors, they retreated to +headquarters for more re-inforcements.” This is but a sample of the lies +that filtered through the columns of the Eastern papers regarding the +Indian outbreaks of the West, and the worst part of it was that such trash +was believed by thousands, myself among the number.</p> + +<p>Whenever I read of the hair-breadth escapes of “Dare-devil Dick,” +“Shuffle-foot Sam,” “Moccasin Mike,” and “Goodeye, the Scout,” I felt that +I would like to take a hand in some of those adventures, having had a +rather fair training in Canada by attending the county fairs, and having +had the advantage of a course of training in collar-and-elbow wrestling +under Prof. John Lennon. Besides these advantages I was rather proficient +in the hop-sted-and-leap, high jumping, high kicking, foot racing, but not +in shin kicking.</p> + +<p>Shin kicking was introduced into Canada by Cornishmen. As I have never +seen it practiced in this country I shall endeavor to describe it for the +advantage of the reader. Like all games of competition it had its +champions. On occasions of merriment it was customary to indulge in this +sport, though I do not think that everyone will agree with me that it was +a sport. When the crowd had assembled and some preliminary feats of skill +were performed, then a man with a voice on him like the Bashan bull would +announce in stentorian tones that the champion shin-kicker was requested +to appear. A ring was immediately formed by the bystanders locking arms. +Into this ring so formed the champion threw his hat as a challenge to all +and each. After fifteen minutes delay if no one appeared to take up the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>challenge, the champion retained his title by default, and to add to the +occasion a prize of some kind was added as a reward for his willingness to +entertain them by his skill. If an opponent stepped into the enclosure, +judges were chosen and preparations made for a battle royal. First, the +shoes of the contestants were examined by the judges to see that there +were no spikes, nor toe-plates, and to see that the shoes were the common +clog type. Then their trousers and drawers were rolled back above the +knees leaving the leg bare from the knee cap to the shoe top. Things were +then ready for the performance. They caught each other by the shoulders +and at the dropping of a hat, or other signal, the Battle was on. Kicking +as high as the knee was called a foul and judgement rendered accordingly. +It required great skill and agility to take part in a contest of the kind. +From what I can hear, the game has fallen into oblivion as times have +changed the notions of games of the kind. For myself I did not indulge in +it very freely as I felt that my legs lacked sufficient side action to +permit me to become sufficiently expert at it, to issue a challenge to the +champion.</p> + +<p>Returning to the thread of my story, I must say that after reading several +numbers of the New York Weekly, I came to the conclusion that Buffalo Bill +was getting short handed, and that unless he received some help rather +soon the Indians would drive him out of the country and the advantages +already gained by his prowess would be lost to succeeding generations. +With such ideas running through my head, I bought a railway ticket and +started West to look over the field and see for my own satisfaction how +things were getting along. I stopped off at Leavenworth and made the +acquaintance of several military men stationed at the fort. They seemed to +know nothing of the Indian troubles as published in the Eastern papers. +Thinking, perhaps, that they might not be well informed on the matter, I +left that place and set out for Topeka. I was certain that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> the officers +there would know something definite about affairs of the kind. I made +inquiries and soon found that they, like all politicians, were too busy +fixing political fences to pay any attention to such matters. The nearer I +approached the seat of war, the less I heard about it. I continued my +journey and finally reached Dodge City, Kansas, and secured lodging in the +Western Hotel, managed by a genial host, Dr. Gallard.</p> + +<p>As I arrived there after dark I did not venture out until I had a good +night’s rest and a hearty breakfast. Next morning I took up my position on +the porch to take in a view of the surroundings, and I confess they looked +strange and weird to me. I had been told that Dodge City was the +ante-chamber of the Infernal Regions; that the temperature began to rise +at Great Bend and did not return to normal until one crossed the Colorado +line; that the population was made up of cut-throats and thieves; that +vice and crime walked brazenly in the streets, while virtue and innocence +were unknown in that region of iniquity. Funerals were reported to me to +be held every morning, to bury those killed during the preceding night. +The cemetery where the unfortunates were to find their last resting place +was called “Boot Hill,” because those who were buried there were laid to +rest with their boots on. The above impression is only a sample of what I +had gleaned from the Eastern journals. From where I took my stand I could +see thirty or forty cow-ponies tied to the hitch racks. Each pony wore a +good saddle with a Winchester in a scabbard hanging at the side. After +viewing the situation for some time, and not hearing any shooting, nor +seeing any funerals, as everything appeared peaceful and quiet, I decided +to take in the sights, although I confess I had a rather creepy feeling +when I ventured out. I felt somewhat encouraged, as I remembered I was +wearing a Stetson hat, and a pair of high-heeled boots, which, from the +reports I had received, were considered the passport to the best society +in those days. I crossed the railroad tracks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> which ran up Main street, +and took my course along the sidewalk, encountering in my way men with +their pant-legs in their boots, wearing wide-leafed sombreros with +snakeskin bands around them, with wide cartridge belts around their waists +supporting six-shooters large enough to kill a buffalo. Everyone I met +seemed to be peaceable. The only representative of the weaker sex I +encountered was a lady dressed in fine style with her face painted and +powdered, her hair done up a la mode, and decked out in a mother-hubbard +large enough to cover a corn shock.</p> + +<p>To my great surprise I spent the first day in Dodge City without any +evidence of shootings or funerals, and in my meanderings about the place +formed the acquaintance of men who afterwards proved themselves to be as +high-principled as could be found in the whole country.</p> + +<p>The horses that I had seen hitched to the racks, were all ridden across +the river to the different herds to stand guard over the cattle and +prevent stampedes. Some of the herds were waiting to be shipped, while +others were rounded-up to drive them to the branding pens, after which +they would be turned back to the range. In this way the natural increase +of the herd was maintained for the owner.</p> + +<p>Next morning I set out with a better opinion of the town and of its +inhabitants. I found the same ponies tied to the same racks, and the +streets full of wagons, some loading for the different ranches, others at +the shop for repairs. I found the river banks on both sides lined with +campers, a mixed lot of immigrants, looking for land, freighters resting +their stock, horse traders, Mexicans, and a multitude of others with their +old-time prairie schooners. Everybody was busy, some greasing their +wagons, others mending harness, repairing ox yokes, or oiling and +refitting six-shooters and Winchesters. The stock had all been turned +loose in the care of herders who remained with them to keep them from +straying off, and who would bring them in when they were required.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> The +old familiar camp kettle and coffee pot were kept simmering over a slow +fire so as to have everything hot at meal time. When the noon hour +arrived, the tail gate of the wagon, which was the door of the grub-box, +was let down to form a table. Each man found for himself a plate, knife, +fork, and tin cup to help himself when the meal was ready. As soon as +dinner was over, they scattered again through the town, some to the +saloon, others to the dance-halls, others to their trading, or to make +arrangements for their next load of freight. After spending some time in +observing all that was to be seen, I returned again to the town. As I was +walking up the street I overheard a conversation between two cow-punchers +whom I afterwards found to be known as “Broncho Jack” and “Slim Jim.” They +were arguing about Slim’s ability to ride a broncho called “Gabe,” that +Jack had brought to camp that morning. This argument led to the general +result—not a fight, as I supposed it would, but to a bet. The +conversation ran about as follows:</p> + +<p>S. J.—Say, Jack, I see you bringing in Old Gabe this morning. What are +you dragging that old skate around for? Why don’t you shoot him, or don’t +you want to waste a cartridge? Going to sell or trade him?</p> + +<p>B. J.—Oh, I just brought him in, as I thought some tenderfoot might want +to take his lady-love out for a ride, and Gabe would afford some fun.</p> + +<p>S. J.—You don’t suppose any tenderfoot, nor anybody else wants to be seen +riding that old crow-bait around with a young lady? He can’t travel fast +enough to work up a sweat.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Can’t he? He has enough life and vinegar in him to throw any +puncher on the “81” ranch, and don’t you forget it!</p> + +<p>S. J.—Oh, pshaw! Jack, you talk like an old parrot my mother used to have +down in San Antonio. He would repeat anything he heard and when he could +not hear anything, he talked to himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>B. J.—Money is what talks in Dodge City, and I’ll bet you five dollars +you can’t ride that broncho two blocks without getting thrown.</p> + +<p>S. J.—I’ll take that bet if you’ll make it three blocks. I don’t care +about short rides. Why, I can ride all over the old goat and make +cigarettes while doing it.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Say, Slim; that old horse will throw you so high that the sparrows +will build nests in your leggins before you come down.</p> + +<p>S. J.—That will be all right! Where have you got that old mouse-colored +critter, and where do you want the money put up?</p> + +<p>B. J.—He’s around here in Cox’s corral, and we can put the money up in +Kelly’s hands.</p> + +<p>S. J.—All right! Let’s go and put the money up and get down to business.</p> + +<p>I went along to see the fun, and especially to see how it would terminate. +We entered a saloon finely furnished, with a mirror behind the bar that +cost more than the average 160-acre farm in that country. We approached a +big, two-fisted, well-dressed man who stood before the bar. Jack addressed +him as Mr. Kelly, the man decided upon to hold the stakes. He explained +his mission and asked him to hold the money pending the test of +horsemanship. Mr. Kelly replied, “I’ll hould anything yese give me, but I +would loike to know what will be done with the money in case the young man +is kilt.” “Oh,” says Jack, “just treat the crowd and let the balance go to +the house.” “All right,” said Kelly. Slim agreed to the proposal.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Well, Slim, you had better take a cold drink before you start, or +make arrangements to have some one throw you a bottle of water, as the old +pony will throw you so high that you may die of thirst before you come +down.</p> + +<p>S. J.—Never mind! I’ll take that drink after the job is done. Let’s go +and get busy.</p> + +<p>By this time quite a crowd had collected and set out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> to see the fun. I +joined them for the same purpose. It was but a short distance to Cox’s +corral. When we arrived there, Slim said to Jack, “Go in and rope your old +dry land turtle. Bring him out here and I’ll see what I can do for him.”</p> + +<p>Jack went in and pitched his rope on a sleepy-looking, pot-bellied, +dun-colored pony that would weigh in the neighborhood of eight hundred +pounds, and led him into the street. Slim procured his saddle, bridle, and +blanket, and proceeded to saddle him. He first put on the bridle and then +put a gunny-sack over it. The purpose of this was to blindfold him till +the saddling was complete. When the saddling began, Old Gabe stood +perfectly quiet, except to take a few short steps, apparently to make sure +that all of his four feet and legs were there. As soon as he was saddled, +Slim said to Jack, “When I crawl his hump, you take off the gunny-sack and +I will take a little ride.” As soon as the sack was removed, Old Gabe put +his nose to the ground and went to bucking and bawling like an old cow. He +bucked about six or eight rods, but found he could not throw Slim in that +manner. Then he stood straight up on his hind feet and fell over +backwards. As soon as he struck the ground, Slim was standing beside him. +When he regained his feet Slim was on his back, and then the bucking and +bawling began in earnest. He did the figure eight several times, jumped up +and turned half-way ’round and repeated the same, going in the opposite +direction, alternately. When he found that this was not successful he +headed for an alley close by, bucking and bawling all the time. He worked +like a cyclone among a lot of oil barrels and dry goods boxes, +wheel-barrows, and obstacles of all kinds that littered the alley. He +drove his way through that strange assortment of difficulties until he +reached the open street. Then Slim, by means of the application of spurs +and quirt got him into a gallop. Then I knew that the battle was over and +Old Gabe had met his master. Slim rode back to the crowd and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>dismounted, +and he and Jack went over to Kelly’s to collect the wager. Then the +bantering was continued, as follows:</p> + +<p>B. J.—Well, Slim, how does it go?</p> + +<p>S. J.—Oh, not bad. I guess I’ll take that cold drink you spoke of. I feel +a little thirsty.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Yes, and I reckon you feel a little bit sore, too.</p> + +<p>S. J.—Oh, shucks! he was a little bit fussy, but he is nothing like those +outlaw horses on the 81 ranch.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Getting Acquainted With the West—The Character of the Cow-boy—A Cow-boy’s Love Affair, Etc.</p> + +<p>Next day I began to breathe easier as I had not witnessed any shooting +scrapes, nor funerals, so I felt rather safe in walking the streets, +although I was rather suspicious of anybody I met wearing a six-shooter. +Nevertheless, I kept on the move, endeavoring to find where I could locate +a good homestead, as that country was nearly all open and unsettled. In my +wanderings I happened into Cox’s feed yard where Broncho Jack kept his +horses. I entered the camp house and found Jack and Slim Jim sitting on a +bench and there was every evidence to show that they had been indulging +too freely in “Kelly’s Sovereign Remedy for a Sour Disposition.” They +seemed very confidential in their conversation, and I could not help +overhearing it. It ran about as follows:</p> + +<p>S. J.—Jack, do you know that old nester that settled on the flats out on +Crooked Creek?</p> + +<p>B. J.—No, I don’t know him, but I heard there was a fellow out there +going into farming and raising fine stock.</p> + +<p>S. J.—Well, he’s there all right, and has two of the prettiest daughters +I ever saw.</p> + +<p>B. J.—What has that to do with you?</p> + +<p>S. J.—It has this to do with me. I am done ranching. I am going to drop +off this old broncho and will step right in between the old man’s plow +handles and there I’ll stay until removed by death, or the County Sheriff.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Have you had any introduction to those young ladies, or what is the +matter with you? Have you taken leave of your senses and gone wild?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>S. J.—I never had an introduction to them, but I met them at the +post-office and they had a nosebag full of letters and a wheel-barrow full +of papers and books. Oh, I tell you they are educated, or what would they +want with all that printed stuff. I am going farming, that is what I am +going to do.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Now I know you are daffy. Talk about farming, don’t you know it has +not rained out there in the last eighteen months. I met a traveling +evangelist the other day who told me that he almost had to forego the +pleasure of immersing a class of six cow-punchers for want of sufficient +water to perform the ceremony. He was afraid that if it did not soon rain +he would lose them sure as he would not be able to get them again if they +went back to the ranches before they received his ministrations.</p> + +<p>S. J.—Oh, that is all right about the rain! The old man does not need +rain. He has a wind-mill and a trough to water his stock, and I can tell +you that his stock is first class. I saw some of them and the milch cows +had bags on them the size of washtubs and the teats hung down like +baseball bats. He is well fitted in every way. He has a top buggy with a +high back and a low seat all for himself. He wears a white shirt just as +some folks do in Texas when they are running for office. I met his boy on +the train a day or so ago and he shows good raising. He had shoes and +stockings on, and he is no more than fifteen years old. He also had on a +collar and tie and did not swear once while I was talking to him. I asked +him where his pa had got the big stock and he said that they came from +Ohio, and that they were Poland China or something like that.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Let me tell you, Slim, if that old man is from Chicago and is a +Republican, he has no use for a cow-puncher or a Democrat, no more than a +pig has for side pockets. He would not want you to picket your horse on +the trail in front of his place, nor to holler in his rain barrel, much +less going to call on one of his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>daughters. Why, they scare the +children back there and compel them to be good by telling them that the +nasty, old, long-haired cow-puncher will take them away to the ranch where +there is nothing but wild cattle, cow-punchers, tarantulas and centipedes, +and a lot of other reptiles.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img1.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">CHEYENNE INDIAN GIRL.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>S. J.—Well, I have to leave you Jack, and the next time I see you I shall +be on my honeymoon trip. I am now on my way to the farm to see the lady +that I expect to soon be Mrs. Slim Jim.</p> + +<p>B. J.—Good-bye, Jim. Good luck to you!</p> + +<p>About two weeks afterwards, Broncho Jack and I were seated on the bank of +Crooked Creek discussing the situation, whether the opportunities for +making money were better in hunting or picking bones, catching mustangs, +or blacksmithing. I came to the conclusion that the last was the most +conducive to wealth just then, and later on opened up a shop there. During +our conversation Slim Jim rode up. Throwing the reins over his pony’s +head, he dismounted and shook hands. Slowly he rolled a cigarette and +began to unbosom himself to Jack.</p> + +<p>“Say, Jack,” said Slim, “you remember what you told me in the camphouse in +Dodge City the day I left you. You recollect saying what a consarned fool +I was about that young lady, and what you thought of the old man? Say, I +hope to die and go to heaven if every word of what you told me was not +true. I have ridden for two days to tell you what kind of a durn fool I +am. You are a fortune teller, a prophet, a prognosticator. I had not +ridden out to Five Mile Creek until he got to soliloquizing with myself. +You know all cow-punchers do that out on the prairie! Well, I got to +fixing up how to act, what to do and say when I got out there where the +young lady lives. I had read a society book that some fellow from back +East had left at the ranch once. There was some of it torn out, but there +was a lot of it left and I learned a whole lot out of it, and I was going +to govern myself accordingly. It said that a young man in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>company after +taking his seat, should sit erect and throw his head back, keep his knees +close together, and that chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes was not +good form. Under no circumstances should the young man wear spurs, carry a +gun, especially in the company of the young lady with whom he is anyways +intimate. I guess that book was written for the Texas trade, as there was +a proviso that gun-wearing would be permissible if there were other +gentlemen present. If there was anything about the disposal of the hands, +it must have been torn out or I forgot it. It was most likely torn out, as +that crowd of boys at the ranch would tear the leaves out of their +mother’s Bible to make a cigarette. I can ride a horse or throw a rope, +but what to do with my hands when I entered the house was beyond me. I +knew how to hold my head, chest, and knees, but I could not for the life +of me figure out what to do with those hands. I felt as if each hand was +as big as a ham and the nearer I approached the house, the larger they +seemed to grow. I felt pretty much like a Hottentot. He is usually +pictured with a very depleted wardrobe. He has no books of instruction on +the art of going into society, and I am of the opinion he had just as much +trouble with his hands as I had. I guess he just folded his hands across +his manly chest and backed in. By the time I arrived at the Mulberry Ranch +I had decided to do all I knew and trust to luck for the rest. When I had +staked out my pony, I went in and slicked up some. I washed, combed my +hair, brushed my clothes, and then took about three fingers of old Tom +Duggan’s best bourbon, not as a stimulant, but to put some color in my +cheeks. As soon as the bourbon began to show some of its efficacy, I put +on a couple of rings I had bought in Dodge and headed for the old man’s +ranch, letting my hands take care of themselves. In my generosity of +feeling I pictured myself being invited to supper and perhaps even being +requested to spend the night at the old man’s. With an eye to putting an +appearance on things I was going to try to trade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> some long-horned stock +for some of his short-horns. I was in terror lest the young lady I was yet +to choose, would smell my breath, and if the old man and his family were +prohibitionists, I knew it would be all up with my chances. However, I was +encouraged in the knowledge of the fact that this was to be my first call +and I was not likely to get within breath-smelling distance of the lady of +my choice. Regardless of consequences, I turned in and rode up to the +hitching post, dismounted, took off my spurs and my gun, and then set out +for the house. It seemed miles from that hitching-post to the front door. +I finally covered the distance and rapped gently on the panel as I did not +want them to think I was one of those rough, roaring, cow-punchers—the +kind you mentioned. I listened attentively for one of those gentle +footfalls, or the sound of an angelic voice bidding me to enter. I +imagined once I heard the rustle of a silk dress but I am satisfied now +that I was mistaken as I believe the sound was caused by the girls husking +roasting ears for supper. You know that husking green corn makes a kind of +squeaking noise. I did not have long to wait as I heard the sound of +footsteps—the kind a bull moose makes when in trouble. The door was +thrown open savagely and I was confronted by an old man who weighed about +two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a face like a full moon with side +whiskers to match and a moustache that resembled a second-hand shoe brush. +He wore a white shirt with a home-made collar that reached to his ears. I +tell you he was a fierce looking object. He stared me straight in the eye +and said, “What can I do for you?” Now, Jack, you know that I am a fairly +good talker, but right there my voice failed me. I could not utter a word +if my life depended upon it. To make matters worse, he kept those two big +eyes on me just like a dog setting a quail. My throat became all tied up +in a knot, but after a pause I pulled myself together and asked him if he +was bothered by any range cattle breaking through his fences. I thought I +would get him into conversation in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> that way, and said that the range +foreman had asked me to make the inquiry. He turned and slammed the door +in my face. My love that a few moments before threatened to burn a hole in +my shirt, was turned to hate. I detest that old man, and what makes my +hatred more intense is the fact that when I was riding away I saw the +girls laughing and making fun of me. I have come to the conclusion that I +had better stick to the ranching as I never did care much for farming +anyway. As for society and things like that, I abominate them.”</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<p class="chtit">What One Sheep Rancher Did—Entertaining a Hobo—A Practical Joke.</p> + +<p>About the year 1877, an extensive sheep ranch was established in the +Panhandle by a Mr. Southerland. He came from California and bought up the +range in the neighborhood of the Adobe Walls, for the purpose of +transferring his flocks from that far off State, where the grazing was +getting very scarce, to the northern part of Texas, where there abounded +better opportunities for pasturage. He was not the only one to cast a +longing eye upon that territory, for many cattlemen from the same State as +Mr. S—, also visited the Panhandle district looking for grazing grounds. +As Mr. S. was the first to acquire rights there, the story in this chapter +will deal with his men and his flocks.</p> + +<p>When he returned to California after securing the title to the property, +he sent his step-son, Bill Anderson, in charge of the drive from his +native State to the new range. Besides the thousands of sheep that were in +his care he brought along a few hundred head of horses and burros with +enough Mexican help to make the drive successful. Of course, there was +quite an outfit of mules and wagons to transport the equipage of an +expedition of this kind. There was no opportunity of going to the corner +grocery for supplies, nor was there any chance of securing them along the +way, as the journey led over hills, mountains and canyons, amongst wild +tribes of Indians, from California to Texas. It was a tremendous +undertaking, but Bill was equal to the occasion.</p> + +<p>He was a man of iron nerve, a good shot with either six-shooter or +winchester and his skill and daring in roping wild animals excited the +admiration of even the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> hardiest of his followers. It was a common thing +for him to ride into a herd of buffalo, rope and hog-tie one, and then +turn him loose again, just, as he used to say, to show the boys how it was +done. Along with his great physical courage and fortitude, there existed +another quality often found in men of rugged health and spirits. Bill was +a practical joker, and in the pursuit of his endeavors to provoke a laugh +he spared neither age, sex, nor previous condition of servitude. It seems +to me that I can hear his merry laughter ringing in my ears though many +years have passed since I had the pleasure of being in his company. His +was a sunny disposition and the dark side of a cloud never appealed to +him. He saw the brightness ahead long before it was visible to others. +Such was the leader of the expedition that set out from California, and +many a merry yarn or joke lessened the burden of the long drive.</p> + +<p>At the outset of the journey, the Mexican herders were started off with a +supply of bacon and coffee, besides having burros laden with bedding and +other utensils. He divided the whole flock into smaller sections, each +with a herder in charge. They moved along in close proximity to one +another for the sake of company as they would likely be out on the road +for weeks, and would return to camp only when in want of provisions. If +fresh meat were wanted, all they had to do was to kill a lamb, or procure +some of the wild game that infested the way, such as antelope, wild +turkeys, prairie chickens, quail and other game. Their horses did not +require much attention as there was plenty of grass and water was easily +located.</p> + +<p>Thus they kept on their way during the long weeks, day succeeding day with +the same monotonous routine. Finally they reached their range in safety, +glad that the long and tedious journey was completed. Here they made their +first improvements in the way of a settled habitation. They constructed a +dugout and covered it over with poles and willows. On these they piled a +layer of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> soil to turn the rain. The furnishing of the dugout was of the +simplest kind. A split log to sit on, a table made in the same way with +sapplings for legs, was all they had in the way of household furniture. +Their bedchamber consisted of the open prairie with the blue sky above +them for a canopy. This done, they were at home for friends and neighbors.</p> + +<p>Among the members of the outfit that followed Anderson from California, +was a faithful and trusted employee named James Farrell. He had been with +them for years and was one of the family. He was a shrewd man and one hard +to deceive. One thing he felt proud of was that Bill Anderson never +succeeded in working off a practical joke at his expense. He boasted of +the fact that Bill had often tried, but always failed and he felt +confident that he would never succeed. And thereby hangs the following +tale:</p> + +<p>One day as Bill was sitting in front of the dugout doing nothing in +particular and having lots of time to do it in, he spied a man in the +distance coming toward him on foot. This was something very unusual in +those days, as a man on foot in the prairie is very much like a man in the +middle of the Atlantic, he feels as though he is twenty miles from nowhere +and does not know how to get there. Bill came to the conclusion that the +man afoot was some cow-puncher that had been thrown from his horse. He +soon discovered his mistake, for the stranger proved to be a veritable +hobo. He gave no information regarding himself, and it was impossible to +find out anything about him, whence he came, or what profession he +followed to gain a livelihood. He manifested an interest in only one thing +and that was when meal time came. Then he was a whirlwind of energy. He +had been invited to take a supper with the outfit, and Bill even went so +far as to divide his blanket with him, favors which the hobo appreciated +so much that he continued to stay for meals and share the proprietor’s +blanket. Time passed on, as time usually does, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> sign of taking his +departure. In fact he seemed so much at home that it seemed impossible to +drive him away. Weeks went by, but still the hobo was not accused of +showing any inclination to work except when the table was to be cleared of +provisions. However, all good things come to an end, and Bill felt that he +had done all that the laws of Western hospitality required and felt +impelled to do something to rid himself of his unwelcome guest. He thought +the matter over carefully. If he offered the hobo a job, the latter turned +the subject of conversation into politics or something else. It was +useless to hint to the star boarder that the climate of other localities +might be better for his health. He seemed proof against hints, +invitations, or even mildly expressed wishes that he would take his +departure. Nothing but personal violence would rid them of his company, +and they were loath to do that. Bill began to worry over the matter. He +went around with a thoughtful look as though he had something serious on +his mind. Finally he determined to lay the matter before Jim to see if he +could not suggest some way to be rid of a guest, who was not only a burden +but a nuisance. After some reflection, it was decided that Jim was to act +crazy, and some time or other when all were assembled at the table, at a +given sign, he was to give a jump, knock over the table, stick his dirk +into one of the rafters of the dugout, and grab his gun and begin to shoot +up the place. Of course, he was not to kill anybody, but the purpose was +to stampede the hobo and set him on his way over the hills to other +localities where he might have an opportunity of showing his staying +qualities.</p> + +<p>The next day it happened that Bill and the hobo were down at the corral to +brand some colts. It dawned upon the proprietor that right here was a +brilliant opportunity for a practical joke and at the same time put an end +to Jim’s assertions that he could not be tricked by any practical +jokesmith on either side of the Rockies. It made Bill smile. He took a +look around to see if Jim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> was in the neighborhood and found him sitting +at the door of the dugout braiding a lariat. With an air of simplicity, +and trustfulness he told the hobo that he had something to tell him; that +he was thinking of telling it to him some time ago, and that was as good +an opportunity as would present itself to him to do so. “You know,” said +he, in a guileless manner, “Jim has been with me for a number of years and +I have found him one of the best fellows that I have ever known. He is +trusty, and is a good judge of stock. I can rely on him at all times and +he takes as much interest in the work and the ranch as I do myself. +However, he has been a cause of much worry to me. I do not like to tell my +troubles to others but I find I must tell it to someone. I have taken +quite a shine to you and I feel that the confidence I place in you will +not be abused. Well, to bring the matter to a focus, I must tell you that +Jim is subject to spells, and when in that condition is likely to be quite +dangerous. The cause of his condition is this. A few years ago, out in +California he was thrown from his horse and in falling his head struck a +stone. He was quite delirious for a long time. He grew out of his +condition after a year or so, but at certain periods he has a return of +his old illness and is likely to turn things topsy-turvy before we can get +him quited. We have tried everything in the medical line, but it was no +use. We found out by accident, one day, that the only thing that would +restore him to his senses was a jar on the head. He had one of his spells +and made an attack on one of the hands with a knife. The man in +desperation let fly at Jim with his fist and knocked him senseless for +about ten minutes. When he recovered from the blow, he was as rational as +any of us. I know it is painful for us to have to lay violent hands on the +poor fellow, but it must be done, and besides, Jim is very thankful for +our doing it, as he has a very tender heart and would not for anything in +the world be the cause of injury to anyone. The reason I am telling you +this is that I may have to be away some time or other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> and as you are +pretty well acquainted with the run of things around the ranch, you will +know what to do if the poor fellow has one of those sudden attacks. You +may not feel like doing it, but he will thank you for it when he has +recovered, and besides, Jim thinks a lot of you. When I was leaving +California I promised my poor old mother that I would look after Jim and +see that no harm came, to him on account of his weakness.”</p> + +<p>When Bill returned to the dug-out, it would not take a mind-reader long to +figure out that there was something going to happen. He kept his face +straight, but he could not conceal the merry twinkle of his eye. He kept +the cause of his merriment to himself, but frequently he would take a look +out of the corner of his eye at Jim and if Jim was not looking, a smile +would spread over his countenance. The thought of working a practical joke +on Jim was too much for him at times and he would have to go outside to +conceal his feelings.</p> + +<p>Things went along thus for a few days, but the tension became too great +for him to control himself any longer. One day, at dinner he gave the +pre-arranged signal to Jim. With a yell Jim jumped up upset the table and +spilled the contents all over the floor of the dug-out, grabbed his dirk +and stuck it into the rafter of the dug-out, then pulled his six-shooter +and let blaze. He ploughed up the earthern floor with some of the bullets, +others he sent flying through the roof. All the while he was yelling like +a Comanche Indian on the warpath. By the time he had emptied his gun, the +place was filled with smoke. At the first shot Bill and the others filed +through the door, or rather threw themselves through it, but the hobo +mindful of the instructions given him some time before, worked his way +around through the smoke until he came within arm’s length of Jim. He +summoned up all his strength and let fly one of his fists. It was a mighty +blow, delivered with care. It landed on the side of Jim’s head and sent +him reeling and senseless into a pile of gunny-sacks lying in the corner. +With an eye to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> the necessity of further ministrations if necessary, he +stood looking at the poor fellow lying there. In a minute or more, Jim +opened his eyes and reached for his gun. It was empty of course, and he +reached for his cartridge box also. Bill looked in through the door when +he heard no noise. He saw what Jim was doing and also noted by the flare +in his eyes that there was going to be moments of activity there as soon +as he succeeded in getting the chambers of his 45 filled. He took one look +at the hobo, and uttered the word “run.” Without waiting any further +instructions, the hobo fairly flew through the door and bounded away like +a cat pursued by a bull dog. Jim dashed for the door with his weapon ready +for vengeance. He saw the fleeing figure bounding over the prairie and let +fly at him with the six-shooter. Happily for all concerned, he was too +excited to take aim, and consequently all of his shots went wild. Every +shot seemed to increase the speed of the swiftly running hobo. He was over +the hill and far away in about the shortest time he ever made. Jim looked +around the end of the dug-out and found Bill and his companions rolling on +the ground and holding their sides with laughter. He realized immediately +that there was something strange about the whole affair. It seemed more +than he could stand. “Bill Anderson,” said he, “I believe you are at the +bottom of all this. If I were certain of it I would send you back to +California on a pair of wooden legs, but out of respect for your good old +mother whose feeling I would not like to hurt on account of a ‘bloody +spalpeen’ like you, I want to warn you never to do the like of it again.” +Jim never afterwards made the boast that he could not be tricked by any +one on either side of the Rockies.</p> + +<p>Bill sold out the ranch sometime afterwards for $125,000, and the last I +saw of him he was setting out for Old Mexico.</p> + +<p>If Jim ever had any more crazy spells, I never heard of it.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Man From Missouri; An Attempt at Dry Farming, etc.</p> + +<p>While out hunting one day, about 18 miles south of Dodge City, I chanced +to meet a stranger who inquired the way to the nearest horse corral. In +the twinkling of an eye I took an inventory of his outfit, and I must say +that it was good. He had a fine team of young mules, a three seated spring +wagon covered over, harness all covered over with brass mountings. His +wife and children who were with him were well-dressed and he himself +showed traces of being well bred and was rather a good talker. His +conversation showed refinement, though at times he sandwiched in a mild +cuss-word to emphasize his statements. From his bearing I could see that +he was rather high-strung. Before giving the required information I +ventured to ask if he was going to take up land for the purpose of +farming. He said that that was his intention. I looked the family over and +felt sorry for them, knowing what they would have to endure on a claim. I +had not the same regrets for proprietor of the outfit as I felt that a +little experience and exposure was what was needed to round out his +character. The more I explained the general conditions of the neighborhood +of his destination, the more he seemed determined to go. I explained to +him that others from the different states of the East had tried to raise +crops and made a failure of the venture, and returned to their several +homes disgusted with the West. “Oh, pshaw!” said he, “I have heard that +same tale of woe more than a dozen times during the last three days, and +the land-agents in Dodge City told me that yarn was fabricated expressly +by the cow-men to discourage the farmers from settling on the range and +cutting off their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> supply of pasture.” +“Moreover,” said he, “I have a little provision made for +the future and can stand it as long as any of them.”</p> + +<p>During my interview with that gentleman, I learned that his name was +Waugh, that he was a native of Pennsylvania, and had been living in +Missouri on a rented farm during the preceding two years. He had become +dissatisfied with the state and had come farther West to improve his +fortunes. I ask him if he did not think it better to return to Missouri +where his children would have the advantage of schools, and he and his +wife would be able to enjoy some society rather than establish a home on a +raw prairie. He replied, “I see, stranger, that you have never lived in +Missouri. I tell you those folk back there don’t know the war is over yet, +and besides one’s standing in society depends upon how many hounds one +keeps and, also, on the length of one’s whiskers. Why, don’t you know that +there was only one razor in the neighborhood where I lived and that was +owned by the school teacher. He was some up on social niceties. Once in +awhile he used to go to St. Joe to have his hair cut and the back of his +neck shaved and this caused some of the patrons of the school to threaten +to take their children away from him if he did not stop such unwarranted +proceedings. I am sure they would have done so if they had known that he +used to go down to the creek every Saturday night to take a bath. No +Siree, I do not want any more of Missouri in mine. The first year I worked +there I did fairly well. I made about half a crop. The next year was a +complete failure. I raised nothing, absolutely nothing, and when I saw the +hens bringing leaves from the timber to build nests, I told Hannah to put +out the fire and call the dog and we would start for Kansas.”</p> + +<p>The next time I met Mr. Waugh was one afternoon about three months later. +I noted that his mules had fallen away in flesh, and on inquiring about +his general condition, he stated that things were in poor condition.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> He +said the grass had been poor and that it was impossible to procure corn +for the cattle. In fact he had not plowed nor put in any crops. He +informed me that it had not rained since he had taken up his claim and to +plow was out of the question. The only line of work open for him was to +gather buffalo bones. He said that things had come to such a pass that he +had to exchange some of his belongings for others not as good. His spring +wagon had to go for an old lumber-wagon as he could not use the spring +affair in the work of gathering the bones. In this trade he received a cow +to boot.</p> + +<p>When next I met him he had traded off his mules and brass-mounted harness +for a one-eyed mule and a pony, receiving boot on that occasion also in +the shape of a sewing machine and a shot gun, with a set of chain harness +thrown in for good measure. He said he preferred the chain harness as the +dry weather did not affect the corn-husk collars and if it rained he could +throw it on the ground and it would suffer no injury from the moisture. +Shortly after this he came to my blacksmith shop to have the wheels of his +wagon set. Before that he used to soak them in the bed of the creek, but +as the water in the creek bottom failed, he had to bring them to me to set +them.</p> + +<p>The last time I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Waugh, he was camped at +the creek with his family. He was busy at the camp-fire cooking his meal +at the time. After the usual greetings, I ventured to ask him how he liked +farming. He seemed very despondent. “Don’t talk to me about farming in +this desolate country,” said he. “It has not rained enough between here +and the head of the creek since I have been here to wet a postage stamp. +Moreover, there are skunks enough up there to drive the Standard Oil Co. +out of business, and coyotes without number. They gave us no rest. They +would steal a chicken out of the pot while it was boiling on the fire.” +“Why,” he continued, “You know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> old man Spriggins up there? Well, only +last week his chickens got so all-fired hungry that they went out on the +trail and tried to hold up a bull-train to get some corn. I would not have +believed myself if I had not seen it. I tell you those chickens were +getting desperate and you would have believed it if you had seen that +Shanghai rooster strutting back and forth in front of those oxen and +crowing. When the old man saw it himself he went down to John Conrads and +traded his old fiddle and a cultivator for some Kaffir corn.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said I, “you filed on a claim, didn’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Not that any one knows of,” said he. “I caught on to that game in time to +save my fourteen dollars. It is nothing but a gambling game anyway, and I +believe that the same law applies to poker and other games of chance, +ought to reach Uncle Sam for trying to unload a lot of worthless land on a +lot of poor suckers that can’t help themselves. Why, he don’t take any +chance at all. He simply puts up one hundred and sixty acres of parched +vacancy against your fourteen dollars that you can’t remain on it for five +years without starving, to comply with the contract he makes with you. I +tell you he has a dead sure thing here in Kansas. He has made some good +winnings. Some of those claims he has won back five or six times each and +he still holds the land waiting for another sucker to come along.”</p> + +<p>Well, then, I said, you are not inclined to engage in agriculture, nor to +remain in this part of the country, are you?</p> + +<p>“Not if I know myself,” he replied, “and I think it about time I was +becoming wise. You told me the whole unvarnished truth about this country +the first time I met you and if I had taken your advice I would not be in +this disagreeable fix.”</p> + +<p>Here he took a side glance at his one-eyed mule, which seemed to raise his +temperature to about 160 in the shade. He then raised his voice to +correspond with the temperature, and striking his hands together said;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +“any gosh-durned country that gets so dad-burned dry that it will take an +antelope—and he is the fastest animal there is—twenty four hours solid +traveling to find a drink of water, is a little too dry for me. I am going +back to Pennsylvania. That state will be good enough for me for all the +time to come.”</p> + +<p>He hitched up his one-eyed mule and made ready to go. I bade him good-bye. +He nodded, clucked to his mule and rode away.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Colonization Indian Scares; Organizing in Self Defense, etc.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of the year of 1878, a gentleman by the name of John Joplin +was sent out from Zanesville, Ohio, to select a suitable place in Western +Kansas for the purpose of locating a colony. The intention was to start a +co-operative business in farming. After surveying the country at large, he +came to the conclusion that the Crooked Creek valley, Meade County, where +I was living at the time, was the most desirable for the purpose. He +returned home and gave a glowing report of what he had done, and his +efforts and report received the approval of the future colonists. They +made their arrangements and moved westward in the following spring. When +they had reached their destination, they learned that Chief Dull Knife, a +leader of a band of northern Chyenne Indians, had left the reservation at +Ft. Reno where he and his followers were held as prisoners of war. +Followed by a numerous retinue of tribesmen he started for the Black Hills +and had passed through the Crooked Creek Valley, killing the settlers. +They continued on their way, killing, burning, and destroying everything +and everybody in sight until they were re-captured at Ft. Robinson, +Nebraska. From there they were brought back and placed on the reservation +once more.</p> + +<p>The particulars of the Dull Knife Raid will be given in another chapter.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, these reports caused considerable excitement in the +valley. Every few days rumors were circulated that the Indians were +returning, or would return as soon as the grass had begun to sprout +again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> Hardly had one rumor died until another was put into circulation. +Excitement reached such a degree that all deemed it necessary to organize +for protection. A meeting was called which all the settlers were invited, +or requested, to attend. The Colonists assembled at the dug-out of a Mr. +M. B. Wilson, one of the leading spirits of the movement, to devise ways +and means for protection in case the Indians should return. After a +general discussion of the prevailing conditions, it was unanimously agreed +that we should appeal to the Governor of Kansas for fire arms, as there +were few of us that had any, many had none, and some had no money to +purchase them, and some that did have them, had very little knowledge of +their use. Our secretary was instructed to write to the governor, explain +the conditions of affairs, and request him to send us the necessary guns +and ammunition with which to protect ourselves against the Indians in case +they should make another descent on the valley, which they would likely do +as they were threatening to leave the reservation and go on the warpath a +second time. After a good deal of correspondence and red tape we succeeded +in getting the governor’s attention, and he kindly informed us, after +several week’s delay, that if we wanted any assistance from the state, we +should join the militia. He informed us that when we were duly sworn in, +he would send the necessary arms for protection of our homes and families. +To the disinterested reader this action on the part of the governor may +seem magnanimous, but to the settler whose family was living in a dug-out +with nothing to protect them but a fire shovel or a hatchet in case of an +Indian raid, it looked very much like a case of criminal neglect. Another +meeting was called, and it was well attended. There were many women +present who seemed anxious to organize a company for the protection of +their homes. After some discussion it was decided to organize and join the +militia. Among those present was a veteran of the Civil war. He was +elected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> Captain on his war record—one of the home-made kind, as none of +his comrades of the war recollected any time or place where he performed +any deed of valor—as he would most likely know the best thing to do at +the proper time. To hear the Captain tell of his numerous exploits, the +number of men took prisoners of war, how he had on several occasions +leaped over the breastworks of some beleagured fort in the midst of a +shower of grape and canister, and tore down the Confederate flag, one +would think that he, Capt. Milligan, bore a charmed life. It seemed +strange to me that such a thoughtful man as Abe Lincoln did not send +somebody down south to assist the Captain as he seemed to be doing all the +heavy fighting himself. Such was our captain, the last and the greatest of +the Milligans up to that time, and it would require a remarkable scion to +eclipse his record, if one hundredth part of what he said was true.</p> + +<p>Returning to the thread of my story, and I hope you will pardon the +digression but it would be impossible to pass over the merits of our +worthy Captain without bringing to the notice of the world at large his +claims to the honor conferred upon him, we elected G. W. Brown First +Lieutenant, Mr. Gantz, Second Lieutenant, and C. M. Rice, Sergeant. The +above officers were veterans, or had been scouts, and the remainder +required to complete the contingent had no military experience whatever. +We instructed the secretary to notify the governor that we had organized +and were ready to be sworn into the State Militia. We did not actually +want to join the militia, but would rather join the Women’s Relief Corps, +or the Suffragette Movement, or the Populist party, anything to get the +guns and ammunition. (The swearing part of the program did not play a very +important part as there had been enough swearing done along the Creek +already over the Governor’s indolence and failure to send the relief +requested, yes, enough to have sworn in seven regiments with some to +spare.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>As the assemblage was about to disperse, some one called for a speech. +Others called on Capt. Milligan to harangue the multitude. This was kept +up until the Captain, with all the dignity of a well trained +parliamentarian, condescended to make a few remarks to show his +appreciation of the favor conferred upon him, etc. He selected a small +knoll from which to deliver himself of the sentiments that filled his +manly breast. He assumed the pose of an orator of the old school and +delivered a discourse in something like the following words:</p> + +<p>“Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen: We are now on the eve of a +terrible conflict to decide whether the white man with tens of thousands +of years of civilization, culture and refinement behind him, or the wily +undomesticated, uncivilized, uncouth, uncultured, unrefined, undressed +savage will rule the plains. Whether the untutored savage will continue to +water the virgin soil of the rolling prairie with the blood of the best of +our citizens, or whether the white man shall give to the unlimited area of +the plains the advantage of a training developed by centuries of progress +in the arts of peace and agriculture. (Cheers, and hurrah for Milligan). I +am here to state my views and express my sentiments on the question that +each and every one of us is debating in the depths of the individual +heart.” It was quite evident that the Captain was laboring under +difficulties, as he delivered the above in a very hesitating manner. What +he lacked in fluency of speech, he made up by violence and frequency of +gestures. He swung his arms and stamped his feet to emphasize the degree +of his perturbation while contemplating in advance the horrors to which +they were to be subjected. He became so wrapped up in his subject and was +so earnest in his endeavors to move his hearers, that he did not realize +that he was standing on a hill inhabited by a colony of red ants; nor was +he aware that a regiment of them had set out to explore the depths of his +unmentionables<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> and were at that very moment making rapid progress through +the recesses of his underwear. Suddenly he became aware of something +peculiar about his feelings and to cover the difficulty under which he was +laboring, and at the same time to prove to his hearers that his reputation +was above reproach and his patriotism beyond question, he accentuated his +remarks by more violent gestures than before, striking himself on the +thighs and even reaching beyond the limits to which gestures were supposed +to extend, realizing that farther speech with decorum was out of the +question he was compelled by force of circumstances to desist from further +efforts. He made an assault on his personal enemies as best he might under +the circumstances in such a public place. He squeezed and pinched, slapped +and crushed, but the greater the efforts he made, the more they seemed to +be impelled to greater efforts of offense. He rolled up his trouser legs, +as far as public decency would permit, but exposure only drove the enemy +to seek more advantageous hiding places. He could not ask his friends to +help him because it seemed such a personal affair, and besides, they were +at that moment helpless in their efforts to stifle their laughter. In his +desperation he started for the creek, which, fortunately for him, was +close at hand. A clump of hackberry and plum bushes screened him from the +multitude, and in the friendly cover offered him by nature herself, he +began to put the enemy to rout. However, mindful of the position to which +he had been elected, and the duty incumbent on him of stirring them up to +the proper degree of patriotism, he sent word that he would return shortly +to continue his harangue. More than half an hour elapsed before he +returned, and to guard against more interruptions, we pulled an old wagon +to the fore and fixed it up in proper shape for him to continue his +remarks.</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival he was assisted by Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown to +mount the newly made rostrum. After apologizing for his abrupt departure, +he continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> his address as follows; “Ladies and Gentlemen: I am ready +for the worst if it must come. A brave man dies but once, whilst the +coward dies every time danger approaches. There is no use of being timid +nor chicken-hearted in the present cause. I do not encourage cruelty, but +we must stand firmly together to defend our rights and protect our +families and firesides. (Cheers). For my part I want to emphatically say +that no invader can leave his moccasin track on my threshold, nor disturb +the peace of my household until he has crossed over all that is mortal of +Capt. Milligan. Do you think that I would sit silently and submissively by +and see him shoot down the old family watch-dog, work him up into +bouillion, and eat his repast in the shadow of my “sorghum stack.” I say, +No! a thousand times, No! I would prefer to meet their leader in single +combat on the open prairie and when I had driven him from the field of +battle, follow him to his tepee, destroy his totempole, tear his wampum +belt from his body and carry it away as a trophy of the expedition.” +(Tumultuous applause.)</p> + +<p>As it was getting rather late, and many had long distances to travel +before reaching home, the Capt. closed his harangue, thanking them for +their attention and assuring them that their interests were his interests, +and that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to defend their rights, +and homes.</p> + +<p>In a few days we received word that the Governor had instructed Adjutant +General Noble to proceed to Dodge City and thence to Crooked Creek where +he was to receive the oath of allegiance of the colonists, and deliver the +guns and ammunition, and give us such instructions as he deemed necessary +for us in our line of duty. On the following Thursday he arrived and went +through the formality of enlisting us and delivering to us the weapons of +war. Henceforth we were full-fledged members of the Kansas State Militia. +After turning over to us the arms and ammunition, he delivered a short +talk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> in which he instructed us in our duties to the State and to one +another.</p> + +<p>When the arms were distributed, it was found that there was a surplus +left, which came in handy to shoot antelope with afterwards. These guns, +in the meantime, were left in charge of Lieut. Brown. The Adjutant-General +then bade us good-bye and departed for home.</p> + +<p>We immediately set to work to provide for our defense. After some +deliberation, we concluded to provide a fortification in which to place +the women and children and all those who might happen to be in the +neighborhood in the time of danger. As funds were lacking, and rock, or +timber was not to be had, we decided to build it of sod. The following +Saturday was the day set aside to vote on the proper location of our +future fortification. On the appointed day, all assembled. They expressed +their willingness and eagerness to do anything to further the project. One +thing each one was determined on was to have it built as near his claim as +possible. It did not take long to arrive at a conclusion regarding the +position in which the fort was to be built. As it was impossible to +satisfy everybody, we abandoned the project entirely, and it was further +decided that each one was to take his share of the guns and ammunition and +take care of himself. Another subject that gave us much concern was the +matter of drilling. The adjutant had told us to become familiar with the +use of the arms, to meet at least once a week and drill to render +ourselves fit for duty. When the time arrived for our first lesson in the +“manual of arms,” it was found that there was not a man present who knew +anything about it. The old scouts who were present, knew all about how to +ride a horse, and to lie down in a buffalo wallow and take a shot at an +Indian if one came in sight, and they were, besides, first class hands at +discovering watering places and the like, but in the matter of drill they +were entirely unsophisticated. Even Capt. Milligan, if he ever knew +anything about the matter, declared he had forgotten it entirely. He felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +sure, however, that it would be impossible to perform the proper +manoeuvers with those short-barreled guns, and that if the Governor would +send some with long barrels that he would be right at home in the matter. +As no one seemed capable of conducting the class, we settled the +difficulty in the same manner as we did that of the fort, by abandoning it +also. It was unanimously agreed that in case of trouble, each should go to +the aid of his neighbor if assistance were needed. This was very +satisfactory for me especially, as I was fortunate in the possession of +splendid neighbors, Sergeant Rice living on one side of me, and First +Lieut. Brown on the other. Both were possessed of abundant fighting +material at all times, and knew how to use it in an emergency.</p> + +<p>Things seemed to drag along in the usual way, everybody settling down to +his own affairs and everything would have gone along tranquilly enough +were it not for the numerous cowboys passing through the settlement, +spreading reports as they went, that the Indians were mixing war medicine +and would shortly make a descent upon the palefaces. It was a source of +great delight to them to stampede the settlers by disquieting reports, and +then have a good laugh about it. Their efforts at fun kept the settlers in +a state of ferment.</p> + +<p>It happened that Capt. Milligan’s claim was located on the south side of +the settlement and nearest to the Indian Territory. As he was rather +nervous and always on the alert, he kept inquiring continuously of the +cowboys, of the possibility of an Indian raid, and, of course, they filled +his anxious ear with war news. Nearly every other day I noticed the +Captain calling on either Sergeant Rice or Lieutenant Brown, and as he had +to make a ride of ten miles or so to make the visit, I concluded that +there was some significance to these numerous calls. However, as they were +my superior officers, I did not feel at liberty to make any inquiries +about the Captain’s frequent visits. I did not have to curb my curiosity +very long before acquiring the desired information. In a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> days I saw +the Captain riding up in my direction on his old bald-faced horse and +could see at a glance that his arrival was something of importance as he +was riding straight up in his saddle with as much dignity as it was +possible for one horse to carry. Upon his near approach I felt that I must +do something to acknowledge the presence of my captain. Not being versed +in military etiquette, I doffed my Stetson hat. As I was leaning against +the fence, with a spade in one hand and my hat in the other, I realized +that my appearance lacked something of the military precision required in +a subordinate, and I apologized for my lack of training in the case. He +dismounted from his horse and condescended to shake hands with me and said +that the salute was only a matter of form anyway; that he understood my +position exactly; that he was a recruit once himself; that on such +occasions as this he could overlook little technicalities of the kind, but +on the field of glory he would have to be more exacting with his men. I +then invited the Captain to take a seat on a cottonwood log near at hand +so that we could discuss matters pertaining to the Company more at leisure +I congratulated him on the choice of officers which he had made.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said he, “they are all good men and true, but if I had it to do +over again, I would try to have you act as First Lieutenant of the +Company. Brown is a good man and a good scout and has seen some service +with the Indians, but he lacks aggressiveness. I want men who are +aggressive and who will go into battle as if they are going to breakfast. +By the way,” he continued, “I dropped over to see you and to leave orders +for you to go down into the Indian Territory and size up the situation. +Find out if the Indians are in an ugly mood, and if they are likely to +make a raid in the near future. Then report to me on your return and I +will take some steps in the direction that will be best for all concerned. +The cowboys have been circulating some reports concerning an intended +raid, but I do not know whether any <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>credence is to be placed in them or +not. Consequently I decided to come over to see you and send you down to +look the field over, and then I would feel more satisfied, and know just +what action to take in the matter.”</p> + +<p>I asked the Captain how he expected me to go down there, and who would +bear the expense of my journey.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said he, “you can take your own horse, and I suppose the State will +be responsible for any bills you make whilst under my orders.” I then +asked him what I should do for food for myself as well as for my horse. A +broad smile lit up his countenance and he replied, “Don’t you know that +the cowmen will be more than pleased to have a soldier stop at their +ranches for the feeling of security his presence will engender? Your board +and horse-feed will not have to be considered at all. You can go to the +R-S ranch, the Doc Day ranch, the Y. L. ranch or the Driscoll ranch, and +they will receive you with open arms. I can assure you that no charges +will be even mentioned.”</p> + +<p>During this short interview I discovered a nigger in the Captain’s +wood-pile. The fact was that the cowboys had him half scared to death by +telling him all kinds of Indian war stories. The particular reason he had +in calling on me, was to have me go down to the Territory, and if I was +not scalped while on my mission, and if I found that the Indians were +really going on the warpath, I should report to him without delay so that +he might be able to withdraw his precious(?) person from the zone of +danger and escape to Fort Dodge. I told the Captain that he was somewhat +mistaken in the estimate a cowman places on a soldier as a means of +defense where the Indians were concerned. I assured him that I had learned +their personal views on the subject, and they had arrived at the +conclusion that the soldier was a detriment and an encumbrance to them in +case of trouble with the Indians, and, moreover, they felt quite capable +of taking care of themselves in times of danger from such sources. I went +on to tell him that if he were anxious to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> an investigation of +conditions made, he might come over to my place in a day or so and we +would go down together and make the inquiries proper to the occasion, and +that I would feel safer with him than if I were alone. I immediately saw +that the Captain was getting an attack of what the hunters call +“buck-ague.” “Thunder and turf,” he exclaimed, “I cannot go. I am subject +to orders from the Governor, and I should be in a queer fix if I were +called to duty in some other part of the State while I was down in the +Territory. However, I can order Corporal Copeland to go with you.” I told +him that the Corporal had no horse, and it would not be right to send him +on foot. I also informed him that he would have to look around and make +some other arrangements, as my horse was too old, and his knee was sprung +from roping cattle, so that an Indian war horse could catch him without +any trouble. Conditions being such, I told him I did not think I would go. +“What!” he shouted, “you do not mean to disobey orders!” His eyes bulged +out until they looked like old English watches, and his chest measurement +seemed to increase perceptibly. He jumped up from his seat on the log and +started for his horse, saying on his way, “If you persist in disobeying +orders, I shall be forced to disarm you and court-martial you for +insubordination.” “Well,” said I, “you will raise the deuce +court-martialing me, when there is only five or six members of the Company +who can read or write and they are all on my side.” I heard nothing more +from the Captain for several days. Finally I received a letter from him +telling me that he had written to the Governor regarding my disobedience. +I replied to his message, saying that if the Governor was as tardy in +taking action on my case as he was in sending arms and ammunition, I +should die of old age before the matter would be adjusted. I also informed +him that I had received word that the Indians would be in our neighborhood +in a few days, and that he should see to it that means were taken for our +defense. Next day I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> received another note from him in which he told me +that he had changed his attitude toward me, and that I should call on +Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown and tell them to report to him for duty +at once, and I was to accompany them. The message I received by special +delivery. I made a visit up the creek to see my friends, Rice and Brown, +and reported the change that had taken place in the Captain’s attitude, +and also showed them his request and instructions, asking at the same time +their opinions on the matter. Brown replied, “O pshaw, that does not +amount to anything. Those cowboys over on Sand Creek have the old Captain +about frightened to death, and I think we had better remain where we are. +There’s not an Indian in the country, and I do not think there will be.” +We acted on Brown’s suggestion and remained where we were.</p> + +<p>At this time the cowmen were holding their Spring round-up on Sand Creek, +to cut out and take back to their ranches the cattle that had drifted off +during the winter, besides branding the calves before turning them loose +again on the range. There were about one hundred cow-punchers at the round +up, all well mounted and well armed. Each man had from three to five +horses in his mount, all in good shape because they had been grain fed for +the occasion. Their arms consisted of Winchesters and six-shooters. There +had been so many rumors circulated about the possibility of an Indian raid +that all went prepared for any emergency. One day while they were all +lying around awaiting the arrival of the round-up herds from the +Southeast, a happy thought occurred to them to put to the test the bravery +of Captain Milligan, of which they had heard much, thinking at the same +time to have some sport at his expense. They formed a company of about +thirty, dressed up like Indians, or near enough to the real thing to be +mistaken for them at a distance. The leader was fitted with a red saddle +blanket decorated with sage brush for a war bonnet, with a few cat tails +for plumes. He looked more like a grizzly bear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> than an Indian, but his +appearance was well calculated to strike terror into the heart of any +civilized human being, especially when everyone was looking for trouble +from such a source anyway. The rest of the crowd dressed up as each saw +fit, carrying their hats inside their shirts so as to travel bareheaded +after the Indian fashion. When all was ready they took a direct route for +Captain Milligan’s place. They all knew how to render the Cheyenne war +whoop when the proper time arrived, and the leader rode along at a +moderate pace chanting his war song. They came to a halt to decide whether +they should burn him alive, or capture him and hold him for ransom. One +man said it was useless to hold him for any ransom as he knew most of the +company, and as for burning him alive, he did not think there was a +cow-puncher in the crowd that would waste time necessary to gather chips +for the sacrifice. In the meantime the chief kept ranging around and +waving his hands, keeping his war bonnet as much in evidence as possible. +They moved up to a position within about a quarter of a mile of the +Captain’s house and then gave a war whoop. By this time the object of the +joke became aware of their presence and felt his peril keenly. He made a +dash for his corral where he kept a little, old, notch-eared, sore-backed +pony that he always kept saddled for any emergency. To say that he went +rapidly, is putting it mildly—he fairly flew. When he got started the +Indians(?) made a rush to capture him, firing at him in the meanwhile. +They remained a safe distance behind so as to be sure not to capture him, +but kept up the shouting and whooping for about two miles. The Captain +took the shortest course to Fort Dodge, and the cowboys returned to camp +laughing heartily at the brave man’s flight.</p> + +<p>When the Captain had made about five miles of his hasty retreat, he +happened upon one of his neighbors, Mike O’Shea, who had begun to dig a +well. As he passed in his headlong flight he shouted to Mike, “Tell Rice +and Brown they are here, and I am going to Fort Dodge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> for relief and +succor.” He was in too great a hurry to stop and explain the cause of his +excitement, and as Mike explained it afterwards, he said he thought he was +going for a “thafe and sucker” or something of the kind, or maybe it was +“relafe and supper, or something like that.” He also noticed that the +Captain’s horse was almost out of breath, and the gentleman himself was +very much excited.</p> + +<p>Whilst Rice and Brown were interviewing Mike, another man came along and +stated that he had seen the Captain about ten miles north, and he reported +having had an engagement with the Indians that day at his claim, and said +that he had stood them off until they had retired. As he was about out of +ammunition at the time of their departure, he took advantage of their +retreat to make his way to Fort Dodge for relief and succor. He did not +say how many he had killed, but maintained that he had a very narrow +escape.</p> + +<p>I suppose, if Captain Milligan is alive today, he does not fail to tell of +the time he stood off five hundred Cheyenne Indians, single-handed and +alone, and how, after driving them off, he beat them to Fort Dodge in +quest of aid.</p> + +<p>A few days after the encounter with the supposed Indians, Lieutenant Brown +received the following note from the Captain:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 6em;">Fort Dodge, Kansas, April—,’79.</span></p> + +<p>Lieutenant Brown:</p> + +<p>Dear Comrade:—I am in receipt of a telegram from the Governor, +ordering me to go at once to Topeka, to take charge of the +strike-breakers. The railroad employees have gone out on a strike, and +it will take the strong arm of the militia to hold them in check. Sell +my land and all my effects, and forward the proceeds to my address, +which will be, State Capitol, Topeka.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">Yours in command,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;">Captain Milligan.</span></p> + +<p>P. S. Regards to all the comrades.</p></div> + +<p>Thus terminated the war of 1879.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">A New Venture.—Hard Times.—The Territory, Etc.</p> + +<p>For three years, from 1879 to 1882, it seemed as if the very elements had +conspired to render the attempt at settling Western Kansas futile. The +continuous drouth, together with the hot winds, made any attempt at +farming discouraging. As a consequence a great many settlers sold their +holdings for what they could get for them, and returned to their former +place of abode. The gathering of buffalo bones, which had been their chief +source of subsistence during that trying time, was beginning to fail owing +to the great number engaged in the business, and the distance they had to +be hauled and the ever receding base of supply. Many abandoned the work +entirely, and the few that remained actively engaged in that occupation +found themselves daily meeting greater difficulties. The scarcity of the +supply became so great that they would often be compelled to go a hundred +miles or more to gather a load, haul them to the nearest trail, and then +transfer them to some freighter on the way to Dodge City, the only market +for them in the country. To make the exchange and have them taken to +market usually required a division of the profits, and one can easily +imagine what a small share was left for the original collector when the +goods were sold. No matter how small the profit, on this the gatherer had +to subsist as well as supply his family with necessaries during his +absence. There was hardly sufficient remuneration in the work to obtain +the plainest of provisions.</p> + +<p>To the young people of America who may perhaps be reading this little +story of the early settlement of the West, in the comfortable surroundings +of their own cozy homes, I will say that they know little of the price +paid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> to make such conditions possible. I have frequently seen, on the top +of a wagon loaded with bones, a gunny sack containing the skeleton of a +man, that had been picked up by some freighter or some cowman or some +settler, and put in the sack to be taken to Dodge City for burial. That +gunny sack contained a sermon as well as a skeleton. It told of the +certainty of death as well as of the uncertainty of life. It told the +reason why father, mother, Mary, Ellen and Julia never received a reply to +their last letter, written to John, Jake or Jim, marked on the lower +left-hand corner, “In haste, please,” to be sure of prompt delivery. Quite +likely, when the poor old mother would be grieving over the long +disappointment, the girls would encourage her by saying, “Oh, that is one +of his pranks. He is just waiting until we are all quite lonesome, and +then he will come rushing in upon us to take us by surprise.” He has never +returned, but the family still keeps alive the glimmer of hope that +flickers in the human breast, that they will all meet again, somewhere.</p> + +<p>Confronted with such conditions as mentioned above, with no indications of +any relaxation of the drouth that was compelling even the big ranchmen to +look around for water, we saw a very gloomy outlook for the future.</p> + +<p>After weighing the matter carefully, I decided to make a change in my +business affairs. I took into my confidence a cow-puncher named Bill +Wagner, who is now living in Meade, Kans. Having fully discussed the +situation from all points, we determined to embark together on a course +that would at least promise us some profit from the undertaking. We made +up our minds to go down into the Territory and trade with the cattlemen +who were coming North with their herds from Texas, on their way to Montana +or Wyoming, either to sell or turn loose to graze on the Northern range. +We rounded up a few saddle horses, among which was my old favorite Jimmy, +and set out for Dodge City to purchase the supplies necessary for the +journey. I also wanted to deposit some money and dispose of some mules +that I would not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> need, on my trip. On my arrival at Dodge City I formed +the acquaintance of James Langton, who introduced me to a Mr. R. M. +Wright, of the firm of Wright, Beverly & Co., who were engaged in a +Wholesale Supply business. I found Mr. Wright one of the most genial men +with whom I ever did business. Having previously sold my mules, I +deposited my money with the firm I was introduced to. I told Mr. W. that I +intended to go down into the Territory on a trading expedition. I +explained to him that the cattlemen would be on the trail, and as there +were no stores to be found between the Red river on the North line of +Texas and where we were then standing, there would be a good opportunity +to trade provisions for some cattle that had become sore-footed on the +way, with a good profit for me. He agreed with me that it was a golden +opportunity, and added as an encouragement, “You will do well, if the +Indians do not scalp you in the meantime.” I replied that as conditions +existed on Crooked Creek, a man would be no worse off dead in the +Territory than living where I had been. I saw very little difference.</p> + +<p>I loaded my wagon with what goods I thought would be most in demand by the +cattlemen. I selected a considerable quantity of tobacco, bacon, baking +powder, canned goods of several kinds, a coil of rope, cartridges of +different calibre, coffee, sugar, and some other things—all necessary on +the trail. I also bought a tent and cooking outfit. The latter consisted +of a coffee-pot, skillet, frying-pan, coffee-mill, six knives and forks, +six tin plates, six cups and saucers, the latter of tin, in order to +provide against the possibility of our having some company on the road. By +the time I had my trading done, Wagner was ready and waiting. We hitched +up and pulled across the river, where we encamped for the night. Part of +the horses we hobbled, and two we kept picketed in order to guard against +being left on foot the next morning if anything should stampede our stock +during the night. When the stock had been cared for, we <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>proceeded to make +arrangements for ourselves, and while Wagner cooked the flapjacks I was +looking around for sleeping accommodations, as it was difficult to find a +place level enough to suit the purpose. The making of our beds did not +cost much effort, but one had to guard against sand-burrs, cactus, +tarantulas, rattlesnakes and centipedes.</p> + +<p>The next morning found us up early after a good sound sleep, and hustling +around to get ready for the first day of our new venture. When we had +tended to the wants of the stock and ourselves, we hitched up and started +off at a slow pace, as the team was not accustomed to the heavy work, and +it would take some time for them to become inured to the hardship of the +trail. Out across Five Mile Creek and up the divide along the old Camp +Supply route until we reached the summit, we made our toilsome way. We +reached the apex about noon time and halted for dinner. After giving the +horses a good rest, we proceeded on our way, and as our route now lay down +grade we made better time. Evening found us at Mulberry Creek, where +Johnny Glenn and Dutch Pete kept a road ranch. This roadside caravansary +served as a halting place for the stage coach, and furnished refreshments +for passengers when needed. As there was a good camping ground there, we +unhitched and turned the horses out to graze and made preparations for our +own accommodation. When we had eaten supper, we brought the horses in for +the night, and then after chatting and smoking for some time we turned in +for a good night’s rest. Early morning found us on our way again towards +the South. We kept rumbling along until we reached the division point of +the stage line, where horses were changed by the driver, P. G. Reynolds. +This location, I believe, is not very far from where the present town of +Ashland, county seat of Clark county, is situated. Here we stopped and had +dinner at what was called the Widow Brown ranch. From this place we +proceeded down the Bear Creek trail and reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> the Cimmaron River that +same evening. The river being up, we could not cross, and we camped on the +North bank not far from where an old German named Clem maintained a road +ranch. The river as I said was full and this may seem strange, as it had +not rained in this section for more than three months. The cause of the +rise lay in the fact that there had been considerable rain in Colorado. +This added to the snow melting on the mountains made the river rise to its +full capacity. Here we had to remain for three days, waiting till the +waters would subside enough to permit a crossing. We were not the only +ones that met with an obstacle in our progress by the river’s behavior, +but it proved a boon to us as well as adding to our store of knowledge. On +the other bank of the river were cowpunchers with their herds waiting to +cross also. It was amusing and instructive to us to watch them in their +efforts to induce the leaders of the herds to take to the water. When a +puncher succeeded in getting the leaders into the stream, he would ride or +swim his pony alongside of them to keep them from milling, or drifting +down the river. It was very exciting to watch those herds crossing the +swollen stream with the cowboys yelling and whooping among them. It seemed +as if pandemonium had taken a holiday. By the time the last of the herds +had crossed, the river had subsided somewhat, and we pulled over to the +opposite side without any great difficulty. It was with a sigh of relief +we reached the solid footing on the other bank.</p> + +<p>Then we were in the Territory and bade farewell to civilization until we +returned to the North bank of Cimmaron River. We left the Camp Supply +trail and went Southward to the old Custer trail, which was being used by +the cowmen at that time. We did not stop at noon time, but kept on our +way, intending to make a short drive and camp where the grass had not been +eaten off by the trail herds, and where there was a supply of water for +our stock. About four o’clock in the afternoon we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> found a satisfactory +location and went into camp. We turned the horses loose to graze. They +needed it, as they had been living on rather short rations since we had +started on our jaunt. For ourselves, we built a fire of cow-chips and made +out a supper on bacon and flapjacks. This done, we looked over our outfit +and made what repairs were necessary for the next day’s drive. Everything +being attended to, as security demanded, we turned in for the night, +intending to make a permanent location the next day. As this was my first +night in the Territory, I must say that I felt very lonesome. It was a +fine moonlight night, and the stars seemed to flicker and dance for my +special benefit. I could see the handiwork of the Great Creator all over +the firmament as far as the eye could reach, and my admiration for the +beauty of the planetary system was unbounded. When I arose in the morning +and threw the saddle on my old favorite pony, Jimmie, to get an idea of +the lay of the land, things seemed to look different. When I had returned +to camp after my survey of the neighborhood, I had come to the conclusion +from the general appearance of the country and the great contrast with +what I had viewed from my bed at the wagon, that some Spirit of Evil had +been brooding over things in general, and while in that mood had laid the +country round about in waste, and Nature was doing her best to restore it +to its primitive beauty. We travelled that day until we discovered what we +considered an ideal spot to locate our store. It was not far from the +trail, and there was plenty of good grass and water for our stock. We set +to work to arrange things for our purpose, and it was not long before we +had things in shape to do business. Our tent-store was, fortunately, +placed about half a mile from where the cowmen used to halt and bed down +their herds for the night. The presence of those men served the purpose of +breaking the monotony of our surroundings, for it was a pleasure to hear +them singing as they rode around their herds at night to render them quiet +and keep them from drifting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> off during the night. Not only did they help +to pass away the time for us, but it gave us an opportunity to do a little +business also.</p> + +<p>When we had located and arranged things to our satisfaction, we spent some +time riding around looking over the situation and conjecturing the +prospects. We found very few range cattle in our vicinity, which I +afterwards learned was due to the fact that the ranchers kept their cattle +away from the trail so that they would not become mixed with those on the +drive, or become infected with the Texas or splenic fever. For the purpose +of effecting this, they maintained men along the trail to turn back any +range cattle that showed a tendency to wander in the direction of the +through herds. During our ride we killed a brace of wild turkeys, and this +gave us a welcome change from the monotony of rusty bacon.</p> + +<p>Things did not look very prosperous as yet, and began to think that I had +made my journey to no purpose, and would likely have to haul my load back +to Kansas again. While in this frame of mind, and not being very cheerful +over it, sitting in the shade of my tent, a man rode up to my emporium of +commerce. We passed the usual salutations and had a chat. In the midst of +our conversation he informed me that he had met a man who would likely +purchase some of my wares. I could hardly realize the gist of his remark, +as it was such a surprise, although I was there for the purpose of selling +goods. I managed to recover from the shock with considerable alacrity, and +invited him into my tent. He looked over my stock of goods, and before he +left me he had purchased more than half of it, and gave in payment an +order on Wright & Beverly. He said that his herd would be along in the +evening, and he would have the grub wagon load up the purchases.</p> + +<p>That evening the herd came along, and as the place was the bedding ground +for the through herds, they made the necessary preparations for putting in +the night. When the cowpunchers had eaten supper, they came over to our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +tent to purchase supplies of tobacco and cartridges. As there was nothing +else to do, and as we had been getting rather lonesome in our retired +place, we spent the evening agreeably, spinning yarns, relating +experiences of the trail, etc. In the meantime the grub wagon arrived and +was loaded with the goods purchased earlier in the day. Before bidding us +good night, the boys invited us to take breakfast with them on the +following morning. We accepted, and shortly after daybreak we heard the +cook’s cheerful announcement that “chuckaway” was ready. As the wagon was +near our tent we did not have far to go, and before we reached it all +hands were up and dressed and ready for the morning repast. We were +somewhat surprised to find that the cook had fried salt bacon for the +boys. In explanation of this he said that they were tired of fresh meat. +We were weary of salt bacon, but good manners forbade our saying so, and +we did our share with as much gusto as possible. A little fresh beef would +have been much to our liking just then. By the time breakfast was over, +the horse wrangler had arrived with the saddle stock. Ropes were +stretched, one from the front wheel and one from the rear wheel of the +wagon, and the horses driven in between them, where each man roped his +mount for the day. The cook and the wrangler then attended to their own +wants. After covering the camp-fires with soil to prevent the fire from +spreading over the prairie, they were ready to set out on their long jaunt +to Montana, or some other feeding ground. We bade the boys good-bye and +returned to our store to await new arrivals.</p> + +<p>As the business of the preceding day had been more than I expected from +the general survey of things when I first arrived, I soon saw that if I +had another customer of the same dimensions of the first one, I would have +very little with which to do business. I determined to send Bill to Dodge +City for another load of provisions. I made out a list of what I wanted, +greased the wagon and started him off. Under favorable conditions, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +should make the trip in about eight or ten days, but if the roads became +bad, it would require a much longer time. Before he left I had him make a +good store of biscuits for me, as I was not able to turn out an article of +the kind that would coincide with the digestive powers of any human being. +I gave him strict orders, among the other things, not to forget to bring +something to read, as there was nothing at hand for that purpose except a +Patent Medicine pamphlet, and I had read that so often and so thoroughly +that I had some of the symptoms of seven different maladies that were +therein pronounced fatal. If I had been in the neighborhood of a drug +store at the time I should have bought a supply of the cure-all regardless +of results. Living as I was at the time, alone, I escaped the consequences +of both the cure-all and the diseases mentioned in the pamphlet. When Bill +was well on his way, I meandered around into the tent and out again, down +to the creek and back again; in fact, I was just like a stray colt, did +not know where to go, nor what to do. I soon discovered what my malady +was. It was lonesomeness in its direst form. It settled on me like a fog +settling over a marsh. It penetrated my very being. Everywhere I went I +could feel it. Whatever I saw seemed tinged with it. I tried drinking +strong coffee to drive it out, but that was no avail, so I saddled old +Jimmie and took a ride over the prairie. On my way back to camp I killed a +wild gobbler, thus providing myself with fresh meat. The cleaning and +cooking of my prize relieved the monotony a trifle. I don’t know whether I +cooked him according to the recipe in the latest cook book published, but +in any case he tasted fine. My pony seemed to realize how lonely I was, +for whenever I went out of my tent he endeavored to come to me, and +strained at his rope to approach as near as possible. I went over to him +and he put his head on my shoulder and seemed to say, “It’s all right, +Dennis, Bill will be back in a few days and then you will have company. In +the meantime I shall try to keep you from becoming too lonesome.” Needless +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> say, I put in considerable time with old Jimmie, currying him and +fixing his water and feed in the best manner possible. I loved old Jimmie, +for he was my friend. I knew not at what hour, nor what moment, my life +would depend on his fidelity, and I knew that I could rely upon him to the +last breath.</p> + +<p>One day followed another without any perceptible difference between one +and the other. In my surroundings I lost track of the time. I was longing +for the return of my partner, and continued to picture the progress of his +journey, where he was, what he was doing, etc. I felt like Robinson +Crusoe, and in some respects his plight was more endurable than mine. He +declared himself the monarch of all he surveyed, and his right there was +none to dispute. Not so would he have issued his declaration if he were +living in the Territory at the time, as his right would likely be disputed +by the first man that came along, and as for there being a monarchy at the +time, it was not thinkable, at least under the conditions in which I was +living.</p> + +<p>That was a time when every man was supposed to remain silent about what he +had heard, and have very little to say about what he saw. Horse stealing +had become quite an industry at the time, and was carried on by bands of +outlaws between Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado. As there was no +telephone, telegraph or mail facilities, they were comparatively free from +detection, especially as they travelled through the most unfrequented +parts of the country. Their route brought them through the section where I +was camped. One day I saw five of them coming in my direction, attracted +by the sight of my tent. When they arrived where I was sitting, I invited +them to dismount and come into my tent. They did so. They inquired if I +had any tobacco, and I told them that was one of the commodities I was +dealing in at the time. As that was all they wanted, they bought several +pounds and then prepared to depart. I invited them to remain to dinner and +they accepted the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>invitation. When they had consented to be my guests, I +told them I had everything to make a first-class meal, but was short on +biscuits, and could not make them as I did not know how, and I said I +would be pleased if one of them would make them. One of them remarked, +“Now, Jack, there is a job for you.” I pulled out a sack of flour, a can +of baking powder, gave one of them the coffee mill to grind some coffee, +took a bucket and started for the creek for a pail of fresh water. The +rest of them busied themselves building a fire of cowchips, and things +began to take on the appearance of home. When Jack had his biscuits ready, +I brought out my select assortment of tin-ware, passed around plates, +knives, forks and whatever else was necessary, and we all set to work with +a gusto. The gobbler, biscuits and other edibles did not last long, as +each of us seemed to have a first-class appetite. While eating and joking +at the same time, I told them of the reason of my asking them to remain +for dinner, namely, that I was out of biscuits and that I was tired of +living on crackers, and I knew there would be some one in the crowd who +would be able to make them. I saw, besides, that their horses were jaded, +and told them they might as well remain for a time to rest their stock. In +all my joking and talking with them I took particular care not to ask them +whence they came, nor whither they were going, nor what their business was +in that part of the country, as that would be the height of impropriety. +After we had chatted for a considerable time, they took the saddles off +their horses, picketed one or two, and turned the others loose to graze. +My loneliness was fast disappearing as the result of companionship of my +fellowmen, even if they were a gang of horse thieves, and as a result I +began to feel better and things began to wear a different aspect. I +recalled a statement made by some one that it was not good for man to be +alone, and I found it true, and made a resolution that I would never be +left alone again in the future.</p> + +<p>That night I saddled up old Jimmie, and taking one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> of my visitors, went +out in search of some wild turkeys. I had previously seen a flock in the +neighborhood, and had a fairly good idea of where they were roosting. As +soon as the moon had come up we began looking around among the trees that +grew along the bank of the creek, and to our great delight discovered a +few. We secured two of them and returned to camp. Next morning, Jack, who +had been delegated to cook for us during his visit, was up and had the +game dressed in the most approved fashion, and had also turned out a new +supply of biscuits. When I rolled out of my blanket, I discovered that my +company was made up of early and energetic risers, and I was delighted to +know that the cook had done so well, and showed my appreciation later. The +rest of the group had gone off in search of their stock, and were then +returning. Breakfast was ready by that time, and we all set to without +much preliminary apology for poor appetites, for we had good ones. The +service was rather plain; a tomato can served the purpose of a sugar bowl, +a sardine can for a salt cellar, and other utensils were provided in the +same manner. During the meal one of the boys asked me which was the best +way, through No Man’s Land to Colorado. I divined immediately that they +were horse thieves, for I had only a suspicion of it before. I gave him +some kind of an answer, and I do not know whether it proved satisfactory +to them or not. Breakfast being attended to and the dishes washed and put +away, they made preparations for departure. They thanked me for my +kindness and assured me that they would be glad to meet me at any time or +place. When they had gone I began to feel the loss of company again, but I +also began to realize the danger I had encountered owing to their brief +stay, for if a posse of officers had happened along while they were my +guests, it would have been hard for me to explain my compromising +position. As it is usually the innocent bystander that gets hurt, I +suppose I should have been the one to suffer, as there would have been +some very warm work for a while. There was one thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> impressed itself on +my mind very much during the stay of my visitors, and that was the absence +of vulgar or profane language. That went to prove that they had had good +training by good parents who would have been proud of their personality, +though they could not approve of their occupation.</p> + +<p>When they had gone over the hill on their way, I thought I would improve +my time by writing a few letters. I improvised a table for the purpose by +bringing into service a cracker-box. The remainder of my office fixtures +were in keeping with my desk. However, I was not ashamed of my +surroundings, and sat down to write with all the dignity of an Indian +chief sitting in council. It dawned upon me suddenly that it might be +weeks before I would have an opportunity to post them, and as I was doing +it to ward off another attack of lonesomeness, I decided that a good walk +over the surrounding neighborhood would serve the purpose as well. In my +travels I discovered a cloud of dust rising on the horizon, and came to +the conclusion that there was another herd coming along the trail, and it +would only be a matter of a few hours before they would arrive at the +regular halting place. I returned to camp and made out a lunch from the +remnants of the breakfast, and then saddled old Jimmie and set out to meet +the oncoming herd. I wanted to get acquainted with them as much as +circumstances would permit, find out if they had any lame cattle they +thought would be unable to make the journey to Dakota, Montana, or +wherever they were going, and what would be the possibilities of a trade. +If they would not ask too much I felt that I could make a little money by +doctoring them myself and disposing of them afterward. When I came up to +the cowmen they seemed to look at me with suspicion, as they did not +expect to find a white man in that section of the country. When I +explained to the foreman the nature of my business in that part of the +Territory, he seemed very much pleased to meet me, and to know that I was +selling goods that he needed, as he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> not had a chew of tobacco since +he had left the Red River, nor lard enough to grease a skillet. I looked +over the herd and made an estimate of the number of lame cattle they had. +I rode back to my camp thinking over the situation, and when they arrived +later I figured up what I was willing to pay for the lame and footsore +cattle they had in the group. As soon as they arrived, the foreman rode +over to my tent to look at the goods I had in stock. He purchased about +what I had remaining after the previous sale. While talking on things in +general he remarked that he would have to remain where he was for a day or +so in order to let the stock rest, as he had driven them rather rapidly +owing to the fact that the Comanches were troublesome to him while he was +passing through their reservation, and he had to hasten along in order to +get away from them. That determination to rest was as pleasing to me as it +was to the cowpunchers, and the cattle showed it was agreeable to them, as +they looked exhausted, which was inevitable after a long and furious +drive. I sauntered over to where the cowboys were gathered around the grub +wagon, and soon was on friendly terms with them as far as short +acquaintance would permit. I heard the cook complaining about the dog, +saying he would have to get rid of him as he was always nosing into +everything, and had become a nuisance. I told him that I would gladly take +him for the sake of his company, and he was handed over to me. I did not +know that I was adding to my misfortunes or afflictions when I received +him, though I might have suspected it from the ease with which the cook +parted with him.</p> + +<p>Next morning found me riding around the herd in company with the foreman, +looking over the lame cattle, or drags, as they called them. I examined +them very carefully, and made a dicker for about fifteen head. He agreed +to have his men help me rope and brand them, to cross out the road brand, +and also hobble them and help me doctor their sore feet. We built a fire +to heat the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> branding irons, and soon everything was ready for the +operation. I placed my brand upon them, a ladder on the left side and a +crop off the left ear. While the irons were hot, I cauterized their sore +feet, and applying tar and turpentine, wrapped them up in gunny sacks and +turned them away from the herd to graze along the creek. Many hands make +light work, and we were through with our task before noon. To complete the +transaction, the foreman wrote out a bill of sale for me, giving a general +description of the cattle and the road brands, signed it in the presence +of witnesses, and turned it over to me to secure me against all claims for +the stock I had purchased. This being done, I wrote out a check for him, +and the sale was complete. I began to feel as though I were somewhat of a +cowman myself when I looked down toward the creek to where my stock was +grazing. I soon found out that I had much to learn.</p> + +<p>A Bill of Sale was necessary in a cow country, and it was my only +protection against the claim of some other cowman who might assert that +the stock had broken away from his herd in a storm, and might say that I +had caught and branded them. If the case were so, I might not only have +the cattle taken away from me, but I would be lucky if they did not treat +me as a cattle thief. But with the Bill of Sale safely tucked away in the +safety deposit vault, which in this case was a cracker box, I felt easy +about the matter.</p> + +<p>Our business being completed, we sat around chatting and narrating +experiences on the plains. Even this palled on us after a time, and one of +the boys, in order to relieve the tedium of the delay, proposed a horse +race. That suggestion seemed to please them generally. The proposal was +greeted with enthusiasm, but it was a difficult matter to arrange the +proper distance, or the amount of the wager. I was asked if I would care +to take part in the race, and I replied that I could not say until I had +seen who and what I was to compete with. That morning I had noticed on my +trip around the herd that their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> horses seemed pretty well jaded from +their long trip from San Antonio to the North side of the Territory, and +did not seem equal to a very long race. Just then one of the boys came up +with a bunch of horses, and one of them was roped. They began to saddle +him and one of the boys asked, “Are you going to run old Pinkeye? If you +are, I am willing to bet a dollar on him if Slim Jim rides him.” The boys +continued to parley about what they would and would not do, and finally +they asked me to match my horse against Pinkeye with Slim Jim for rider. I +consented to make the match if we could arrange the preliminaries. I said +I would ride a half mile or a quarter mile dash, whichever they preferred. +They asked me who would ride my horse, and I remarked that I thought I +would perform that duty myself. A knowing look and an incipient smile +lighted up their countenances when I volunteered my information. One of +the wise ones asked me where I came from, and I told him Maidstone Cross, +Canada. Right there he set me down for a tenderfoot, and was out to have +some sport with me. As far as they were concerned the race was as good as +won, and all that remained was the shouting. Of course, we should have to +go through the formality of a race, but that was of minor importance as +far as the wager was concerned. If ignorance is bliss, they had a right to +be supremely happy. They did not know that my pony, Old Jimmie, had not +missed a feed of grain during the past six months, and likewise they were +not aware of the fact that I had handled horses all my life and had spent +the preceding four years on the plains. Yes, Jimmie was the dark horse of +the race, as he was in prime condition, and had just enough exercise for +the past few weeks to keep him in splendid shape. Of course the race +looked bad for me, as I weighed two hundred pounds and Slim about one +hundred and thirty. The odds seemed so much in favor of Slim, that I +demanded twenty-five yards start for a quarter of a mile race, and I +wagered a side of bacon against a three-year-old steer. We finally +compromised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> the matter by my being allowed twenty yards start, and the +bet to remain as it was. I saddled up Old Jimmie and we then made the +necessary measurements, starting point, etc., in proper form. The signal +for starting was to be a shot from the foreman’s gun. The crowd would +decide the winner, as they were to congregate at the winning post. We drew +up to the mark and announced that all was ready. The gun flashed and we +were off. When about half the distance was traversed, I looked back and +discovered that Pinkeye was not making as good a run as I expected, so I +slackened my pace a trifle and crossed the line a winner by about five +yards, which would show that Jim and Pinkeye had gained about fifteen +yards in the struggle. Then the air was rent with shouts and whoops for +the victor. Roars of laughter followed one another at Jim’s discomfiture, +and he came in for some real joshing. “Oh, shucks! Jim, you can’t ride and +Pinkeye can’t run fast enough to catch a milch cow. Next time you ought to +race with a bull train.”</p> + +<p>After the first round of excitement and merriment had subsided, they +proposed another race for the same wager. They wanted to make it an even +start, but I would not agree to that, but they finally consented to give +me ten yards start. Back we went to try it over again. By this time Old +Jimmie began to do some fancy side-stepping and prancing, just to show +that he had imbibed enough of the spirit of the race to make him feel +good, and I was satisfied that he was in better fettle than at the opening +of the first heat. The foreman called, “All ready,” fired his gun and away +we went again, Slim Jim pouring the rawhide into Pinkeye. This time I did +not hold back, especially as I heard Jim urging his pony by words and +quirt, but I had no fears about the outcome, as Old Jimmie would not +permit anything to pass him as long as he was able to throw a hoof +forward. When we reached the line, we were in about the same relative +positions as when we started. He had not gained a yard on Jimmie. The +usual whooping and yelling took place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> again. As it was getting late, I +thought it best to get my two steers, brand and hobble them and put them +with the rest of the little bunch I had bought earlier in the day. The +boys good-humoredly branded them and the foreman wrote out another Bill of +Sale which I tucked away with the other. As there was nothing else to do +after the racing was over, I took a couple of the boys and we went out and +brought in a few wild turkeys which the cook dressed and cooked for the +evening meal. The rest of the evening we spent in chatting about life on +the trail.</p> + +<p>Next morning they set out on their long drive to Montana. I rode with them +a few miles, bade them farewell, and returned to my duties at the camp. +When I reached my tent, I found that the old dog, Nero, had declared +himself dictator, and positively refused to let me enter. I could hardly +blame him, as there had been so many around since I acquired possession of +him that he could not figure out to whom he belonged. I went to my saddle +and took down my lariat rope and gave him a liberal application of it, and +established order once more on the premises. To rehabilitate myself in his +affection I brought him out a good meal of bread and cold turkey. With +nothing else at hand to require my attention at the tent, I rode down to +where my herd was feeding to see if any of them had wandered off. They +were all there and I felt satisfied.</p> + +<p>On my arrival at the camp on my return, I found a man sitting on his horse +awaiting my coming. He introduced himself as a line-rider of the Y. L. +ranch. I invited him to come in and make himself at home. He gave me his +name as Jack Jernigan, and said that he had been an employee of the ranch +for some time. I asked him to remain for dinner and he accepted the +invitation. I apologized for my inability to make bread. He assured me +that I need not apologize as he would attend to that part of the matter if +I would attend to the business of making a fire and getting the coffee +prepared. His visit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> was a welcome one as it dispelled an idea that was +forcing itself on me that I was likely to be alone for some time. His +visit was short, but as he lived in the neighborhood, he promised to come +frequently to see me, and he lived up to his promise, frequently bringing +turkey or venison with him as a proof of his marksmanship and +thoughtfulness of me in my lonesome condition. In this way our friendship +was cemented. When my visitor left me, I often experienced touches of +lonesomeness that not even the presence of Nero could abate. Instead of +being companion and comfort to me, he was just the reverse. He spent his +days chasing rabbits, and made the nights hideous with the howls he +emitted in answer to the call of the denizens of the wild. One night as I +felt very tired from a long jaunt I had taken, I decided as there was no +business to attend to, that I would have a good night’s rest. I spread my +blankets and settled down to slumber. I had turned the dog loose to take a +run at leisure over the plain. I was just dozing off into slumberland when +I heard a noise approaching. I could not distinguish what it was. It +sounded like a cross between a fog-horn and a calliope. Before I could get +dressed, in fact, before I got my hat on, Nero came tearing over the plain +like a miniature cyclone. He rushed up to me and got between my legs for +protection. I grabbed my six-shooter and went on a tour of investigation. +I had hardly gone a hundred yards when I heard a coyote, and there never +crossed the Atlantic a bagpiper who could emit such a variety of sounds as +that coyote worked out of his system. He had been the cause of my dog’s +commotion. I returned to the tent for my winchester, hoping to get a shot +at him, but it was of no use, he had gone away. One thing I discovered in +my midnight ramble was the fact that a mother skunk had moved into the +neighborhood with her whole family. There is one thing that a cowman +dreads very much and that is the bite of a skunk. I knew personally two +cases where men had died of hydrophobia after being bitten by the +malodorous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> brutes. In my state of mind, sleep was out of the question +until I had destroyed or driven away the newcomers. When I reached the +neighborhood of the late arrivals, I walked very cautiously, as a skunk is +constructed very much on the principal of a “Queen Anne” musket, there was +danger at either end, but it was hard to determine which end had the +greater executionary power. As there was very little moonlight, I could +not get a very good aim at them. When I thought I had located them +properly I began to blaze away with my winchester, and kept up the +fusilade until the chamber of the gun was empty. Next morning I was +delighted to find that I had killed four of my unsavory visitors, and at +the same time felt proud of my marksmanship in the dark. However, I had +little rest during the night as I was not sure of my shots, and I did not +like to take risks with them, so I spent the remainder of the night +soliloquizing on things in general and nothing in particular. During my +vigil I heard the wheels of a wagon rumbling along the trail and I knew it +was Bill returning with more goods. I built a fire and made some coffee +for him as I knew he must be tired after his long journey. After arranging +matters in a sufficiently satisfactory manner for the rest of the night, +we sat and talked over our experiences since we parted. We spent an hour +or so in this manner and then turned in for a good solid sleep. Morning +came and we put things in shape for business and awaited our next +customer. We went down to the creek to take a look at the stock, and it +was well we did so as some of them needed such medical attention as we +could give them. As Bill had brought some books and papers, I felt much +relieved. I discovered that, on consulting the almanac, we had done our +horse racing and trading on Sunday. However, as I was in complete +ignorance of the day, I hope it will not be held against me.</p> + +<p>It may be of interest to the reader to know that the Comanche Indians and +Texans had not been very friendly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> since Texas had gained her independence +from Mexico. The Comanches claimed that the Texans had been stealing their +horses, and also their cattle, and the Texans put in a counter claim of +the same nature, and in addition to the stock the Indians were said to +have taken, they kidnapped their children whenever an opportunity +presented itself. As a proof that there was some truth in the statement of +the Texans, I will say that Quanah Parker, the late chief of the Comanches +was the son of a white mother who had been kidnapped when a child from a +Texan family. He was a good chief and held in high repute by the whites as +well as by the members of his own tribe. The result of the habit of +carrying off the white children may be seen in the features of many of the +tribesmen today. The unfriendly feeling caused by those savage incursions +exists today, and will continue to do so for ages to come. It is true they +do a little business with each other, but a close observer can readily see +that it would take a very small spark to set the flames of hatred and +vengeance aglow once more. The Texans in driving their cattle northwards +were compelled to pass through the Comanche country, and the Comanche had +advanced far enough in the white man’s ways to levy tribute from them. It +was not long after a herd had passed the Red River until an Indian, or +perhaps several of them, made a visit to the cowmen and demanded “wohaw,” +or in other words, beef. That meant the delivering over of one or more +steers. The Texan understood the situation well enough to make no refusal +to demand. If he failed to comply with the demand, that night, the same +Indian would likely appear among the herd in the guise of a gray wolf, or +a cougar, and stampede the herd. Such a movement, would cost more than the +price of a brace of steers, as it would take days to collect the cattle +once they scattered, and some of the stock they might never see again. +Without much parley they turned over the stock to them and the Indian went +on his way rejoicing. The first demand did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> always settle the +difficulty, as they were likely to appear again in a day or so and demand +more. Such a course of proceedings was very expensive and aggravating to +the cowmen, and as a consequence they pushed on as rapidly as possible to +get away from the dark shadow of the trail, and get over into Chickasaw, +or Caddo country to avoid further trouble. By the time they arrived at the +Cherokee Strip, where I was located, they had several lame, or sorefooted +cattle which they were willing to dispose of at a very reduced price. As I +was the only man on the ground who would take them off their hands, I came +into possession of several head of cattle. After a few weeks rest and some +surgical attention, they would again be in good condition and ready to +forward to the market. Usually I sent them to my ranch in Kansas where I +kept them until I could dispose of them to good advantage.</p> + +<p>A few days after Bill’s return, another herd happened along and I did +considerable business with them, selling what goods they needed, and +buying several head of injured cattle which I tended to in the customary +manner. It happened that they had an extra man with them and I hired him. +I put him on the wagon and sent him after more supplies. I kept Bill with +me as I was determined not to remain alone in that locality. When the herd +had gone forward on the drive, we went out to look after our own stock, +and found them as well as could be expected. Shortly after our return to +camp, we saw a horseman coming towards us, and I concluded we were going +to have some more company. When he rode up, I invited him to dismount, as +that was the custom of the country. He thanked me, but declined, saying +that he was in a hurry, that he had had some trouble with the Comanche +Indians, in which there was some shooting done, that he would like to get +a fresh horse to push on his way. I saw that he was pretty well +upholstered in the matter of armament, as he had two six-shooters in his +belt and a winchester in his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>scabbard and looked, as though he would be +able to protect himself. I asked him no questions as the condition of his +horse told the story as plainly as any words he might use. The spur marks +on the pony’s sides showed that his vitality was about expended and that +he would not be able to go much farther. When he asked if I could supply +him with a new mount, I told him I could furnish one. I asked Bill to +change his saddle for him, and gave him some directions to guide him +towards a cow ranch. He proposed leaving his horse with me as a guaranty +that he would return mine to me. I told him that was out of the question, +that if the Comanches came along and found his horse with me they would +conclude that I had hidden him somewhere, which would mean trouble for me, +a thing I did not want just then, especially with the Indians. I told him +to take his pony along with him and if he could not keep up with the fresh +one, to turn him loose upon the prairie and some cow-puncher would take +him in and care for him until called for. He put a hackamaw on his jaded +steed, mounted his fresh pony and made ready to start. I told him not to +spare the quirt, as the horse could stand a good dash, and that he would +be at the ranch in a little over an hour if he rode steadily. He was off +in the direction I gave him, and Bill and I set in to make a checker board +to while away our idle hours. Something shortly afterward attracted our +attention, and on looking up we beheld three Comanche Indians riding +towards our tent, with their rifles across their saddles, which meant +business. I spoke to Bill and he stepped into the tent and buckled on a +pair of six-shooters. I happened to have my winchester near at hand. When +they rode up close enough for us to see plainly what they were doing, they +stopped and began to make signs. I could not understand the Comanche sign +language, so they had to resort to some other means of communication. They +drew closer and one of them said ‘How,’ the second one grunted something +and the third remained silent.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> Bill and I went on making our checker +board apparently oblivious of their presence, but all the while I kept my +eye on the rifle with an occasional glance out of the corner of my eye at +the Indians. Finally one of them spoke in broken English and asked if a +white man had been there. I told them a white man had stopped for a short +time, but went north, and I pointed out the trail. After they had sat in +silence for some time, they wheeled their ponies around and galloped off. +It would not take much of a genius to see that their visit was not a +friendly one, and that they were looking for trouble, and particularly +wanted to see a certain white man that had passed that way shortly before. +If they could not find the object of their desires, they would likely make +some trouble for some innocent party. As they saw that Bill and I were +pretty well furnished with fire arms, they thought it better to pursue the +object of the search. I knew that, by this time, the pursued was beyond +the reach of the pursuers and was likely safe among the cowboys of some +neighboring ranch, where the Indian would not follow him. The Indian had a +wholesome respect for cow-ranches and did not care to go prowling around +that locality, for at that particular time the cowman had lost all respect +for the Indian’s feelings. As we did not know at what time they would +return, if they ever did, nor did we know what humor they would be in, +though we could give a shrewd guess, Bill and I thought it better to make +what efforts were necessary to protect ourselves and our stock in the +event of their returning with designs, upon us, or our cattle. We took our +blankets and guns and spent the night on the prairie near our horses. +During the vigil we were keeping we heard some horsemen passing and +concluded the Indians were returning from their white-man hunt.</p> + +<p>Next forenoon a line rider came over to see us, bringing with him the +horse we had loaned the visitor who was in such a hurry. He said that he +had seen nothing of the Indians at the ranch. He said that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> fugitive +horseman had received a new mount at his ranch and had gone on his way, +but did not fail to send back his compliments saying that he was grateful +for the kindness we had shown him and hoped some day to be able to repay +it.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, the herd, from which the fugitive above mentioned had +taken his departure, arrived in our neighborhood, and from the boys of the +outfit I learned the particulars of the whole occurance. The foreman gave +me all the information in the case, and I shall detail it here. He said +that the Indians had met them over in the Comanche country and had made +their usual demand for “Wohaw.” As he had given one steer already down in +the Red River district, he did not feel obliged to yield to their demands +for a second contribution. In order to get rid of them, and at the same +time to make a peace-offering he said he would let them have another. That +did not satisfy the Indians and they started for the herd to cut out what +they wanted. That was the thing that brought matters to a focus. They +might have known that their presence in the herd would cause a stampede. +When they persisted in doing so in spite of the warning to desist, then +came the signal for the disturbance which followed.</p> + +<p>The first steer they cut out from the herd was met and driven back by a +young fellow by the name of McRay. An Indian tried to prevent his driving +the steer back to the herd. That spelled disaster for the Indian, for the +young fellow drew his forty-five and shot the Indian off his pony. All was +confusion for a brief space, but no more shooting took place. The Indians +picked up their wounded comrade and bore him away as fast as they could, +and then the herd moved on. McRay, acting on the advice of the foreman, +sought safety in flight towards the north. That was the fugitive that came +to my tent in search of a fresh pony. If he had remained with the herd, +serious trouble would have resulted, and if they had caught him in his +flight, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> would likely have been scalped, if not subjected to other +barbarities.</p> + +<p>I am not going to say anything about the merits of the case as it stood, +but will say that if the same conditions existed today, the same would +occur again.</p> + +<p>As on the arrival of the former herds, we made another bargain for some of +the foot-sore cattle, and after doctoring them to the best of our ability, +we turned them in with the rest of our stock.</p> + +<p>We did considerable business with the foreman of the outfit. After getting +what goods he wanted, he moved onward with his herd.</p> + +<p>When they had gone, I saddled Old Jimmie and took a ride down to where our +stock was feeding along the creek, to look them over and see if they +needed any attention. They seemed in good condition, so I rode on, more +for pastime than with any object in view. When I had passed a mile or so +beyond where our herd was grazing peacefully, I saw something that I could +not account for, and proceeded to make an investigation. As I drew nearer +to the object of my curiosity I found an Indian sitting on the bank of the +creek. I was rather surprised to see that he had no pony in sight, nor +were there any other Indians in view. I approached him with the purpose of +making a closer scrutiny of this lone denizen of the plains. His wardrobe +consisted of a breech-clout, a pair of moccasins, and three feathers in +his hair. I rode up to him and saluted him with the customary Indian +“How.” He made no reply, did not give even a grunt of recognition. I +studied him carefully for awhile. I noted that his hair was well braided +and hung down his back, and was tipped with strips of Beaver fur. I rode +on a short distance, and returned again to take another look at him. I +addressed him as before, with the same result. He set me thinking very +seriously as he had no fire-arms and no pony. I thought that, perhaps, he +might be one of the three that had visited me the day they chased the +cowboy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>When I returned to camp I found a visitor, a line-rider. I explained to +him and Bill what I had seen, and the line-rider volunteered the +explanation that the Indian was a runner, or what one would call a +mail-carrier and was likely carrying some message to the Caddos, perhaps, +an invitation to a green corn dance, or some other festivity. His +appearance there had no further significance, so I let the matter drop. In +the meantime, Bill was busying himself cooking some venison the cowboy had +killed, getting ready for our next repast, which was about due. While +waiting for Bill to put the finishing touches on his work of art, we +amused ourselves with a game of checkers. When luncheon was ready we +abandoned the checker board with alacrity and threw ourselves very +earnestly into the work of demolishing what Bill had taken so much care to +prepare.</p> + +<p>A strong friendship had sprung up between Bill and Nero. It was very much +like the story of Mary and her little lamb, wherever Bill went, there was +Nero at his heels. Such devotion was very touching, but in Bill’s case it +was almost too touching for it nearly cost him his life. As my partner was +not much given to riding horseback, any more than he could help, he used +to divert himself by taking a stroll over the prairie, and of course, the +dog was at his heels. It amused Bill to see the dog chasing jack rabbits, +or diving at prairie dogs, but both species seemed to have an uncanny way +of avoiding his onslaughts. He never caught any of them. One day as he was +tearing around after a rabbit, a herd of wild cattle came over the brow of +the hill. The dog was heading for them straight as an arrow; barking and +cavorting in a fashion wonderful to see. Any man who has had any +experience with wild cattle will know what danger my friend and partner +encountered at that point. Wild cattle are curious, and when they see a +man afoot, they begin to investigate immediately, and therein lies the +danger. If anything were to excite them at the moment they would trample +him to death. That was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> just about what was due to happen to Bill as the +dog had excited them and they were coming toward the man afoot. The idea +of self-preservation struck Nero about the same time as the cattle began +to move toward Bill, and he rushed to his master to save him. The cowboys +added to the pandemonium already turned loose, by trying to shoot Nero. I +always kept a horse saddled at the camp for an emergency, and when I heard +the commotion, I mounted and set out at full gallop to the scene of +action. I was just in time, for there was Bill hitting only the high +places in his flight for safety. I met him and he needed no invitation to +mount behind me, but caught the horn of the saddle and swung himself up +with alacrity and away we went at top speed. The danger was not entirely +passed, for there right behind us was Nero, the cause of a great part of +the trouble. Bill pulled his gun and shot the dog. That itself seemed to +check the herd, but we had a narrow escape. One stumble of the horse, and +we would both have been trampled into such small pieces that there would +be left only a damp spot on the ground where we had fallen. However, we +were safe and that was the chief thing for us. We saddled our ponies and +went to help the cowboys round up the herd that had become scattered +through the playful antics of Nero. As it was time to eat when we had got +the cattle back on the trail and quieted down, we joined the cowmen in +their meal. There was considerable joking and laughing over our +predicament, but they said not one word about the danger we encountered in +our flight before the stampede.</p> + +<p>As this was an opportunity for us to do business again, we took advantage +of it. Bill bought some of the footsore stock, and I sold them provisions +to last them until they could find a more convenient market.</p> + +<p>When the outfit had gone northwards, things began to assume the monotonous +routine of dull times. We did the best we could to entertain ourselves +with checkers and talking over prospects, but it was not very exciting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> at +best. From a business point of view it seemed a success, and we thought it +advisable to establish ourselves in a dugout and make a lengthy stay of +it. The prospects were good, the success of the past argued well for the +future, but “The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglee.”</p> + +<p>Next morning I rode down to take a look at our growing herd and had not +gone very far when I found that one of my cattle had been killed. I +dismounted to examine the carcass more closely and found evidence that the +cow had been killed by some wild animal. I could not say what animal had +killed her as the manner of attack was entirely different from any I have +ever seen. It was not a gray wolf, as I was familiar with their mode of +destruction. I examined the ground and found the foot-prints of two +animals, one large and one small. I followed their trail for some distance +and found where they had been rolling in the sand after their feast. I +endeavored to follow it farther, but it was soon lost in the long buffalo +grass, and I had to give up the task.</p> + +<p>I returned to camp and reported the matter to my partner, and he said that +he would fix things for them. He concluded that if he put strychnine in +the carcass they had already killed, they would come again, and in that +way he would rid us of the intruders. We applied the strychnine in the +most approved fashion laid down by old hunters and trappers, but it was in +vain. Next night they returned and killed another steer, but did not go +near the one they had killed before. As we were looking over the result of +the night’s work, a line-rider came by, and we explained the situation to +him. He said the mischief had been wrought by a cougar, or Mexican lion, +and that it was useless to try to poison him as he would not eat anything +in the nature of flesh except what had been freshly killed by himself. +Furthermore, he said, they had been attracted by our cattle because, being +footsore, they could not put up a fight to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> defend themselves, and thus +fell an easy prey to the marauders. We saw at once that there was only one +way out of the difficulty and that was to shoot the lions, as they seemed +to wary to be taken by poison. If we did not take that course, we would +soon be out of cattle. With that end in view we moved them up in the +neighborhood of our tent. We made a temporary corral for them, and awaited +an opportunity to send a bullet into the expected visitor. He came as +usual, but we did not get a shot at him, as he did not give us a chance. I +wish to say that in all my experience I have never met, in Canada or in +the West, another animal so cowardly and treacherous as the Mexican lion. +I have known them to kill an animal not more than four rods from where I +was sitting, and before I could reach the corral, he would be out of +sight. I could not shoot towards the corral for fear of killing or +crippling some of the stock. I have known them to kill a two-year-old +steer, and by the time I could get there the cougar was gone, but the +attack was so swift and sure that the poor beast would be still standing +with his entrails hanging on the ground. That gives some idea of how short +a time it takes a cougar to kill a cow. In spite of all his great +strength, he is a great coward, as he will not face a man. I tried to rid +myself of the pest that was thinning out my herd, and devoted a good deal +of time in trying to find his den, to get a shot at him, but my efforts +were to no purpose. I had to do the best I could, watch and wait, in the +hope of success.</p> + +<p>While engaged in the hunt for the cougar one afternoon, I saw, at some +distance, a horse grazing along the creek. He had a saddle and bridle on +him, but no rider. I thought he had run away from some outfit, and went +down to where he was to secure him and bring him to my tent, so that the +owner could call for him when he had time. Upon reaching the place where +the pony was grazing, I saw a strange sight. There sat an Indian on a +knoll, wearing a Navajoe blanket, ear-rings that hung<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> down like small +sleigh bells, his hair plaited and hanging down his back, his head +decorated with eagle feathers, all of which made me think I had met a very +distinguished gentleman. As a neighbor I greeted him with the customary, +“How.” To my greeting he made no sign of recognition, did not even move a +muscle. I rode past him for some distance and then returned on the +opposite side of him, and then I discovered the cause of his sullen +dignity. He had fastened to his blanket a small-sized pewter plate +polished as bright as a new dollar fresh from the mint, and around the rim +of it was inscribed the letters of the alphabet. I saw that he had left +his rifle in the scabbard of his saddle, and if he made any move of a +warlike nature, I could do a lot of business before he could get organized +for battle. This condition made me bolder and encouraged me to make a more +critical inspection of his wardrobe than I would have done if he had his +winchester near at hand. He wore a pair of moccasins highly ornamented +with beads of all colors. Whether he had any under garments I was not in +position to know, but he looked to be clothed in the highest degree of +cool, calm, unruffled dignity. As I had seen no cartridge belt on the +saddle, I was satisfied that he wore one around his waist, with the +customary pair of six shooters for ornaments and use. As he remained +stolid in his attitude towards me, I gave up any hope of finding out +anything about him, and rode home. I related my experience to Bill, +laughing over the dignity displayed by the Indian, based on the possession +of a pewter breast-plate that once belonged to some white child, and which +he had found on his meanderings over the plains.</p> + +<p>After a quarter of a century has elapsed, and taking a retrospective view +of the situation at that time, I can see what a trifle it would have taken +to send one of us, if not both, over the Great Divide to the Happy Hunting +Grounds.</p> + +<p>Bill had been out in another direction in search of the cougar, but met +with as little success as I had.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> It became a question of sitting up +nights guarding the herd, with the hope of being able to get a shot at the +cause of our misfortunes, but it was in vain. Every morning brought us +evidence of further devastation wrought by the bloodthirsty brute. Things +came to such a pass that we had to choose between losing the whole herd, +or moving to Kansas, and we chose the latter.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Returning to Kansas; A Settler; A Phenomenon, etc.</p> + +<p>Reluctantly we folded our tent and started off in the direction of the +Sun-flower State, where our ranch was located. Business had been good and +we were loath to leave such a good opportunity for increasing our profits, +but the unseen enemy made further delay impossible. Our outfit on the +trail did not present a very inviting appearance, but there was something +substantial about it that cheered us considerable. We had increased our +holdings during our sojourn in the Territory, and were now returning with +the fruits of our venture. Personally we were not much to look at, as we +had not had a shave in several months, but that fact did not interfere +with the happiness we felt at the prospect of seeing the old homestead +once more. On the first night of our advance we camped in the brakes of +the Cimmaron river. We were fortunate in killing a deer, which provided us +with a change of meat. It was the last wild game we expected to obtain, as +the antelope and other wild game had been shot at so much that they had +become gun-shy, and it was impossible to get within any close proximity to +them to obtain a shot at one of them. The antelope in particular we did +not expect to see, as that animal does not frequent the low lands, and the +only time he is found there is when he is on the way to get water. Even +then they seem to have on one guard at all times, so that at the sight of +a man they are off like a shot and soon out of sight. Antelopes and wild +horses are very much alike in their habits, as neither will enter a creek +or a canyon except for water or shelter.</p> + +<p>Next morning found us up and away. As the traveling was down grade, we got +along nicely. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> were very much pleased on reaching the river to find +that the sand was packed down owing to the numbers of cattle that had +forded the stream during the preceding weeks, and we were able to cross +without much difficulty. Having crossed the stream we pulled our outfit +into Clem’s ranch, where we sold the greater part of our supplies for a +fair price. With a lighter burden, we set out on our way again, leaving +the supply trail, and moved in a north-westerly direction toward Meade +Co., Kansas. Frequently we were compelled to cross what is called a +sand-draw, but we managed to do this without much trouble, as by fastening +our lariat ropes to the end of the wagon tongue and fixing the other end +to the horn of the saddle we could assist the team in pulling through the +canyon and reach the firm footing on the other side. Our route lay through +the section about midway the Beverly cow-ranch on the South Sand Creek, +and the place where Ashland, the county seat of Clarke County now stands. +We crossed several small trails, but as they were running in another +direction they could not be of any assistance to us. That evening we made +a dry camp, but expected early next day to reach the head waters of Little +Sand creek, or as it was afterwards called, Johns Creek, in time to water +our stock. We went through the usual procedure of picketing the horses we +were using, and hobbling the loose ones, and getting the cattle in shape +for the night.</p> + +<p>On my tour around the herd I found that there was a dug-out in the +neighborhood. I went on a visit of inspection to see if there was any one +there, for there seemed to be some signs of improvement around it. I was +agreeably surprised to find a solitary man walking around the dug-out, +with his hands behind his back and his head bent as though deep in +meditation. I decided to call on him and find out something about the +topography of the country, also the distance to Crooked Creek, Kansas. I +introduced myself and told him the purpose of my visit. Once the ice was +broken, the conversation took several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> turns. From his remarks I gleaned +that he had not been there very long, and was likewise anxious to sell +out, in fact, he even seemed to insist that I should buy him out. I told +him I was sorry that I could not take his offer, as I had some property of +my own in Meade County and felt that was all the Kansas real estate I +cared to handle just then.</p> + +<p>During my interview I cast my eyes around the place to get a general view +of my surroundings. I noted that he had placed four forks in the ground +and roofed them over with hay and brush, the whole forming a sort of arbor +to protect him from the sun and rain. About three feet from the ground he +had fixed a scaffold for a bed. I was nonplussed at what I saw, and +ventured to inquire the reason of the arbor-like structure. He replied +that he was unable to sleep in the dug-out, for he had tried to do so, but +found that it was impossible, owing to the number of tarantulas and +centipedes that infested the place. The arbor was a partial solution of +the difficulty, but did not quite meet all the demands of the situation. +The fleas he could not escape, they were in his bedding, and he was unable +to discover a means of putting them to flight. What he could not avoid, he +had to endure. I could see at a glance that his opinion of farming in +Western Kansas was not very elevated. He was determined to sell out at the +first opportunity that presented itself. As I had to return to camp to +make arrangements for standing night guard over the herd to prevent their +wandering off, I bade my new-found acquaintance farewell, wishing him all +manner of good fortune in his new home. When I reached our outfit, I found +that supper was ready, and we were ready for it. We attended to the duty +of providing for the wants of the inner man with considerable alacrity, +though our manner of doing so might have lacked some of the etiquette +required by the rules and regulations of refined society. After a chat +over things in general and prospects in particular, the boys rolled up in +their blankets for the night, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> I went on my solitary errand of looking +after the herd. The stillness of the night was unbroken save by the +hooting of an owl in the neighboring canyon, or the barking of a coyote on +a side hill. Even they would cease their clamor for a time and then the +stillness of the night was appaling. I sat on my pony in meditation +evolving thoughts and considerations induced by the calm of the +surroundings in which I found myself. My reflections were interrupted by +the musical notes of the lone settler, borne over the prairie on the wings +of the night. He had a voice that was rich and melodious, though art had +never tried to improve the natural gift. The first sweet tones that fell +upon my ear were the strains of an old familiar strain I used to hear back +home in Canada, and they never seemed sweeter than they did then. I +listened entranced. A flood of memories came rushing from some long +forgotten corner of my mind, and I sat entranced. I was in hopes that he +would repeat the song again, but my hopes were not realized. Instead, he +changed off into some old-time granger rhyme that had more philosophy than + +music in it. It might well be entitled “The Lament of a Kansas Granger.” I +was glad when he was through it. Then he came back with one old and ever +new, ever welcome and ever sweet, the song called “Home Sweet Home.” I do +not believe that the effect produced by Jenny Lind, when she first +rendered it could have been as great as that produced in my heart at that +moment. The days of boyhood were returned again. I saw the old log house +where I was born, and the surrounding forest. I saw my playmates on the +green and took part once more in their merry games. Memories came rushing +so fast that I could not analyze them in their kaleidoscopic passage +through my brain. Half consciously I wiped away a tear that began to +trickle down my cheek. The music ceased and I sat as one dazed; only to be +rudely awakened by the resumption of the barking of the coyote near at +hand. I looked across to where the settler had his home. The embers of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +his fire were burning low. He must have retired to his arbor for a rest. I +could not then imagine why he had chosen that hour of the night to give +vent to his feelings in the manner mentioned. It may have been out of the +bitterness of a discouraged heart that he poured forth his soul in such +harmony, but whatever it was, I must say that he had a very attentive +listener in one lone horseman standing guard over a herd of weary cattle.</p> + +<p>The hours of the night passed slowly. The silence of the tomb seemed to +enfold everything in its mantel. I made my rounds to see that things were +in proper condition, and then returned to camp to arouse my partner, Bill, +to take up the burden of guarding the herd while I obtained some much +needed sleep. It seemed to me that I had hardly lain down when I heard the +cook calling to all hands, “Chuckaway,” which, in the language of the +civilized nations, means breakfast is ready. I awoke with the call, and +found the sun streaming into my face. In the meantime Bill had come in +from his tour of inspection, leaving the cattle grazing quietly. It did +not take me long to arrange my toilet, a ceremony that the cowpuncher does +not usually give much attention to, and I was soon in the midst of the +bustle of getting my share of provender for the morning meal. We simply +took the first articles of tableware that we happened to find convenient, +seized upon the proper allowance of food, and then we sat down on the +prairie and gave our undivided attention to the work at hand. As it was +agreeable work, we devoted a lot of energy to it, and accomplished the +task in a very brief time. This done, we made arrangements to set out +again. We rounded up the stock that had wandered off while grazing, got +the ponies together, loaded the wagon and were on our way once more.</p> + +<p>Having given the boys the direction to follow, I set out to pay a farewell +visit to the singer of the night, saying that I would overtake them before +they had proceeded very far.</p> + +<p>I reached his dug-out and found him up and around.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> After the usual +salutations, I offered my thanks for the pleasure he had afforded me +during the preceding night. He thanked me for the compliment, and said +that the pleasure was mutual. He said it was a boon to him to have some +one call on him, as his nearest neighbor was seven miles distant. Not only +that, but there were difficulties about his neighbor coming to visit him +as he had only a team of oxen to travel with, and they were not very well +broken yet, and travel under such conditions was not very inviting. I saw +from the tone of his remarks that he was disconsolate, or rather +discouraged by his present condition in life, and I ventured to repeat the +advice given by Horace Greeley to young men, namely, “to go West and grow +up with the country.” “Oh,” said he, “that is all bosh. That man, Horace +Greeley did not know the first ‘jump in the road’ of what he was talking +about. When he came through this country, he was riding in a Pullman car, +with lackeys and servants to wait upon him. He knew absolutely nothing of +the real condition of this country and I am willing to bet that he would +not take a thousand dollars and sleep one night in that dug-out of mine. +He was a very smart man, well versed in politics, living in New York where +he could sit in his parlor and look into his neighbor’s house and see what +the family had to eat. Such advice is sound enough in theory when +delivered through the columns of the New York Tribune, or in the heat of +some political campaign, to an audience composed of tenderfeet, but the +same idea promulgated whilst leaning on a hoe handle, between two rows of +sorghum, in Western Kansas, would have a different effect. Horace Greeley +was a very good citizen, but knew comparatively nothing of the trials and +tribulations, privations and hardships, to say nothing of the lives it +cost to move the boundary line of civilization one step farther West.” +Such were the sentiments of my philosophical friend, and they contained +more truth than poetry. By this time the herd was almost out of sight, and +I was forced to bid him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> good-bye, requesting him, at the same time, +that if he were ever over in Meade County, to call on me, for there would +be a welcome for him at all times and that he would always find the latch +on the outside, that meant for him to walk right in and make himself at +home. I left him, and as I was topping the crest of the hill I looked back +and saw him sitting on the top of his dugout, waving farewell.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img2.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">“GOOD BYE”</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>We did not delay for dinner, as we wanted to reach Little Sand Creek, +where there was plenty of water. As this was to be our last night out, I +can assure you that we did not lose any time along the way. We reached our +camping ground about three in the afternoon. As we were only about eight +miles from the home ranch, we turned everything loose, and laid ourselves +out to have a general good time. The cook had been advertising his ability +to make custard pie, and we thought this a convenient opportunity to put +his ability to the test. Of course, he had to have milk, for there is no +substitute for that article in a first-class custard pie. Being that Bill +and I fairly doted on custard pie, it was our duty to provide the milk for +the occasion. For the benefit of my readers, let me say that if you have a +longing for custard pie, try to throttle it in infancy, or train it so as +to render it subject to proper environment, but do not, at any cost, let +that hankering exercise its influence on you when you have to invade the +rights and privileges of a wild Texas cow,—unless you are prepared to +fight to a finish. Bill and I felt equal to the occasion and set out to +produce the required article. We chose a cow that seemed to have more milk +than her calf required. Bill roped her, threw her down,—which was a cruel +thing to do to a young mother—and hog-tied her. I was on hand with a can. +I held her down while he was endeavoring to separate her from her milk. +With much labor and some verbal protests against her restlessness, he +succeeded in extracting about a pint. I took the fruit of our labors and +rope up to the camp and proudly gave it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> to the cook. He informed me that +there was not enough for a first-class pie, and I had to enlist the +services of Bill once more, to procure the required quantity. It took +considerable wrangling with two more of those restless creatures to +persuade them to favor us with some of their milk, but in the end we +succeeded and returned to camp again. In the meantime the cook had +uncovered some turkey eggs that he had found a day or so before, and set +to work on his masterpiece—a custard pie. Needless to say, his production +was up to the advertisement, and, also, to our expectations.</p> + +<p>Our cook was a genius in his line of endeavor. It was a rare thing to meet +a cowpuncher who could not turn out biscuits of some degree of edibility, +but we had a master hand. When he turned over to the inspection of an +outfit such an article of food they were light and fluffy, and when dipped +in antelope gravy, one would have to have a case of indigestion in an +alarming condition if he could not eat them with an appetite like a +section hand. His manner of preparing the dinner table was simplicity +itself. He used to spread out the wagon sheet for a table cloth, and use +mother earth for the table. When everything was ready he called out +“Chuckaway,” and found us ready and willing to pay a compliment to his +endeavors.</p> + +<p>When we had demolished the supper, and particularly the custard pie, Bill +went down to the creek to wash out a few shirts as he did not wish to +return to the ranch with his clothing in an unpresentable condition. While +he was gone the cook and I played checkers to see who would wash the +dishes. I lost.</p> + +<p>When the usual routine of camp life with the herd had been completed, we +turned in to have one good rest to be ready for the final drive next day. +As a reward to Old Jimmie for his fidelity I gave him an extra measure of +grain and a few caresses to show that I remembered what he had done for +me. Next morning found us about ready to start, when we met with an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +unavoidable delay, Bill’s shirts were not dry and we could not go without +him. We filled in our time picking up wood and filling the waterbucket for +future use. In due time Bill’s lingerie was in a proper condition for use, +and we were on our way once more.</p> + +<p>We set out in a north-westerly direction. When we had gone about two miles +we crossed the trail of the wood-haulers coming over from Meade county, +for fire wood and fence posts, which they were compelled to collect from +the vicinity of Sand Creek, or its tributaries. As the trail was nearly +parallel to the direction we were going, we followed it slowly homewards. +We halted our herd for the purpose of getting dinner, and to permit the +cattle to graze or rest as they wished. We remained a couple of hours, +knowing that we could make the home ranch by sundown. We set out for the +final drive, moved along slowly, taking things easy as there was no need +to hurry. About four o’clock, much to our surprise, it clouded up and a +drizzle set in. It was the first rain we had seen in months, and we fairly +enjoyed it. However, we put on our slickers to avoid too much of a good +thing. It lasted only a short time and then the sun shone again. When the +sun broke through the overhanging clouds a peculiar phenomenon presented +itself to our view. Not more than two hundred yards in advance of the lead +cattle was formed, as if by flash light, a small rainbow directly across +the trail. It did not seem to be more than one hundred and fifty yards +from side to side, and not more than half that distance in height to the +arch overhead. I have seen cyclones, blizzards, and mirages, but I was +totally unprepared for such a phenomenon as I then witnessed. I confess, +if I had been alone, I would have ridden around it rather than pass +through the archway. I could not give a scientific explanation of the +affair, and luckily for me Bill did not ask for one, as he was one of +those impulsive, unimaginative men who take things as they see them and +inquire not into the causes that lead to their existence. Not so with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +teamster, he was from Arkansaw, and was very superstitious. When he saw +the wondrous arch stretched from side to side before him, he stopped the +team until Bill shouted at him to go on and not be a fool. He got in +motion with fear and trembling. The cattle seemed to realize that there +was something strange about the affair and crowded through as though going +through a gateway. When we had passed on for some distance I looked back, +and the phenomenon was gone. I asked the teamster why he had stopped the +team, and he gave me a characteristic reply, “Gosh, I was afraid it would +fall on me. I heard a Sunday School teacher say once that the Lord was +going to put up one of those things every once in a while to show that he +was not going to destroy the earth by flood any more.” “That’s all right +for Western Kansas,” said Bill, “but it does not apply to Arkansaw where +they are drowned out every spring.”</p> + +<p>We reached our ranch by sundown, and turned the cattle loose to graze. We +unsaddled our horses with a sigh of relief that the long trip into the +Territory was over. By the time we washed ourselves and combed the sand +out of our whiskers, supper was ready and we sat down and placed our feet +under a table for the first time in months.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Opening of the State of Oklahoma; The Race for Land; Irrigation in the Panhandle; Postmasters of Early Days; New Locations, etc.</p> + +<p>In the spring of the year 1889, the president of the United States issued +a proclamation that Oklahoma was opened for homestead settlement, the few +Indians that had already settled there to be allowed to remain in +undisturbed possession of their holdings. As the proclamation included but +a small portion of the present state, the other little nations were left +for future consideration.</p> + +<p>The manner in which the homesteader secured his claim is unique in the +annals of history. I do not believe that any other people under the sun +ever acquired the right and title to a homestead in quite the same fashion +as that employed to dole out to homeseekers the claims which they had +acquired a right to by registering at the land office. I am under the +impression that it is an institution peculiarly American. Whatever the +merits of the system maybe, it produced results more or less beneficial, +according as you look at it from the point of view of the homeseeker, or +the grafter. For the benefit of posterity I shall set it down that they +may see, at least, how it was done, and be able to judge of the merit of +the means employed to insure the results intended.</p> + +<p>On the day set aside for the opening of the new territory to homeseekers, +all those who had filed on an allotment, were to take their position on a +line marked for the purpose, just as the foot-racer toes the scratch +awaiting the signal for the dash. Some had been there for some time, +others came at the last moment. No one was permitted to invade the new +territory until a signal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> was given and then they were to rush pell-mell +to secure the claim they found to be the most in accordance with their +wishes. It was a strange sight to behold them drawn up in every +conceivable kind of vehicle, and those who had no vehicle were on horse +back, mule back, or on foot. Anxiety was pictured on every countenance. +Those who had waited longest had their patience tried to the limit. In +order to insure every man a chance for an equal opportunity, a company of +soldiers was drawn up to prevent any one taking any undue advantage of his +neighbor. At least, they were supposed to do so, but under the cover of +darkness during the night before, hundreds of persons known afterwards as +“Sooners,” crept through the line and hid themselves in some convenient +ravine and remained there under cover until the signal was given next day. +These men, as soon as the word was given to go, rushed out and staked a +claim, and when the lawful owners appeared, they were ordered to move on, +and the order was enforced at the end of a gun. The Sooner was not only in +possession, but stood ready to defend his claim against all comers as he +had witnesses to prove his statements about the preemption of the property +and his prior right to the land in question.</p> + +<p>On the day appointed for the start of the race, every one was in a fever +of expectancy. The starter was eyed keenly in his every move to detect +some indication of the signal about to be given. Horses heads were pushing +over the line, the driver standing in his wagon ready to ply the whip to +produce the required speed for the occasion, old ramshackle buggies were +there whose very appearance signified that this was likely to be their +last run. Even oxen with their necks bent beneath the weight of their +bows, felt the fever of the excitement and were anxious to be off. +Horsemen stood in the stirrups with a quirt ready, to make a dash across +the rolling plains. As the hands of the watch crept toward twelve, one +could notice a tightening of the jaws and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> a look of grim resolve come +over the countenances of those participating in the race. Eagerly they +looked for the signal, slowly the hands of the watch in the timekeepers +hand moved on. The starter was seen to move hand to the pistol scabbard +and draw his weapon. Up it rose slowly in the air and absolute silence +prevailed. For one moment he held the gun aloft and then, “Bang” went the +forty-five and the race was on. Yelling, whooping, swearing, off they +dashed in their mad flight. Wagons rumbled and bounded over the uneven +ground, whips were wielded with pitiless abandon; horses dashed in mad +affright to gain the front of the wild careening mob; oxen tossing their +wide-spreading horns, with lumbering gait, dragged their burden of a +rattling wagon in their mad dash. All was confusion in the first mad +plunge. Then slowly but surely the better mounted and better bred +gradually drew away from their slower-footed competitors, and disappeared +on the horizon. Naturally those in advance secured the better locations, +excepting where the sooners had stealthily pre-empted some desirable +location. With the slower ones, it was a case of take that was left and +make the best of it. In case a man found himself dispossessed by a Sooner, +there was only one recourse remaining and that was to buy him out at once, +or go to court about the matter, and that was as hazardous as trying to +drive him out, as the courts were largely operated on the kangaroo plan. +The judge of today might be the criminal of tomorrow, and the criminal of +today might be tomorrow seated on the judge’s bench administering justice? +in a very summary manner.</p> + +<p>This transpired a quarter of a century ago, and some of those who went +into court to contest for their rights are still pleading their cases with +little likelihood of their ever attaining a solution of the difficulty as +long as there are fees to be collected.</p> + +<p>I noticed in my experience during the opening of the territory to +homeseekers, that Cash, Clemency, and Justice traveled on parallel lines, +and when the Cash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> failed to put an appearance, Clemency and Justice +disappeared also, as the dew dissolves before the morning sun. There were +some Sooners sent to the penitentiary for perjury, but they were likely to +be pardoned in time to vote at the next election. In view of the number of +felons who have been set at liberty, one is forced to conclude that there +have been some very tender-hearted Governors in the state.</p> + +<p>When the first homeseekers were drawing up in line for the mad race across +the plain, I joined them. I was very curtly told that I had not any right +to take part in the free-for-all scramble for property, as I had 640 acres +of land in the Panhandle of Texas. Being that they felt that way about it, +I did not press my right, but gracefully withdrew, and took only an +observer’s interest in the headlong gallop that occurred. When the +excitement had somewhat subsided, I returned to my holdings in the +Panhandle and took up the burden of making what improvements I thought +necessary to make it a desirable homestead. I had in view the completion +of an irrigation ditch that I had begun before I left to see the opening +in Oklahoma. On my return I hired a few laborers to help with the work. It +took considerable labor and money to complete the task, and when I had it +done, I found that all my labor and money had been in vain. When I did not +need water, there was too much of it, and when I did need it, the creek +that was to furnish me the supply, was as dry as a bone. I became +disgusted with that place and sold out for about fifty per cent of what +the improvements cost me. Times were hard just then. There was but little +money in the country, a long hard winter had killed off multitudes of the +range cattle, and the long dry summer had killed off all hopes of relief +to be found in successful farming. To make our condition more lonely, the +mail facilities were not what they should have been for some time. +Sometimes a week would elapse, and very frequently several weeks would +pass by without our hearing anything from the outside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> world. Our +postmaster was not entirely to blame as he did the best he could in +fulfilling his duties. As he could read or write very little, it placed +him at a great disadvantage, but he struggled along against the +disadvantage of his lack of training to try to satisfy his patrons. When +the mail arrived, he opened the sack and dumped the contents out on a +barrel head and permitted each patron to help himself. If Big Jim, or +Little Ike happened to be in from some ranch or other, they would look +over the pile and take the number of letters they thought belonged to +their respective ranches, put them in the pocket of their slicker, mount +their ponies and ride away. Perhaps, in a week or so, some of the letters +would be returned to the office marked, “opened by mistake,” and others +were never returned at all. I will say that there were more letters opened +by mistake in that office than in any office in the whole United States, +taking into consideration the numbers of letters received. As many years +have passed since that time, I have often wondered what became of the +efficient postmaster of Wolf Creek. As he was a good, loyal Democrat of +the Andrew Jackson type, I thought I might see him some time in the +Oklahoma Senate, but have looked in vain. He may have received an +appointment to an Ambassadorship in Mexico, but I have not heard of it. +However, wherever he is, if he be living, I wish him well.</p> + +<p>About the time of which I am writing, it was currently reported and +generally believed that a millionaire named George R. Timms was building a +city at the head of Kiowa Creek, and that there were churches, schools, +and all the improvements that go to make a prosperous town. One could get +all the advantages of such a place by buying a lot or two on the +installment plan. I decided to take advantage of such a brilliant +opportunity of getting into closer touch with civilization. I rounded up +my horses and cattle and set out toward the land of so much promise. +Imagine my surprise and even astonishment when I reached the place, to +find it almost <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>totally abandoned. I rode around through the deserted +streets without seeing a single person. I was about to pronounce the thing +a complete failure, from the point of view of population, when I +discovered a bench-legged, bullet-eyed individual approaching me. Where he +came from I do not know. In questioning him about the place I was informed +that he had been one of the original inhabitants, that the rest had left, +but he couldn’t get away for lack of means. In his desire to take +advantage of opportunity, he offered to sell me a town lot. I replied that +I did not think there was any great demand for town lots just then, and +that there was little likelihood of a boom there for some time if present +conditions were any indication of the business prospects of the town. I +inquired where I could find a house to move into, and he told me to take +my choice of the whole place. I looked the town over and finally decided +that the hotel was about the best building for my purposes just then. +There I remained during my stay in Timms City. I made some further +inquiries of my fellow townsman as soon as I had taken up my abode in the +Timms House, and he told me that all the population had gone away to +Oklahoma to take up land; that there were only two persons left behind. I +remained in the forsaken city for some time, and spent my leisure moments +in hunting antelope. I did not meet with much success in this line of +endeavor, as there were very few left in the locality.</p> + +<p>One day, while sitting in front of my new abode, I was called upon by some +ranchmen in the neighborhood. They asked me if I would take charge of the +postoffice. They explained that it was very difficult for them to get +their mail, and if that office was closed up, it would leave them in a +very serious predicament. I replied that it was impossible for me to take +charge of the office as I was about to take a trip East, and hence would +not be able to attend to the official duties of the place. I told them +that I appreciated the confidence they had in me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> a stranger, thanked +them for the offer, but declined firmly to undertake the duties of the +position. I made mention of the fact that my wife had had some experience +in the work, and if she would be willing to undertake the running of the +place, it would be agreeable to me. She undertook the task and after three +months of trouble and worry incident to the business, the returns showed +that she had received ONE DOLLAR AND THIRTY-NINE CENTS, a handsome sum for +the time and energy spent upon the thankless task. After that matter was +disposed of, they requested me to accept the office of “Justice of the +Peace,” an offer that I declined, as I never had any hankering for +political preferment. They told me they had to find some one to fill the +office until the next election took place. They gave me to understand that +the man who had filled that important position knew nothing of the Texas +laws. To give me an example of his mental acumen and his judicial +integrity, they said that, on one occasion he tried a man for stealing a +cow. The theft was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt. When the evidence +was all in, he took the case under advisement for ten days, and then he +sent the man who owned the cow to jail for ninety days and turned the +thief loose. When asked why he had taken such a course in his +administration of justice, he replied that, in his judgment, they were +both thieves, and he had sent the man to jail who could best endure the +confinement.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Messiah Craze; A Thrilling Experience; An Arkansaw Traveler, Etc.</p> + +<p>A short time prior to the period of which I am writing, there had been +taught and promulgated by some half-breed, a religion which afterwards +became known as the “Messiah Craze.” It had spread all over the Northwest +territories and finally reached Oklahoma. The principal tenet of this +strange religion was that the Great Spirit was going to remove all the +white folks and restore the buffalo to his native plains, which were to +become a sort of “Happy Hunting Grounds” for the Indians, or a heaven on +earth where everything was to be peace, joy, and chuckaway without end.</p> + +<p>I had heard something about it, but had paid little or no attention to it. +The current of events lent an aspect of truth to the prophecy, as, about +that time the cowmen were being removed from the Cherokee Strip, their +fences and ranches torn down and moved away. All this seemed to say to the +half-crazed Indians that the white man’s race was about run. All they had +to do was to wait a while and their earthly paradise would be opened for +Indian occupation. I could not see things in the same light as the Indian +enthusiast. It looked to me as if the Government intended to throw the +Cherokee country open to homestead settlement. The truth of this +conjecture was proven shortly afterwards, and showed that I had the +correct solution of the movement.</p> + +<p>I made up my mind to make a journey down through that section to learn +something of the topography of the place and also to find a good location +in which to make a settlement when it was opened for the purpose. I fitted +out my wagon with the necessary supplies for the jaunt,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> took five head of +horses, and took my little boy, Emmet, then about twelve years of age, for +company. When all preparations were properly made, we started out on what +was to be a perilous journey.</p> + +<p>On our first night out, we stayed with Judge Gard, on Mammoth Creek. He +was County Judge, one of those whole-souled men who never knew what it was +to pull in the latch-string-that hung on his door. We spent the evening +very pleasantly exchanging experiences of former days. Next morning we set +out before dawn, and sunrise found us on Wolf Creek trail. We followed +this along the creek until we reached its mouth, where it joins the +Beaver, and forms the head-waters of the North Canadian River, about a +mile and a half from Ft. Supply. From there we took the trail leading to +the little town of Woodward, only a station erected alongside the railroad +which had been recently built through that country. Here I had the +pleasure of meeting Thomas Bugbee, an old-time cowmen who was shipping his +cattle preparatory to leaving the Cherokee Strip. I had a friendly chat +with him, and then pulled out and proceeded on my way along the Canadian +River. We had not gone very far on our way when we met an old frontiersman +and prince of scouts, Amos Chapman, taking a band of Cheyenne Indians to +Camp Supply to draw their rations. As it was now past noon, we stopped to +let the horses graze while we prepared something for our wants. Whilst +there we inquired of Amos how things were running down the river. He told +us something about the excitement that had been stirred up. While we were +eating the Indians filed by, and their appearance was not any too +encouraging. Before parting with us, he advised us to keep a close watch +on them as they were all affected with the Messiah Craze; that they had +been making medicine, and were liable to break out at any time, but that +up to the present they had done nothing more than was customary with them. +As he had several bullet marks as souvenirs of former encounters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> with +them, and had also lost one leg in an Indian fight, I knew that I was +talking to a man of no small experience, and felt that his advice was +worth taking. He noticed that I had some good horses with me, and warned +me to keep them picketed close to me while I slept, as a good horse was a +very great temptation to an Indian, especially a bad one, but generally +speaking my stock was safe enough. I thanked him for his counsel, and as +the afternoon was fast slipping away, I moved on.</p> + +<p>As the cowmen had nearly all left that part of the country, and as the +Indians had all gone to Camp Supply for their rations, we did not meet +many travelers on the trail that afternoon. We went into camp early, and +pursuant to the advice given us, we picketed our horses near at hand. +There was no curfew rung that night, but there was a good substitute, for, +about a mile away there was camped a company of soldiers, sent out from +the Fort ostensibly for the purpose of exercise, but in reality to watch +the movements of the Indians. At the passing of every hour we could hear +the sentry call out that all was well. As this was my first night to camp +out in some time I did not sleep very well, and, consequently, was up at +daybreak ready to start. The usual formalities of breakfast for ourselves +and attention to our outfit had been attended to, and we took up our +journey once more. We had not gone more than a mile when I discovered a +lone man standing beside the trail with a gun in his hands. What he was +doing there was a mystery to me. I could not see any horse near him, nor +was there anything else in sight to give a clue to his presence there. In +the meantime I kept moving on, with one eye on the man and the other on +the trail. When I was within a few hundred yards of him, he raised his gun +and fired. I could see the smoke and hear the report, but could not +discover the object he was trying to shoot. As I approached him, I +discovered that the man before me was an Indian, bare-headed with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> his +hair plaited down his back, and wearing a good suit of Uncle Sam’s +clothes. His foot-gear consisted of a nicely beaded pair of moccasins. His +was a majestic figure as he stood there straight as an arrow and measuring +about six feet, four inches in height. He saluted me with the customary +Indian, “How,” and I returned his salutation. I enquired of him what the +difficulty was, as it was an unusual thing to meet a lone Indian on the +prairie. I knew there was something out of the ordinary, or he would not +be there. Then my difficulty began. He knew comparatively nothing of the +English language and I knew less of his sign mode of communication. He +seemed rather eager to communicate with me, and I was anxious to know the +cause of his rather unusual predicament. It seemed a hopeless task to try +to make anything out of what he was trying to tell me. However, by +battling with his broken English, and mixing in a few Cheyenne words that +I knew, I arrived at some solution of the difficulty. The fact was that he +had been over on the South Canadian on some mission from the sub-agency, +and his horse had thrown him and left him afoot on the prairie. As there +were no Indians in the neighborhood from whom he could borrow a horse, +(they were all away attending the Messiah dance), he was trying to make +his way back on foot. As he had had nothing to eat since the day before he +had been trying to shoot a prairie dog, but he had met with no success. +Then I knew that he was hungry.</p> + +<p>The Government has succeeded in moving the Indians around from one agency +to another, and in some instances the agents have plundered the wards of +the Government of their provisions and clothing, but they have never +succeeded in removing a live Indian’s appetite.</p> + +<p>That Indian’s condition aroused my sympathy, and I felt that something +should be done to relieve his immediate wants. I reached behind the seat +to the grub-box, and brought forth some cold biscuits that remained from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +the meal of the day before. When he saw what I had in my hand, a broad +smile of satisfaction spread over his face. When I saw that he relished +the biscuits so much, I cut open a can of tomatoes and handed it to him. +This seemed to delight him even more than did the biscuits, and it was a +pleasure to see him drink the liquid first and then with a broad grin eat +the tomatoes one after another with all evidence of deep content. There I +was doing as the Good Samaritan had done, to the man that I thought was +standing beside the trail to shoot me. During my interview with the +Indian, one of the horses had strayed away some distance, and Emmet had +ridden after him to bring him back to the buck-board. When the Indian saw +him, he said admiringly, “Heap good papoose.” He seemed to take a great +interest in the boy, but I was wondering whether it was the boy or the +rifle he was carrying on his saddle. As I had learned the direction of his +teepee I invited him to take a seat beside me so that we might be moving +onward. When he settled himself into the seat, he gave a loud grunt of +satisfaction. We rode along for several miles to where the river make a +bend, and came close to the trail. There I decided to camp as it was +convenient for wood and water. I turned in there, and I had no sooner +stopped than the Indian was out gathering wood and kindling to start a +fire. I unhitched and Emmet drove the horses down to the river to get a +drink, and let them graze until they were needed again. At this time I +needed no interpreter. I handed the Indian a knife and a side of bacon, +pointed to the skillet, and he understood the signs perfectly. He +immediately set to work to attend to the frying and I undertook the work +of getting the dishes ready for our meal. As I had a guest, I took out an +extra quantity of coffee, and an extra plate, etc. The Indian showed +himself no novice in the line of cooking, and we soon had a repast ready +that would satisfy the craving of any hungry man, prince, potentate, or +plebeian. Some folks might think it intolerable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> to dine in the manner +employed on such occasions. We bade defiance to all the germ theories that +were being advanced at that time, and adapted ourselves to the conditions +of time and place. After the horses had grazed for some time we hooked up +again, and set forth without any further ceremony. My guest seemed to wish +to communicate some idea to me and kept his hands and fingers as busy as a +Drogheda weaver, but all to no purpose as I could not understand him. I +drove along on my mission, the Indian all the time making his signs. At +times he looked disgusted because he could not break through my ignorance. +Probably, if I had made more of an effort, I might have understood enough +to avoid some unpleasant complications which followed soon afterwards. In +the meantime, Emmet, boylike, had been keeping his eye open for anything +in the shape of game and held his gun in readiness to bring it into +immediate play. We were jaunting along rapidly enough, and the rattling of +the buckboard disturbed the repose of a coyote that was lying in the sage +brush along the trail. When he jumped up to take a survey of the +situation, Emmet fired at him and, whether through accident or good +marksmanship, I cannot say, brought down the beast on the spot. At the +crack of the gun, the Indian turned his head just in time to see the +coyote fall, then turned loose some more sign language and closed his +efforts by saying, “heap good papoose.” We proceeded along our way until +we were in the neighborhood of Cantonment. Then my fellow-traveller made a +sign that he wanted me to stop, which I did. He left the buckboard and +started off through the brush, I suppose, to where his teepee was located, +some place along the river.</p> + +<p>I learned afterwards through an interpreter that my companion was not a +bad Indian, but one of the numerous Red Men appointed by Uncle Sam to look +after the movements of the different tribes who at that time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> were taking +part in the Messiah craze, and report to the fort or agency the condition +in which he found them.</p> + +<p>In the distance I could see the timber which skirts a small creek running +into the river, where I concluded there would be a good place to camp as +there would be plenty of wood and water there, and likewise good pasture +for the horses. It was now past the middle of the afternoon, and I decided +to go into camp early so as to have a good night’s rest, and give the +horses an opportunity for a good graze to freshen up after the long drive.</p> + +<p>It did not take me long to reach the creek, and when I drove over the hill +and down into the bottom lands, what was my surprise and consternation to +find that I had driven into the storm center of the Messiah Dance then +being held on the bank of the river. There were between five hundred and a +thousand Chyennes and Arpahoes in the assemblage. Just at the moment they +were holding what the cowmen call a “powow.” I was evidently in a very +ticklish situation. What to do I did not know. One thing I decided on in a +very hasty manner, and that was that there was no use in showing the white +feather just then. I drove up within about twenty rods of their +headquarters. I got out and began to unhitch. I was certainly taking the +dilemma by the horns and determined to make the most of the situation. +While trying to make myself feel comfortable, which I was far from doing, +I told Emmet to hobble the rest of the ponies to prevent their wandering +away. Then I set to work to make flap-jacks and coffee, and I do not +believe that flap-jacks were ever turned out under such circumstances +before or since. I had been doing a lot of thinking over the situation, +but found that, no matter what angle I viewed it from, I was in +difficulties. I did not dare to tell Emmet what was passing through my +mind for fear he would lose his courage, and I must say that my own was +fast ebbing. I did not like to acknowledge to my boy that I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> afraid. +They say that God hates a liar, and I must say that I am no greater +admirer of such a man myself, but when Emmet ask me what the disturbance +was all about, I had to evade his question and put him off by saying that +there was nothing wrong, that the Indians were out on one of their +picnics, which they were accustomed to hold frequently. I knew I was +deceiving him, but felt that it was the best I could do under the +circumstances. I knew that the Indians claimed to be in touch with Messiah +and Messiah had promised to remove the white man and restore the buffalo +to his native plains, and I began to think seriously that I might be the +first pale-face on which that order might take effect.</p> + +<p>While making my flap-jacks for supper, I had a visit from some eight or +ten bucks dressed up in white sheets. They came and stood around me in a +half circle. They did not speak a word, nor even utter a grunt. I +continued to give my undivided attention to the work at hand, apparently +unaware of their presence. They remained there motionless as statues for +fifteen or twenty minutes. If one of them moved a muscle, I did not know +it. Their presence was rather disconcerting, to say the least, but what +could I do about it? Why they were wearing those white sheets, I could not +understand. It might, probably, have been a part of their regalia for the +ceremony. Whatever it was, it did not add anything to my feelings of +comfort. At a signal from headquarters they left me as uncerimoniously as +they had come. I had a winchester leaning against the front wheel of the +wagon, and a six-shooter lying on the top of the grub-box, and Emmet had a +rifle close at hand, which went to show that we were pretty well able to +look after ourselves in case of emergency. Just then my attention was +attracted by the rumbling of wheels and on looking around I saw a man +driving a small team of ponies in my direction. I was rather glad of his +arrival, whoever he might be. Some one has said that “misery loves +company,” and I have yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> to learn which was the greater nuisance, my +misery or my new-found arrival. I was anxious for a relief from the +present embarrassing conditions, and invited him to stop and have +something to eat. He complied with my request, or rather invitation. He +unhitched his ponies, not a very difficult task as he employed a +simplified harness of the chain variety, with corn-husk collars, and no +throat-latch to the bridles. When he went towards the wagon the old ponies +seemed to know what was coming, and shook their heads and the bridles fell +off, and they went to grazing. While Emmet was making more coffee and +frying an extra quantity of meat, I went over to inspect his outfit. It +was certainly a strange make-up for a man on a journey. There was no +bedding in sight, and no kind of cooking outfit. There was an old gun that +had once been a flint-lock, and might have seen service in the battle of +Waterloo. The breach had been cut off and it had been restocked. The +barrel was about four feet long, and for a front sight it had something +that very much resembled a brass collar button. The butt of the stock was +wrapped in a gunny sack and tied up carefully with binder twine, which I +learned afterwards was for the purpose of lessening the concussion on his +shoulder when firing it.</p> + +<p>My guest sat down to eat, and while he was thus occupied, I made bold to +question him as to whence he came and whither he was going. He informed me +that he was from Arkansaw and was on his way to No-Man’s Land where he had +relations. I then ask him to mention some of the folks he was going to +bless with his presence. From the reply he gave me I knew that I was face +to face with an artistic liar, as I knew all the settlers up in that part +of the country. Having in earlier years made a study of phrenology, I +thought this the proper time to put some of the principals I had learned +to the test. I began to make a sort of mental examination of the formation +of his cranium and came to the conclusion that he would violate at least +seven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> of the commandments without a second thought, and the remaining +three would have to depend upon circumstances for their observation. One +thing I found in his favor and that was that he would not commit murder as +the bump of combativeness was almost entirely lacking a view which in a +very short time proved to be correct, for almost immediately, without any +preliminaries or forewarning, as if by magic the Messiah Dance was opened, +and the man from Arkansaw almost melted away through fear.</p> + +<p>As it was now dark, I could see plainly the movements of the Indians by +the glare of the camp fires around their teepees. Their leader commenced +intoning a wierd Hi-Yi-Hi-Oh-Yip-Yip-Hi-Oh, and maintained the monotonous +chant as an accompaniment to the tom-tom. This was kept up without +intermission until the first set of dancers became exhausted. Then +everything became quiet once more. The silence remained unbroken until the +next performance was ready. When the recess had lasted about half an hour, +the signal was given a second time, and all the dancers, bucks and squaws, +fell into line and began a performance which resembled very much a +continuation of the old-time hop-step. They leaped and chanted at the same +time. The melody of their song was very much in keeping with the music of +the tom-tom, but entirely unlike anything I had ever heard, before or +since. Most of the bucks were decorated with the insignia of the rank they +held in their respective tribes, while the remainder were clothed in the +regulation blanket, moccasins, and breach clouts. The squaws, like their +white sisters, endeavored to outdo each other in the matter of fantastic +habiliments. They wore no head dress, and their hair was done up in the +latest style. They wore some splendid blankets which I judged were of +Navajoe make, and were highly ornamented. Besides this they wore moccasins +beaded in many colors, and leggings.</p> + +<p>Still the dance went on with the same powow, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> no variation in the +music. It was left for the third and final dance to make the grand display +of the evening. When they had enjoyed the second recess in sullen silence, +they broke forth in one grand effort to make the finale the +piece-de-resistance of the evenings entertainment. They seemed to have +restrained themselves for this special production of their hideous and +welkin-splitting pandemonium. Everything they had done in the way of +cavorting in the complex measures of their former dance, seemed to be +nothing to what was expected of them in the last grand splurge. From my +own observation of the performance I should best describe it by saying +that it seemed as if the infernal regions had been turned loose for a +holiday. The readers imagination will have to picture what really took +place in that final orgy of riot and disorder. Words cannot adequately +describe it, and I would be unwise to attempt to do so. But just to give a +faint idea of what really took place I will say that at a given signal +they all fell into line again as in the previous performance. In addition +to their former efforts, they included the call or cry of every bird or +beast known to them, from the guttural growl of the wild bear to the call +of the peewee. It was all there in one jumble of discordant sound, the +neighing of the horse, the roaring of the bull, the call of the bobwhite, +the barking of dogs, the howl of the coyote, the call of the peacock, the +familiar gobbling of the wild turkey, etc. This was continued until they +dropped from sheer exhaustion. The revel and riot was at length completed +and silence reigned again.</p> + +<p>In all my experience I have never heard or seen anything like it. Anything +that I had ever seen before was like a children’s picnic when compared +with the Messiah Dance. I had read of Tam O’Shanter peeping through the +crannies of the Auld Kirk of Alloway, feasting his eyes upon the dance of +the witches, but it was not to be compared with the Messiah Dance, for +here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> there were real, live mortals enacting a dance that was incomparable +in its weird peculiarities.</p> + +<p>When the festivities had ceased, I asked my Arkansaw guest what he thought +of it. He replied that he had just about concluded to leave at once. “If,” +said he, “they do such things in play, what would they do to us if they +took the notion to put into practice some of the barbarities for which the +Indian is famed.” I told him to get that notion out of his head +immediately, for, if he did, the Indians would likely follow him and take +his scalp for a prelude to what they would do afterwards to him. I assured +him that there was some security in remaining where we were, but that +there would be none in leaving, as they would think he was afraid and then +would follow him with results not to be desired. After a good deal of +persuasion, I induced him to share my blankets with me and my boy, which +was a great trial for him.</p> + +<p>The bucks and squaws had, by this time, retired to their tents, and +everything, was quiet. The camp fires were still burning and lit up the +trees and shrubbery so plainly that one could see each separate branch and +twig. The reflection of the blaze lit up the little valley in such a way +that we seemed to be walled in by a cordon of liquid fire.</p> + +<p>As I was fatigued after the day’s journey, I turned in like a trooper’s +horse, with my shoes on, to be ready to meet any emergency that might +arise. As innocence knows neither crime, nor danger, Emmet was curled up +in sleep like a babe in its mother’s arms. But such was not the case of +the Arkansaw Traveller. He was lying on the opposite side of the “bed,” +next to Emmet, but in spite of the fact that he was removed from me in +that manner, I could hear his heart beating so distinctly that it seemed +like the fluttering of a bird trying to break from its cage. For myself, I +just trusted in a kind Providence, and slept the sleep of the weary.</p> + +<p>At daybreak we were up and thankful that we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> still alive. We went +about the preparation of breakfast as though nothing unusual was taking +place around us. As the weather looked as though we would have rain very +soon, I set about the task of building a teepee, as I had no shelter. I +intended to cover it with a wagon sheet, as that was the most serviceable +for the purpose of keeping us dry. In the meantime Emmet had strayed off +through the trees and brush to see what he could find in the way of game. +I had just cut some willows to make the framework of my teepee, when the +boy came running excitedly back to camp and exclaimed, “papa, papa come +down to the river and see what those Indians are doing!” As I saw he was +excited about something, I dropped everything and followed him to the +river which was not far from our camp. There I saw something that was +novel to me. There were about five hundred bucks and squaws in the water +taking their morning bath. They were not in one group, but were separated +about seventy-five yards, bucks in one group and squaws in another. +Between them was an imaginary dead line over which, by tribal custom, no +young buck or brave had the temerity to cross. They were splashing around +in the water like nymphs, disporting themselves after their own fashion. I +did not notice that indispensable attache of refined society, the chaperon +domineering over those simple, stainless daughters of the plains to keep +them from drifting from the path of moral rectitude. A native sense of +modesty, as well as tribal traditions dispensed with such a guardian. +There was no need of one. There were no ladies of high-degree lolling on +benches on the bank, with a broad brimmed hat, and all the other follies +that go to make up what is called “style,” neither were there any little, +black nosed, red eyed, fluffy-haired dogs with expensive collars around +their necks, nor pugs with tails curled up so tightly that it would be +almost impossible for their hind legs to touch the ground. No, they were +not there, neither were many other devises that go to improve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> the figure +to make it Juno-like, nor were bathing suits in evidence, but in spite of +all that they seemed to be enjoying the frolic in the water.</p> + +<p>As I had left the kettle of beans simmering on the fire, I had to return +and look after them as the mind of the man from Arkansaw was too much +perturbed to be in condition to mind anything so commonplace as beans. +When I reached my outfit, I was surprised to find a half dozen Indian +police awaiting me. They bore a message from the Indian agent stating that +he wished to see me. As I was rather anxious to depart from that locality, +I was not long in making the necessary arrangements to do so. When I +arrived at the agency, I made inquiries of those who were there as to the +whereabouts of the agent. I was directed to the office. I entered and +introduced myself and inquired what was wanted of me. The agent, who +introduced himself as Boak, a very nice gentleman, told me that the +Indians were holding their Messiah Dance and did not care for the presence +of white folks, as witnesses. As they had seen me begin to build a teepee +they came to the conclusion that I was going to become a permanent fixture +there, and they requested the agent to invite me to choose another +locality for my habitation. Of course, he informed me that I was welcome +to such hospitality as the agency could furnish. I believed him and +thanked him for his generosity. I assured him that it had not been my +intention to disturb the Indians in their religious proceedings. I did not +say anything about my being afraid that I would be disturbed by them. It +chanced that our feelings in regard to the matter were mutual. The more we +discussed the matter, the more he seemed to insist upon my partaking of +his hospitality, which led me to believe that he was rather uneasy on +account of the Messiah Dance and wanted not only my company, but whatever +assistance I could give in case the Indians became threatening. I did not +find any fault with him for having that feeling, and it would take a man +better<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> versed in Indian lore to tell what was likely to happen next.</p> + +<p>As it was getting along in the forenoon, and I saw there was no further +use in prolonging the interview, I left the agency, went and got my +belongings and set out on my journey up along the river. I took the bottom +trail that wound a zig-zag course through the timber. My progress seemed +to be made through a leafy tunnel. The trees on each side of the trail +were heavily leaved, and the branches above reached across the trail, +forming a beautiful corridor-like passage. When I had gone on my way for a +mile or more, I happened to glance behind and saw an Indian on a pony, +with a winchester across his saddle, who seemed to be following me. I did +not like the looks of things just then. I concluded that if the Indian had +any trouble he wanted to settle, the best thing was to have the matter +attended to without delay. I drove on until I came to a rather lengthy +passage, free from windings, and then stopped the team. I motioned for him +to come up to where I was. He did so. When he arrived, I asked him in an +uncertain tone of voice what he wanted? He uttered but one word, “tobac.” +I had about half a sack of Duke’s Mixture which I handed to him. He took +it hastily, turned his horse around and plunged into the brush at the side +of the trail, and that was the last that I saw of him. I found it hard to +reconcile myself to the belief that it was tobacco alone that he was +wanting.</p> + +<p>The rain had begun falling in the meantime, and to say that it was merely +raining will not convey the proper idea to the mind. It poured in +torrents, and continued to do so all day long. About noon we stopped and +tried to make some coffee for dinner, but it was no use. We set out again +and plodded along in the deluge until late in the afternoon. I was +continually on the look-out for some sort of shelter, and my sight was at +last gratified by observing at some distance from the river, a stockade +building. I set off in the direction of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> expected shelter, and when I +reached it, found that it had a good dirt-roof, but no windows nor doors. +It was what is called a wind-break and I determined to preempt it for the +night. I knew it belonged to some Indian, but as he was likely off to the +Messiah Dance, he would not return just then, and even if he did, I would +try to make him as comfortable as circumstances would permit, divide my +chuckaway with him, even go so far as to share my blanket with him, but as +for deserting that shelter just then, it was not to be thought of. If he +were to become hostile and wanted to fight, I would accommodate his +longing as there would be little or no chance to seek safety in flight. I +made preparations to cook some supper, and Emmet attended to the horses, +hobbled them and turned them loose to graze. In the meanwhile, I must not +forget to say that Arkansaw had been following me like a shadow ever since +I left the agency. To see him as he was then in his bedraggled condition, +with his ramshackle outfit, one would think that the genius of famine and +desolation had descended upon the land. I carried the chuck-box, bedding, +guns, and utensils into the shelter preparatory to getting things ready +for supper and bed. I enlisted the services of Arkansaw to gather some +wood to build a fire, and I must say as a hauler of wood he was a dismal +failure. However, we finally managed to get a fire started and set in to +dry our clothes, bedding, etc., along with getting something to eat. We +were all ravenously hungry, and the flap-jacks disappeared with wonderful +alacrity. When our appetites had been satisfied, things did not look so +bad to us. It was not the most comfortable place to spend the night, but +it was far better than the rain soaked ground. To add to our discomfort, +it began to turn cold. We crawled under the partially dried blankets in +the hope that wearied nature would provide a good sound sleep. As we were +not distracted by such howling and yelling as we had endured the night +before, things would have been favorable for a good night’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> rest. But I +cannot say there was much prospect for a refreshing sleep as it is one +thing to find repose under dry blankets, and another to seek the same balm +for a wearied body under bedding that has been exposed to a downpour of +rain for hours. No, it was not going to rest, it was just lying down for +want of something else to do. I noticed that the heart of the Arkansaw +Traveller did not beat as loudly as on the preceding night, and it was not +long until he began to snore with all the variations of a steam calliope. +I was glad to know that he at least could find sleep under such +conditions, but for me, there was not much comfort. I thought that by this +time my fellow traveller was over his scare, but in the midst of his +dreams he let a yell out of him and exclaimed, “Let up on that, you can’t +scalp me, I’m from Arkansaw.” I reached over and gave him a poke in the +side and told him that it made no difference whether he was from Arkansaw +or New Jersey, that he would be scalped unless he was ready to put up a +pretty stiff fight. When we rolled out shivering in the morning, we found +that it had frozen during the night. We welcomed the coming of the dawn, +as the night had been one continual toss from one side to the other, and +no comfort was found. I arose and shook myself to see if I were all there, +and found myself intact. The others followed my example with the same +results. I stepped outside to see how the horses were faring and found +they had wandered off. I left word for Arkansaw to prepare something to +eat and went off in search of the ponies. I had a rather good idea of +where they had gone, and after walking about a mile I found them. They +were huddled together for warmth. Their hobbles were frozen stiff. I +removed the frozen hobble from one of them, mounted him, and drove the +others back to camp. When I returned to the shelter, breakfast was ready +and soon attended to. I gathered up my belongings once more and we set out +again. It was a beautiful morning and the sun seemed to be trying to +compensate us for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> hardship we had endured during the night. The +horses seemed anxious to go, and their speed shortened the time of our +journey considerably. We rode on for about ten or twelve miles, when we +came to a beautiful grazing ground sheltered by a sand hill. With such a +fine location I decided that this was a good opportunity to spread out the +bedding to dry, and attend to our other wants. It seemed as if we were +always hungry, and when a fine opportunity presented itself for preparing +a repast, we simply had to yield to the occasion. I set Emmet and Arkansaw +to cooking, while I attended to the horses. I then took a ramble around +for I had seen where there was evidence of a flock of wild turkeys in the +neighborhood. It was no great difficulty to follow their trail in the soft +earth, and I soon happened upon a flock of forty or fifty feeding on the +heads of wild rye that was growing in a sort of pocket formed by the hill. +I took in my surroundings at a glance, and to my agreeable surprise I saw +a deer about two hundred yards away nibbling at the leaves of a shin oak. +I determined to take a chance with the deer first. I took careful aim and +fired. My shot was not true, but I succeeded in breaking his hind leg. He +did not seem to realize where the shot came from, and turned and came +straight for me. I will admit that his advance upon me was disconcerting +as it was so unusual. I waited until he had come within about twenty yards +from me, and fired again. The bullet struck within about six inches of +where I was aiming, which showed that I was influenced by what is called +“buck fever.” While all this was taking place, the turkeys had flown off +over the hill. I followed them, knowing that they would not be far away. I +came upon them. They were all huddled together in one dense mass. I sent a +bullet into the midst of them and succeeded in killing two of them. The +others flew away, and I knew by their flight that more of them had been +hit. I gathered up the two that I had brought down and took them back to +where the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> deer was lying. I found that I had carried them about as far as +I cared to, and went off to get some dinner, intending to have Emmet +saddle up his pony and bring them in later. I accompanied him as he was +too young to attend to the matter alone. I hung the turkeys on the saddle +horn, and the pony seemed to object as he bucked considerably. He did not +take kindly to dragging the deer after him and showed his displeasure by +performing such gyrations as only a Texas cow pony can accomplish. +However, we succeeded in persuading him to perform the task and set out +for camp. When we had returned to our outfit, and I had begun to dress the +deer, Arkansaw came to me in an apparent state of trepidation and told me +that, during my absence, a band of Indians, seven in number had called at +the camp and left word for me to leave the reservation. To be sure that I +understood him aright, I asked, ‘how many?’ “Seven” said he. I asked him +if they were all on horseback and he said that they were, that one of them +wore a war-bonnet. I made no reply to this, but when I had completed the +task of dressing the deer and turkeys, I made a circle around the camp, +about fifty yards out, and found no traces of any Indians being there. +When I returned to the camp, I felt satisfied that Arkansaw was about the +most artistic and monumental liar west of the Mississippi. I then knew +that he was still frightened and wanted to get as far away from there as +he could and that as soon as possible. He was afraid to go alone and +originated the tale to induce me to set out at once. I did not tell him +what I thought of the originality of design he manifested, but if he had +an ounce of judgment he would have seen that I would easily detect his +falsehood as my horses were all shod, and I could easily detect the marks +of the unshod Indian ponies in the soft earth if they had been in the +neighborhood. I did not make any preparations to depart immediately, but +left Emmet and Arkansaw to look after the things about the camp, and set +out again to secure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> more game if possible. It was with reluctance that my +brave? friend consented to do such a little thing as greasing the +buckboard, as he felt there was grave danger in delaying there any longer. +Before leaving I informed him that I was thinking of departing next +morning, but if any more Indians appeared on the scene while I was gone, +to inform them that I was not in a hurry to leave those parts, and, +furthermore, if they were looking for trouble, I was there to accommodate +them.</p> + +<p>The absence of danger is sometimes a great stimulus to a man’s courage, +and I felt that there was no peril in store for us as it was most likely +that there was not an Indian within fifteen miles of us, and, besides I +wanted to scare the Arkansaw Traveller properly.</p> + +<p>I took my gun and sauntered off over the hill, enjoying the walk after +being cramped up in the buckboard. I could have killed several turkeys, +but preferred to get another deer if possible. In my meanderings I came +upon an Indian grave. He had been laid to rest upon a platform, rolled in +his blanket and wrapped in an outer covering of bark. I must confess that +I had an uncanny feeling as I approached the last resting place of that +noble red man, but it was a sensation entirely different to the ones I had +experienced in meeting some of them in the flesh. However, since he was +there and I was close by, I thought it a good opportunity to satisfy my +curiosity about their customs of burial. I approached him with about as +much alacrity as one would expect under the circumstances. I found the +blanket in which he was rolled, incrusted with sand that had blown upon it +from the neighborhood. It was rotten from long exposure to the elements +and had about the same consistency as paper. I turned back one corner to +get a view of the condition of the remains. The flesh had disappeared, the +long braided hair was there, but from its appearance I could not tell +whether he had been there thirty days, or three years. It had a gloss to +it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> that seemed to indicate that his burial took place recently. I turned +back the blanket and left him as I found him. I retraced my steps towards +camp, as I was beginning to have another attack of what usually ailed me, +hunger. On my way, I discovered another deer near the place where I had +killed the first one, and was able to bring him down at the first shot. I +left him where he fell and went back to where Emmet and Arkansaw were +whiling away the time making ready for the next lap of our journey. I sent +the boy back with the pony to bring in the game.</p> + +<p>While we were alone, Arkansaw, while watching me get supper, grew +confidential. He told me about leaving his native state, and how he had +traded coonskins for the gun with the remarkable action. I asked him why +he did not use it when an occasion presented itself for bagging a few +turkeys. He replied that he was rather afraid to shoot the weapon, as, +just before leaving his home, he was short of ammunition and had no +opportunity of procuring any. Besides that, one of his neighbors told him +that he would be likely to meet some bad men on the way to the Territory, +and advised him to put a plow bolt down the barrel to keep the load that +was in it from getting damp. He said that he was afraid the bolt had +rusted in the barrel and consequently he had not the courage to fire the +gun. Just to add to his pleasurable feelings at that moment, I thought I +would give him some of his own coin and told him that I had seen an Indian +on my travels, who was dressed differently from those we had seen at the +Messiah Dance, and that there were likely more in the neighborhood. I +warned him to prepare for an emergency by getting that gun into working +shape. I advised him to pour bacon grease into the lock and try to get it +into working order, for if those Indians he saw would return, there would +be some moments of activity around that neck of the woods. As Emmet had by +this time arrived with the deer, I set to work to dress it and put things +in shape for our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> departure in the morning. To have some more sport with +Arkansaw I tried to get him to stand guard during the night. I told him +that now that his gun was in good shape he would be in a position to +protect himself, and at the same time warn us of the approach of Indians. +He tried for a while, but I could see that he was suffering agony untold +on account of his fear of an attack. The rustling of a leaf caused him to +tremble, and any louder noise made him jump. It is a wonder that in his +excitement he did not turn loose with the old gun, but I suppose he forgot +all about it. I took pity on him and told him to lie down, that there was +little or no danger. He gladly sought the shelter of the blanket and was +soon giving me selections on the calliope. Next morning we still found +ourselves in possession of our scalps, and felt much refreshed after the +good night’s rest. We gave the usual attention to breakfast, which did not +take long. We were about ready to start, except for one thing. I did not +like the idea of Arkansaw carrying that old gun around with him, +especially since I learned that it was loaded with a plow bolt. I tried to +get him to fire it off as the jarring of his old wagon or some other +concussion might explode it and kill some person, or injure some of the +horses. To rid myself of the danger, I agreed to fire it for him, to which +he readily consented. I took the gun and tied it to a tree, fastened a +rope to the trigger and when all preparations for our farewell salute were +made, I pulled the trigger. The old gun went off in two different +directions. The barrel went forward, and the recoil kicked the old stock +backwards about five feet and it stuck fast in the sand. Right there my +worry about the old gun terminated.</p> + +<p>With our game packed on the buckboard and covered with the wagon sheet to +keep off the sand which was blowing plentifully at the time, we started +for Timms City. The horses were fresh and the trails in good condition, +and we advanced rapidly. My only trouble was to keep Arkansaw and his +festive steeds out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> of the way, as he was determined to put as much +distance between him and the scene of his fright as possible. At times he +had his poor old nags on the gallop. Such a pace they could not maintain, +and about noon time they gave out. We stopped for refreshments. When we +were ready to set out again, I pointed out the way to Sod Town in No-Man’s +Land and left him. When I parted company with him I felt that I had met +one of the strangest characters I had ever encountered in all my days. I +reached home the same night. In conclusion of this article I wish to say +that I have never had another hankering to attend a Messiah Dance.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Conditions Prior to the Indian Raids; The Frontier Line; Savages on the Warpath; Custer’s Fate; General Forsythe’s Predicament.</p> + +<p>Before setting down the narrative of the Dull Knife Raid, or any other, it +is not amiss to relate something of the conditions that prevailed prior to +those events.</p> + +<p>In 1878, and for ten years prior to that time, the most of the plain +Indians had been on the war-path for some reason or another. To give an +idea of the size of the country which was the scene of their endeavors, it +is well to outline the frontier as it existed then. Civilization was +supposed to have terminated its advance at the Saline, Solomon and +Cottonwood rivers, though a few straggling settlers had established +themselves on the Little Walnut, and White rivers, with a colony at +Council Grove. Beyond that line the domination of the white man was +supposed to cease, and it was not the Indian’s fault that it did not. He +did his best to have it do so, but the result was far from successful from +his point of view. Beyond the line above mentioned there existed only the +Indian, the buffalo and a few venturesome spirits who formed the trains +that forced their way overland to Colorado and the Black Hills, or endured +the more hazardous undertaking of making the long march to California in +1849. They were, indeed, venturesome, for to undertake such a trip, one +took his life in his hands, and the result was that many of them paid the +penalty for their daring. Not only were they harassed by the Indian tribes +they encountered on their way, but privations beset them on all sides and +starvation often traveled with them to their sorrow. At any moment such a +wagon train as they conducted was liable to attack from savage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> bands, and +there then occurred a fight for life. Nor were all those attacks +engineered by the Indian alone. The Mormans did their share of the +dastardly work under the guise of the Indian. This statement may appear a +trifle strong, but it is proved beyond all doubt that John D. Lee with a +gang of cut-throats perpetrated the Mountain Meadow massacre, with all the +ferocity and butchery of the most savage of tribesmen. He did his work too +well, and endeavored to cover up his tracks by making it appear that it +was the work of the Indian. He not only murdered the members of the train, +but mutilated the dead bodies of the slain after the fashion of the +Indian. He and his accomplices then looted the train, and what they could +not carry away, they destroyed. The world was well rid of such a man when +he was shot off his own coffin lid to pay the penalty of his crimes, +though in his death he did not make compensation for one per cent of all +the butcheries he had committed. To return to the thread of the narrative, +all that scope of country lying between the western boundary of settlement +and the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, was estimated by competent +judges to contain about fifteen hundred square miles of territory. It was +the grazing ground in 1870 for about three million buffalo. The fighting +forces of the Indians roaming that huge tract of country at the time was +approximately six thousand, five hundred men of different tribes, not to +say anything about the number of squaws who followed in their wake dealing +death to the cripples and mutilating the dead. At that time, each lodge +had on an average of about 125 or 150 ponies for use in their raids. +Taking all these things into consideration, one must come to the +conclusion that there was a formidable force to contend with, especially +as the Indian mode of fighting was not governed by the laws of civilized +warfare. To protect the settlers from the destructive raids of these +tribes, the Government had erected a line of forts manned with an +insufficient force for the work at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> hand. The list of such forts +comprised, Ft. Hays, Ft. Wallace, Ft. Harker, Ft. Larned, Ft. Dodge, Camp +Supply, and Ft. Elliot. As I said, they were poorly garrisoned, as the +best men they had, had been called away to fill vacancies in the regiments +used in the Civil war, and their places were supplied by raw recruits, or +old soldiers who had re-enlisted for want of something else to do. To add +to their inefficiency in Indian warfare, they knew nothing of the +topography of the country in which they were expected to serve. One can +imagine what a predicament they would be in on the first occasion of their +engagement with the natives of the plains, and an example will be shown +presently. I do not wish my reader to think for a moment that I want to +say anything derogatory of the valor of the American soldier. His +reputation for bravery established on scores of battle fields, is too well +founded to be shaken by anything I might say to the contrary. But this I +will venture to state, namely, that when he came face to face with the +Indian mode of warfare in a country of which he knew practically nothing, +he was confronted by a set of circumstances over which he had no control, +and all the military training of former years was of little value to him. +This is true both of officers and privates. Bitter experience has proved +that both officials and men in the ranks were in the same predicament as +regards the best mode of meeting the wily Indian on his own ground. To +give the proof of this assertion I shall mention two cases, one briefly +and the other at greater length, to bring into full view what these men +had to contend against.</p> + +<p>In the first case, the disaster to Gen. Custer proves the correctness of +my contention. Gen. Custer was a man with a national reputation for valor +and military experience, yet he allowed that wily old Indian chief, +Sitting Bull, to inveigle him into following him and his band into the +valley of the Little Big Horn where he turned upon him with all the +savagery of which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> Indian nature is capable, and not only defeated, +but totally annihilated his command. No, not a living man was left to tell +the tale of the disaster.</p> + +<p>In the second case which I will present to the reader, I shall show not +only the inefficiency of a man trained in any other school than that of +the “plains,” to fight the Red Man on his native heath, but will bring out +some of the characteristics of the Indian’s mode of procedure.</p> + +<p>Gen. G. A. Forsythe was the man whose military reputation as a commander +was second to none in the service of Uncle Sam, a man in whom Gen. Phil. +Sheridan placed the greatest confidence, a man with whom the same Gen. +Sheridan took counsel in any matter requiring military strategy. To show +the General’s esteem of this man’s skill, and at the same time show his +appreciation of his worth, Sheridan took him with him, to Germany to view +the manoeuvres of the Franco-Prussian war. The above will give the reader +an indication of the character of the man who met with so much ill success +when fighting the Indians.</p> + +<p>In 1868 Gen G. A. Forsythe was located temporarily at Ft. Wallace, having +gone to that point for supplies. While there, daily reports were brought +to him of the numerous depredations committed by the Indians along the +railroads. The last report to reach him brought the unpleasant +announcement that two freighters had been murdered and their stock driven +off. This was too much. The Indian seemed to be committing all manner of +misdeeds with seeming impunity, and he decided that he must put an end to +such a state of things and at the same time punish the guilty ones for +past misconduct. With this purpose in view, he gained permission from Gen. +Sheridan to organize an expedition against them. The license was granted +and with forty-seven scouts, among whom was Surgeon Moore and Lieut. +Beecher, he set out about the tenth of the month of ——, in a +north-westerly direction to overtake the savages. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> the inception of +this expedition he made one grave mistake for which he paid dearly in the +near future. He took along provisions for only ten days, on pack mules. He +had no ambulances, nor wagons. In the case of an engagement he did not +have men enough, nor sufficient quantity of supplies, to meet the +requirements of a cattle round-up, much less an undertaking of the kind he +had in view. He set forth in high spirits, for he did not realize the +magnitude of the undertaking he had mapped out for himself, nor the danger +into which he was rushing. The weather was favorable and the country +rather level, so there was nothing to impede his rapid progress. On the +fifth day out, some of the scouts discovered a few Indians. Their trail +was picked up and as they progressed it became plainer, which showed that +they were nearing the vicinity of the foe. On the fifth evening out, they +went into camp in a small valley in the northwest corner of the state of +Kansas, and not far from the eastern line of Colorado, just where a small +stream called the Arickaree flows into the Republican river. In that +little stream was a small island covered with scrubby timber. It could not +be exactly called an island, as the water flowed on one side of it only, +and at a depth of only about a foot, while the other channel was +absolutely dry and filled with coarse grass and brush. As they were all +weary with the long march already made, they lay down in their blankets to +secure a good rest, little thinking what the next day had in store for +them. About daylight, the next morning, some of the scouts heard a +commotion among the horses and jumped up to see what was wrong. They +discovered the Indians in the act of endeavoring to stampede the horses, +and they gave the alarm. As soon as the scouts saw the situation, they +opened fire upon the redskins and drove them away. The shooting was a +signal for all to rise. They realized that danger was near, and they did +not have long to wait until it was present. In less than an hour’s time, +between five and six <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>hundred Chyenne warriors appeared on the hill side, +painted and decked out in all the paraphrenalia of a full-fledged war +party under the leadership of Roman Nose who at that time was the +Bonoparte of the Chyenne tribe.</p> + +<p>It seems that the Indians had been keeping close watch on the movements of +the little parties of scouts, and as they were now about eighty or a +hundred miles from their base of supplies, thought that if they could +stampede the horses, they would be able to secure the band as an easy +prey. When they failed to make way with the horses and mules, their next +move was to open fire upon the men, which they did without delay. This +turn of affairs was so sudden and unexpected that the General seemed to +lose his head, and stood there in profound amazement. While the General +was in this state of uncertainty as to what to do, with his men exposed to +the Indian fire, Jack Stillwell, a boy of nineteen, without any regard for +formality of ceremony, yelled out, “Why in blazes don’t you go over on +that island?” The General took the advice so freely and informally given +by his subordinate, and all broke on the run for the shelter of the +pseudo-island. They arrived there, but not before several of them were +wounded in the dash in which several of the horses were killed, or +crippled. The scouts utilized the dead horses as breastworks and poured +such a hot fire into the Indians that they withdrew to the shelter of the +hills. The scouts employed their time in digging rifle pits, as they were +sure that the Indians were not going to give up the fray without another +effort to wipe out the little band. It was only a very short time until +the Indians were seen coming down the hillside with intensified ferocity +due to their first repulse, howling warwhoops from six hundred lusty, +savage throats, and adding to the din by beating tomtoms. It was a sight +to send a chill to the stoutest heart to see them wildly flinging their +arms in the air to the accompaniment of their thunderous yells, the +rumbling of the flying horses as they descended upon the little band, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +their mad career. At their head rode Roman Nose encouraging his followers +and urging them on to deeds of valor with shout and gesture. One may +imagine the chill that crept over many a heart at such a terrifying +spectacle, but it was not time to show the white feather, as they could +expect no quarter from the blood-thirsty band coming upon them with all +the intensity of a whirlwind of fury. When the Indians were within rifle +shot, the scouts opened upon them with a fusilade of bullets, with deadly +effect. Many a horse was tumbled to the earth and many an Indian bit the +dust, either entirely killed, or mortally wounded. The savages returned +the fire with but little effect as the scouts were entrenched behind the +dead horses, or in their rifle pits. On they came undaunted by the first +shock of battle. They advanced almost to the bank of the little stream +that flowed between the half-island and the main land. There Roman Nose +was seen to reel and fall from his saddle, shot through his body. Another +chieftain, I shall not say more daring than the others, but more favored +by good luck, succeeded in fording the little stream and advanced to the +very bank of the sand bar, or island, before he fell riddled by the +bullets of the desperate little band. The continuous fusilade of bullets +poured into the serried ranks of the Indians at such close range, together +with the loss of their leaders impelled the savages to retreat to the +hills once more. This they did accompanied by a shower of bullets that +emptied many a saddle before the retreating savages were out of danger. +They disappeared behind the hills, but not with the intention of giving up +the fight, as they considered their plans for massacreing the little band +to be too well laid to be set aside on account of the two repulses they +had already received. They waited till afternoon to make a third and final +assault upon the island. On they came again, but with the same result as +before. They were driven back before the galling fire of the besieged. +Determined to continue the fight at all hazards, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> kept themselves out +of range of the rifles of the islanders, but maintained a desultory fire +which had no effect upon the men entrenched in the rifle pits. They then +spread themselves out and rode around the island in a circle, but out of +range of the guns of the entrapped soldiers. It was plainly their +intention to starve the scouts to death or into submission, which was all +the same to them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the situation on the island was far from pleasant. Though +they had defended themselves with desperate valor, the members of that +heroic little band did not escape from all injury. The dead numbered a +score, among whom was Lieut. Beecher, a nephew of the renowned Henry Ward +Beecher. Among those seriously wounded was Surgeon Moore, who was lying at +the point of death, and General Forsythe, with a bullet through his leg +and his scalp creased with another leaden missile.</p> + +<p>The situation was critical in the extreme. Their food was gone, and the +only substitute they had was the flesh of the dead horses that lay around +them. From these they cut pieces of flesh which they ate raw, as there was +no opportunity for cooking it. This stayed their hunger for a time, but it +was a poor substitute at best. They lacked, also, for want of water, for, +although the stream lay within a few feet of them, to reach it was +impossible, for, if a man showed his head but for a moment he was greeted +with a shower of bullets that made him seek cover without delay. The +exigency of the situation made them inventive, and as they were almost +desperate from want of water, they had recourse to a very slow method of +digging down to the water level in order to secure even a scant supply. +They cut open a canteen in such a way that it would serve the purpose of a +shovel, and with this crude implement went to work to scoop up the sand to +such a depth as would bring them to the object of their search. Their +patience and persistence was rewarded better than they expected.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> Not only +did they obtain sufficient to meet their immediate needs, but also plenty +to bathe the General’s wounds. As far as the dead were concerned, to bury +them could not be thought of, as even the movement of a branch would be a +signal for a dozen or more bullets which would drive them back to the +shelter of their defenses. Though the Indians seemed to realize the +predicament of the beseiged, they did not have the temerity to make a +final dash to complete the work of butchery they had originally planned. +Their first, second, and third attempts had cost them too dearly, and they +were content to hover near with the intention of cutting their foe to +pieces if they should make an attempt to escape. They waited patiently, +apparently secure in their conviction that the beseiged would eventually +make a dash for liberty, and if such were to occur they would descend upon +the stricken little band and with one fell swoop annihilate them +completely. Their long desired wish was never accomplished. Intent upon +the final destruction of the whites, they neglected to bury their own +dead, not only because they were too busily engaged, in watching the +besieged, but principally because they did not care to risk the danger of +adding to the already too long list of their fellow tribesmen who had +recently gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds. Moreover, the approaching +night would give them a better opportunity to secure the bodies of their +slain without incurring any risk of being sent to join them in the land of +their forefathers.</p> + +<p>Night fell, and with it came a cessation of hostilities. It must not be +concluded that the Indians had abandoned the fight, for they did not, but +kept a wary eye upon that little island, knowing that delay would surely +put the palefaces in their possession. Nor did they make any venture to +attack the stronghold of the enemy under cover of darkness. That was not +the Indian’s way of conducting his warfare. The hour favorable for the +Indian raid is just about dawn, when they expect to find the enemy asleep, +when they fall upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> their unsuspecting victims and butcher them +unmercifully. As for the little band on the island, they put in a most +miserable night. An enemy could not wish them more discomfort than what +they experienced. Tired, hungry, surrounded by their dead companions, they +were not in a condition to find comfort in a situation where they were +surrounded by their mortal enemies who, they thought, would take advantage +of the darkness to crawl up to the very edge of their retreat and do them +to death without mercy. However, in spite of such unpleasant conditions, +the besieged kept up some show of cheerfulness. Morning found them far +from depressed though the situation had not changed for the better. One +wag, in spite of the fact that death might be lurking in his path, +cheerfully remarked, “Well, boys, I guess I shall have to rustle some mule +meat for the General’s breakfast. I suppose he will like a change of diet +as he had only horse meat yesterday.” It was this spirit of mirth amid +trying surroundings that kept the little band alive and ready during the +long days of imprisonment that followed.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img3.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">STARVING ELK</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The next evening did not bring any change in their environments. The day +had been spent very much like the preceding one, except there were no +direct assaults upon the island. In the meantime the General’s leg had +become badly swollen, and inflammation had set in. Whilst bathing it, one +of the boys discovered the bullet close to the surface, and with the +General’s permission performed a surgical operation with a pocket knife +and removed the shapeless mass of lead. In order to keep the inflammation +down as much as possible, the embryo surgeon continued the application of +cold water to the affected part, which was somewhat efficacious. With the +condition of the camp in such a demoralized condition, the outlook did not +appear very promising. Even though the Indians should leave, which was not +very likely, the situation would not be relieved to any great extent, as +the General could not travel without the aid of a horse,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> and just then +all the horses were dead, or had been stampeded. Things were beginning to +assume a desperate aspect. Their food supply was about reduced to +nothingness as the horse flesh on which they had been subsisting was no +longer available as it was fast becoming tainted. This told them only too +plainly that their stay upon the island was to be of short duration, and +the prospect of relief from the outside world was very slight. Their only +hope, and that a forlorn one, was to cut their way out through the ranks +of the hostile Indians, and even the prospects of success in such a +venture were not very alluring. Though they might succeed in breaking +through the red cordon that held them prisoners on the island, the hope of +reaching Fort Wallace could hardly be thought of in their enfeebled +condition. It would amount to this, that they would have to fight their +whole way back to the fort without so much as a cracker or a drink of +water to sustain them on the way. It is hardly possible to imagine a body +of men in such straitened circumstances keeping up, and even fighting +against hope for delivery. After reviewing the situation from all its +different angles, and with the desperation that urges a drowning man to +grasp at a straw, the General saw but one way, and that one indicated very +meager chances of success, namely, to call for volunteers who would +endeavor to make their way to the Fort and bring assistance. Immediately, +upon the proposal being made, S. E. Stillwell, better known by the name of +Jack, and another scout named Pierre Truedell, expressed their willingness +to make the attempt. It was sad enough to have to admit the failure of the +expedition and report the news of the disaster, especially when they had +started out with high hopes of success, but it was a measure that had to +be taken if any relief was to be expected.</p> + +<p>It was a perilous undertaking fraught with all manner of hardships. Danger +lay all around them, and whether they would reach the end of their +journey, or be taken prisoner and tortured by the Indians, they did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> not +know, but brave at heart, they feared not, but set out to do their best or +perish in the attempt to bring succor to their beleaguered companions. +That same evening they stole forth from the camp and crossed the little +stream, taking with them the best wishes and prayers of their fellow +scouts for success. If ever men prayed fervently and expressed sincere +wishes, it was on that occasion. No sooner had they crossed the stream +than their difficulties began. As soon as they had crossed the water, they +found their shoes filled with sand and water, and they were compelled to +stop and empty them as well as they could. Then they started on their +perilous undertaking in earnest. They did not know at what moment they +would encounter some of the lurking foe and be compelled to fight for +their lives. They did not dare to walk upright, but got down on all fours +and crawled along over the sloping hillsides like dry land terrapins. +Slowly, carefully, they wound their way among the dead Indians that +littered the plain. Painfully they picked their way with tedium through +the sullen foe, at times making haste as best they could in their stooping +position, at times lying flat upon the ground while some restless Indian +kept guard and patrolled his beat upon the hillside. During one of those +unavoidable delays, Stillwell took time to change his shoes from which he +had not been able to entirely remove the sand, and which were hurting his +feet on that account, for a pair of moccasins which he removed from the +feet of a dead Indian he encountered in his slow progress. After creeping +like an infant on all fours or worming themselves along on their stomachs +for over a mile they decided to risk standing up and in this manner +increasing their speed, as they felt certain they were outside of the +circle of Indians who were keeping watch on the little band of their +comrades on the island. Their conclusion about their position relative to +the savages proved correct. When they had gone far enough to permit them +to risk whispering to each other, Truedell <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>complained that his feet were +hurting him on account of the quantity of sand in his shoes. As there was +no dead Indian near who had no further use for moccasins, he adapted +himself to the necessity of the case and removed his shirt. This he tore +into bandages in which he wrapped his feet. They were well aware of the +fact that there was no time to be lost in their mission, as every moment +of unnecessary delay meant hardship, suffering and danger to their +companions recently left behind. They strode on at a greater speed than +before, but did not feel safe in talking in their natural tone of voice +until they had put several miles between themselves and their starting +point. Daylight found they still trudging hastily on, but the light +compelled them to seek shelter in a friendly canyon, as the Indians would +be sure to find their trail sometime during the hours of light and likely +set out to overtake and kill them. Into the canyon they crawled and sought +the shelter of the most secluded nook they could find. They then sat down +to take a much needed rest. Fortunately for them, they had taken the +precaution to bring with them some of the horse meat. They had matches but +did not dare risk lighting a fire as the smoke would attract the attention +of the Indians and bring them down upon them post-haste. They contented +themselves with making the best of a bad situation and ate the horse meat +raw. Then they turned over and went to sleep. Nightfall found them on +their way again with renewed energy and determination. They felt that the +loss of a whole day on their journey meant added sufferings to their +companions, but such delay was unavoidable if they wished to reach the +Fort alive. On through the darkness they went, now running, now stumbling +over the uneven ground, but doggedly moving forward with unceasing ardor. +Daylight found them far from the canyon where they had spent the preceding +hours of sleep. The only shelter that presented itself to their view was a +dry buffalo wallow. Into this they crawled and spent the remaining hours +of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> the day in sleep if possible, or reflecting on their trying +difficulties. They had neither food nor water. It had been hours since +they had taken the last sup of water, and they suffered acutely. Their +lips were beginning to swell and they found talking difficult. Hunger, +too, added to their discomfort, but there was no relief at hand. They had +to make the best of a bad situation and hope for the best. They were +willing to suffer the pangs of hunger and thirst, if they could only bring +relief to their beleaguered friends. Night came at last, and they dragged +themselves out of the wallow to make the last desperate effort to complete +their journey. Hungry and thirsty they plunged into the darkness. Their +progress was impeded owing to their weakened condition, but on and on they +went, staggering and stumbling along, half mad with thirst, and tormented +by hunger. Morning found them in a pitiable condition. Weary and wan they +seemed as the morning sun showed them that they were not yet within sight +of the fort they sought. Half maddened with suffering they were ready for +anything. Truedell shot a rabbit, more by accident than design, and this +they fairly tore to pieces and ate raw. They were too ravenous to wait +until they could build a fire to cook it. On they went again, until they +came to a buffalo hunter trail leading to the Fort. Footsore and weary +they dragged themselves along till almost exhausted they found their way +into Fort Wallace. They sought Colonel Bankhead’s quarters where they +delivered to him the news of the disaster that had befallen the ill-fated +expedition. This first and most important duty done, they then sought the +canteen where they found everything that was necessary to satisfy their +pressing wants. Relieved of the excitement of the journey, tired and worn +in every member, conscious of the fact that they had done their share in +forwarding relief to their friends still in distress, they sought +convenient bunks and were soon dead to the world in deep repose.</p> + +<p>The next night after Stillwell and Truedell had left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> the island, the +General deemed it a prudent move to send two more scouts on the same +mission. He feared that, perhaps, some misfortune had overtaken the first +emissaries, and if such were the case, the report of the disaster would +never reach the Fort, nor would succor come to him and his command. He +called for two more volunteers who would be willing to try to elude the +hundreds of savage eyes that were glinting with hate on the courageous +little band, and watching every movement that took place in their +primitive defense. No sooner had he issued the call than two volunteers +offered themselves for the perilous undertaking. They realized the danger +they would dare, but as they then stood, there would hardly be more peril +in their efforts to break through the encircling foe, than there would be +if they remained inert upon the island with starvation staring them in the +face, and a band of bloodthirsty Indians ready to pounce upon them at the +very moment they showed signs of distress.</p> + +<p>If they did not go, total annihilation awaited them; if they did go, there +was some slight chance of being liberated from their present predicament. +With the odds against them, they were willing to do their best. The two +courageous volunteers for the second effort were A. J. Pliley who now +lives in Kansas City, and Jack Donovan. They set out in about the same +manner as their two companions did on the night before, and were very +successful in eluding the foe. Things went well with them until the second +day. Perhaps their first success in eluding the Indians made them +over-bold, but the fact remains that they were followed by a band of +Redskins who discovered their trail. On the second day out on their +mission they experienced a great scare. They were lying in a dry buffalo +wallow when Pliley heard a noise. He peered carefully over the edge of the +wallow and discovered in the distance, about half a mile away, a band of +about thirty warriors coming directly towards the spot where they were +lying concealed. He turned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> to his companion and said, “Jack, I guess it +is all up with you and me. There are about thirty Indians coming straight +for this wallow.” “Well,” replied Jack, “if that is the case, I am not +going to trade even; I want two for one.” They were certainly in a +dreadful predicament. Surrounded as they knew they would be by those +relentless warriors, they determined to sell their lives as dearly as +possible. They knew the process only too well. They could see already that +band of warriors riding around the wallow in a circle, shooting at them on +the run, or perhaps, even making a rush of it to overpower them by weight +of numbers, and murder them heartlessly. Perhaps, they might make them +prisoners, to be reserved for future torture. Carefully keeping an eye +upon the oncoming band, Pliley kept his friend informed of their +movements. It would not do to expose themselves too soon, as there might +be some hope that the Indians had not discovered their actual whereabouts. +On they came, and the two men spontaneously reached for their weapons to +defend themselves. Nearer and nearer they came, and the besieged made +ready to give them an opening salutation of welcome. A little nearer they +approached and then they halted. They cast a scanning glance over the +surrounding country, and apparently they were satisfied that their +intended victims had eluded them. Then they turned their ponies and rode +away in the direction whence they came. With a sigh of relief, the two men +put back their guns, and felt that they were safe for the present. That +night when they set out again, they hastened their steps as rapidly as +possible, knowing that the foe was on their trail. Stumbling along in much +the same condition of hunger and thirst as the two former scouts had done, +they reeled into the Fort the same evening as Stillwell and Truedell. It +was needless to say that there were heartfelt congratulations expressed +when those four scouts met at Fort Wallace.</p> + +<p>The band of Indians seen by Pliley and Donovan,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> were undoubtedly a part +of the Roman Nose contingent. They had discovered the trail of the men +shortly after their escape from the island and pursued them with the +determination to overtake them and put them to death, but all to no +purpose. They little knew how close they came to being successful in their +efforts, especially as at one time they were within about forty rods of +them as they lay in the dry buffalo wallow. Apparently they became +discouraged in their efforts and gave up the chase.</p> + +<p>Having received the message delivered by the four men, it did not take +Colonel Bankhead long to call out every available man and horse, to fit +out ambulances, and wagons laden with provisions, and make whatever +preparations were necessary to relieve the wants of the distressed.</p> + +<p>When the Indians knew that the messengers had eluded them and had likely +reached the Fort in spite of all the measures they took to forestall such +an event, they thought prudence the better part of valor and withdrew +their forces from the neighborhood of the island. They foresaw that relief +would come to the brave defenders of the little sand bar in a very short +time, and as they had such small success with a small band, they felt that +they would hardly be able to contend with a greater force which would be +certainly sent out for their relief.</p> + +<p>Once the relief corps got in motion, it did not let the grass grow under +its feet. Their progress was necessarily slower than that of the +expedition on account of the baggage they were carrying, and, also, +because they had to exercise the greatest care in marching for they knew +not at what time they would encounter a band of hostile Indians. The +journey to the locality of the disaster occupied several days. They were +rather surprised to find the nearer they approached their destination the +less the presence of Indians was noted. When they drew up in sight of the +island, not a savage was to be seen or heard of.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>In the interim of the departure of the scouts for relief, the prisoners’ +on the island suffered acutely. Around them lay the dead bodies of some of +their companions whom they did not dare to venture out to bury. They were +rapidly decomposing and the atmosphere was laden with the nauseating smell +that accompanies such a condition either of animal, or man. Added to this +was the number of dead horses, which added to the intensity of the +malodorous smell. The wounded suffered more and more as inflammation set +in or increased. Their condition was pitiable as very little could be done +to relieve their sufferings. Above all this, they had to endure the pangs +of hunger, which every day grew more and more irksome. It was a sad +spectacle that the eyes of the relief corps beheld when they came upon +them first. Hardly able to raise their weakened bodies from a recumbent +position, the wounded endeavored to give a cheer at the sight of their +deliverers, but it was such a mockery of cheer that it was enough to bring +tears to the eyes of many a veteran. Those who had not been wounded, and +they were few, lent a willing hand to the administration of medical +assistance to their stricken companions. They felt so overcome with joy +themselves that they could hardly express themselves in the intensity of +their happiness. But their newly-arrived fellow scouts and soldiers knew +by their looks the depth and sincerety of their feelings of gratitude, and +felt happy to be able to reach them before death had overtaken the whole +band.</p> + +<p>The first duty to be attended to by the relief party, was the burial of +the dead. Delay would have been dangerous and, perhaps, fatal, as they +were, as mentioned above, badly decomposed. They performed the sad duty +over the remains of their former companions with all the reverence that +their circumstances would permit. Next, they had to look after the wants +of their General. He had been suffering intensely from the wound in the +scalp and in the leg. They administered such remedies as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> had, which +produced some relief. The rest of the wounded were attended to in much the +same fashion, each one receiving what attention could be given them. When +all this had been done, they made ready to set out for the fort. It was a +slow journey, but in time they reached their destination where proper +remedies soon restored them to fighting condition again.</p> + +<p>The expedition of Gen. Forsythe, which he insisted on making against Roman +Nose and his band, terminated in dismal failure. It had cost the lives of +several valuable and experienced men, and marred to some degree the +reputation for success which he had hitherto gained. Nevertheless, the +lesson bore fruit. It taught the American people at large, and General +Forsythe in particular that all the knowledge of Indian warfare is not +taught at the military academy at West Point. In fact, it was impressed +upon the minds of several who were in a position to profit by the lesson, +that the “University of the Plains” was far better adapted to produce men +who would be successful in that mode of fighting than any of the academies +established for the purpose of instructing the neophyte in the art of +conducting warlike manoeuvres.</p> + +<p>The writer is indebted to S. E. Stillwell, better known to his friends as +“Jack,” for the information regarding the battle of Arickaree, in which he +played so prominent a part. His feat, alone, of bearing the message from +Gen. Forsythe to Fort Wallace was sufficient to win him undying fame. In +such high esteem was he held by those to whom he lent his services, that +Gen. Phil. Sheridan characterized him as being the bravest and most daring +young man he ever knew, and he knew a multitude of them. He was, later on, +the trusted and boon companion of Buffalo Bill, “Col. W. Cody,” in +fighting the Indians on the plains. At one time, later on, he was Police +Judge of the City of El Reno. This position he retained until he was +appointed United States Commissioner at Anadarko, Okla. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> position he +resigned and went to the North Plate, Neb., where he died and was buried +within a day’s ride of the battle ground of the Arickaree. While he was +filling the office of Commissioner at Anadarko, the writer frequently +spent hours with him chatting over the events of former days upon the +plains. During one of those visits, he ventured to inquire of the +Commissioner if he thought he himself had killed Roman Nose. He replied +that he did not know, but after taking a few puffs of his cigarette, he +naively remarked that if he did not, it was attributable to his aim and +not to his intention as he gave him his undivided attention from the time +he came within range of his rifle until he fell from his horse. He paused +then and took a few more puffs, and closed the subject by remarking, +“perhaps, some of the other boys did it.”</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Whirlwind Raid; Great Expectations Reduced to Disappointment, etc.</p> + +<p>For several years succeeding to terminations of the Civil War, the whole +plains country, as I have said in the previous chapter, from the frontier +settlements westward including a great portion of the Rocky Mountains, and +from the British line on the north to the Red river of the north line of +Texas, was claimed by the Indian by virtue of his title begotten of prior +possession, and was used by him as a hunting ground, and also as the +theatre in which to stage the settlement of tribal difficulties. As a +variation from those internal battles, or wars, as you may wish to call +them, they frequently made raids upon the white settlers, killing and +scalping the men, kidnapping the women and children, and running off their +stock as spoils of war. They roamed that vast expanse of territory at +will, seeking their sustenance from the abundance of wild game with which +the plains were teeming. Buffalo and deer were there in innumerable +quantities and were easily slaughtered. Smaller game abounded everywhere. +When the bucks returned from the chase with a buffalo or a deer to show +for his efforts, the squaws took possession of the carcass, cutting off +huge chunks of meat for provisions, and then tanning the hides at which +they were experts. In times of peace they worked faithfully at the task of +converting the green hide into something serviceable, but when the war +alarm was sounded, they readily threw aside the work at hand to follow +their lord and master on the warpath, not as an idle onlooker, but armed +with a scalping knife and tomahawk, they followed up the work of slaughter +by assisting in the scalping, or mutilating the bodies of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> dead. In +this last feature of the raid, they seemed to be carried away by a sort of +frenzy, and the manner in which they treated the corpses of those slain, +was brutal and inhuman in the extreme. In my own experience I have known +squaws who were so fascinated by this kind of brutality or rather +ghoulishness, that at the first notes of the war song they deserted their +white husbands to follow in the wake of the war, although at the time they +were drawing rations from the government and were in possession of +comfortable homes.</p> + +<p>In this connection, it may not be amiss to say something of the Medicine +Man, and the part he played in the Indian raids. I might say that he was +the most important factor in such undertakings, as well as in the +inter-tribal disputes. He seemed to have such an influence over the +destinies of the tribe in which he was operating, that the chiefs and +their followers placed implicit confidence in his decisions. On him alone, +rather than the chiefs in council, depended the undertaking of any raid, +or struggle. Whenever there was any prospect of trouble arising, he called +the chiefs and warriors and held a seance in which he made inquiries of +them as to their opinions and views regarding the matter under discussion. +This done, he set about a series of orgies and incantations to discover +from some secret agency the advisability of making the venture, or +abandoning it. A consultation of this kind often took several days, but +when he arrived at some conclusion, it was announced to the chiefs and +their followers, and his decision in the matter was final and devoid of +any appeal. As soon as the result of his incantation was promulgated, the +warriors buckled on their armor, if I may use the expression, though there +were few buckles and oftentimes no more armor than a breach-clout and a +blanket with some instrument of warfare, and made ready for the raid on +some white settler’s cabin and stock, or to engage in a death struggle +with some other tribe. The success or failure of his prediction did not +affect the medicine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> man in any great degree as regards his position in +the tribe. If the raid was a success, he became the lion of the hour and +the tribe looked upon him as something of a supernatural being, but if, on +the contrary, things resulted adversely, he had little to lose except his +reputation, and that would be so badly shattered that no other member of +the tribe would care to wear his mantel of prophesy. To illustrate the +case in point, I shall mention what befell chief Black Kettle’s Medicine +Man. After holding a seance for several days, he arrived at the very +pleasing conclusion that the white man’s gun was no good; that the bullets +would fall to the ground close to the muzzle of the gun and consequently +would not injure an Indian. When Gen. Custer fell upon him, one winter’s +morning, on the Washita and killed more than one hundred of his warriors +with Black Kettle himself, and took the remainder of the band prisoners +and brought them to Camp Supply, the estimate on that Medicine Man’s +ability as a prognosticator was diminished to a vanishing point. We are +inclined to smile at the credulity of the Indian in the matter of +consulting the Medicine Man, but, in this curiosity to secure a knowledge +of future events, especially where they refer to his welfare, they were +not much different from the rank and file of white folks who consult some +street fakir or clairvoyant, turning over half a dollar to find out +whether a business man is dealing fairly or otherwise, or to discover if +the partner of one’s joys and sorrows, is travelling the path of rectitude +or not, or to discover some secret source of wealth that will place the +inquirer beyond the reach of want. Such foolish curiosity is not confined +to any race or tribe, as I find in my varied reading that the practice of +clairvoyancy, soothsaying, etc., has been in practice and fashion from the +days when Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt down through the +ages to the present day, and you will find on investigation that the +clients of the fakir are not limited to the unlettered class, but embrace +members<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> from every grade of society from the proletariat to the Four +Hundred. However, to return to the thread of my story, I must say that +since the day when the long range gun has been put in the hands of man, +the calling of the Medicine Man has become almost obsolete.</p> + +<p>In regard to the manner of conducting campaigns, there was no fixed rule, +but every chief conducted his fight as circumstances dictated, and some of +the later day chieftains manifested an ability in their campaigns that +would stamp them as Napoleons of their tribes and times. Precision and +alacrity were seldom wanting in the raids. If they came in contact with +the soldier, they outclassed him to some degree, as, after the first few +volleys, they scattered and disappeared from view with a readiness that +was astonishing. Nor could the trained soldier of the line follow up his +foe to any advantage as they seldom left a trail behind that would guide +him to their hiding place. The untrained eye of the military man militated +against any success he might otherwise have had, and it required the scout +of the plains to ferret out the marks and signs that would give any +opportunity for pursuit. In the meantime the Indian on his fleet-footed +ponies would likely be fifty or one hundred miles away from the point of +encounter.</p> + +<p>The Indian did not always confine his raiding propensities to the white +man, but as frequently gave his attention to some of the neighboring +tribes with whom they had some matter to adjust. Needless to say, when two +tribes met in conflict, the fighting bore a character of savagery that was +in keeping with the untamed nature of the participants. Naturally, the +Indian was compelled to confine himself to the use of such weapons as his +limited ingenuity could provide, but in the use of what he had he was an +adept. Before the introduction of fire-arms his chief weapons consisted of +the bow and arrow, the tomahawk, and the scalping knife, but if an +opportunity presented itself for him to make use of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> more up-to-date +weapons of warfare, he took advantage of it, as is instanced in the case +of the raid made upon the Back and Fox Indians by their more southerly +neighbors.</p> + +<p>The Sack and Fox Indians were located in Kansas, and by reason of their +close proximity to the settlements of white men, and also on account of +carrying on trade with them, they came into possession of fire-arms which +they used with considerable success in hunting the buffalo. They found it +to their advantage to use the weapon for laying up supplies of meat and +hides. This opened up an avenue of trade for them as they found a ready +market for the buffalo skins they procured, but in their prosperity they +nearly were overcome by disaster. The plain Indians learning of the +success of the Sack and Fox Indians, became jealous of them and resolved +to exterminate them. A conference was called and invitations issued to the +different tribes to take part in the general pow-wow. The assemblage was +to take place on the Arkansas River, where they were to decide on what +measures to take, or, in other words, lay out a plan of campaign. The +Kiowas, Comanches, Arappahoes, Apaches, and Chyennes presented themselves +on the day appointed, and initiated the proceedings with a Medicine Dance. +Then a council of war was called and they came to the unanimous conclusion +to go north to the Smoky Hill river and wage relentless war upon the Sack +and Fox Indians and thus terminate the slaughter of the buffalo on the +plains. The leadership of this expedition was by common consent bestowed +upon Chief Whirlwind. They then indulged in their customary war-dance and +set forth upon their mission of destruction.</p> + +<p>It was Robert Burns who wrote that,</p> + +<p class="poem">The best laid plans of mice and men<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Gang aft aglee,</span><br /> +And lea’ us naught but grief and pain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">For promised joy.</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>This quotation applies definitely to the Whirlwind raid. He started forth +like a “plumed knight” chanting his war song and whooping along the way to +instill courage into his braves, each of whom carried a back-load of +arrows and a couple of well-strung bows as his weapons of war, and +expected to share in the glory of a great victory. Nor did the chanting +and roaring of their chieftain fail of its purpose. By the time they +reached their destination they were all strung up to the highest tension, +in fact they were all but counting the scalps they were about to carry +away in triumph, etc. They reached the canyon in the Smoky Hill country +where the Sack and Fox Indians had secreted themselves, prepared to give +the invaders of their hunting ranges a warm reception. Whirlwind and his +band advanced in confidence, knowing they outnumbered their intended +victims, but they were not acquainted with the new ally of their foe. They +knew absolutely nothing of the use of fire-arms, their efficiency, and +death dealing powers. They had not become acquainted with the sound of the +carbine, nor of the shot-gun. This was a power they did not to reckon +with, nor knew how to estimate its value. The only thing that concerned +them just then was to make a sudden whirlwind dash upon their foe, butcher +them, and carry off the spoils. They were led up to the mouth of the +canyon chanting and shouting, when the muzzles of a hundred guns belched +forth thunder and lightning, and a hail of leaden bullets flew around them +in death dealing myriads. They turned and fled, stampeded like a herd of +antelope toward their starting point. They reached the Arkansas, but oh! +how their bright expectations had been rudely shattered. One conclusion +they arrived at as the result of their unprofitable venture, and that was +that bows and arrows was no weapon to offset the effect of a musket or a +carbine. It was a sad return for all their brilliant hopes. Behind them +lay the corpses of fifty of their bravest warriors, whilst twice that +number came limping back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> home, crippled by the unthought-of ally of their +foes. Nor could the loss be estimated at the death of their fellow braves, +nor in the wounds borne by the cripples, nor in the number of horses that +had been shot from under them, but in the blow to their tribal pride. +There they suffered most, for it was inconceivable to think that +one-hundred and twenty-five Sack and Fox Indians should in any manner +possible overcome the flower of the various tribes that participated in +the raid. It is estimated by those who know, that there were between +twelve and fifteen hundred warriors of the southern tribes under the +command of the mighty Whirlwind. As a battle, there was little or nothing +to it. The chief with all his experience could not get his men to face +that leaden hail that smote the ranks so mercilessly. There was nothing to +do but turn tail and flee, which he did.</p> + +<p>When they returned to the Arkansas, they mutually agreed that the +expedition from the view-point of results obtained was a failure. From +there they made their way south until they reached the North Canadian +river and there disbanded, each tribe seeking its own reservation, or +hunting grounds as it saw fit. They never again returned to molest the +Sack and Fox tribes in their peaceful occupation.</p> + +<p>It was currently reported and believed by many that Whirlwind on his +return to the hunting grounds on the North Canadian, said that every +feather had been shot from his war bonnet during the engagement, in the +Smoky Hill canyon. I never had the pleasure of being intimately acquainted +with that doughty warrior, but I have seen him on several occasions and +have also seen his war bonnet, and I know something of the amount of +feathers required to decorate it. Since he has passed to the Happy Hunting +Grounds, I shall take this opportunity of denying that he ever made such a +statement, for I do not believe that he ever said it, as the evidence +would plainly indicate that he would not be telling the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> truth, which +would be plain to all. Knowing how much the wily old warrior prized the +emblem of his former prowess in the field of battle, I feel certain that +he would never submit to have it disfigured by the bullets of his foes, +particularly, whilst his head was beneath it. So I shall repeat what I +said before, “He did not say it.”</p> + +<p>The reader may be pleased to have a little insight into the general +character of Whirlwind, the leader of the expedition that failed. Like all +leaders whether white, black, or bronze, he always made it his motto to +win. Kill, conquer and destroy were the methods he employed in his +campaigns. In the heat of battle, he was relentless and uncompromising, +but when the battle was over and he had returned to his own hunting +grounds, he showed a spirit of forgiveness and generosity, as well as many +other redeeming qualities, for which he should receive due credit.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Sun Dance; Preparations; Its Religious Significance; and Purpose; How it was Conducted, etc.</p> + +<p>It may not be amiss to insert here a description of what was known to the +various Indian tribes as the Sun Dance. Each nation, people, or tribe in +past history has had some ceremony, symbolic in its nature, by which +honors and dignities were conferred upon those who sough honor and +preferment. Nor has this custom been confined to any particular class, for +all have, at different times, indulged in the practice, nor was it without +its influence and effect upon those who sought advancement. The Knights of +the Middle Ages, when in the act of receiving the symbols of their office +and vocation, were compelled to submit themselves to some kind of ordeal +by which they manifested their fitness to wear the honors they sought. So, +too, it was with the denizens of the plains, as the following narrative +from unimpeachable authority will illustrate. Just as in the days of old, +the ceremony was partly religious in its development, so, too, the +children of the plains invested the conferring of honors and rights to +preferment with religious ceremony and physical tests.</p> + +<p>The Sun Dance, as practiced by the Cheyenne tribe of Indians, dates back +to time immemorial. In the performance of it, the Indian makes a +profession of faith in the Supreme Being, and at the same time subjects +those who engage in it, to a physical test that is sufficient to try the +heart and soul of even the most valiant. The first step in the proceedings +of this semi-religious festival, is to select the proper location for the +celebration of it. Weeks, and perhaps months in advance, some pow-wow is +held at which they make the selection of the place in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> which they wish to +hold their festival. Usually some well-known camping ground is chosen on +account of the abundance of fuel and water, both of which were necessary +for the proper conduct of the ceremony, for it was essential that there +should be means at hand for preparing the final feast, as well as an +abundant supply of water for the multitudes assembled from the different +districts for the purpose of watering their stock, as well as, affording +bathing facilities to such a vast number.</p> + +<p>For several days prior to the actual enactment of the ceremony, Indians +would begin to assemble, straggling in from long distances, bringing with +them the greater part a their household belongings. North, south, east, +and west sent their contingents. Whole families with their teepees, +ponies, and dogs, assembled from all parts of the reservations or the +plains to participate in the festivities or to be merely on-lookers hoping +in their mere presence to receive some benediction from the Great Spirit +whom they assembled to worship. Long before the arrival of these scattered +bands, the Medicine Man was on the scene to give his attention to whatever +preparations were required for the occasion. He usually selected some +central point wherein to erect his place of worship. In this chosen spot +he was to enact the two-fold role of High Priest and Medicine Man, to +minister to their spiritual and corporal necessities.</p> + +<p>Many days elapsed before the arrival of the final contingent, and the +intervening time had to be employed as best they could. This gave those +who had already arrived on the scene, an opportunity of visiting their +relations and friends, whom they had not met, perhaps since the preceding +Sun Dance. The older folks were content to while away the passing hours in +social converse, whilst the young engaged in feats of skill, contesting in +games peculiar to the tribe. It was quite evident that they were supremely +happy in their childish amusements, and enjoyed them as thoroughly as +their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> white contemporaries found pleasure and enjoyment in their more +up-to-date and scientific play toys. One thing particularly noticeable in +all their endeavors was the spirit of prompt obedience to parental +authority. The control that the Indian parent exercises over his child is +marvelous, and in all my intercourse with the children of the plains, I +have never known of a parent chastizing his child in a cruel or harsh +manner. It is a thing unheard of, that a child ever raised a hand or +uttered an unfilial expression of contempt towards his parents. I believe +that if an Indian child were to emulate the example of many white +children, whom I have known not only to treat their parents with contempt, +but even go so far as to treat them contumeliously, the Indian father +would be so staggered by such an outbreak and disregard for the +proprieties of his position, that it would require a council of chiefs to +decide upon the proper mode of dealing with the case, as it would lack all +precedent. The little redskin is attentive to the wants of his parents, +and at all times exercises a continual watchfulness over their wants to +forestall any command to fulfill some duty. Nor do the parents fill the +childish mind with tales of goblins and hobgoblins to excite terror in his +little heart. Even the customary punishment of locking the little child up +in some dark corner, is lacking, for there is no need of it. Obedience to +authority is part of the nature of the Indian child and it comes so easy +for him to render it that it never becomes irksome.</p> + +<p>When the last stragglers have arrived, and the interchange of social +courtesies is fulfilled, the large central teepee, or ampitheatre is +erected and ready for occupancy. In the center of this teepee is placed a +large pole much the same as the old-time May pole used by the people of +the Middle Ages on the occasion of their annual celebrations, but in this +case the purpose was very much different, as will be seen later on in this +narrative.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>During the time the rank and file of the Indians were enjoying their +intercourse, the young men who were candidates for honors in the trials of +endurance, were busying themselves plaiting their hair and painting their +bodies. They decorated their faces and other portions of the body with +every conceivable kind of animal and reptile that human ingenuity could +invent, as taste or custom suggested. Some of the productions were very +artistic, and some were rather grotesque, but the tout-ensemble served the +purpose for which the work was intended. They were no novices in the art +of extracting colors from the plants and shrubs that grew in abundance on +the plains, and at the same time had developed the art of applying them to +the human body for decorative purposes. The paints were not indelible, +consequently they could be easily removed and another application made as +circumstances required. At times, the renewal of the decoration took place +as many as four or five times a day.</p> + +<p>The ceremony lasted four days without any intermission. During that time +the candidates for honors were obliged to such a strict fast and +abstinence, that not a morsel of food, nor a drop of water passed their +lips during the time. One favor was conceded to them; they were allowed to +smoke. One might be inclined to think that, at times, the regulation was +not faithfully observed, but there he would be mistaken. There were too +many eyes upon the candidates to permit of his stealing off to the +commissary department of the assemblage, nor could he by any means carry +off beneath the folds of his garments a morsel of food as the extent of +his habiliments would not permit such a thing as his outfit consisted of a +breach-clout around his waist and a few feathers in his hair.</p> + +<p>At the hour appointed for the opening of the ceremony, a chief mounted his +horse and rode through the assembled throng crying out that the ordeal was +about to begin. It was his duty also to set down the rules<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> and +regulations governing the performance. When he had explained the +ordinances sufficiently to be understood by all the candidates, he +withdrew and the Medicine Man appeared on the scene. He was decked out in +his most gorgeous array of feathers and finery, with his hair plaited down +his back and ornamented with more feathers and quills. Truly, he was an +imposing spectacle to the simple minded tribesman and they looked upon him +with a species of awe. In his hand he bore the wing of an eagle. He took +up his position in a very conspicuous place and struck an attitude very +much like some of the Indians we see pictured standing on some eminence +with his hand shading his eyes and looking far away over the plains in +search of something of interest. The Medicine Man assumed about the same +attitude, using the eagle wing to protect his eyes from the sun. He stood +motionless for a period lasting about half an hour, gazing in the +direction of the blazing sun. I never came to learn the true meaning of +this action on the part of the Medicine Man, but I presume he expected to +discover some supernatural visitor coming from the direction in which he +was gazing. I can readily imagine what his consternation would be if one +of our modern aeroplanes passed close over his head while he was making +observations of the heavens. There is no doubt he would drop his eagle +wing and make a dash for his teepee laboring under the impression that the +devil was out making morning calls. Such an apparition would most likely +interfere with the completion of the programme, and the tribesmen would +probably seek shelter or protection from the whirring, roaring monster, in +the depths of the nearby timber. However, as no such occurance took place, +the Medicine Man continued his vigil until such time as he thought proper +to terminate it. Upon his return to camp, the tomtom sounded and the dance +was on. All the braves fell into line, and the pow-wow started with each +brave keeping step to the beatings of the primitive instrument. No squaws +were permitted to engage in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> ceremony as it was to be a strict, test +of physical endurance. Much less, are white men permitted to participate +in the Sun Dance, as this is an institution particularly appropriated to +the Indian tribes. The squaws had their share of the work to do, and while +the ceremony was going on, they spent their time in making preparations +for the feast that was to follow upon the completion of the dance. The +young men who were not otherwise engaged and who did not care to undergo +the terrible ordeal about to follow, mounted their ponies and scoured the +plains for game. This was a necessary undertaking, as the amount required +to supply the throng present with food, was very great. True, each +tribesman brought some provisions, but that supply would be inadequate to +the demands of such an occasion.</p> + +<p>If any white man had an opportunity to witness the proceedings of the Sun +Dance, he would most likely arrive at a very erroneous idea of the intent +and purpose of the occasion, nor would he understand the significance of +what he might see. The wild, wierd scene before him, the fantastic +movements of the participants in the drama would probably create in his +mind a false impression of the nature and character of the ceremony. +However, to arrive at the true meaning of what was being done, it is +sufficient to say that the heads of numerous families were present on the +occasion I speak of, to do homage and worship the Great Spirit, and offer +thanks for favors received in the past. This goes to show that the Indian +was not unmindful of his obligation to the Great Spirit, but brings out to +our view a side of the Indian character that is very seldom mentioned by +those who appear or seem to know all about him. They were grateful for the +gifts received from the hand of their Creator and on occasions of this +kind strove to show it. They probably had some friend or relative who +escaped from some calamity. If so, this was the occasion on which they +showed their gratitude to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> Father of all. Perhaps, some of them had +wives and children who had recently recovered from some ailment. If so, +they were grateful. Sundry were the purposes for which they assembled on +this occasion to offer up their meed of praise and thanksgiving to the +Great Spirit. Their devotion was as sincere and deep-seated as the +Pilgrims who made long pilgrimages to the Holy Land to visit the sepulchre +of Him, who died for us all. The scoffer may not be able to see it, but +there is One who sees and judges, and who will render to each and all the +just reward on the day of the final reckoning, and the Indian may not be +as bad as painted when seen in the light of the Kingdom of Heaven, where +he will be judged according to his lights.</p> + +<p>When the hunters have returned from the chase, each deposits in the +commissary department the trophies of the hunt, antelope, deer, badgers, +coons, rabbits. All is grist that is brought to that mill. Even the dogs +contribute their share to make the supply equal to the grand display of +culinary art that is to be staged at the close of the ceremony. It may +appear strange to the reader that the turkey had no place on the menu card +of the feast. The reason of this lay in the fact that the Indian +considered him too cowardly and timid to be food fit for the brave and +warlike members of the tribe, as it would have a tendency to diminish, if +not destroy their spirit of bravery and fortitude.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, all had been a scene of activity in the ranks of those +who were contending for honors, as I have mentioned in a former paragraph. +The tom-tom had sounded the call to the test. The old warriors and the +young bucks who were out for preferment, had formed a procession and were +marching toward the ampitheatre. The old bucks who had won their honors on +the war-path were dressed in their fanciest blankets, while those who were +to undergo the ordeal wore nothing save the breach-clout, and a few +feathers. When the excitement of the preliminary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> movements had taken +possession of the young men, one of the most reckless of the young bucks +broke from the ranks and began to dance around the pole. There he gave +himself up to a frenzy of movement, gyrating and gesticulating in a manner +marvelous to behold. Swinging his hands, kicking up his heels, twisting, +twirling, performing antics of all kinds supposed to be of the nature of +warlike movements, he all the time gave vent to a series of yells, whoops, +and screams of the most unimaginable kind. At the proper moment, a new +feature of the ceremony took place. A man selected for the purpose came +forth bearing a knife in his hand. His duty it was to make incisions in +the back of the aspirant for honors. Two incisions were made on each side +of the back, about half an inch apart. When the knife had done its work, +the flesh was raised between the gashes and a skewer of wood, much +resembling the old-fashioned husking peg, was forced through the flesh +beneath the skin. Around the projecting ends of this was tied a buckskin +thong to which was tied a lasso. This operation was performed on both the +incisions. A buffalo skull was then tied to the lasso at its further +extremity. The operation is then complete, unless the young brave should +request an additional skull which would be provided if convenience, or +opportunity, permitted. If it were not possible to provide a buffalo head +for the occasion, the skeleton of a deer, or a bear would answer the +purpose as well. In fact, the skeleton of any beast of prey was considered +to suffice, as it was supposed to engender a warlike spirit in the +candidate. This feature of attaching the skeleton of a beast of prey was +not always performed in the same way, as some of the tribes preferred to +have it attached to their breasts.</p> + +<p>When properly equipped with this new attachment, whether buffalo skull or +skeleton of a deer or other animal, the young buck was then turned loose. +He joined in the chanting and kept step with the other dancers, but did +not mingle in the ranks, as the appendage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> attached to him and dragging +along might interfere with the rythmical movements of the dancers. He did +not, fail to keep step with his fellows, nor neglect his part of the +singing, but confined the field of his operations, separate from the +others, where he could conduct himself with what freedom the impediment he +was dragging, would permit. There he discovered himself confronted with +difficulties at several points, as the buffalo skull might become +entangled in a tuft of grass and intensify the pain he was already +suffering so heroically. In case of difficulty of the kind, he received no +assistance from outside sources, but was compelled to wiggle and twist +until he succeeded in loosing it from its hold or tore the flesh and skin +from his back. It might happen that the first obstacle that he met would +break the fleshy bonds that hold the skewers in place, and free him from +his burden, or he might drag his burden around for days. Oftentimes, in a +spirit of playfulness, some young redskin, promped by the genius of +mischief, would jump on the skull and tear it loose from its moorings, but +lacking this fortuitous event, and weary of the burden, he would +frequently in desperation wilfully become entangled in something or other +and break it of his own volition. When he became detached from the buffalo +skull in the manner described, there necessarily was left a gaping wound +with ragged edges. Then he received attention from the Medicine Man who +was close at hand for such an emergency. With his knife he trimmed off the +rough edges and expectorated the juice of some herb which he had been +chewing, into the wound. This remedy was supposed to be sufficiently +potent to eradicate any infection that might be lurking there, and produce +beneficial results owing to the healing qualities of the plant he +masticated. That was the total of the medical treatment the candidate +received during the whole term of his torture. Frequently there were as +many as a dozen candidates on, trial at the same time, and all were +compelled to endure the same torture. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> frequently happened that some of +them weakened by hunger and exhausted from the pain they were suffering, +fell in a swoon. If such were the case, he was left where he fell, and no +attempt was made to render him any other assistance than throwing a +buffalo robe or blanket over him where he lay. There they permitted him to +lie, to recover or die as the case might be. It made no difference to the +other dancers what his condition might be, they continued their gyrations +apparently indifferent to the condition of the victim of hunger and +torture beneath the blanket. If he revived, he began again his dancing and +chanting as though there had been no interruption, which he continued +until freed from his burden. The test is the same for all, and the +attention and medical assistance rendered is identical in every case.</p> + +<p>As I said before, other tribes prefer to have the incisions made upon +their breasts, but in such a case do not bear the burden of a buffalo +skull, but are attached by the lariat rope to the limb of a tree, or to +the centre pole of the ampitheatre round which they dance until they +succeed in breaking loose by tearing the skewer through the flesh that +holds it. As for the medical treatment, it is the same in all cases.</p> + +<p>The ceremony is continued until the supply of volunteers for honors is +exhausted. Those who have passed through the ordeal successfully are in +line for promotion to the higher offices of their respective tribes +providing a vacancy occurs through death or accident. They are considered +the proper material to fill the offices of chief. They have been put +through a test sufficiently harsh to try the heart and soul to its utmost +capacity for suffering. Their courage and constancy was beyond question, +and henceforth were looked upon as men having a prior right to fill the +place of any old chief who might go to the Happy Hunting Grounds. They +were not only proud that they had borne the test successfully, but also +were more pleased that they had lived up to the traditions of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> the family. +They were firm believers in heredity, and were proud of the distinction of +being descended from some former warrior of prominence as the present day +white man is jealous of his descent from the first colonists who came over +in the Mayflower. I have met Indians who gloried in their descent from +Roman Nose, Black Kettle and other noted leaders who have long since +passed away, and I have found others who traced their lineage back to +Tecumseh, and Black Hawk.</p> + +<p>The system of dancing just described was suppressed by Col. Woodson whilst +he was in charge of the Darlington Agency, as he considered it too cruel +and barbarous to be permitted on the Reservation because he thought it +would have a tendency to retard any progress the younger Indians might be +making towards a more civilized manner of life. I understand, however, +that Col. Woodson’s order was rescinded by another Commissioner of Indian +Affairs at a later date, and they are now permitted to practice it in a +modified form.</p> + +<p>It has been my lot to witness nearly every form of dance from the Irish +Jig to the latest form of Tango, or Bunny Hug, Scotch Reels, the French +Four, the Dutch Waltzes, the old American Cotillion, and the Virginia +Reel, but all these combined and set in motion at the same time to the +wildest and weirdest music known to the white race, would fail to produce +the soul thrilling, hair-rising emotions created by the Cheyenne Sun Dance +when in full swing. The sound of Patrick Gilmore’s band, in its palmiest +days, would be as the twittering of the snow bird in comparison with the +roar of the Rocky Mountain lion, when the festivities were at their +height.</p> + +<p>When the time limit of the Sun Dance expired, everything was placed away +for future use. The buffalo skulls, sacred utensils of the feast, were +carefully secreted, and the ampitheatre removed. Nothing remained but the +trampled grass to show that anything beyond the ordinary had taken place.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>The Dance having been completed, the feasting begins. During all the time +the braves have been engaged in their soul thrilling, hair-raising +performance, the squaws have been busy. They were running back and forth, +making preparations for the banquet. Some spent their time skinning a +coyote or other animal, others dressing and cooking the food already +prepared, others looking around for choice morsels to tempt the appetite +of some lord and master, as they felt he might be in need of something +delicate to meet the wants of a stomach sensitive from long fasting. +Whatever the occupation, they were all busy, as the number to be waited +upon might number thousands. It was no easy task, but they were equal to +the occasion. At the signal given as before, the feast is on. To see them +plunging with reckless abandon into the midst of the feast, one would be +forced to conclude that the long fast had little effect upon their +appetites except to render them sharper. All thought of the stomach being +in a delicate condition was forgotten, and the chief work at hand was to +give undivided attention to devouring as much of the viands within reach +as the capacity of the stomach would permit, and that was some capacity. +Nicety of choice was not manifested to any great degree, for their hunger +was usually at such a pitch that they could devour anything that the teeth +could masticate to some degree. Here you might see a lordly old chief +manipulating the hurricane deck of a gray wolf, or a skunk with wonderful +dexterity; there another warrior bold making a savage attack upon a +handful of raccoon claws, and so it went from one end of the multitude to +the other, each earnestly intent upon demolishing the pile of viands set +before him and wondering if there was any more left for a second assault. +The time generally allotted for the repast was sunrise. Then each and all +squatted upon the ground anxious for the welcome ordeal to begin. Sitting +on their haunches, facing the rising sun, not a word was spoken. It might +have been that they were too worn out from the long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> fast, or perhaps they +were so pre-occupied with the thought, of the great spread before them +that they had no inclination to talk, but the more probable reason is that +it was one of the regulations set down to govern the termination of the +festival. No matter what the motive was that governed the conduct of the +throng in the matter of maintaining silence and avoiding undue noise, the +fact was that they set to the work of supplying the wants of the inner man +without delay, either in beginning, or continuing the work of demolition. +All the rules of etiquette, as prescribed for the four-hundred, were +suspended. It was a case of “Reach what you can, and while making way with +it keep the eye on the lookout for more. Anything you do not see is not +good for you.” They did not merely eat their food, they seemed to absorb +it. The execution was rapid and effective, and the final result might have +been summed up in a huge pile of bones from which the meat had been +thoroughly removed.</p> + +<p>The breakfast, as one might call the repast just ended, did not terminate +their stay in the locality, but each and all felt it a bounded duty to +remain as long as there was any of the huge pile of provisions remaining. +They were all jubilant over the happy termination of the ordeal, and the +young men who had endured the test successfully strutted about with a +pardonable pride in their bearing. Feasting took the place of fasting and +all were merry as far as their method of life would permit the expression +of that feeling. When the last vestiges of the immense store of game +disappeared, they all gathered up their possessions and made ready to set +out to their respective camping grounds. Prior to their departure they +held a sort of conclave in which they decided when and where to hold the +next meeting, and also outlined the nature of the dance to be performed on +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> occasion. It might be a Medicine Dance, or a Green Corn Dance, or +some other festivity peculiar to the notions of the tribes and the +exigencies of the occasion. Whatever the decision was, it was abided by +faithfully on the time appointed. This settled, they returned home with +the satisfaction of having done what they considered a duty, and felt that +they had fulfilled their obligations to the Great Spirit.</p> + +<p>I feel very much indebted for the above description of the Sun Dance, to a +lady who spent many of her younger years among the tribe who conducted it. +She is familiar with the customs of the tribe, knows their traditions, +and, in fact, may be considered an authority on things relating to the +history of that nation. Her name, at the time of which I write, was Mina +E. Ashpard, but was changed by the Indians to Tat-ta-voe-e-tau, or Blue +Beads, on account of the string of blue beads which she usually wore +around her neck. She was loved and admired by the whole tribe, but +particularly by several young chiefs who sought her hand in marriage. Her +affections, however, leaned to another direction, and she afterward +married W. C. Ross, who owns a large tract of land adjoining the +flourishing City of El Reno, the Queen City of the North Canadian. Mrs. +Ross is today the mother of a large family of sons and daughters who are a +credit to her and an honor to the State of Oklahoma. Even today she +delights in telling how she used to enjoy riding out on a broncho, +lassoing a wild antelope, or deer, and dragging it back to camp amid the +cheers and acclamations of the whole tribe.</p> + +<p>W. C. Ross, through his foresight and good business management, succeeded +in locating his family allotments in close proximity to the City of El +Reno, as I have mentioned above, and his location proved to be one of the +most valuable in the Canadian Valley. By its increase in value, due to its +location, and by his knowledge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> farming, he has placed himself and his +family above the reach of want. He is educating his sons and daughters in +the Catholic School of El Reno, and they have proved themselves good +students. Their native talents developed in such surroundings, show that +they are or will be capable of fulfilling the duties of responsible +positions in the very near future.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The Adobe Wall Raid; Reason for Description; A Day and a Night of Terror—Some Hitherto Unknown Heroes, Etc.</p> + +<p>Before setting down in detail the series of events that comprise what is +called the ‘Adobe Wall’ raid, I wish to put forth my reason for +undertaking the task of making known to the public an event that will long +be remembered, not only by those who took part in the occurrence, but, +also, by many of the early settlers of the then Far West. So many accounts +of the above mentioned raid have been written that it is impossible for +the seeker after the truth in the matter to discover what he is looking +for, that I deem it proper to narrate the story of the raid as it was told +me by one of the most prominent members of the little band who so +heroically defended themselves from the murderous assault of the Indian +marauders. So much has, also, been written in the past, that sets the real +West before the unenlightened in a manner that is misleading, that I think +it fitting to give credit to whom credit is due wherever it is due. The +ordinary writer from the East is not in a position to narrate the +occurrences of the West, because he has no immediate knowledge of events, +and, moreover, when he undertakes to set them before the public after +receiving them from another, his, narrative will lack the ring of truth +because he does not know the environments and the atmosphere of the events +he is trying to describe. True, the rank and file of readers may not know +the difference, but for those who know the facts of the case, the effort +to portray the history of the West by writers who have gleaned their +knowledge by hear-say, is pitiful and puerile.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>In regard to the narrative of the “Adobe Wall” raid, I shall state again, +before proceeding farther, that my authority for the facts to be mentioned +hereafter was a member of the fighting squad. I have had the honor of the +acquaintance of several of the individuals who took part in the defense of +the place, and have had the story related by them, and in its entirety, +they all agreed on the most salient features of the narrative, and being +men of integrity, their word is sufficient guarantee for the truth of what +I write about the matter. The story I tell was related by Jimmie Langton. +If the reader wishes any corroboration of my tale, he may refer to R. M. +Wright, Charlie Rath, or James Langton, whose addresses I shall append to +the end of this article.</p> + +<p>The “Adobe Walls” ranch was situated about one hundred miles west of the +north line of the Indian Territory, and about thirty-five miles south of +what was then called No-Man’s-Land, on a little creek, about a mile and a +half north of the South Canadian River, in what is now called Hutchinson +County, Texas. The settlement consisted of one sod building, a saloon, and +a blacksmith shop. The sod building was used as a store and in it occurred +the chief events of this narrative. The saloon was owned by a man who went +by the name of Jim Hanrahan, and the blacksmith shop was operated by +Andrew Johnson, who now resides in Dodge City, Kansas.</p> + +<p>The store, or what was then called the “Dobe Walls,” was owned by R. M. +Wright, Chas. Rath, and James Langton, better known as Jimmie, and who +performed the duties of book-keeper for the firm. As I said above, I am +indebted to Jimmie for the facts of the story as he was the only one of +the partners present in the store at the time of the raid, the others +being in Dodge City.</p> + +<p>Those who took part in the fight numbered, at most, about fifteen, not +fifty or sixty, as some writers have it. In the saloon at the time there +were five or six, but their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> part in the fray was only a minor one, as the +Indians did not have any particular purpose in making an attack on that +place. In the store were Jimmie Langton, Andy Johnson, Billy Tyler, Miller +Scott, A. J. Chappell, Bat Masterson, Mr. and Mrs. Olds, who did the +cooking for the ranch, and six or seven other freighters or travellers who +happened to be there at the time.</p> + +<p>Of the Indians who took part in the raid, I shall enumerate them by +tribes, with their chiefs.</p> + +<p>Big Bow led the Comanches on the occasion. Quanah Parker was not present, +as he was too young to be a participant in the capacity of chief.</p> + +<p>The Kiowas took part in the raid under the leadership of Lone Wolf. This +gentleman now resides in Hobart, Okla., and has become so much converted +to the white man’s mode of life that he wears a celluloid collar and a +derby hat.</p> + +<p>The Cheyennes, who played no small part in the expedition, were led by Red +Moon, Chief Mininic, and Gray Beard. Chief Mininic also played the role of +Medicine Man, and claimed that his medicine was so strong that the bullets +of the white man’s gun could not injure him. However, when his horse was +shot from under him, he explained the matter by saying that the bullet +struck a part of his horse’s anatomy where there was no paint.</p> + +<p>Besides the above mentioned tribes, there were the Arpahoes, who, however, +did not have a hand in the fight. True, they had come for the purpose of +exterminating the white man from the buffalo-hunting grounds, but when +they had arrived at the scene of action, the Comanches informed them that +they were not to take part in the annihilation of the pale-faces, but +requested them to remain in the distance and see how they, the Comanches +and their other friends, would put an end to the intruders on their sacred +plains. I believe it was not the mere quest of glory that induced the +Comanches to forbid the Arpahoes taking a hand in the extermination of the +common foe, but rather the knowledge that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> there were several hundred high +power buffalo guns and an abundant supply of ammunition that would be part +of the spoils of war when they wiped out the obnoxious white man, and they +did not care to have too many on hand when the dividend was to be +declared. That they would surely secure such a prize, they had no doubt, +but whether they did or not remains to be seen.</p> + +<p>The list of the white men killed on the occasion of the raid is comprised +of only about half a dozen, and nearly all of them were killed before the +raid took place. There were the Scheidler brothers who were slain and +mutilated at some distance from the ranch. They had gone off to seek new +pasture for the cattle, as that around the ranch house was completely +destroyed, both by being eaten off and then being tramped out of the +ground by the stock. According to the usual Indian custom, they were also +scalped. There was also a Mexican “bull-whacker” who happened to be +camping near the Scheidler brothers, and he met the same fate as they, and +a negro. The only other death among the white folks, was that of Mr. Olds, +who met his end in a very peculiar manner, as will be shown later on in +the narrative.</p> + +<p>On the morning of June 27th, 1874, the Indians made their descent upon the +“Adobe Walls” ranch. There had been rumors of Indian outbreaks in other +parts of the country, but those present at the ranch on the occasion had +not the remotest idea that there was an Indian within the neighborhood of +fifty miles. As they did not come with the blare of trumpets to announce +their arrival, the little party at the ranch did not know that death and +destruction was prowling in the neighborhood until the early hours of the +dawn, on the morning of the 27th of June. That was the hour the Redskin +preferred in making his calls upon his white neighbors, especially if the +visit was to be one of a warlike nature, and they were on the war-path on +this occasion. There is a good deal of philosophy in the Indian’s reason +for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> preferring the early hours of the dawn for his first attack. It gives +him an opportunity to steal upon his enemy unawares. He made it his +business to hide his approach so that his white foe would fall asleep in +apparent security, and then with one fell swoop, rush in upon him and deal +death and disaster before the unsuspecting victims could become alive to +the dangers of the moment until it was too late. On this occasion, they +followed their usual custom and crept silently on the sleeping inhabitants +of the little hamlet. The first warning that the sleeping white men had, +originated in the screams of the negro who was being done to death at the +door of the ranch house. The night was hot, and for the sake of fresh air +and whatever coolness he could find, he spent the night in a wagon box at +the door of the ranch. Were it not for the coolness and calmness of Miller +Scott, the whole party would have suffered the fate of the negro. As soon +as he heard the first scream of the unfortunate black, he immediately +divined that the Indians were upon them. Without a moment’s delay, he +seized his gun and through the open door of the ranch poured out such a +deadly fusilade of shot that the invaders were compelled to flee. The +shouts of the Indians and the roar of the buffalo gun pouring out its +relentless fire, soon turned the little peaceful hamlet into a den of +confusion. How many there were in the attacking party at that moment he +did not know, and apparently did not care, for he was determined to defend +himself against all odds or die in the attempt to do so. Apparently the +Indians had enough of the entertainment offered on that occasion as they +withdrew in a hurried fashion to the protection of the timbers and the +hills. Nor was Miller Scott the only one that took a part in giving their +unwelcome guests a vigorous welcome, but the others who played their parts +were rather slow in getting into action. They had just awakened from a +sound sleep and it took some time for them to realize their predicament, +but when they did, there was no further delay, but they set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> out to aid +Scott in repelling the attack as vigorously as possible. When the Indians +had retreated nursing their discomfiture and several wounds, the first +attack was repulsed.</p> + +<p>The object the Indians had in view was to get possession of the stock of +goods and fire-arms that were in the store. Mr. Langton says that he had +more than one hundred buffalo guns, and about eleven thousand rounds of +ammunition. Besides these desirable commodities, there were on the outside +several horses, mules, and oxen, that attracted the attention of the +Indians. There was also the additional reason that they wanted to +exterminate the buffalo hunters who had been killing off the game in large +quantities, shipping the hides East, and leaving the bulk of the carcasses +on the ground to become the food of coyotes, wolves and buzzards. They had +laid their plans well, and as far as they could see, they were sure to +produce a successful issue, but they had no means of knowing that a negro +teamster would offer such strenuous objections to shuffling off the mortal +coil that he would arouse the whole neighborhood in the loudness of his +protestations. That the ranch people would be in a position to offer any +vigorous resistance, they did not dream. They knew they had that little +band of pale faces surrounded, and there remained only the formality of +killing them with the usual amount of ferocity, take their goods and +return to their camping grounds and plot another raid. For the ranch +folks, there was nothing to do but fight like grim death. One thing +favored the little band in the ante-chamber to eternity. The walls of the +building were about three feet thick and were impervious to the bullets +from such guns as the Indians then had. It was, moreover, impossible to +set fire to the building from a distance, as the invaders tried that +procedure later on and failed. As far as guns and fire were concerned they +were as safe as if they were defended by the Rock of Gibraltar.</p> + +<p>Nor were things inside the adobe building very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> inviting. They all +realized that it was no holiday affair. In fact, most of them had just +about come to the conclusion that they were about to assist at their own +funeral with the flowers and music lacking. Nor could one blame them for +feeling that things had a very hopeless appearance. There they were, a +mere handful, surrounded by hundreds of hostile Indians in war dress, +ready to swoop down upon them at any time, without the least chance of +assistance from outside sources. If anything were to be done, it had to be +done by themselves, or perish in the attempt. It was certainly critical +enough to try the stoutest heart. I have no doubt that, at the first +charge, there were not half a dozen of them that were fully aware of what +was occurring around them, and whatever they did, they performed on the +spur of the moment because they saw others doing it. Some of them became +so excitedly helpless that they were unaccountable for what they did, and +it was providential that they did not do anything imprudent. Others became +nauseated and freely parted with the contents of their stomachs. Mr. +Langton confesses that he himself became so overcome with the realization +of the horror of the situation that he too parted with his supper of the +night before and the only reason why he did not lose his breakfast was +that he had not had time to eat it when the first attack was made. He +recovered his composure hurriedly, as the exigences of the situation were +such that one could readily forget a little inconvenience when one’s life +was at stake. After the first display of nervousness had passed he did his +duty like a man, and played a very important part in the defense of the +ranch. It is not to be imagined that the Indians had not put up some kind +of a fight. The fact of the matter is that they did considerable shooting +in their own behalf, and that they failed to accomplish anything in the +way of killing the white folks was due to the fact that they were rather +hurried in their movements. How many of the Indians were killed in this +first encounter, it is not possible to say, but the sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> of several +empty saddles, and several lifeless bodies on the ground around the ranch +bore testimony to the fact that the bullets from the buffalo guns had done +some execution. Stationed at the one window of the store, stood Miller +Scott spiting out death and demoralization from the mouth of his buffalo +gun upon the savages as they madly careered around the place on their wiry +ponies. Crack, crack, as fast as he could push home the charge, went the +gun, and another warrior was sent to join his forefathers in the Happy +Hunting Grounds. As soon as one gun became too hot to handle, another was +put in his hands to carry on the defense. Mr. Langton personally saw to it +that he was amply provided with ammunition and guns to perform his duty. +Nor were the other members of the party idle all the while. They punched +holes in the sides of the building and through the opening did what +execution their opportunity afforded them.</p> + +<p>It was an appaling situation for a dozen people to be over a hundred miles +from civilization, surrounded by five or six hundred, yelling, whooping, +devil-daring redskins thirsting for their blood. There they rode, painted +in all manner of colors, cavorting like demons around them, roaring +defiance, and threatening at every moment to break through the zone of +fire and burst in upon them in overwhelming numbers and put them to death +mercilessly. It was well for them that they did not lose their nerve +completely, as the situation was one to try the stoutest heart. It was +well for them that Miller Scott rose to the importance of the occasion and +dealt out such a rain of death dealing bullets as to appal the intrepid +Indians. Outside roared and ranged the howling mob and inside things were +not any too assuring. Poor Mrs. Olds fainted. She was the only woman in +the hamlet. Kind hands poured water on her face until she revived. When +she recovered her senses, the realization of the predicament in which they +all were, and particularly the awful fate that awaited her, if they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> were +overcome, so overpowered her that she tried to commit suicide. She set up +a series of yells and screeches in her fright, that the Indians outside +must have thought they were killing one another to save themselves from +butchery. Strong hands prevented her from doing violence to herself, but +there was no way to prevent her screeching, and the only thing to do was +to give her freedom to screech until she became exhausted.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Indians, feeling that their attack was somewhat of a +failure withdrew to the shelter of the hills. According to the words of an +old timer, the first assault upon the place was not a howling success. But +the little party in the ranch knew that they would return, and they made +what preparations they could to entertain them on their arrival. They did +not seem to be in any particular hurry about making the second attack, as +in the distance could be seen Indians riding in pairs, scurrying back and +forth on their war ponies, dragging the dead and wounded between them. All +of the rider that was visible was an arm and a leg. They made a dash on +each side of a fallen victim, and seizing him by the hair, dragged him to +a place of safety, either for the attention of the Medicine Man, or for +burial. Whenever an opportunity presented itself to the little band of +whites to take a shot at them, they did so, and in this manner, if they +did not do much damage, they, at least, hastened their movements to a +considerable degree.</p> + +<p>The little party within the ranch was delighted with the success of the +first repulse. None of them had been injured, and beyond the first +nervousness, or nausea, suffered nothing. They realized to its fulness the +necessity of meeting the marauders when they returned. Every man saw to it +that enough weapons were within reach for immediate use, besides having +near at hand a dish of cartridges for rapid reloading when the fight was +at its zenith. With anxiety and nervousness they awaited the second +attack. They did not have long to wait. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> less than an hour after the +first repulse, they saw them breaking over the hills and descending upon +them in dense array. On they came chanting their war songs, or raising +their raucous voices in wild war whoops in the weirdest manner possible. +For some reason or other, they seemed to halt at some distance from the +ranch. Out of their midst rode a chief, who swept on his way chanting +wildly, dragging a dry buffalo hide by the tail. Apparently he was trying +to incite them on to glory by performing a deed of valor. It may have been +that they were a trifle bashful about exposing themselves to the galling +fire of the little band entrenched behind the walls. Whatever the reason +of their delay, it had no effect upon the lone rider who advanced +fearlessly up to the very door of the ranch, gesticulating in a wild +manner. He threw the hide upon the ground, and with a spring from his pony +landed upon it and began a weird chant to incite his followers to follow +his example. To show his contempt for those within, he seized an empty +barrel that happened to be standing near and threw it with full force +against the door of the building. Just as he let fly the missile, a bullet +from Miller Scott’s rifle tore its way through his chest. He gave a leap +into the air and with a wild shriek fell dead upon the buffalo hide. When +his followers saw their chief fall, their enmity was aroused and on they +came in one wild charge. Bullets spat upon them as they came, emptying +many a saddle in their wild charge. Pit, pit, the bullets sank into the +three foot walls of the ranch, and boom, boom responded the buffalo guns +in a roar that was interrupted only for such time as it took to send +another charge home, and then they boomed again. Indians were falling +thick and fast, dead and dying, men and horses were tumbling about on the +open plain in a confused mass. Pitilessly the little band poured out the +rain of bullets, until no living being could stand the galling fire. The +Indians retreated sullenly before their deadly aim, to the shelter of the +hills, once more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>The little incident of throwing the empty barrel against the door, called +to the attention of the defenders of the ranch the necessity of +barricading it. In the excitement of the first charge they entirely +overlooked that important matter, and it was only the foolhardiness of the +Indian chief that called the matter to their minds. As soon as they saw +how much they were exposed to danger through their oversight, willing +hands began to pile sacks of corn and other commodities against the door +until there must have been a ton of material stacked up against it. +Apparently it was the intention of the chief to break in through the door, +and had he succeeded, his followers would have completed the work begun by +him. Happily for them, Miller Scott’s bullet cut short his career, and +probably saved them all from death.</p> + +<p>The death of the chief had rather a chilling effect upon the rest of the +invaders. Instead of continuing the rush upon the place, they withdrew to +a rather safe distance, and contented themselves with doing some long +range shooting. The firing became desultory. The Indians had withdrawn for +about a mile, and though the buffalo guns would carry that far, it was +practically impossible to do any accurate shooting at such a distance. The +only chance of doing any execution was possible when any of the Indians +gathered in any prominent locality. Then a bullet from a buffalo gun would +sing around them, and they would seek safety in the shelter of the hills. +Another motive that impelled the besieged to save their ammunition was +that they did not know how long they would have to entertain their +unwelcome visitors, and it was necessary to keep that thought in mind.</p> + +<p>The Indians seemed to have re-organized again, and once more set out to +make their third attack on the resolute little band. It was galling to +their pride to think that a mere handful of pale-faces were able to +withstand their onslaughts so successfully. Besides, it was rather +disconcerting to have the principal object of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> their invasion frustrated +just when success seemed to perch upon their banners. The killing of the +few inhabitants of the ranch was not so important as securing the arms and +ammunition they knew was stored up behind the “Adobe Walls.” It was doubly +galling to the Comanches to think that they had invited the Arpahoes to +remain out of the fight to witness the extermination of the hated +pale-face, and now they would have to suffer the humiliation of defeat +where they expected to return laden with the spoils of victory. On they +flew the third time, urging their little ponies to topmost speed, more +maniacal than ever in their wild shouts and gestures. Around the little +ranch they rode in a fusilade of shots as they passed and repassed, but +all to no purpose. Their ranks were thinning through the unflinching fire +of the besieged. When a buffalo gun boomed, it was a signal for an Indian +to throw up his hands with a screech and fall dead or wounded from the +back of his flying steed. The nearer they approached the ranch, the hotter +became the fire, until it was impossible to draw sufficiently near to do +any damage. They fully realized that their shooting had been in vain. They +experienced no diminuation in the rapid fire of the little band within +those three-foot walls. They felt that it was useless to attempt to take +the place by assault, and consequently they withdrew beyond the range of +the guns of the besieged, beaten. Three times seemed to satisfy their +efforts for pillage and murder. They hovered around at some distance as +they did not wish to abandon their dead and wounded. There was no Red +Cross Society there to attend to that matter for them, nor was there any +flag of truce hoisted to denote a cessation of hostilities. As far as the +besieged were concerned, they took good aim and shot to kill whenever an +enemy came within range.</p> + +<p>Several times during the day they had attempted to recover the body of the +chief lying before the door of the ranch, but all their efforts proved +futile. They finally gave the matter up for a time, acting as though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> they +thought the whites were using him for a bait to lure them on to +destruction. They did not intend, however, to leave him there, for, during +the night that followed, under the cover of darkness, they succeeded in +removing the body from where it lay. Apparently one of them sneaked up +during the night and fastened a rope around it, hitched the other end to a +pony and dragged the body off to their encampment. He did not do this +without attracting the attention of those within. Anxious ears were +listening for every move outside, and when they heard the body begin to +drag along the ground, they knew that someone was near, and they +immediately poured out a volley upon the rescuer. If they did not hit him, +they at least compelled him to hasten his footsteps on his way. They +afterwards came to the conclusion that the rescuing party got away +successfully as there was no sign of his dead body encumbering the plain +the next morning.</p> + +<p>As may be imagined, there was no sleep during the night that followed the +day of the battle. What the Indians could not do during the light of the +day, they might attempt at night, and this thought kept every man alive to +the exigencies of the desperate situation. Every man did sentry duty all +night long, not on the outside, as that would have been suicidal, but +within the walls. When not pacing back and forth across the floor, they +strained their ears listening at the openings in the walls for any noise +that would indicate the approach of the foe. Light they had none, as they +did not dare to so much as burn a match. It was maddening to have to spend +the weary hours waiting for they knew not what. They tried to be brave, +but it was a difficult matter to do so at such a critical time. There was +not a one of them that was not willing to die in defense of the ranch, but +the uncertainty of the situation was more galling than the attack itself. +Hour followed hour, each one seemed an age, and yet there was no sign of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +another assault. Wearily, anxiously they waited, each moment dreading what +the next might bring.</p> + +<p>Morning dawned at last and the little band breathed easier. They felt that +there was more than an even chance while daylight lasted. The condition of +the place was deplorable. With weary haggard looks they gazed at each +other in the pale morning light and tried to smile encouragement to each +other but it was a wan effort. The excitement of the previous day, and the +anxiety of the night just passed, was plainly visible on their +countenances. But one thing remained, they were undaunted and ready to +face their foe again if necessary. The sanitary condition of the place +resembled the Black Hole of Calcutta in a lesser degree. True, they had +food in abundance, but their water supply was exhausted. Fortunately for +them, there was a supply of canned goods in the store. Some of these they +cut open, and drained off the liquid to quench their thirst. It was not +entirely, satisfying as water, but it tided them over a difficulty.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the silence from their enemies continued to cause them +considerable uneasiness. They could not imagine what new kind of deviltry +they were planning to effect the purpose of the raid. They awaited another +attack, but apparently it was either being delayed purposely, or the +Indians had decided to forego any further attempt on the place. Which of +the two it was, they did not know. Finally, when their anxiety became +unendurable, Mr. Olds, the husband of the good lady who had stirred up so +much excitement in the early part of the fray, volunteered to make a +reconnoitre. For this purpose he built a temporary ladder. When the rude +implement was constructed, he ascended to the roof of the building. Then +he proceeded to make an opening in the sod roof, through which he might +make a survey of the country in the neighborhood. To guard against any +attack from nearby, he took a rifle up with him for safety. He looked out +through the opening he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> had so laboriously made, and reported that there +was not an Indian in sight. All were overjoyed at this bit of information. +Then Mr. Olds began to descend. In some way or other, his gun caught in +one of the rounds of the ladder and was discharged when he was about half +way down. With a lurch from the ladder he fell heavily to the floor. +Whether from the force of the blow as he fell on his head to the hardened +earth, or whether it was the bullet that struck him, his brains were +scattered round about in gruesome fashion. It was a very unfortunate +occurance, and it cast a gloom over the whole party. Mrs. Olds was +heartbroken over the sudden and untimely death of her husband. Needless to +say, the other members of the heroic little band offered her what +consolation their rough ways would permit. As she had just experienced the +fidelity of the manhood around about her, she was much comforted, but it +was hard to bear the burden of her loss with the evidence of the accident +before her.</p> + +<p>When the first duties to the afflicted had been accomplished, others +thought of the feasibility of making a more extended reconnoitre from the +outside of the ranch. There was also another reason for wishing to breathe +again the pure air of the plains. Their water supply needed replenishing, +as they were all suffering in some degree from the want of it. With +anxious hearts, they removed the barricading sacks from the door and +prepared for what might come. Andrew Johnson proposed that some one should +go for water, and offered to make the journey himself. To this they all +agreed. He took a bucket and as he stepped out, he took a good look around +for any possible redskin that might be lurking in hiding. Seeing nothing +to indicate the presence of the foe in the neighborhood, he set out for +the creek. His companions covered his journey all the way with their +buffalo guns, so that if any Indian put in an appearance, they would have +either driven him to flight, or adorned the landscape with his remains. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>Happily for all, no foe appeared and Mr. Johnson made the journey without +molestation. When he returned, he was greeted by his friends in +misfortune, with all manner of expressions of gratitude. As there was no +indication the presence of the foe, they did not barricade the door again.</p> + +<p>The next move was to send out scouts to discover, if possible, whether +there was any further danger of attack. Needless to say, they did not +wander far afield, as, just then, it was a wise proceeding to be in close +proximity to the base of supplies and protection. Those who did not go on +the scouting tour, performed the humane task of burying Mr. Olds, and +those who had been killed outside the ranch house. With what tenderness +their natures possessed they laid away the mortal remains of their +companion not far from the spot where they had spent such a heart-rending +day and night. As for burying the Indians that lay around them on the +plain, they left that part of the duty to the coyotes and the buzzards. At +least, I have never heard of any burial service being read over them, on +that occasion. Such a method of procedure was common enough in those days, +as it seemed to be the usual way in which the enemy regarded the disposal +of the remains of his victims. They could not be charged with neglect of +duty, as, of all the white men that I have heard of being scalped, +murdered, and mutilated in any part of the West, I do not know of one case +where the Indian ever took the time and trouble to bury them. There is +more truth than poetry in the remark of Gen. Sherman, that “War is Hell,” +and the little skirmish had a strong resemblance to a section of the +infernal regions while it lasted.</p> + +<p>The above is the general outline of the fight as it occurred. As I have +said in the beginning, my authority for the truth of what I have said was +one of the leading men of the battle, if there were any leading men in +that terrific struggle where every man stood up to the fight like a ‘man.’ +I have read several accounts of the affray<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> from sources that are +unreliable. As a proof of what I say in that regard, though the article +purport to be written by some one who had a hand in the affray, it is +apparent that they did not write them personally, but left it to some +scribe to put down some of the salient features, passing over some of the +most important events of the struggle. How would it be possible for a +writer who had a share in the battle to forget the important part played +by Miller Scott? You say it would be impossible, yet I have seen accounts +of the battle in which he is not even mentioned. How could he forget the +tragic death of Mr. Olds? However, some writers fail to mention it. How +about the killing of the negro in the wagon? And some of them narrate the +story in an entirely different manner. I fear that the imagination of many +a writer has filled up with fancy when facts of the most thrilling kind +were at hand. I know that a writer, in narrating a hair-raising episode +under the pressure of excitement is liable to overlook some important +feature, nevertheless, for the sake of accuracy and truth, he should +revise what he has written and correct the error when discovered if he +knows it.</p> + +<p>To satisfy the curiosity of the reader in regard to the origin of the +Adobe Walls, and how it happened that there were buffalo hunters in that +neighborhood in preference to any other locality, I shall append an +explanation as well as mention many of the old-timers who followed that +occupation.</p> + +<p>In regard to the origin of the Adobe Walls, of which some writers appear +to know nothing, I shall narrate the story as told me by those who know. +The original walls were built of brick dobe made out of clay and grass, +and were sun-dried before being set into place. Under the ordinary care, +these walls would have lasted one hundred years or more. These walls were +built by the Mexicans before the country was granted its freedom, and long +before it entered the union. There was a chain of such structures built +across the country to be utilized as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> trading posts, as well as for +fortifications. This chain of little forts extended from the Wichita +Mountains down through Texas to Mexico. The reason of their being located +so far northward was due to the fact that there were mines in operation in +the Wichita range long before the country gained its freedom, and these +forts served as protection to the freighters who were engaged in +transferring the ore down to Old Mexico. When Texas gained her +independence, all these forts and supply stations were abandoned, and in +course of time were rubbed and horned down by the countless buffalo that +ranged at will over the territory. Then the country became almost a waste, +the home of the buffalo, the cougar, and the other wild beasts that grew +in number unmolested by man.</p> + +<p>About thirty-five years ago I became acquainted with two Mexicans named +Romero. They told me that they had freighted ore from the Wichita +mountains to old Mexico, and that if I would go with them they would show +me where they got it. As I did not know anything about mining I declined +the kind offer. Today there are hundreds of men exploring these mountains +in search of the precious metal, and if ever they come upon the site of +the Mexican mines, their fortune is assured.</p> + +<p>In regard to the presence of the buffalo hunters near the Adobe Walls, I +am compelled to say that they were there, more by necessity than by +choice. The trail passed by the Adobe Walls and offered an opportunity for +the hunters to ship their hides into Dodge City, the only trading post +within the radius of over a hundred miles. They were compelled to pitch +their camp where they could find water for their stock as well as for +themselves. For this reason they located themselves at the head of Wolf +Creek, in what is now Ochiltree county, Texas. Others located their +outfits in the breaks of Clear Creek, on the south line of No-Man’s Land, +and a few more were established in the hills on the north side of the +South Canadian river, and west of the Adobe Walls.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> They could not +possibly camp on the flats on account of the scarcity of water. There +extended there a strip of territory thirty-three miles wide where there +was no water except after a prolonged wet-spell, which seldom occurred. +Regarding the other conveniences, such as fuel and other things, they had +little difficulty, as the buffalo chips supplied the demands in abundance.</p> + +<p>As an aftermath of the raid, when the various hunting outfits received +word of it, they assembled on Clear Creek for mutual protection, as they +did not know when they might receive a visit from the same band who would +not be in any friendly mood after the defeat at the Adobe Walls. When they +had all assembled, they began to discuss the matter from all angles, and +came to the conclusion that the most prudent thing for them to do just +then was to move into Dodge City until things became more settled. Having +decided what to do, they lost no time in putting the plan into execution. +They gathered up their belongings and set out on their hundred mile drive +fully alive to the danger of the situation. They crossed Beaver Creek, and +slowly trudged along their way over the divide to the Cimmaron River. It +was a rather difficult journey, and when they crossed the Cimmaron they +went into camp to give their stock a chance to rest up and enjoy a +breathing spell themselves. When the stock had been turned loose to graze, +they spread out their bedding to give it a sun-bath. Some of the boys went +down to the river to have a swim, and others went off in search of game. +They wanted a change of diet as they had been munching buffalo meat three +times a day for some time past and the regularity with which it came +became monotonous. George Ray and Jim Lane remained at the camp to look +after whatever needed attention, and prepare the wagons for the next day’s +journey. Everything was going along peacefully when Lane happened to look +up and he saw an Indian coming out of the mouth of a canyon not more than +a hundred yards away. He spoke to George, and they both grabbed their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +rifles and opened fire. As they were seen by the Indian first, before they +had a chance to shoot, there was nothing visible of him but one arm and +one leg, for he fell over to the opposite side of his pony and put him on +the dead run. The two of them fired three shots each before he could get +out of sight into the canyon. They told me afterwards that they did not +think that their shooting had any more effect than to speed the Indian on +his way.</p> + +<p>At the sound of the shooting, the boys who were absent, lost no time in +returning to camp. However, they did not lose the object of their hunting +expedition as they brought back a fine antelope. When the matter had been +discussed, they felt somewhat uneasy, but as no other Indian appeared in +the neighborhood, they did not become unduly alarmed. They spent what +remaining time they had before making their departure in cutting up their +meat and curing it for future use. They were soon on their way again. They +crossed the river, and pulled through the sand hills out on the Adobe +Walls trail. Their journey led them across Crooked Creek, then over the +divide. On their way they met General Nelson A. Miles at Mulberry. He was +leading his troops to the assistance of those men who were at the Adobe +Walls, but that was hardly necessary then, as the disturbance caused by +the raid had in a great measure subsided. The buffalo hunters pursued +their journey to Dodge City, where they waited until matters began to +adjust themselves. Some of them then returned to the range, while others +went to freighting, some to Fort Supply, others to Fort Ellis, or +Mobeetie, Tex.</p> + +<p>There were no cow ranches in that territory at the time of the raid, nor +for some years afterwards. For the information of the reader, and also to +let the old-timers know that they have not been forgotten, I shall give +here the names of several of them. I knew the most of them personally and +followed their interesting careers with pleasure.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>Nelson Cary and Jim Lane, after freighting a few trips, built the first +house where Beaver City now stands. They went into the mercantile business +and remained at it for years with considerable success.</p> + +<p>Jack and Bill Combs, George Ray, and Johnny Loughead continued freighting +for some time after the Adobe Wall raid. They remained at this occupation +until they built what was known as the wild-horse corral, on Crooked +Creek, north of the County Seat of Meade County, Kansas. This they +maintained for some years and then went back to the old life of hunting +and freighting.</p> + +<p>Bob and Jim Cader settled down on Pladuro Creek and established a small +cow ranch. By close attention to business and industry, they became +wealthy.</p> + +<p>Ben Jackson, another old-timer, hunter and plainsman, settled on Wolf +Creek, about five miles from its source, and went into the business of +raising cattle.</p> + +<p>I could mention many others, and I knew nearly the whole of them, who were +engaged in the business of hunting and freighting in the early days, but +their numbers, by no stretch of the imagination, would ever reach +two-hundred as some of the narrators of early days would have it.</p> + +<p>I shall close this article by giving the present location of some of the +principal actors in the drama of the “Adobe Walls.”</p> + +<p class="poem">James Langton, Salt Lake City, Utah.<br /> +Charlie Rath,<br /> +A. J. Chappell, El Reno, Oklahoma,<br /> +R. M. Wright, Dodge City, Kansas,<br /> +Miller Scott, Santa Fe, New Mexico.</p> + +<p>I trust that my readers will see from the internal evidence of the +narrative just given, that it rings true, and when reading other so-called +accounts of the “Adobe Wall” raid, will be able to sift the truth from the +fiction which such writings portray.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img4.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">CHIEF DULL KNIFE</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<p class="chtit">The “Dull Knife” Raid; The Indian’s Motive for the Same, etc.</p> + +<p>The summer of 1877 found the Indians as active as they had been for some +years prior to that date. They had long since come to the realization that +if the buffalo hunter continued his destructive work upon their base of +supplies, the time would soon come when they would be brought to the verge +of want. They had so long considered the buffalo their natural source of +sustenance that they could not behold the plains depopulated of the vast +herds without offering some kind of protest, and the only one that +appealed to him was the rifle, and the tomahawk. Prior to ’77 they had +levied a heavy toll upon the settlers in varied shapes of depredations. +They murdered wantonly, they carried into captivity many wives and +daughters of the settlers, they ran off the stock and what they did not +take away they destroyed. Things had come to such a pass that the settler +had to be protected if the vast plains were to be opened up to +agriculture, or ranching. With the removal of the buffalo, the cattle man +would have an opportunity of stocking the vast territory with marketable +beef, or the farmer would be able to convert the boundless acres of the +plains to the production of much needed cereals. Hence it came to pass +that the U. S. soldier took a very active part in affording protection not +only to the scattering settlers who were brave enough to risk the dangers +of Indian incursion, but also, to the cattlemen who were rapidly filling +the plains with herds to replace the once numberless buffalo. Miners and +freighters also came in for their share of protection from the lawless +incursions of the marauding natives of the plains. As a consequence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> of +the activity of the army, several bands of hostile Indians were captured +and placed on reservations. Amongst the contingents brought in was Dull +Knife with his followers. They were held under surveillance at Red Cloud +Agency, Nebraska, until an order was issued by the Department to Capt. +Lawton, telling him to take charge of the Dull Knife Band, and take them +under military escort to Ft. Reno Reservation, Indian Territory. This +order was promptly complied with, and he started southwards and located +them on the above mentioned Reservation without any trouble or annoyance +on the part of Dull Knife.</p> + +<p>It might be well to interpolate here an assertion of Dull Knife, as it +will explain some of his future conduct. He made the claim that he +surrendered under a promise, or form of agreement that in case he should +become dissatisfied with the Darlington agency at Ft. Reno, he would be +allowed return to his northern hunting grounds again. I cannot vouch for +the truthfulness of the statement, but will let it pass for what it is +worth. The fact of the matter is that he was only a very short time at the +Darlington agency before he began fomenting trouble. He managed to render +himself obnoxious as possible to every one with whom he had any dealings. +John D. Miles was in charge of the Darlington Agency at the time, and +Major Misner was in command of Ft. Reno. They each of them kept a close +scrutiny on every movement of their distinguished? guest, as his +reputation for being a disturber among the Indians as well as amongst the +whites had preceded him, and they soon discovered that his change of base +did not change his disposition for the better, in fact, it seemed to have +the contrary effect upon him. When he was brought into the reservation, +the agent located him about nine miles above Reno, close by what was known +as Dutch Jake’s ranch, and not far from where the present town of Calumet +is situated, in the valley of the North Canadian. He was not there very +long until he discovered that the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> scheme of creation seemed to be +out of harmony with his needs and comfort. He made the startling discovery +that the water was no good, that the grass lacked the nutritive qualities +necessary to keep his ponies in good condition, and last, but not least, +that the agent was stealing his chuckaway and that he, his family and all +that was near and dear to him were fast becoming mere shadows of their +former selves owing to such scantiness of rations. I do not know whether +there was any truth in the claim that the agent, John D. Miles was guilty +of the crime charged against him, but this I feel very safe in saying, +that a great many of the troubles with the Western Indians had their +origin in just such practices, as has often been shown upon investigation. +There are usually two sides to every question, but, in the case in +discussion, whether there was any truth in the charge, or not, I am safe +in remarking that Dull Knife with less provocation, in fact, with only an +excuse for provocation, could stir up more strife with less raw material +to start on than any Indian I ever knew or heard of, and certainly lived +up to the description the Irishman gave of his wife, when he was carried +away by his feelings of resentment, “Bad luck to your ould head, ye’re +never at home only when ye are abroad, and never at peace but when ye are +at war.”</p> + +<p>The condition of which Dull Knife complained with so much petulancy and +bitterness continued to exist during the winter. However, when the day +arrived for the Indians to draw their rations, he appeared with the rest +and took his share. The manner in which the cattle were turned over to +them was rather peculiar, but filled the bill to a nicety. At the time +appointed, they all adjourned to what was called the “issue” pen where the +cattle were turned over to them to kill after their own fashion. As soon +as the steer was turned loose the Indians set out in pursuit of him, armed +with bows and arrows, with which they endeavored to despatch him. They +rode alongside of him, often times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> the distance of more than a mile, all +the while trying to sink their arrows into some vital spot. Many a wild +race they had after some refractory steer goaded to desperation by the +wounds inflicted upon him by the arrows. As soon as the beast fell in his +track, the pursuers work was done. The attention required to convert the +fallen steer into food was given by the squaws who followed the pursuit, +some on foot and others on ponies. Arrived at the death scene they +immediately set to work with their skinning knives and soon had the steer +divested of his hide. That done, they made short work of cutting up the +carcass into the portions allotted to each family. Those to whom the meat +was distributed looked after the conveyance of it to their quarters in +whatever manner suited their taste or convenience. Some wrapped it up in +blankets, others hung it from their saddles, others brought into service a +gunny sack or any other article that would suit the purpose of +transporting their share to their dwellings. In the work of disposing of a +steer, they were very economical, as there was very little left of it when +they had finished the work of dismembering him. Even the entrails came in +for their attention. The smaller intestines they usually relieved of their +contents by squeezing between their fingers. When they had them +sufficiently cleansed of all foreign matter, they braided them carefully +and hung them around the necks of their ponies. If the work happened to +take place in warm weather, by the time the work was completed there was +usually a halo of flies encircling each squaw to accompany her on her +homeward journey. The bucks seldom, if ever, took a hand in the butchering +as they considered that work beneath the dignity of a warrior. A few years +later this system of disposing of the cattle was abolished by an order +issued from the Indian Department at Washington, as the officials +considered that manner of killing a beast too barbarious and cruel. To +accomplish the end desired, they had the Agent select a good marksman to +go into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> the issue, pen and shoot the animal selected for each family. +Then the beast was dragged outside and the family to whom it was +apportioned, dressed it and made the division of it that suited their +fancy. On the day of “issue,” I have frequently sat for hours watching the +aborigines at their work, and I must say that outside of a few little +things, the scene had a certain amount of fascination for me. Here I had +an opportunity to study the Indian at close range, and I found it far from +uninteresting. However, education and environment has wrought considerable +change in the habits and customs of the natives of the plains, though it +was a somewhat difficult matter to break away from the mode of life +founded upon years of existance under a species of wild and untrammeled +freedom such as they enjoyed before they came under the dominion of the +white man. I have oftentimes, in my travels over the plains and visits to +the different agencies, come upon a family of Indians at their meal. All +were seated upon the ground in a circle around the food, each one devoting +careful attention to the work of demolishing some choice morsel with a +gusto that would make Lucullus envious. Frequently, upon encountering them +in such circumstances I discovered young men and young women who had been +at Carlyle, or some other institution in the East, I could tell at a +glance that they had had the advantage of an educational training, as, +upon my arrival they would turn their faces away from me, much embarrassed +and somewhat ashamed to be seen in their old habits of life when they had +been permitted to enjoy the elevating influences and advantages of higher +life. They had not been back from school perhaps, for more than a couple +of weeks; perhaps, they were only making a short visit to the old folks on +the plains, but they could not conceal their training, and they sought to +avoid embarrassment by turning away from the visitor who happened to call +upon them. They were wearing the blanket just to please the old people. It +was the custom of the early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> days, and still the mode of life of their +parents, and they found it rather difficult to live in a manner different +from their people when they were in the midst of them. One who suffered no +embarrassment from the visitor was the old buck himself. There he sat +munching a piece of raw beef as unconcerned as if no visitor had ever +appeared before him. He was apparently oblivious of his surroundings, and +it seemed as if the sole purpose in life, just then, was to give his whole +time and attention to a quantity of meat, oftentimes of such size that a +section of it would be protruding from the corner of his mouth. There he +sat and just chewed, like a work ox munching his quid, or a mountain goat +contentedly masticating some tough but savory morsel of food.</p> + +<p>I have digressed considerably from the subject of Dull Knife’s doings, but +I hope that matter just mentioned has not been uninteresting to the reader +as it gives some idea of the manner of life the old rascal led while at +the Darlington Agency. To continue the narrative, the Agent kept up his +mode of procedure in dealing with Dull Knife, and the latter continued to +raise objections. He kept the trail between his abode and the Agency in a +well worn condition owing to his numerous visits to the presiding +official. In this manner he managed to put in the whole winter. In other +words, he kept the kettle boiling, and one could see that there was +something brewing.</p> + +<p>If there is anything that an Indian dislikes, it is to get into any +trouble that would force him to leave his camp in the winter time, +especially when there is much snow on the ground. Gen. Phil. Sheridan was +aware of this fact when he made his winter campaign on the Washita after +Black Kettle, Satanta, and Lone Wolf, and forever settled the outbreaks of +the Indians in that section of the country.</p> + +<p>When the grass began to spring up along the valley, and his ponies seemed +to be putting on some of the much needed flesh, Dull Knife felt the blood +pulsing through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> his heart with greater vigor, and he began to make +preparations for war. He made no secret of his intentions to depart at the +earliest opportunity from the restraining influences of the Reservation. +It was quite manifest to all the employees at the Agency, and to a great +many of the soldiers, that Dull Knife was making his arrangements to part +company with his surroundings. News of the intentions of Dull Knife was +brought to the Agent by an educated half-breed, George Bent. Any rumor +that he had of the matter previously was now sufficiently confirmed to +warrant his taking what precautionary measures he deemed proper to +restrain the war-like ardor of the distinguished guest within his gates. +He summoned Dull Knife to his presence and gave peremptory orders to +remove his camp from its present location down the river to a position +about eight miles east of where the present city of El Reno now stands. It +was a good location as there was plenty of water, timber, and grazing, and +should have satisfied the demands of Dull Knife for improved conditions, +but he immediately put forth all manner of objections to which the Agent +turned a deaf ear. Reluctantly Dull Knife agreed that the conditions in +the new location were much better than where he had been living, but he +did not see his way clear just then to make a change in his habitation. +The reason he gave for his unwillingness to comply with the wishes of the +agent was that there was sickness in his family and consequently it would +be extremely dangerous to expose them to the necessity of submitting +themselves to a change when it was not absolutely necessary. He promised, +however, that as soon as his family was restored to health, he would move +them to the new location down the river. The Agent permitted the delay +suggested by the wily Indian, but as a precautionary measure, had the +Commanding Officer at the fort send a troupe of the fourth cavalry to +where he was then camped, to stand guard over him until such time as he +would make up his mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> to remove to the new site selected for his +encampment. The placing of a guard over him, gave Dull Knife another +opportunity to raise objections to the general scheme of things, and like +a spoiled child who cries because it cannot have the rainbow, he commenced +to whine once more. No sooner had the troops taken up their position to +guard his actions than he came to the Agent to have them removed entirely, +or if that was impossible, to have them removed to some distance from his +teepee. He asserted strongly that the presence of the soldiers so near to +him had a tendency to keep his squaws in a state of terror and that, as a +consequence, they would not be able to regain their health, at least, as +long as the soldiers remained in the neighborhood. The Agent, to put an +end to his continual whining, consented to remove the soldiers to a +position somewhat removed from Dull Knife’s teepee, but still near enough +to keep some sort of guard over him if they were at all careful in the +fulfillment of their duty. The soldiers were rollicking, jolly good +fellows, not at all bloodthirsty, and whenever an opportunity presented +itself for merriment they entered into the spirit of the occasion with all +kinds of ardor. Needless to say, they found the task of acting as guard +over one redskin a rather tedious affair, and were compelled to break the +monotony of existence by means originating with themselves. They managed +to pass the time in running horses, playing cards, and with other +diversions. In the meantime the Indians passed back and forth among them +with as much freedom as if there had never existed anything like a guard.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the summer was passing away, and Dull Knife had not yet +changed his residence. The Agent was beginning to get somewhat nervous +over the matter. He even went so far as to declare that he would leave the +agency, but that was a matter that could not be attended to without +considerable red tape, and in the meantime he was receiving a good salary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +where he was. He could not throw up his position without consulting Uncle +Sam, as Samuel is rather a harsh task-master when it comes to seeing that +his officials fulfill the duties of their position. It was quite evident +that Dull Knife was getting on his nerves.</p> + +<p>During all this time, Dull Knife was tearing around like a loose cyclone +that has recently broken away from its moorings, and his lieutenant, Wild +Hog, was not far behind him in activity. He made no secret of what he was +doing. Here and there, all over the Reservation the wily old villian was +meandering for the purpose of getting possession of fire-arms. Anything he +had in his possession he was willing to barter for anything in the shape +of the utensils of war. Cowboys and soldiers, all were requested to barter +something in the nature of guns or ammunition for whatever he could +produce. Anything he had was on the market. At times he succeeded in +trading a couple of ponies for an old, rusty, six-shooter, but in the +general run he was not very successful. As an instance of what he was +willing to do, I shall mention one case. James Smith, a teamster for the +government at the time, was hauling posts to erect a stockade at the fort. +In one of his trips he met Dull Knife. The latter immediately proposed a +swap. He saw Smith had his belt full of cartridges, and these seemed to +take his fancy. He made a trade with the teamster, giving him a new +government overcoat for ten cartridges. This penchant for trading became +an obsession with him, and there were times when he rendered himself a +nuisance to everyone in the neighborhood by his continual proposals to +make a trade.</p> + +<p>Finally, this state of things became very monotonous. They had long since +become aware of the fact that Dull Knife had no good intentions in his +desire to become possessed of firearms and ammunition. They began to be +fearful of him, as they did not know the time he would break out and take +the war-path and leave behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> him a trail of smoking ruins, with a long +list of murdered victims.</p> + +<p>On the first of September, 1878, the Agent was called up by a family of +Indians who informed him that Dull Knife had gone. They said that they had +gone with him a short distance, but changed their minds and came back to +the reservation. The thing that all had been looking for had come to pass, +and they all became anxious for what the near future would make known to +them. Something had to be done without delay. The Agent immediately +summoned Johnny Murphy who had been Gen. Sheridan’s confidential ambulance +driver during the campaign on the Washita, during the winter of 1868, +against the Kiowas, Comanches, and Arpahoes, and who was afterwards a +reliable despatch bearer between the different posts in that section of +the country. The Agent explained the situation to Mr. Murphy, and handed +him a despatch to forward immediately to the Commander at Ft. Reno, +telling him of the departure of Dull Knife. When the despatch was handed +to the Commander, he read it attentively, and asked Mr. Murphy, as a +special favor to take it up the river where the troops were still guarding +the Dull Knife camp. Murphy again mounted his faithful old steed, Pegasus, +and proceeded to bore a hole in the darkness until he arrived at the camp. +There he found every one of the soldiers sound asleep while the object of +their tender care was on his way to the hunting grounds in the North. It +is difficult to account for the somnolent tendencies of the soldiers on +this occasion. It does not seem possible that their amusements of the +preceding day would have the effect of producing such a lethargic +condition. In any case, even the sentinel, whose duty it was, at the +expiration of each hour, to shout at the top of his voice and proclaim to +the troops in particular and to the whole world in general that “All is +well,” had surrendered to Morpheus, and was so tightly wrapped in his +embrace that Murphy was compelled to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> roll him out of his blankets and +inform him that the Commander at the fort, and his country was calling him +to duty, and it would be a better procedure to saddle up at once and go to +headquarters as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>To the average man, the escape of Dull Knife from under the very eyes of +his guards, may seem increditable, but this is a case where truth is +stranger than fiction. It seems as if Dull Knife’s medicine had hypnotized +the guardians of Uncle Sam’s peace and dignity. If such were the case, he +must have exercised the same powerful influence over the military until he +was killed close to the Wyoming line. I cannot blame the reader if he +shows a little hesitancy in accepting the statement as a fact, as I myself +would have an inclination to question the matter, and begin to look for +proof if I were in the same conditions as he, were it not that I am +writing this account within a few miles of the locality in which the drama +was enacted. I have been over the trail and visited the scenes of some of +his brutal massacres.</p> + +<p>When Dull Knife left the reservation, he had less than one hundred +warriors, but had his full complement of squaws and papooses, which, all +told, would raise the number of the departing contingent to about two +hundred and fifty. The fact that he took down his teepee, packed all his +belongings, and marched off undisturbed by the guard set to watch his +every move, would be enough to stagger the mind of any one except some +dime-novelist who has the happy faculty of accomplishing marvelous deeds +with little or no implements to produce such wonderful results. But, +nevertheless, that is what occurred. He had departed unmolested from the +midst of his guards, and was on his way to his far off land of promise. +When he left the reservation, he continued his march to the Cimmaron river +without much inconvenience from the military men who were supposed to +forestall any such movement on his part. Being that he was poorly provided +with munitions of war, or supplies to maintain his command on their +journey, he was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>compelled to seek subsistence by raiding ranches, or +killing what stock he met on his way. He did not have much trouble in +providing for his future wants, once he came into possession of some beef. +This he dried and “jerked,” a very easy proceeding, for as soon as the +meat was salted and hung out in the sun, it readily cured, and would +remain fit for use for a year or more without any further attention.</p> + +<p>The day after the departure of Dull Knife and his followers, the soldiers +under the command of an old German officer, who had seen service in the +army of the Fatherland, Major Randerbrook, set out to arrest the fugitives +and bring them back to the reservation. It was manifest to the observer +that the Major did not relish coming in contact with the rough edges of +army life. Here I may pardonably make mention of the fact that this same +Major, and Captain Gunther, of whom I shall speak later on, were members +of the Slumber Squad who were supposed to keep a wakeful eye upon Dull +Knife’s camp. The old Major, when notified by Johnnie Murphy that his +captive had vanished, became indignant to think that Murphy, a mere +messenger, would have the audacity to disturb his sweet repose. However, +realizing that the courier had not acted on his own volition, he summoned +up sufficient courage to leave his comfortable bed, and saddle up for the +purpose of making a journey to the fort. When he arrived there, he +received orders to take charge of the Fourth Cavalry, or that portion of +it that was then at the fort, and set out in pursuit. There were several +troops of the Fourth Cavalry in that section of the country at the time, +as they had been sent down from Fort Sill to keep an eye upon the Kiowas +and Comanches if they should show any disposition to foment disturbances. +Hence it happened that there was only one troop of the Fourth at the fort +at the time of the disappearance of Dull Knife and band. The Commander of +the fort also sent a courier to Fort Sill telling the Commander<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> there +that Dull Knife had gone north, and asked him to intercept the Indians if +possible.</p> + +<p>The fugitive had gone northwards only a short distance when he went into +camp in the sand hills which lay north of Dutch Jake’s ranch. From his +actions it was plainly evident that he was not at all uneasy about the +presence of the soldiers, nor did he manifest any fear of them. When he +was ready to proceed on his journey, he set out with the same nonchalance +as characterized his encamping so near to the scene of his late restraint. +He advanced on his route until he arrived at the Antelope Hills, north of +the Cimmaron river. There he made another encampment. The soldiers had not +yet overtaken him, a thing which he seemed anxious for them to do. In fact +he became so anxious that they should overtake him that he sent a small +band of warriors back to meet them to make inquiries as to the reason of +their following him. They were informed by Major Randerbrook that he had +been sent out to arrest them and restore them to the reservation. They +positively refused to return with the Major, and stated plainly that they +intended to return to their chief and lay the matter before him. Dull +Knife, as might be expected of him, positively refused to consider the +return to the reservation, in any light. In order that there might be no +mistake about his intentions he began to daub on the war paint in greater +abundance than he was decorated with before. He was simply living up to +his assertion made previously that he would return to the hunting grounds +of the northern territory if the conditions around the reservation did not +suit his fancy, and in his present attitude he was fulfilling up to his +declarations, and would continue to do so, come what might.</p> + +<p>The first evening of the march, Major Randerbrook made the startling +discovery that, in the haste and bustle of preparation consequent upon the +order to pursue the fleeing Indians, they had forgotten to pack up his +feather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> bed, his davenport, also his writing stand and wall tent. He felt +that he could not make a successful journey without these necessary +accessories to his personal comfort, and therefore, he detailed Peter F. +Weasel, a member of the 16th Infantry, who was acting as teamster at the +time, to return to the fort and bring all his belongings (the Major’s) and +overtake the troops the next day. This solemn duty Peter set out to +fulfill with proper feelings of submission, but I have never found any +evidence to show that the said Peter ever appeared in the presence of the +Major, laden with his precious feather bed or any of his other belongings.</p> + +<p>Do not permit the idea to find lodgment in your head, my reader, that the +Major was a coward. Far from it, as his later actions showed. Later on, +when the Indians refused to surrender when he met them at the Antelope +Hills, he ordered the troops to charge upon them in the camp, which they +did. After a short skirmish with them, he found that he had lost three +soldiers who were killed, and among the injured was the company blacksmith +who was crippled by being shot through the hips. After this skirmish the +soldiers withdrew from the fray and went into camp. There they buried +their dead companions, but when they came to look for the injured +blacksmith he was no where to be found. In fact, they never saw him again. +The loss on the part of the Indians is unknown, but from what I can learn +about the fray, to use the language of the prize ring, that battle might +be considered a “draw.” Some years afterwards, acting under orders from +the Department at Washington that all soldiers killed in battle with the +Indians on the plains, where their graves were known, their bodies should +be exhumed and given a military funeral. This order was complied with in +the case of the three soldiers killed in the Antelope Hill fight, and they +were later on removed to the fort where they belonged and properly +interred. The Major himself bore himself in a courageous manner, but he +was suffering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> from the handicap of age. Brave as any man that ever +straddled a horse, he wanted to be in the thickest of the fray, but owing +to his eyesight being greatly impaired it was not a safe move to permit +him to enter so ardently into an engagement, as he could not distinguish +friend from foe at even a short range, and the difference between an +Indian and any other object at a distance he could by no means make out. +The Major was thoroughly discouraged with the outcome of the affray, and +disgusted with the conduct of his troops on the occasion. He resolved to +give up his commission and turn over his command to a younger man. He +determined to make his resignation at Camp Supply, but before taking his +departure he placed Captain Gunther in charge of the command. This man +proved his unfitness for the position of trust confided to him later on at +Sand Creek where he displayed the cowardice and worthlessness of his +character, which stamped him as one of the most despicable characters who +ever disgraced the uniform of an officer since the days of Benedict +Arnold. The old Major in due time arrived at Camp Supply accompanied by an +escort, whilst Dull Knife after carrying off and secreting his dead +warriors, started northwards across the Cimmaron river, and began a series +of depredations on the ranches and cattle in Clarke county, Kansas.</p> + +<p>Once he had crossed the river, he did not confine his band to any definite +route of travel. In place of an orderly line of march, such as +characterizes the trained soldier, his followers scattered out each day in +different directions to perpetrate whatever devilment might offer, with +the purpose of meeting at night at some appointed rendezvous to plot and +plan further rascality to be put in operation on the following day.</p> + +<p>There were few stock ranches in the country at the time, and when they had +heard that the Indians were on the warpath, and were in the neighborhood, +they began to make preparations to protect themselves and their stock +against an expected incursion of the marauding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> band. They rounded up +their horses and kept them under close herd, but that was impossible as +regarded the cattle, as they were scattered far and wide, and consequently +would afford the Indians an opportunity for obtaining possession of what +meat they wanted for their journey. It would have been flying into the +teeth of danger to endeavor to round them up just then, as the ranchmen +would, in all likelihood, have encountered some of the roving bands of +cut-throats in their way, and the result would have been disastrous. +However, it was not the nature of the cowboys to remain supinely inactive +and permit the Indians to work havoc on the herds at will. They determined +to have a hand in the fray, and decided that it was time to give the +Indians their first lesson in civilization if they had not received it +before. They let the cattle take care of themselves, and set out to +deliver their instructions in the only manner that would appeal to the +natives of the plains. The cowboys from Doc Day’s ranch, and those from +the Driskill ranch, with those of several other outfits, all turned out to +take a hand in the fray that was sure to come. They set to work with +enthusiasm, and continued it with so much zeal and ardor, that Dull Knife +began to fortify himself against their unremitting attention. He selected +for this purpose a location on what is called Gypsum Creek. The squaws set +to work to dig rifle pits upon the side of the bluffs that overlooks the +stream, where the warriors could fire down upon the persistent cowboys if +they should have the audacity to follow them into their hiding place.</p> + +<p>Everybody was, by this time, on the lookout for the invaders and prepared +to give them a warm reception should they appear in the neighborhood, +excepting one man named Sam Kiger. He lived on what is now known as Kiger +Creek, so named in his honor. Sam had a little ranch. He lived in a +dugout, and had a small herd of cattle, and was busy looking after his own +interests. He was so far removed from everybody else, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> he did not +hear of the danger that was threatening the neighborhood. It is easy to +understand how he was unaware of the menace of the Indians when it is +stated that he seldom saw any one, seldom went abroad except when +necessity compelled him to do so, and then went to Dodge City which was 45 +miles distant, for supplies. He remained in ignorance of his danger until +two weeks after the Indians had left that part of the country. That was +one case where ignorance was bliss. But another man, Sam Williams, was not +so fortunate. He was a sheepman and maintained his flocks on another +creek, and had a very close call, in fact, just escaped being murdered by +the savages by the narrowest margin. He was herding his sheep all alone at +the time. Sam, among the other adornments of nature, was upholstered with +a luxuriant crop of whiskers. They were his pride and he spent his spare +time in combing them. Never did beauteous maiden bestow so much time and +attention upon her personal adornment as Sam spent upon his hirsute +appendage. In fact, the care and attention of those whiskers became a sort +of obsession with him. Well, the first notice that the aforesaid Sam had +of the presence of Indians was when a bullet came singing through the air +from behind a sand hill and ploughed a furrow through his highly +cultivated whiskers. It did not require any very rapid calculation on his +part to tell him that he was living in the midst of alarms, and that he +ought to seek the protection of his dugout so as to be secure from further +manifestations of hostility on the part of the invisible riflemen. To +think was to act, and Sam made the distance between where he was shot at +and the dug-out in record breaking time. In fact, he might have shattered +the record considerably, had he been timed, but there was no time to look +for an official timekeeper then, so his efforts in speed must go +unrecorded. Once inside the dug-out he felt comparatively safe, as an +Indian would be very careful about approaching it as it was virtually +impregnable. There was no mode of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> assaulting it except from in front, and +no wise Indian, with a view to saving his skin from being perforated, +would care to approach from that direction, as he would be compelled to +take that direction if he wished to create any impression on the occupant +of the dug-out. In the meantime, the proprietor of the place, acting on +the law of self-preservation, would likely be cutting the dust from around +the said Indian’s moccasins, if not making a more successful effort to +convert his assailant into what is called a “good Indian.” Usually, as the +besieging party came to realize that he could not set fire to the place, +nor make any success of shooting into it, he would abandon his undertaking +for some other more tractable victim. But, the fact that he could not kill +his victim, did not prevent his turning his attention to some other mode +of deviltry at which the Indian was usually adept. In this case, they +rounded up the sheep belonging to Williams and drove them into a +water-hole where six hundred of them were drowned.</p> + +<p>While prowling among the Sand Hills, the Indians chanced upon and, after a +running fight, killed a man, named La Force, a brother of Perry La Force +who was foreman on the Diamond F. ranch, owned by the Franklin Land and +Cattle Co., and managed by B. B. Groom, part owner of the stock. He was a +fine type of Kentucky gentleman, actuated by the highest ideals, and one +who ran true to the standard of the highest kind of hospitality. When the +ranchman became aware of the absence of La Force, as he had not returned +from his tour of inspection, or whatever duty took him away from the +remainder of the party for the day, they organized a search party to +discover his whereabouts. They probably had more than a suspicion that he +had met with something more than an accident, as they were aware of the +fact that the Indians were on the rampage, but it would not be according +to the ethics of their mode of life to abandon him unless they were +positive that he had met death. For weeks they maintained the search, but +with no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> success. Finally, in one of their excursions, they came across a +skeleton, or what was left of it, as the bones had been disjointed and +scattered in all directions. They were not yet positive that it was the +remains of their friend. However, they were not long left in their +uncertainty for they discovered La Force’s six-shooter. Every chamber of +it was empty, which went to show that he had not yielded tamely to his +fate, but fought manfully against whatever odds he had encountered. How +many there were opposed to him, the searching party had no idea of +calculating, but there was no doubt in their minds that he had accounted +for more than one of his foes. The condition of his remains was due to the +fact that they had left his body where he had fallen, and the coyotes had +gnawed every particle of flesh from the bones. They gathered up what bones +they could find and bore them to the ranch and buried them with all the +tributes of respect that could be shown to one who had been not only a +friend, but who had held a very exalted place in their regard. They then +notified his brother Perry La Force, of the untimely death of his brother, +giving him what information they could of his tragic end. He came from the +Panhandle where he was living at the time and had the remains exhumed and +took them to Mobeetie, Texas, where he laid them in their last resting +place.</p> + +<p>Whilst these acts of thievery, murder, and other rascality were being +perpetrated on the Cimmaron, and Big, and Little Sand creeks, a small +contingent paid a visit to a personal friend of mine, named Charles Coe. +He, at the time, was holding a herd of beef cattle in the southwestern +part of Ford county, awaiting an opportunity to ship them from Dodge City. +The herd was owned by Tuttle and Chapman. In his employment he had a negro +who performed the duties of cook, as well as acting as chore boy around +the outfit. This same Charlie Coe was afterwards book-keeper for the +George S. Emerson Mercantile Co. in Dodge City, Kan. At the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> time I +mention he was what was termed a tenderfoot, and along with being +inexperienced in the ways of the west, had little or no knowledge of the +Indians mode of existence, especially on the warpath. Anything he happened +to know of them, he had gleaned from rumor and reading. His tent was +located not far from Crooked Creek. When the Indians came upon him, decked +out in their war regalia, he was in a quandry what to do. It would have +been useless for him to endeavor to seek shelter behind the bank of the +creek, as the distance was rather far just then, and his tent would offer +no protection from the bullets of the enemy. Plainly he was confronting a +proposition the like of which he had never encountered before. It did not +take him long to realize the danger of the situation, and he saw at a +glance that it was death or glory for him, no matter which horn of the +dilemma he chose to take. Instead of seeking safety in flight, he +preferred to break a long established precedent of running away, and faced +the danger unflinchingly. He seized his gun and stepped outside and waited +the coming of his foes. As soon as they came within range, he took careful +aim and fired. His first shot brought to earth the horse of the leader of +the band. Indications showed that he wrought some damage upon the rider +also, as he had to be assisted by his comrades in rascality. They picked +him off the ground where he lay, and placed him on a pony behind another +redskin. The bold front shown by the white man had the effect of halting +the marauders in their mad career, and at the same time had a stimulating +effect upon young Coe. He continued to fire at them as long as they +remained within range. The reception they had received was wholly +unexpected by the Indians, and after firing several random shots at him, +without inflicting any damage, turned their horses around and withdrew to +the Sand Hills about a mile distant. As soon as they had departed the +young tenderfoot entered his tent to take stock of his means of defense. A +brief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> glance at his small supply of ammunition showed him that he was not +in a position to stand much of the siege. In fact he had very few +cartridges left, and considering prudence the better part of valor decided +to make an improvement in his conditions by seeking safety in flight. He +gave orders to his stable attendant to hitch up the horses and they would +set out for Dodge, which was about thirty miles away. He told the negro +the condition of affairs and showed him that they would likely lose their +scalps and their lives if the Indians should make another descent upon +their camp. To the proposal to abandon the place, the negro made reply, +“No, sah, I ain’t agwine to leave Marse Tuttle’s mules heah for dem +pestificatin red debils to get. Ise agwine to take dem along.” Having +delivered himself of this proclamation of loyalty, he started to hitch up. +Coe could not persuade him that he was exposing himself to unnecessary +danger, and while Mr. Tuttle would appreciate his feelings of loyalty to +his interests, at the same time he was not cruel enough to wish to expose +him to the danger of losing his life. This and all other arguments that +Coe could urge, were of no avail. He had determined to follow his own +course in the matter, and nothing could move him from that determination. +He had a strong liking for that team of mules, and a very strong affection +for Mr. Tuttle, and in less than an hour later he lost his life through +his fidelity to his master’s interests. Reluctantly Coe started off for +Dodge City. Sharp eyes were watching every move he made. From the Sand +Hills they had noticed the preparations made at the tent, and saw the +paleface ride away in the direction of the city. They felt that it was +useless to follow him, as they knew he was well armed, and they remembered +too well the manner of reception he tendered them but an hour before, and +knew that he would be prompt to repeat it if they offered him another +opportunity. They had no desire to lose any members of their band, and +they felt that it would be a certainty that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> they would suffer some loss +if they pursued him, so they let him proceed on his way. Not so did they +show any consideration for the negro. When they saw him set out they +started in pursuit. They rode down from the Hills, gradually converging to +a point in which the darky and the team of mules was the center of +attraction. When the negro saw them coming with the evident intention of +intercepting him, he put the mules to a gallop, but it was impossible for +the team dragging the heavy wagon to outrun the war ponies of the Indians. +When they were drawing down upon him they began to shout and shoot at the +same time. The poor darkey was terrified. The mules were stampeded and ran +away. They overturned the wagon in their flight. In their mad career, the +driver had been shot in the back several times and was killed outright. +They overtook the mules and unhitching them, led them back to the Sand +Hills where Dull Knife had now established his temporary headquarters. +They did not scalp the negro, nor burn the wagon as was their custom. +Evidently they must have come to the conclusion that the team of mules and +the plunder of the tent was sufficient for one day. The darkey was later +found and buried by some cowmen, and his grave for a long time was used as +a landmark for travelers along the Jones and Plummer trail. Mr. Tuttle was +in Dodge City at the time his faithful attendant gave up his life for his +interests. Naturally he felt the loss of his servant rather keenly. When +the news was brought to him that his wagon was still out there along the +trail where it had been upset, he hired Hoodoo Brown, an old scout, to go +out and bring it into Dodge, for repairs. The old scout often told me of +his experience upon that dangerous journey.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when he had the wagon fixed up in such a +fashion that he could haul it into the city. He made the return trip the +same night as he did not care to expose himself to the danger of meeting +the same or worse fate than the negro. He said that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> imagined he could +see an Indian hiding behind every sage brush, or cactus in the country. +But as it proved to be nothing more real than a fancy of the imagination, +he had no difficulty in making the journey, for which Mr. Tuttle paid him +handsomely.</p> + +<p>This band that had just perpetrated the deviltry, had returned to Sand +Creek just in time to avoid a possee of cowboys who were in pursuit of +them. They had but recently run the rest of the Dull Knife band into the +canyon which they had fortified, and it would have gone hard with the +battle contingent that had just come from murdering the negro if the +cowboys had a chance to meet them before they sought shelter in the rifle +pits the squaws had recently dug.</p> + +<p>By this time, the whole country was well aware that Captain Gunther and +Dull Knife had been playing a game of “hide and seek” for the past ten +days. The cowmen became weary of such dilatory tactics, and determined to +go into the canyon and fight it out with the Indians. At this time Captain +Gunther had arrived on the scene with the 4th Cavalry, and demanded that +the cowmen withdraw from the sight as he was going to take that matter +into his own hands. He said that the Indians were well fortified and that +he would have considerable trouble in dislodging them. He stated that he +intended to place sentinels around the canyon so that none of them could +escape, and intended to hold a conference with Dull Knife in the morning. +He assured the cowmen that he was well acquainted with the old warrior and +felt certain that he would have no difficulty in persuading him to return +to the reservation with all his followers.</p> + +<p>After the captain had arranged his guards around the canyon in such a +manner as he thought would preclude the possibility of the Indians making +their escape, he busied himself with preparations for encamping down the +creek. While he was thus engaged, he was approached by Ben Jackson, the +noted scout and buffalo hunter, who saluted him in military fashion, as +far as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> his knowledge of that accomplishment would permit, and proposed +that he, the captain, give him a despatch to be delivered to the commander +at Fort Dodge requesting him to send more troops to aid in capturing the +Indians. This despatch he promised to deliver within a few hours. The +captain, not knowing the resourcefulness of the man making the request, +replied that he could not spare an escort for the undertaking. To which +the scout replied that he did not need an escort as he was well acquainted +with the country and did not have any fears about the prompt delivery of +the message. The captain answered that such a course of proceedings was +unnecessary, as he was well acquainted with Dull Knife personally. He said +that he intended to hold the conference with him the next morning, and +that when matters were set before him in the proper light, there would be +no further trouble in the case, as he was positive the Indians would be +perfectly satisfied and return to the agency without any further +difficulty. When this short interview had been completed, the captain +proceeded down the creek and went into camp. In the meantime the pickets +were on duty around the canyon, or rather were supposed to be, but, in +some manner or other, Dull Knife’s medicine hypnotized them as it did on +the former occasion when he escaped from the North Canadian. I am not +going to make any remarks about the private soldiers of this campaign, as +they were ever ready and willing to do their duty if they had a proper +officer to lead them; nor am I going to make any comments, nor pretend to +fix the blame where it belongs, but will state the facts and let the +reader judge for himself who was culpable in the matter; but it seems +incredible that 250 Indians could come out of that canyon, supposedly well +guarded, and pass through a cordon of pickets without a gun being fired. +Incredible it is, but, nevertheless, that is the unvarnished truth of the +matter. When dawn appeared the following morning, the Indians had +vanished, as if they had been swallowed up by the earth. Their trail +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>indicated that they had gone northward. They pursued their line of flight +to Crooked Creek, in Meade County, Kansas, and after crossing that stream +near what is called the “Three Bends,” they came to a hay camp that was +conducted by G. S. Emerson. Here they did not give themselves up to their +usual depredations, but contented themselves with taking some provisions +and cutting up a pair of calf skin boots belonging to the proprietor. That +they did not commit any murders, was due to the fact that the men of the +outfit were absent. From there they proceeded to what was intended to be +the county seat of Meade county, which development did not extend further +than the erection of a story-and-a-half frame building, with an unfinished +well nearby, at which the city fathers were working when the Indians +arrived. They immediately set out to explore the contents of the house and +surroundings. Their efforts were not rewarded very highly, but one thing +attracted their attention, a grindstone standing near at hand. The sole +occupant of the dwelling, Captain French, was compelled to perform the +task of turning the grindstone while they were sharpening their knives. To +test the acuteness of the finish they had put on their weapons, they +contented themselves with drawing them across the captain’s throat. To +show him further that they were not at all unselfish in their attentions +to him, the squaws lent a hand in pulling and hauling him around and +inflicting all manners of abuse upon him, but they did not attempt to kill +him. I asked the captain shortly afterwards why they did not take his +life, and he replied that they knew better than try that. He stated that +he had a picture of George Washington hanging on the wall of his dwelling, +and they knew that if they killed him the government would soon be in +pursuit of them. Poor old Cap! He did not know that the government was on +their trail at the time.</p> + +<p>Although there were four or five men working at the well at the time the +Indians devoted their attention to the captain. They did not molest them +but continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> on their way northward. On their route they encountered a +man, Wash Connors, who had been to Dodge City to do some trading. He had +spent the previous night with a friend of mine, C. M. Rice, and set out +early in the morning so as to reach his destination in good time, as he +had some material for those who were digging the well at the new +town-site. Mr. Rice urged him to remain and have breakfast with him, but +he said that he was in a hurry and would attend to that duly when he +reached his destination. With a good team of mules hitched to his lumber +wagon, he started off in good spirits, little thinking he would never +reach the end of his journey. He was proceeding on his way in a brisk +fashion and had come in sight of the town-site when the members of Dull +Knife’s band met him. They stopped him without any ceremony and attacked +him before he could get out of his wagon. They cut his throat, tore the +harness off his mules and went their way taking his team. The well-diggers +saw the whole proceedings, but were unable to render assistance as they +were not in a position to do so.</p> + +<p>Leaving the victim of their murderous assault dying in his wagon, they set +out toward the north again. Between the scene of their latest crime and +the Arkansas they committed no further depredation. They crossed the river +west of Dodge City, not far from where the present station of Cimmaron is +located on the Santa Fe railroad. Their depredations after crossing the +river were few, as there was little to attract their attention, excepting +some wild cattle and the accompanying cowboys. They did not molest the +latter as they had a wholesome respect for that individual by reason of +the fact that he was generally armed with a brace of six-shooters and a +Winchester rifle, and was an expert in the use of both. Meeting a +cow-puncher under such conditions was a hazardous thing, as the Indian +knew the cowboy would not trade even. They had no doubt about their +ability to eventually kill him, but the price to be paid was too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> great, +as he usually sent three or four of the wily redskins across the Great +Divide before succumbing to their prowess, and they did not usually care +to pay the price.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img5.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<p>By this time the whole country was aroused. The news was heralded abroad +on the wings of the wind. The newspapers, as is their custom, in glaring +headlines, magnified the extent of the depredations, and gave alarming +accounts of the atrocities committed by the Indians. Everybody was on the +lookout, those in the neighborhood fearing a visitation of the marauders, +and those far away living in expectation of the next savage depredation. +The excitement reached such a high degree of intensity that the department +ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis to take charge of the field of action, +which for some time had been a field of inaction as the gentleman who was +supposed to be at the head of the movement against the Indians was but a +poor apology for a successful military commander. It may be well to remark +that this man was soon relegated to the military scrap-heap in disgrace.</p> + +<p>When Lieut-Col. Lewis was notified of the appointment, he responded with +alacrity. He set out at once from Dodge City with his command. He soon was +on the trail of the Indians. A short journey westward brought him to the +point where the band had crossed the Arkansas on their way northward.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Indians were pursuing their way with considerable +speed. They may have realized that another expedition would be organized +to follow on their trail, or another commander would be put in charge of +the one they had left so unceremoniously on the night of their escape, but +whatever their conclusions were, they did not stop to commit any more +outrages until they reached the North Beaver, or Sand Creek. On their +arrival there, they saw they were about to have a fight on their hands, as +the lieutenant-colonel had followed their trail with such speed that he +was almost upon them. Escape for the time being was out of the question, +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> they resolved to fight. Lewis did not want to kill them, but +preferred to have them surrender and return to the reservation. Such idea +did not enter into Dull Knife’s calculations, and he decided to fight +rather than return to the place of his recent abode.</p> + +<p>It was now getting late in the afternoon. Considerable sharp-shooting had +been done on both sides for some time, and then a skirmish took place. +Each party was doing what execution it could without exposing itself to +any more danger than was necessary. The Indians endeavored to make every +shot count as their ammunition was getting scarce, and the soldiers were +employing the same mode of warfare as their opponents, though it was not +the scarcity of powder, but rather the desire to preserve their anatomy +from the missiles of the enemy that induced them to seek shelter behind +every bush and hillock. The lieutenant-colonel was a busy man, directing +the operations of his troops, and looking after things in general. The +battle lagged along until evening, without much evidence of success for +either party. Towards evening Lewis rode out to the firing line to get a +closer view of things and to lend his men the encouragement of his +presence. When he reached the zone of fire, one of the Indian scouts +approached him and advised him to dismount from his horse as he would very +probably be shot if he remained exposed in such a manner to the fire of +the enemy. The lieutenant-colonel did not heed the advice so freely given +by his scout, and in less than ten minutes he received a bullet in the +thigh. The missile struck an artery, and as a result, the +lieutenant-colonel died a few hours later from loss of blood, (My +authority for the above statement is G. W. Brown, who was lying not twenty +feet away when the scout gave the warning of danger. This gentleman, is +now living at Cushion Oil Field). He piloted the ambulance bearing the +lieutenant colonel under the command of Lieutenant Gardner and escort to +Fort Wallace that same night, as he was familiar with that part of the +country owing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> to the fact that he had hunted buffalo all through that +section of the country in the early days. After the escort had proceeded +on its journey for about six miles, a rider returned to the lieutenant and +told him that the lieutenant-colonel had died. This sad news was a shock +to the company, as he was a man of the highest type of bravery, and his +demise was regretted by every man in the command. When the news was first +broken to the troops a look of grim determination settled upon the +countenance of every man, which meant that at the first opportunity they +would avenge the death of him who they loved so well. The fortunes of war +averted the blow for the present, for, during the night, Dull Knife and +his followers fled, leaving nothing behind but the embers of his camp +fires to show where he had taken his stand. The soldiers started in hot +pursuit, as they did not want their enemies to go unpunished. They had not +followed the trail very far when they learned that the Indians had divided +their forces and gone in different directions. Wild Hog, the chief adviser +of Dull Knife went towards the north-east, over to Sappa Creek, where he +and his followers murdered over forty persons, pillaged their stock and +burned what they could not conveniently carry off. Dull Knife with the +rest of the band headed due north. This division of the Indians compelled +the soldiers to adopt the same method of procedure. They were accordingly +organized into two divisions and set off in hot pursuit of their wily +foes. From this time onward the expedition assumed the character of a +running fight. This system of pillage, and plunder, on the part of the +Indians, with the pursuit on the part of the soldiers, was maintained +until the 7th Cavalry, under General Samuel D. Sturgis succeeded in +capturing both bands on the Niobrara River in the vicinity of the place in +which Camp Niobrara was built, and about 15 miles east of Camp Sheridan. +This event occured in the month of October, 1878, but I cannot give the +exact date of the occurrence. The captives were then taken as prisoners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +of war to Fort Robinson, Neb., or, as it was then called, Camp Robinson. +They were placed in the guard house and held there until New Year’s night, +1879, when they broke out, killed the guards and made their escape through +the sand hills until they had almost reached the Wyoming line.</p> + +<p>When the news was brought that Dull Knife had killed his guards and made +his escape, everything was in a flutter of excitement. Preparations were +immediately made for pursuit. At dawn, as soon as it was possible to +observe the direction of the trail, the bugle sounded and the Third +Cavalry mounted their horses and set out in pursuit of the wily old +villain who had so often eluded them. They followed hastily all forenoon +and the further they advanced, the clearer the signs manifested to them +the fact that they were close upon the fleeing Indians. In the afternoon +they overtook the band in the said hills close to the border line of +Wyoming. When Captain Wessels rode up to them, he immediately ordered them +to surrender. Dull Knife’s reply to this was a rifle shot that killed an +Indian scout belonging to the cavalry. He repeated with another shot at +Captain Wessels. The bullet struck the captain but did not inflict a +mortal wound. The action of Dull Knife was a sufficient guarantee that he +did not intend to surrender, and immediately the troops poured a +succession of volleys into the foe. When the smoke of battle cleared away, +and the few who remained alive surrendered, it was discovered that Dull +Knife himself, his daughter who was present, and about two thirds of his +followers had all gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds together. After giving +the proper attention to the wounded, and burying the dead, the troops with +the prisoners returned to Camp Robinson. Among the number returning to the +fort were Wild Hog and many other leading spirits of the movement. They +were held there until the spring of 1879, when the leaders were sent to +Dodge City, Ford county, Kansas to be tried for murder and other crimes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>I called upon those notable characters while they were supposed to be in +durance vile, and found them the most conspicuous and best entertained men +in prison. The representatives of different illustrated newspapers were +there, sketching their pictures, and treating them to cigars. It was +certainly a very novel sight to me, and I thought it strange that the +citizens of Dodge City had not formed a necktie party for the +entertainment of the whole party of savages, for they were well aware of +the characters of their guests and well acquainted with the amount of +crime and rascality they had perpetrated almost within view of the town +itself. However, everything seemed to be following along the even tenor of +its way, and I came to the conclusion that Dodge City was a very law +abiding city, and was a good town to live in (especially when one is +acquainted with the early history of the place). I cannot refrain from +remarking that, if a white man, or a body of white men, had been guilty of +one-tenth of the crimes perpetrated by the Indians who were then +sojourning in their town, they would have been hanged as high as they +could be raised on a lariat rope, or shot to pieces in the streets. +Strange are the dealings of man with man.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Great Awakening of the West; Buffalo Hunters; Quakers’ Influence; Indian Disturbances; A Treaty Made and Broken, Etc.</p> + +<p>When the first railroad construction train started West from the Missouri +River, with its gangs of graders, tie-slingers, and track layers, the +sound of the locomotive whistle proclaimed to the Indian more plainly than +any language could do, that the days of his activity over that vast +expanse of country were about to terminate, peaceably if possible, but +forcibly if necessary. The company kept in its employ one or more buffalo +hunters to supply the boarding car with fresh meat which was plentiful on +the prairie in those days. The engineers had staked out the right-of-way, +and established the different grades in advance, and everything was kept +in good shape for the speedy progress of the work. The Indian saw all +this. He also saw the graders, the tracklayers, the spike drivers, and +heard the locomotive whistle. He saw the engineers and the buffalo +hunters, but he failed to see the real cause of his trouble. He could not +see the promoters of that great undertaking and enterprise, because they +were beyond the reach of his limited vision. They were in their luxurious +offices figuring on the possibilities and probabilities of one day +declaring large dividends on that stupendous undertaking that was to reach +out to the gold mines of Colorado and on through the mountains to the +Pacific coast. The promoters could see at a glance that it was useless to +expect any great returns from the capital invested if they were to be +dependent on any freight or traffic from the Indian. They needed not to be +told that he was not an agriculturist. He was not a stockman and had no +use for agricultural implements<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> such as threshers, sulky plows, fanning +mills or corn shellers. He made his living by hunting and fishing and was +to a certain extent self supporting and independent of all railroads. He +was not accustomed to take his squaw and papooses to any foreign watering +place to spend the summer. Whenever he felt like taking a few days’ +recreation, he bundled his camp equipage and with his family started for +some creek where there were plenty of fish and there remained until his +visit was completed. Sometimes several families went together and had a +big time talking over Indian customs and the ways of the white man. This +had been their custom from time immemorial and any act performed by the +white man to disturb his equanimity or distract him, was looked upon as an +outrage and sacrilege, and any who did such things were served with +summary punishment.</p> + +<p>The capitalists could see at a glance that the Indians were not a class of +people to build up a profitable industry and felt it their duty to remove +them from that section of the country in order to induce stockmen and +farmers to occupy it. As a step in that direction they created a market +for buffalo hides, which seemed to have the desired effect, for it was but +a short time until many adventurous spirits who could gather together +enough money to buy a span of ponies, a wagon and ammunition for the +purpose, were engaged in the business, some as hunters, others as +skinners. As soon as they had a load of hide they shipped them to market +and with the proceeds prepared for another trip to the range again. Few +but the hardiest and bravest young men could stand the dangers, trials, +and exposure which they confronted in all kinds of weather.</p> + +<p>There was one young man that I feel a pardonable pride in mentioning as +engaged in that undertaking, namely W. F. Cody, who by his dexterity with +the rifle had acquired the title of “Buffalo Bill,” and who had become +famous as an Indian scout and had established an international reputation +as the greatest marksman and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> horseback rider in the western plains. He +was also chief of scouts and confidential friend of General Phil Sheridan, +and at this writing is the owner and proprietor of Buffalo Bill’s Wild +West Show. His was a plain case of ‘survival of the fittest.’ The Indian +looked upon his kind as trespassers and intruders and as he had no navy or +war department behind him other than the tribal medicine man who decided +the war movements of his tribe by incantations or by observation of the +way the smoke blew from his camp fire, after deliberating on the general +condition of the country, the signs of the moon, as well as the inroads +the hunters were making on the buffalo which he considered his private +property, decided to go on the warpath and kill off a few buffalo hunters +and discourage any future invasion of what he felt was his private right. +When he began his undertaking he soon learned that hunting the buffalo +hunter was entirely different from hunting the buffalo, and it was a work +that two could engage in from opposite angles, at the same time, with the +advantage greatly in favor of the buffalo hunter as he was always well +armed, and an expert marksman; and in this particular they soon learned to +have a high regard for Buffalo Bill. To such a degree did they come to +admire him that they looked upon him as a being of a higher order, and not +of the common clay. Things came to such a pass after some experience with +the buffalo hunter, that the Indian never took any chances with him, but +when the hunter pointed to a distant horizon, the aborigines usually +followed the direction without further parley.</p> + +<p>Prior to the time of which I write, the Quaker sect came into close touch +with the Indian Department in Washington, D. C., and formed what was +called the Indian Bureau. They urged the only sane and proper way to +civilize the Indian was to educate him and teach him agriculture. General +Hazen was placed at the head of the movement and a conference was called +at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, which the Comanches, Kiowas,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> Cheyennes, and +Arapahoes were invited to attend. General Harney presided, surrounded by +reporters, interpreters and such other attendants as were required to lend +dignity to a court of such magnitude. After several days of vexation and +worry, they succeeded in formulating a treaty which was supposed to be +signed by all the chiefs of those different tribes, by which they agreed, +for certain considerations made and provided, to vacate all that country +lying between the Platte and Arkansas Rivers and go southward to take up +their permanent abode in what was then known as Indian Territory. The +Comanches and Kiowas were located on Red River and in the vicinity of the +Wichita mountains. The Arapahoes were located south of the North Canadian. +The Cheyennes were allotted the country along Pond Creek, in what was +known as Cherokee strip. The Quakers were not slow to learn that they had +made a fatal mistake in locating the Cheyennes so close to the state line +of Kansas, as the State of Kansas at that time was not governed by +prohibition laws and the bootlegger was abroad in the land, and unless +some steps were taken very speedily it would be a question of only a short +time before the bootlegger would have all the Indians’ portable +possessions over in the State of Kansas. I happen to be personally +acquainted with a man who was engaged in that business and he told me that +at one time he had traded a boot full of whiskey for nine head of ponies. +He had no jug and rather than lose the deal, he pulled off his boot and +filled it from his keg and then started off with his ponies for Kansas. +The agent left in charge readily saw that such conditions could not hold +out long. There were marshals who had been appointed to guard and protect +the interests of the Indians, but some of them were in secret collusion +with the bootlegger and received a share of the gain. As a consequence of +this condition the agent decided to remove the Cheyennes southward to the +North Canadian where a permanent agency was established and put under the +control and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> management of Mr. Darling and even to this day is known as +the Darlington Agency. A large portion of the Cheyenne tribe settled there +and adopted the white man’s way of farming. After they drew their +allottments, the government employed white men to go among them and +instruct them in the management of their affairs, and how to sow and +cultivate their crops. Women were also sent as matrons among them to +instruct the squaws in the art of fulfilling household and social duties. +Schools were built and teachers employed, and the advance they have made +is really surprising.</p> + +<p>The treaty of Medicine Lodge, it was hoped, would put an end to all +hostilities between the Indians and the whites and bring about a settled +condition of affairs, but such was not to be the case, for a large percent +of the Cheyennes and a considerable portion of the Arapahoes became +disgruntled and claimed they had not signed the treaty, and others claimed +that the interpreters did not properly translate their wishes and said +they were not going south to the Territory and would not comply with any +of the requirements of the treaty, or, in other words, they were going to +stay where they were, and go and come as they pleased regardless of the +white man’s feelings in the matter. The leaders of this discontented +branch of the different tribes were Roman Nose, Black Kettle, Turkey Leg, +and Dull Knife, with a few smaller chiefs. These bands of Indians kept +roaming back and forth between the Platte River on the north and the +Cimmaron River on the south and west to the Rocky Mountains, and at one +time went eastward as far as Council Grove, Kansas, where the Kaw Indians, +a peaceable tribe, were located. They raided them and after killing a few +of them, ran off their stock and returned to their favorite hunting +grounds.</p> + +<p>This was kept up continually for years. Robbing stage coaches, killing +freighters, raiding stock ranches, or murdering the frontier settlers +seemed to be a favorite pastime with them. Ever since the treaty of +Medicine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> Lodge, they kept growing bolder and more threatening. Brigadier +General Sully who was in command at Fort Larned at that time, called their +attention to the fact that there had to be a change in their attitude +toward the whites, or he would be compelled to take action against them. +When they received this notice a delegation of the leaders called on the +General for a conference. They reported that all the mischief had been +perpetrated by some young Indians that were dissatisfied with the treaty, +and had acted entirely contrary to the wishes of their leaders. They +begged him to supply them with ammunition and arms, and assured him that +there would be no more trouble along that line. The foxy old bucks knew +that they were lying and if the old general had been educated on the +plains instead of a military academy, he would have known it too but he +was one of those good-natured, easy-going old fogies who were much more +intended to take charge of a Sunday school class than of a branch of the +army. At all events, after a good deal of palavering and soft-soaping the +old general issued an order for the agent to turn over to them the +firearms with the understanding that they should return to the reservation +and behave themselves and commit no further depredations on any person; +all of which they meekly agreed to perform. It was not 24 hours after +receiving the arms until old Black Kettle with a few of his confederates +were making medicine on the Pawnee and Walnut Creeks. The band started +north to the Saline River and commenced the most atrocious murders, rapes, +and other acts too abominable to be placed in print. They did not stop +there to complete their work of plunder and pillage, but hastened on until +they reached the Solomon river where their villanous and blood-thirsty +designs were carried out in full force and effect. They murdered about +fifteen farmers and two women, and committed other depredations and +horrors too hideous to repeat here. They carried off all the stock they +could find, besides taking away two little girls who were never heard of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>afterwards. On their return to the Saline River they started in to +complete the work of destruction they had only partly accomplished on +their way to the Solomon. By this time the farmers had congregated at a +farm house and were making ready to fight them when they should arrive. +They did not have long to wait, for they were hardly inside the farm house +when the Indians appeared and began their pow-wow and war cry and firing +into the dwelling. Just about the time they were getting under headway +with the work of pillage and plunder, Captain Benteen heard the firing and +came to the rescue of the settlers. He had heard at Fort Zarah that the +Indians were on the war-path and how they had treated two women who were +afterwards taken to the fort for care and protection after their bitter +experience with the noble red Man. He started out with a troop of cavalry +and reached the besieged just in time to save them from the horrors which +they would be compelled to face if captured. There were 200 Cheyennes on +that raid and when Captain Benteen appeared on the scene, they scattered +like a flock of quail. These Indians drifted back in the direction whence +they had come and remained a short while with the Black Kettle band on the +Walnut and finally crossed the Arkansas and went southward toward the +Cimmaron River.</p> + +<p>The old brigadier general had by this time awakened from his lethargy and +found that he had been out-generalled by the Indians. He decided to take +immediate steps to punish them for their treachery and deception. There +was a large body of Indians operating between the Arkansas and Cimmaron, +and Brigadier General Sully concluded to go out and give them a good +thrashing to settle accounts for their past treachery and misdeeds. These +Indians were a mixed body of different tribes and seemed as anxious to +meet the general as he was to meet them. After three different engagements +in which the general was defeated, he was compelled to return to Fort +Dodge to avoid being captured by them.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Sheridan’s Arrival; Kansas Volunteers’ Disasterous March; Sheridan’s Activity; Custer’s Engagement With the Indians, Etc.</p> + +<p>About this time General Phil. H. Sheridan made his appearance in the +Indian country, bringing some additional soldiers under the command of +General Custer. He also asked for a regiment of Kansas volunteers. His +request was granted and the recruits were placed under the command of +Colonel Crawford with orders to meet General Sheridan at the junction of +Wolf and Beaver Creeks, or what is now known as Camp Supply.</p> + +<p>When the regiment had been enrolled and the men were ready and anxious to +make the journey, General Sheridan, in order to facilitate matters and +avoid any disappointment, sent two guides to pilot the new recruits to +their destination. It was now getting late in the year and each day +brought its quota of snow, rain, or sleet, but in spite of such +unfavorable conditions, the boys made no complaint, but rode patiently +along their tedious journey. After they had been out a few days the +colonel seemed to grow impatient and irritable, and began to dictate to +the guides and volunteered his advice as to the direction they should +pursue. He wanted to turn to the left and cross the Cimmaron River and +insisted on his idea to such a degree that the guides, or scouts, withdrew +their services then and there and left him to select when and where he +would elect to ford the river. The weather being stormy the Colonel lost +his way and through his impatience finally lost his head and did not know +where he was. The brakes and canyons on the north side of the river were +filled with snow that had drifted in from the prairie. In his desperation +he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> started to cross the stream and spent several days floundering around +through the snowbanks and drifts. After he succeeded in crossing the river +he found it as hard to get out of the difficulty as it was to get into it. +To add to his misfortune, he had neglected to bring along sufficient food +for horses or men. However, he succeeded in getting out and up on the +flats south of the river at the expense of a great number of horses, but +was fortunate enough not to lose a single man. The situation was not +improved in any measure as he did not know where he was. He continued +southward until he reached the North Canadian River. Here his remaining +horses kept themselves alive by browsing in the timber while the men were +compelled to live on what hackberries they could find.</p> + +<p>As Colonel Crawford did not arrive at the expected time, nor for several +days afterward, General Sheridan became anxious for his safety and sent +out scouts to see if any trace of him could be found. With much risk and +effort they found the colonel and what was left of his cavalry about +twenty miles below the designated place of meeting. To say they were in a +deplorable condition, would be putting it mildly. The moment General +Sheridan received word of the disaster that had befallen Colonel +Crawford’s command, he sent out men and teams to their relief with +instructions to bring them into camp. The relief party did not arrive any +too soon as the men and horses were in a very sorry plight, owing to their +lack of nourishing food. One thing alone was in their favor in their +present deplorable condition and that was the abundant supply of dead +timber at hand which afforded them an opportunity to keep warm, or rather +keep from freezing, a thing which was entirely lacking on the Cimmaron. I +may as well say that they were all afoot by this time, as the horses that +were still alive, were reduced to such a state of weakness that they were +unable to carry their riders. It took two days to get them into camp, +owing to their enfeebled condition. General Sheridan’s headquarters was +then located on the north<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> bank of the North Canadian river about four or +five miles south east of where the present city of Woodward, Okla., is +situated. On the departure of the command from Topeka the newspapers in +flaming headlines announced the affair to the world, but their great +expectations were converted into “Crawford’s Calamity.”</p> + +<p>In the face of all this vexatious delay, awaiting re-enforcements from +Colonel Crawford, General Sheridan did not relax his energy in the least. +He kept everybody at work fixing up a base of supplies that would be in +his reach until the termination of that campaign which he intended to +settle during the winter months whilst the Indian ponies were poor and +weak and unable to transport belongings any distance. He also knew that if +he delayed matters until warm weather when there would be plenty of grass, +he would have to fight those Indians from the British possessions to +Texas. He was down there to fight those Indians or make them return to +their reservations to remain there and behave themselves and stop prowling +all over the country committing depredations. He had no time to engage in +peace treaties and had no guns to turn over to them, and there was no +chance for any trickery or treachery with him. He did not want to smoke +the pipe of peace with them and then be shot in the back and killed as +Turkey Legs and his band did with his scouts Comstock and Glover. He was +there for permanent peace or a permanent fight and the choice rested with +them. There was no swapping of horses or palavering. He meant business.</p> + +<p>By this time General Sheridan’s headquarters very much resembled a +Canadian North-west logging camp. Everybody was kept busy, some hauling +logs, others digging trenches for the stockades, others were bringing +poles and brush to cover rude pole sheds for the purpose of affording a +temporary shelter for the stock. If there was anybody idle, it was some +one who was too ill to work, or who had hidden in the brush to avoid work. +The scouts were kept busy scouring the country in search of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> some trail or +sign of the Indians and finally were rewarded by the discovery of a trail +leading southward, which showed a large body of Indians had gone in that +direction. On receiving that information General Custer asked permission +from General Sheridan to fit out an expedition to follow them. The request +was readily granted by General Sheridan, as he was anxious to bring the +campaign to a close as speedily as possible. As soon as Custer had his +troops in proper shape he set out in the direction indicated by the +scouts. After crossing Wolf Creek and getting well up on the divide he +discovered the trail, but found it very difficult to follow owing to the +snow having drifted and covered any marks they had left behind them. +Occasionally, where the wind had blown the snow from some high place he +found all evidence required to justify him in keeping up the pursuit. He +maintained his route until he reached the north brakes of the South +Canadian and went into camp for the night in the least protected place he +could find and made things as comfortable as circumstances would permit. +Next morning after taking a survey of the situation he found himself +confronted with a great and dangerous undertaking through having to ford +the river. As every man who has ever crossed it with a loaded wagon knows, +it is one of the most treacherous streams to ford, in the Southwest; and +to add to the miry condition of the river it was frozen over, but the ice +was not of sufficient thickness to bear the weight of the horses, much +less the heavy wagons that were to follow them. General Custer, a +persevering and an energetic man, was not daunted by this present +difficulty. He sloped down the bank of the river and set his men to work +cutting a channel across and clearing the ice from it, so that it would +not cut or injure the stock in crossing. After passing the cavalry back +and forth several times to settle the quicksand, he sent forward the +freight and supply wagons and with great difficulty succeeded in landing +on the south side. Here he stopped for dinner as it was after twelve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +o’clock when the last wagon passed up the bank. After dinner they hooked +up and started on their perilous under taking of climbing and winding +their dangerous way through the canyons and sand hills until they reached +the flats that divide the South Canadian and Washita Rivers. The distance +traveled that afternoon was not very great but the difficulties and +obstacles to be overcome were very trying. The general decided to have an +early supper and after a consultation with his officers determined to make +a night drive as the moon shone brightly and the trail was now becoming so +plain that the scouts felt there would be no difficulty in following it. +Accordingly they hitched up after their slight rest and set out under the +leadership of two Osage Indian scouts together with California Joe, a +white man who had been on the frontier all his life and who understood the +language of the different tribes. Custer had learned from his scouts that +it was the intention of the Indians to go into winter quarters on the +Washita, but was not certain of the exact locality. Consequently he had to +use great caution in trying to discover their where abouts. He found some +smouldering campfires, which showed that they were not very far in +advance. The scouts did not proceed very much farther until one of them on +looking over a bluff discovered the main camp and then hastened back and +made the fact known to the general. Custer then and there stopped the +outfit and went into consultation with his officers. It was now past +twelve o’clock and he decided to make no attack until after daybreak. He +arranged to divide his force into four different sections, each squad to +be under the command of an officer, and at daylight, at the sound of the +bugle, they were to make a charge. All was carried out as planned, with +the precision of clockwork. At dawn the bugle sounded and the band struck +up the tune of “Garry Owen” and the troops dashed in on the gallop. When +they reached the camp from the different directions, the battle began. At +the first volley fired, the Indians tried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> to escape, and some of them, +succeeded in getting away, but the most of them, were shot down, either in +their teepees, or as they were fleeing to some place of safety; others +dropped behind trees or logs and fought like demons, but it was useless as +they were overmatched. When the smoke of battle cleared away there were +over one hundred dead Indians lying on the camp ground.</p> + +<p>It was General Sherman, I believe, who said “war is hell,” a statement +which, proved to be absolutely correct in this instance for the wailing of +the squaws and the screaming of the papooses together with the groans of +the dying made a wierd accompaniment to the cracking of rifles and the +commands of the officers. After the flurry of the battle had somewhat +subsided, Custer ordered all that were alive, squaws and papooses, to be +taken prisoners and put in charge of a squad of soldiers, whilst the +remainder busied themselves burning the teepees, provisions, and other +camp equipage found there. When the work of destruction was completed he +ordered all their ponies, about two hundred in number, to be brought in +and shot. To the reader this may appear cruel and inhuman, but it was only +a just retribution for the deeds this same band had committed on the +Saline and Solomon Rivers in Kansas, where they spared neither age nor +sex, but perpetrated outrages on women that are too beastly for +publication, and this was a small installment on what was due them. On +roll call it was found that Major Elliot and fifteen men were missing.</p> + +<p>The Kiowas and the Comanche tribes were camped but three or four miles +below where the battle took place, and it did not take them very long to +make their appearance about five or six thousand strong. Here was a fresh +problem for Custer to solve. If he was looking for a fight with the +Indians, they were at hand. Why did he not attack them? Why did they not +attack him? Why did not Custer make an effort to find out what had become +of Major Elliot and the fifteen missing men who had been with him. I shall +explain that as I see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> it from my point of view. There is no doubt in my +mind that General Custer was afraid to attack those two tribes, and was +also afraid to make an attempt to find Major Elliot and his companions, as +his conduct that evening abundantly proves. He had sent his scout, +California Joe, with a dispatch telling Sheridan of his condition and +asking him to send re-enforcements at once. That afternoon he held a +consultation with his officers and decided to return to Camp Supply to +reorganize his men and get more forces to engage in battle with those two +tribes. Now the question might be asked, why did not the Indians attack +him? There was but one reason and that was that they were afraid. They had +force enough to defeat Custer, but there was something else to take into +consideration. They knew General Sheridan was someplace in the country and +was, perhaps, at that time waiting to catch them in a trap. They were not +afraid of Custer and his command, but they knew that if Sheridan ever got +them in a tight place, it would be good-bye, Mr. Indian, for there would +be nothing left of him. It was a plain case of where Custer was afraid and +the other ‘dassent,’ it averted, as a result, one of the worst slaughters +that ever occured in the Indian Territory.</p> + +<p>In looking over the dead, Chief Black Kettle was identified. He had been +instrumental in starting out the band that had committed all the +depredations in the Saline and Solomon valleys, and but a few months prior +to this time had defiantly refused, when asked by General Sheridan to come +into Fort Dodge with the promise that he would be properly cared for. He +declared that he was going on the warpath and made good his declaration as +the battle on the Washita will show.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Sheridan’s Camp; Discovery of Elliot and Companions; A Truce; Capture of Comanches and Kiowas Return to Camp.</p> + +<p>The night of the battle, Custer started for Camp Supply and very nearly +overtook his scout, California Joe, as the latter had to hide so much on +the way to avoid being caught by the Indians; and I believe that Custer +made a record trip, as he was afraid of the same thing. When he returned +and Major Elliot’s absence was not satisfactorily explained, General +Sheridan showed great dissatisfaction. He issued an order to get +everything in readiness at once and decided to take a hand in that +business himself to see if he could not discover what had become of +Elliot. The Kansas volunteers having lost most of their horses in the snow +banks on the Cimmaron River, with the remainder unfit for service, were +organized as infantry and taken along. In fact, every available man was +taken from Camp Supply except those who were required to guard the +provisions and look after the stock. Although Sheridan was a graduate of +West Point, he never encumbered himself with any West Point tactics in +fighting Indians. He just put on his fighting clothes and set out to whip +them into subjection regardless of any military parade, and usually +accomplished what he set out to do. There was one feature of all his +expeditions which he never neglected, and that was that he never failed to +keep in touch with the best and most reliable scouts and guides to be +found, and once he had secured them he never failed to be governed by +their instructions, as he was well aware that such men understood the +topography of the country much better than some titled professor of a +military academy. Such scouts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> he found on this occasion. He took along as +his guide and chief of scouts, one Ben Clark, because Ben was married into +the Cheyenne tribe and understood and spoke the tribal languages fluently. +He also took along California Joe, as he was a good scout and was familiar +with all the customs and habits of the Indians, having lived and dealt +with them all the way from California to Texas. He was invaluable as a +scout and guide, but had one fault, of which I shall speak later on, that +tried the patience of the general sorely at times, but still Sheridan +could not afford to part with him. Those two, with the addition to two +Osage Indian scouts, were all that he brought into service. When +everything was in readiness the general set out with the firm +determination to settle the Indian trouble for once and for all time to +come, if possible. He took General Custer with him, as he was familiar +with the route and also with the locality of the recent battle. He took as +his ambulance driver Johnny Murphy, a lad scarcely out of his teens and +who acted in that capacity until the close of the campaign. The first +night out they camped on the south bank of Wolf Creek where they found an +abundance of timber and living water, two essentials at that time as the +weather was hovering around the zero mark. The men were becoming +accustomed to the cold and stood up in it like Esquimaux. Next morning +they were up and away to cross the divide to the South Canadian. The snow +was still quite deep on the flats and the moisture had softened the soil +which had not frozen sufficiently to hold up the heavy freight wagons, +which made it a tedious and toilsome trip to reach the river. Clark being +acquainted with the country guided them down a canyon where they found +timber and a fair shelter. There they went into camp for the night. Next +morning one of the real trials of the journey confronted them. The river +had to be forded and they were forced to repeat the labors that Custer had +performed on the former occasion and as the ice was not thick enough to +bear a heavy weight. They had to cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> a channel and remove the ice from it +and trample the quicksand with the cavalry to make it fordable for the +wagons. They accomplished the crossing with a great deal of difficulty and +hardships, as most of them were wet from trampeling through the stream or +assisting the lumbering wagons on their way. When the last team had +crossed they were glad to know that this difficulty had been overcome. +(The reader sitting on a balcony, viewing troops of cavalry prancing along +the paved streets seems to enjoy the spectacle and can easily come to +imagine that the cavalry man’s life is one continual round of pleasure, +but let him change his location and go and sit with me on the south porch +of a snow bank and see those same soldiers fording a treacherous stream in +the winter season and his impressions of the gay and happy life will be +suddenly changed.) When out of the brakes and the canyons they were on the +last lap of their journey to the battle ground where Custer had wound up +the wild and turbulent career of Black Kettle and his band of Cheyenne +warriors. This day was but a repetition of the day before except that at +noon they camped long enough to feed the stock some grain, as the mules +were becoming tired and jaded from the bad condition of the prairie. After +dinner they resumed their journey and that evening went into camp about +two miles from the scene of Custer’s fight with the Cheyennes a few days +previous. Next morning they set out and in a short time arrived at the +battle ground. They stopped to examine the place which gave every evidence +of a severe conflict. After Sheridan had examined the field he sent out +scouts and squads of soldiers to scour the surrounding country in search +of Major Elliott and the fifteen missing men. They were found about two +miles from the battle ground, dead, and stripped of their clothing and +mutilated in the most horrible manner. The mutilation was the work of the +squaws. They had not been scalped and their bodies lay not very far apart +and the number of empty shells lying near each body showed the desperate +defense they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> made. It was learned afterward that Major Elliott had +followed a band of fugitives and captured them, and when returning was met +and overpowered by a large band of Kiowas and their dead bodies were left +there for the squaws to mutilate. When this discovery was made and the +news brought to Gen. Sheridan, he was in no frame of mind to adopt any +conciliatory measures towards the Indians, besides it had a strong +tendency to lessen his respect for Gen. Custer for not making some effort +to learn what had become of Major Elliot and his fifteen companions. +Sheridan was now in the right humor for a fight. He wanted to fight and +was going to have a fight or a footrace with the first Indians he met. He +started down the Washita, where the Kiowas and the Comanches had their +headquarters. His progress was closely watched by the Indians. They pulled +up everything and moved on in advance of him, but well out of his reach. +They were certainly in a predicament as they could not cover up their +trail by scattering out over the plain, as they would do in summer time, +as the snow on the prairie gave evidence of every move they made and +things were in such a shape that it was either fight or surrender. Gen. +Sheridan did not seem to care which. They continued to move down stream +with Sheridan in pursuit until the third day when they sent a messenger +back carrying a white flag and a letter from Gen. Hazen, chairman of the +peace committee, asking for a conference with the General. The reader can +readily see about how Sheridan felt on the subject. He sent back word to +them that there was but one way in which he would recognize Hazen’s +request for a conference and that was that he would give them twenty-four +hours to surrender and come in as prisoners of war, or a fight would start +at the expiration of that time. He was compelled to acknowledge the flag +of truce and the Indians were well aware of that fact. Reluctantly he gave +them the 24 hours to surrender or prepare for battle, as the recent +outrages on the settlers on the Saline and Solomon Rivers, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> barbarous +treatment of Major Elliot and his companions were fresh in the mind of +Sheridan. The Indian, aware of the value of the flag of truce used it +always to his advantage when in a tight place, though they had no respect +for it in their own dealings with others. Sheridan was waiting anxiously +for the expiration of the time of truce, but the Indians forestalled the +allotted time by about four hours. If the thing was to be done over again, +I do not believe that Sheridan would have paid any attention to the flag +of truce, as the first sight that met the General’s eye after he had +marched into their camp and taken Chief Lone Wolf and Chief Satanta +prisoners, was the body of a white woman who had been kidnapped from near +Fort Lyon by Satanta and kept to gratify his savage lust. When he found +escape impossible, he shot her to avoid giving her up to her rescuers and +took her white child by the feet and dashed its brains out against a tree. +When the fiend shot the woman, whose name was Mrs. Blynn, he held the gun +so close to her that her face was powder-burned. In her death, I imagine +that there was relief brought to one poor tortured soul.</p> + +<p>During the armistice, which did not last twenty-four hours, the Indians +killed all their ponies rather than turn them over to their conquerors. +After the preliminaries of surrender were completed, they were ordered +back to Ft. Cobb and accordingly started back to fulfill their agreement. +Any one familiar with the lay of that country can begin to appreciate the +difficulty Gen. Sheridan had on hand. Moreover, the reluctance of the +Indians to return made the journey all the more difficult. They had a +thousand different excuses to delay the journey, but it availed them +nothing. They were kept on the move and closely watched. In spite of the +vigilance exercised by the troops, some of the Indians managed to escape. +At every opportunity some of them would dodge through the brush along the +way and make their escape. Satanta seeing the success of his companions, +made a dash for liberty also. He was immediately captured by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> the soldiers +and put in handcuffs. To show no partiality in the matter, Chief Lone Wolf +was also manacled. To give further proof of his intentions to compel them +to submit, he told Lone Wolf and Satanta that unless those Indians who had +made their escape did not return very soon, he would hang the two of them +without ceremony. That put a different complexion on things. The two +chiefs immediately communicated with their followers, who at once sent out +runners in different directions to bring back the escaped prisoners. They +succeeded in bringing in most of them in fact enough of them returned to +move Sheridan to defer the hanging of the two chiefs.</p> + +<p>It is my belief that Sheridan afterward regretted that he did not hang the +two of them, as they richly deserved it for their past atrocities. I had +the pleasure last year, 1912, of seeing old Chief Lone Wolf strutting +around the streets of Hobart, Okla., wearing a celluloid collar and derby +hat, breaking himself into the habits and customs of the white man. The +sight of him caused me to wonder if he ever stopped to consider how near +he came to having his neck cracked by Gen. Sheridan and how richly he +deserved it.</p> + +<p>After carefully looking over the situation in all its different aspects, +Sheridan concluded that Fort Cobb was not the proper place to establish +his headquarters. He decided to take all his prisoners over to Cache Creek +where he would have more and better material to construct a small fort for +the protection of the frontier of Texas. This part had been subjected to +the raids of the Indians very frequently in the past and they were likely +to make an incursion at any time. When he had brought most of the Indians +there, he set to work building temporary headquarters and gave the place +the name of Fort Sill, after one of his old schoolmates. He held Satanta, +Lone Wolf; Little Robe, and several other lesser chiefs as hostages for +the faithful performance of all the conditions of the surrender with the +explicit understanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> that any violation of any of the terms of it would +mean the hanging of the whole party. This understanding had a very +salutary effect and a strong tendency to establish order and discipline. +These acts may seem to show Sheridan to be a cruel man, but I will say, +judging from his action in caring for the remains of Mrs. Blynn and her +child who had been so brutally murdered, in taking them to Fort Arbuckle +and giving them a Christian burial, he has shown that his heart was in the +right place.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +<p class="chtit">California Joe’s Weakness; A Trip to Camp Supply; Bringing in Renegade Indians; Expedition to Panhandle, etc.</p> + +<p>Previously to the time of which I am writing, the General had sent a bunch +of cavalry horses to Fort Arbuckle where he had made arrangements for +their keep. The Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians raised some crops and had +feed to spare and agreed to look after the horses. The General thought by +this time they would be sufficiently recuperated to be of service to him +in his present needs. Consequently he fitted up an escort and an ambulance +and took California Joe along as scout and guide to go and get them. (I +promised the reader to tell him of Joe’s one fault and will take this +opportunity of doing so.) When they had arrived at Ft. Arbuckle, they +found everything in better shape than they had expected. The General began +making preparations for his return to Fort Sill. When everything was ready +he found to his surprise and amazement that California Joe was gloriously +drunk. As the prohibitory law in regard to the sale of intoxicants was in +full force, in the Indian Territory, he could not account for Joe’s +condition. He thought he would remain over a day or so to give Joe a +chance to sleep off the effects of his overdose of liquid joy. The next +day found Joe as happy as a clam in high water and there was no indication +of a scarcity of liquor. The General was face to face with a difficulty. +He could not remain longer at Ft. Arbuckle, and he could not go on without +Joe, as he might need his services at any time. Patience ceased to be a +virtue and he bundled Joe into the ambulance, jumped in himself and +started off. They all reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> Fort Sill the next day safe and sober. In +the meantime the General had not learned where his scout had obtained the +liquor to make him drunk. Joe himself told me years afterwards that he had +obtained access to the General’s jug.</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival at the fort, he found everything in as good condition as +the circumstances might warrant. It was a city of soldiers and Indians. +The habitations consisted of teepees and tents, while dug-outs were in +course of construction in case of a storm.</p> + +<p>As it was one of Gen. Sheridan’s principles to allow no guilty man to +escape, he ordered Gen. Custer to take a company of men, mounted on the +horses he had brought from Ft. Arbuckle, with some scouts among whom was +to be found California Joe, and proceed to the head of the Red river and +bring back those Indians who had escaped after the surrender when +returning to Ft. Cobb.</p> + +<p>After Gen. Custer had taken his departure, Gen. Sheridan made provision +for the policing and government of the camp, also for the distribution of +rations to the Indians during his absence. As soon as he had completed +these regulations in a satisfactory manner, he began his own preparations +for a trip to Camp Supply. All these things took time and caused him no +little vexation, but he was equal to the emergency, and as soon as the +work was done he took his escort and full camp equipage and set out. It +was now getting along toward the first of March and the soft soil made the +wheeling of all vehicles a slavish task for man and beast. In spite of +this difficulty, he proceeded on his way and crossed the Washita above Ft. +Cobb and continued in a northerly direction until he reached the South +Canadian where to his great surprise he found the water very low, and what +was more pleasing, he found that the ice was all gone. The season was not +far enough advanced to thaw the snow on the mountains and consequently, +the river being almost dry, was easily forded. It is unnecessary for me to +go into details of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> that journey as it was but a repetition of his former +trip to Fort Sill, except for the floundering around in the snow banks and +the cutting of a passage through the ice to make a crossing possible. +These latter difficulties he escaped, owing to the lateness of the season. +Difficult passages through bad canyons were also avoided owing to Ben +Clark’s thorough knowledge of the country. At best, it was a tedious +journey and on the seventh day after leaving Fort Sill, he crossed the +North Canadian just below the junction where the Beaver and Wolf Creeks +form the headquarters of the North Canadian. From there he proceeded to +Camp Supply, which was only a short distance away. When Sheridan arrived +at the camp, he found a message awaiting him, which had been brought from +Fort Dodge, Kansas, by stage. The despatch contained the announcement of +his promotion to the position of Lieut. General of the army and requested +him to proceed at once to Washington, D. C. Sheridan did not seem much +surprised at his promotion, and continued to perform his usual duties of +looking after the Indians and ordering supplies. (He saw to it that those +old squaws who had mangled and mutilated his soldier-comrades should be +properly cared for as prisoners of war.) (In fact, he was about the +busiest man in camp.)</p> + +<p>Before Gen. Sheridan had left Camp Sill, Gen. Custer had returned from his +trip to the head of Red river, which he had made at his own request. He +reported that he had found nothing but a bleak waste. He stated that there +was no sign of animal or vegetable life to be seen and that he did not +think it possible for the Indians to subsist there. On hearing this report +Gen. Sheridan said nothing but took the matter into consideration and, +after revolving the affair in his own mind for some time, it was plain to +be seen that he was dissatisfied with the report. He ordered Gen. Custer +to increase his force by taking the Kansas volunteers and mounting them on +the horses he had brought from Fort Arbuckle, to refit and refurnish them +thirty days rations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> and return. He also ordered him to take a full +complement of scouts and scour the country until he did find the Indians +and bring them into Camp Supply, or whip them into subjection, with all of +which Custer was ready to cheerfully comply. The camp was now alive, each +soldier fitting up his belongings for a return trip. Gen. Sheridan told +Custer that he had to return to Supply and that he wanted the Indian +business closed up as soon as possible and for all time to come; that he +did not want the band left at liberty until the grass was green as they +would then be self-supporting and could prey upon the stockmen and the +settlers at will; that it was his duty to prevent this and he would, +regardless of consequences.</p> + +<p>It did not take long to make the proper preparations for the return trip, +and Custer took a sufficient number of men to overpower any ordinary band +of Indians, and on the following morning set out for the Panhandle +country. Gen. Sheridan intended to set out the same day, but as he said he +had neglected his correspondence, he thought it better to take another day +to devote to that matter and arrange everything of that nature before +leaving.</p> + +<p>On the second day afterwards he had his baggage and other effects packed +ready for the trip and went down to the corral to bid his old comrades and +teamsters good-bye. He made them a short talk, thanking them for their +faithful services they had always so readily rendered. He said that whilst +he did not ever expect to return to that post again, that he would be glad +to meet any of them, at any time or place. After shaking hands with all +the boys he started for the ambulance which was to take him away. When he +met Johnny Murphy, his tried and trusty teamster all through the campaign, +he said, “Well, Johnnie, I am going to leave you. Be a good boy, and if +you should ever come to Washington, call on me. I shall always be glad to +meet you.” He shook hands with him and when he had gone a short<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> distance, +he turned and shouted back, “Now, Johnnie, do not fail to call on me.” At +his departure there could be seen on the cheeks of more than one of those +old battle-scarred veterans, a glistening tear, the true token of +deep-seated regret. It was a sorrowful parting as these men had followed +him through the din of battle for four years during the rebellion and +through the Indian campaigns and had come to look upon him as their +dearest friend for whom it was a pleasure to shed their blood in the +performance of duty. But such was life in the west. When he had gone, each +turned to his duty and tried to forget his sorrow. It was such little +traits as this that made Sheridan loved by his own men, revered by his +friends, and admired and respected by his enemies.</p> + +<p>The General had hoped to be able to reach Washington to lead his old +command in the Inaugural parade on March 4th, but such was not to be, as +his duties in the Territory delayed him, too long, as it was now March +2nd. He set out as soon as it was possible for him to leave his command. +If there was any bad weather, it seemed to be his luck to be out in it. It +sleeted and as scout and guide to go and get them. I promised the rained +all during the journey to Bluff Creek and continued to do the same all the +way to Dodge City.</p> + +<p>Gen. Custer, a very energetic man and strict disciplinarian, too strict in +fact to always retain the respect of his men, kept everybody and +everything on the move. The snow was now fast disappearing from the +Territory, but the mud and slush caused by the thawing snow, made +travelling a slavish task. Each day was a repetition of the preceding one +and such it continued to be until they reached the Panhandle country where +they found more snow and less protection from the winds. They still +advanced keeping the scouts well to the fore to escape any chance of being +taken by surprise. Each day brought the same routine of duties and the +same results until it became monotonous, so much so that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> boys said +that they would like to have a little fight just for a change and to liven +things up a little. On and on they went across the dreary desolate plain, +with not even a buffalo to be seen as they had been driven from the flats +by the severe storms that swept that part of the country prior to the +trip. A gray wolf might be seen occasionally, or perhaps an antelope, but +that was about all as the wild horses or mustangs had sought shelter in +the canyons or brakes. Desolation reigned supreme and were it not for the +company they found in each other they wouldn’t have been able to endure +the loneliness of the place. Duty urged them on, and forward they went +well out on the Staked Plains. One day the scouts returned with the +information that they had discovered an Indian village. Such news was +music to their ears and each and all began to prepare for the impending +conflict. Strange as it may seem, those Indians were aware of the approach +of the scouts and fully realized their danger. The scouts had scarcely +returned to camp when Custer saw through his field-glasses a lively +movement among the Indians. He knew that he had sufficient force to crush +them, but hesitated to do so as he had learned that they held two white +women as captives, and thought it best to parley with them, for if he +attacked them they might repeat the act of cruelty and cold-blooded murder +that was perpetrated by Satanta on the Washita rather than deliver her up +to her rescuers. They did not have to wait, for it was a short time until +the white flag which the Indian always kept within easy reach, was brought +forth. When well out from the village and not far distant from the train, +the general and his staff with an interpreter went out to meet them. It +did not take long to arrange the preliminaries as they were anxious to +surrender, or more so, than he was to capture them. Whilst the +negotiations were being conducted for their surrender and return to Camp +Supply, Chief Tall Bull made his escape with a few followers and was not +heard of until a year later when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> the report was made that General Parr +had made a final settlement with him and sent him “where the wicked cease +from troubling”, and “the weary are at rest,” up on the Republican river +in Colorado.</p> + +<p>About the first request made by these Indians was for chuckaway as they +were almost famished for want of something to eat. Custer readily acceded +to their demand and gave them a liberal supply of rations. Then they made +ready to move. They had no pianos, sewing machines, or bric-a-brac to pack +and crate, but they had a good quantity of buffalo robes, blankets, tanned +buckskin, pots, skillets, and other belongings of an Indian camp and it +took some time to get them in readiness for transportation. To a person +who has never witnessed such a thing, it is very interesting. The teepees +had to be taken down and put in shape to be packed on ponies. In fact, +everything had to be packed on ponies as a wagon was an unknown thing to +them. They had a substitute for the wagon which they made from a green cow +hide. This while soft and pliable they fastened by each corner to a post +and weighted down the center until it assumed the form of a large dish. +When it became dry and hard, they attached it to two long teepee poles +fastened one on each side of a pony. Into the hide they then put anything +they wished to transport and turned the pony loose with the rest of the +herd. I have seen them place papooses in this rude vehicle and the old +pony wandered at will over the prairie. The teepee poles were made of +cedar and were very light. Sometimes as many as a dozen poles would be +fastened to a pony with other luggage fastened on his back. The young +babies, or small papooses, were strapped to the squaws shoulders where she +usually carried it in all kinds of weather. The older children climbed on +the back of a pony, as that is about the first thing they learned, and +were ready for any kind of a journey. The Indian ponies are usually very +docile as they are broken to handle from colthood. It is a very rare thing +to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> one of them bucking or running away, and consequently we seldom +hear of an accident to an Indian caused by a vicious horse.</p> + +<p>When everything was in readiness, the general gave orders to set out and +off they started on their return trip to Camp Supply. Their progress was +necessarily very slow owing to the starved condition of their ponies, but +Custer urged them on to the limit of their endurance as he had now a great +many new boarders on hand and he feared that he might run short of +supplies. Each day of the journey was like the other. One thing was +favorable, the weather was warmer and the ground was not so soft and muddy +as on their advance into that country. One day one of the soldiers shot a +buffalo and he and his comrades cut off the hump and one hind quarter to +divide among his companions. He told the Indians to help themselves to the +rest. The general called a halt to give the Indians a chance to attend to +the remnant of the buffalo and put the cook to work preparing some of the +hump for himself. They also fed the stock some grain and by the time the +General finished his slice of hump there was not enough of that buffalo +left to bait a mouse trap. There was nothing left but the horns, hooves, +and bones. Even the entrails did not escape their ravenous appetite. +Nevertheless, the buffalo saved the General’s commissary the necessity of +providing one good meal and that was quite a consideration at that +particular time, as provisions were beginning to get low. Each day brought +its quota of petty annoyances. Sometimes a wagon would bog down in the +creek, or a whiffle-tree would break or a mule balk. But that is all the +part of a journey. On they went until they came to the South Canadian +river where they expected to meet the greatest difficulty of their trip, +but to the surprise of all parties, the water was very low and they +succeeded in crossing it with much less trouble than they had to contend +with in crossing some of the smaller streams. The quicksand was their +greatest obstacle to be <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>encountered in the way. The Indian ponies, as I +have said, being very poor and weak, one of them would frequently fall and +flounder around in the quicksand throwing his burden, a squaw and her +papoose. There they struggled with the treacherous sands until a soldier +equal to the emergency would gallantly go to their rescue and bring them +back to safety on the opposite bank. The bucks faced the ordeal very +reluctantly, but seeing that it was a case of the ‘devil take the +hindmost’ they removed their moccasins, blankets, and in many cases +reduced themselves to a state of primitive simplicity, and made their way +across as best they could. Much to the relief of the commanding officer +the last of them, after a good deal of struggling and snorting, landed on +the north bank of the treacherous stream in safety. The general in his +eagerness to proceed, did not wait for them to arrange their toilets, but +pushed on through the brakes and canyons until he reached the flats where +he went into camp. He was eager to reach his destination to unload his +responsibility and one cannot blame him for that feeling after performing +such an arduous task. It took three more days to reach Camp Supply where +Gen. Custer turned over his charge to the Indian Department and in due +course of time discharged the regiment that had rendered such valuable +service. During that expedition Custer had brought back those renegades +and turned them over to the Department without firing a gun except at game +on the way.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Civilizing the Indian; A Period of Unrest; An Outbreak; Murder of a Freighter.</p> + +<p>At this time the Quakers were largely in control of the Indian Department +and were indorsed in their views by Pres. U. S. Grant. They believed the +Indian could be civilized and kept under control by moral suasion by the +erection of school houses for his children, and by imparting a knowledge +of the proper system of agriculture. Under their influence, rations were +issued and blankets distributed among them. They were also given wagons, +plows, and other farm implements which they knew nothing about. They would +not ride on a spring seat, nor sit in a wagon box, but for some reason +best known to themselves, they would remove the box and place teepee poles +on the wagon bolsters and all climb in when they were ready for a trip. +The plows and other implements which were sent out among them to encourage +them to farm, I have seen suspended from trees. I cannot understand why +they did so, unless it was to show contempt for the white man’s way. It is +true, some of them raised small patches of corn, which with the rations +issued by the Agency and the game they killed, kept the wolf from the +door, or rather the flaps of their teepees. Occasionally a small band of +them would get a permit from the Fort Commander to go on a hunt, with the +understanding that they were to return at a stipulated time and behave +themselves during their absence and not commit any depredations. All this +they complied with. I have met these hunting parties up in No Man’s Land +and other places and never heard of their perpetrating any mischief on +persons or stock whilst out under a permit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>The squaws, when not busy in the corn patch or in their little garden, +were engaged in making ornaments or other fancy needlework at which they +were experts. These articles they afterwards sold to tourists from the +East, at the Agency, as souvenirs of their trip among the Indians. Some of +this kind of work had a real intrinsic value far above the ornamental part +of it. I knew one chief’s daughter who had a blanket ornamented with elk’s +teeth and shells, that was valued at $1500. She was taken ill and died, +and the blanket which she loved to wear at festivals was used as a shroud. +A few days afterwards, some person passing by noticed that the grave had +been disturbed. He notified her people and an investigation being made, +they found that some white man or men had been there and had stolen the +blanket or robe in which she was wrapped. If they were ever captured, I am +not aware of it. I said that white men did it, because a negro is too +superstitious to do it, and I do not believe there is an Indian in the +Territory who would stoop to such a ghoulish act; so I shall give some +white animal the credit for the deed.</p> + +<p>The government also built large corrals or cowpens where the cattle were +issued to the Indians. On the size of the family depended the size of the +cow or steer issued. The Agent had the name of each family and the number +of persons comprising it. When a steer was selected a cowpuncher rode +among the herd and cut out the desired animal and rushed him through the +gate of the corral where the Indians were waiting with bows and arrows to +kill him. They seldom killed him at the first or second shot. More +frequently a dozen shots were required before they struck a vital spot. +When the beast fell, the squaws, papooses and dogs came along to do the +skinning and oversee the division of the meat. Each one came in for a +share. After the killing, the lordly old buck would seek out the shelter +of some tree or other shady place to rest his manly form until the animal +was dressed and ready for consumption; then he would <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>return and fill his +capacious stomach with wohaw. The Government shortly changed the arrow +shooting feat as it considered that such a practice had no civilizing +influence on the Indian and, besides, it wanted them to forget their old +habits as soon as possible. Thereafter, when on issuing day a beef was +selected, a man was there to shoot it in the corral and the Indian entered +with his ponies to drag away the carcass to dress it outside.</p> + +<p>After some time the Department decided to remove a large number of the +Indians at Camp Supply to the Darlington Agency which is located about 140 +miles south-east of Supply on the north bank of the North Canadian river, +and about two miles from Fort Reno. Here they settled down submissively +and appeared to be content with their existing condition. At times there +were some small complaints about the agent, which upon investigation +proved oftentimes to be correct. On the other hand there was a disturbing +element. This thing is not common to the Indian alone, but may be found +among civilized folks who are not at peace with themselves or the world at +large. Taking everything into consideration, they were doing about as well +as could be expected under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>The other band of Cheyennes who had located on Pond Creek, were also +brought down to the Darlington Agency. This left the Cherokee Strip +comparatively deserted, but it did not remain so long as the cowmen +entered there and built ranches and stocked them with cattle under leases +from the Indians. There were the Turkey Track, the Box T. R-S, Bull Foot +and other ranches too numerous to mention, all located in the Cherokee +Strip.</p> + +<p>Everything moved along smoothly with but little trouble from the Indians +until the year 1874, when the spirit of unrest seized them again and +extended to all the Indians over the western plains. Some had one +grievance and some had another. They began making<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> medicine, which to a +man acquainted with the Indians meant trouble sooner or later. At that +time, supplies to Anadarko, Ft. Reno, and the Darlington Agency were +freighted from Wichita, Kansas, and distributed to the different bands at +these places. As there were no railroads in this country, it gave +employment to hundreds of men and teams on the trails to enable them to +keep up the supplies. The freighting business was a great boon to the +early settlers of Kansas as the grasshoppers had destroyed everything in +the form of vegetation and the settlers who had teams went to Wichita and +engaged in freighting for the government. Even the white folks at this +time were reduced to a great state of privation and had to depend on the +bounty of the outside world. The more fortunate in the older states +responded to their appeal and tided them over their distress until +prosperity placed them beyond the reach of want.</p> + +<p>About this time small bands of discontented Cheyennes began prowling +around over the country and occasionally went beyond the limit allowed +them by the Agent, and then returned to draw their rations with the other +Indians at the Agency. They continued to do this for some time and finally +began to make depredations on stock or anything else that came within +their reach. The Agent prone to avoid trouble with them, treated them +leniently, but the more leniency he showed, the bolder they became until a +small band under the leadership of Tall Meat, a petty chief, went north as +far as Buffalo Springs on the south line of the Cherokee Strip. There they +could see the freight wagons in the distance laden with government +supplies heading for Anadarko, and came to the immediate decision of +raiding the train. They withdrew into a canyon on the side of the trail so +as to be out of sight when the train arrived. They intended to murder the +teamsters and plunder their goods of whatever they wanted and then make +their escape. A man named Patrick Hennessey was driving the lead wagon of +one of the trains. He was trudging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> along on foot beside his team without +the slightest suspicion of any danger. As soon as he had passed where they +were hiding they shot him in the back. When the shooting took place the +team stampeded and dragged Hennessey in his dying condition along the +ground. The wagon upset and a bag of grain fell across Hennessey’s lower +limbs and there he lay dead. In the meantime the drivers of the other +wagons together with a passenger who was working his way down the country, +abandoned their teams and wagons and fled. Next day the Indian Agent with +an escort happened to pass that way and discovered the work of destruction +of the day previous. They found the remnants of the wagon which had been +set on fire. Some of the oats which comprised part of the load were still +burning, and the sack that had fallen across poor Hennessey’s limbs in +burning had charred his legs to a crisp. The agent, John D. Miles, and his +escort, Billy Mulally, dug a kind of temporary grave to protect the +remains from the coyotes and the buzzards and marked the place with a few +rocks. Every freighter that passed that way felt it his duty to see that +the grave was kept in as good condition as circumstances would permit. The +resting place of Pat Hennessey became a landmark for all travellers in +that section until the Rock Island railroad was built, when the remains +were removed to their present place of rest. The city of Hennessey, one of +the most prosperous little cities in the state is named in his honor. I +have since been told that the women of Hennessey have erected a monument +with suitable inscription at his grave. The other teamsters who fled when +the first shot was fired were overtaken and killed at some distance from +where Hennessey fell.</p> + +<p>This little band of highwaymen could not expect to be allowed to pursue +their murderous way with impunity. They had no following, as such acts +would be condemned by the best Indians of their tribe, and again they were +surrounded by forts. Supply on the north, Elliot on the west, Sill on the +south, and Reno at home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> A small band of white men might escape under +such conditions as it would be possible for them to avoid detection, but +not for Indians of the kind, as their approach would be a signal to begin +shooting. It was a very short time until they were captured and brought +into the agency. Several others were rounded up at the same time. Then an +official investigation was made and after a great deal of red tape +ceremonies and other preliminaries, it was thought best for the interests +of the Indians, as well as for the safety of the white settlers, to +transport them to the Dry Tortugas. I have never visited that locality, +but from what I have learned from persons who did, it was not a very +desirable place to locate a people who might expect any great degree of +personal comfort. I had been told by a man who spent some time there, that +if the government sent those folks there to confine and punish them, it +had struck the exact spot where everything had a tendency to add to human +misery, and he believed it was located so close to the region of the lost +that he could hear old Cerberus barking across the dead line.</p> + +<p>To show the reader a fine sense of filial affection and brotherly +attachment is not a stranger to the savage breast, I must mention a little +circumstance that occurred. When all that were to be sent off were +standing around and their friends were giving their farewell greetings, +one young Indian stepped forward and asked the officer in command if he +were going to take his brother away where maybe so he not come back some +time. The officer replied that such was the present intention, but +modified his remark by saying that at some time in the future they might +regain their liberty if they were good Indians. The young Indian hesitated +a moment and then said, “Well, me go too. Me not want for stay here and my +brother he take away some place I not know and maybe so he not come back +at all sometime. Me go, too.” The commanding officer granted his request +and gave him transportation along with his brother to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> Dry Tortugas, +situated 175 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico.</p> + +<p>When the Indians were removed, in a short time everything dropped back +into peaceful channels and ran along in a comparatively smoother fashion +until Chief Dull Knife became uneasy and wanted to return to the Black +Hill country. His outbreak will form the subject of another chapter.</p> + +<p>Since writing the above I have had occasion to visit one of the public +schools of El Reno, where I found a history of Oklahoma written by Joseph +B. Thoburn, former secretary of agriculture, and Isaac M. Holcomb, former +superintendent of Oklahoma City schools. On page 133 I found a brief +history of the tragic death of Pat. Hennessey on July 3rd, 1874, and what +a brave defense he made against such odds and when captured was bound to a +wagon wheel and burned alive. Also, there was a foot-note stating that it +was reported and generally believed that it was the deed of white men +disguised as Indians, in order to have it charged up to the Indians. Such +was not the case and the above statement is misleading and incorrect, and +for the benefit of the school children of the State of Oklahoma, as well +as in justice to the Indian I shall set down the correct statement of the +case.</p> + +<p>My authority for my version of the affair are the following gentlemen: +John Murphy of El Reno, and H. A. Todd of Calumet, brother-in-law of Billy +Mulally who assisted John D. Miles, Indian agent at Darlington, to bury +Pat. Hennessey, while on their way to Wichita, Kansas. Billy Mulally is +still living at Calumet and can be consulted in regard to the matter. +Their version of the affair is as follows:</p> + +<p>Patrick Hennessey in the lead of a wagon train was going from Wichita, +Kansas, to Anadarko, I. T. loaded with grain and other supplies for the +government. He had been warned at Buffalo Springs ranch, kept by a man +named Mosher, that the Cheyenne Indians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> were on the war-path, and was +advised to go no farther. He persisted in going and in like manner did the +two other teams of the train. With them was a passenger who was working +his way with them. When not far from where Hennessey, Okla. is now +located, a band a Cheyenne Indians, under the leadership of Bear Shield +and Tall Meat, came out of a draw and shot Hennessey in the back. The +commotion caused by them stampeded the mules Hennessey was driving. He in +his dying condition hung on to the lines and was dragged along the ground, +as he had been walking alongside the wagon. Presently the wagon upset and +a sack of oats fell across Hennessey’s prostrate form and pinned him to +the ground. He was dead. The other drivers with their passenger leaped +from their wagons and ran north-east in the direction of Skeleton Creek +where they were followed by the Chyennes and killed, and were afterwards +buried by the cowboys and Mosher. This accounts for their not being buried +with Hennessey. The burning of Hennessey cannot be attributed to the +Cheyennes as the Osages happened along about this time and the Cheyennes +fled. The Osages after plundering the wagons of all they wanted, set fire +to what they could not carry away. The following forenoon, John D. Miles, +Indian Agent at Darlington, accompanied by Billy Mulally, a cowman on his +way to Kansas, came across the wreckage. The grain was still burning and +Pat Hennessey’s body lay partly under a sack of grain which was still +smouldering, and not tied to the wagon wheel as the history has it. From, +there they removed him and buried him in a temporary grave. From this +resting place he was afterwards removed to what is now called Hennessey, +Okla., where there stands a splendid monument erected to his memory by the +women of Oklahoma.</p> + +<p>Note—This correction is only one of many that might be made in our +present day history which pretend <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>to set forth a correct idea of the +early days of our state. For any further reference to such matters, living +witnesses are at hand to give a correct version of many erroneous +statements that have crept into our text books and other writings.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">A Decade of Warfare; Custer’s Massacre; Sheridan, etc.</p> + +<p>For several years, I might say the whole decade from 1870 to 1880, the +Indians occupied the attention of the public. In the Northwest they were +very active. The Utes, Apaches, Cheyennes, and the Sioux were almost +continuously on the warpath, and their activities were so widespread and +far-reaching that, at times, they almost blocked the progress of the +wheels of commerce, and made trade and travel a very dangerous proceeding. +The movement on the part of the Indian developed a corresponding activity +on the part of the military department. Gen. P. H. Sheridan, Gen. Crook, +Gen. Custer, and Gen. Nelson A. Miles and many other men high up in +military affairs devoted their time and attention to the pressing +condition of affairs and took up their position in localities where they +would be able to suppress the movements of the Indians and bring about a +peaceable solution of their difficulties.</p> + +<p>The various bands of Indians adopted practically the same mode of +procedure in their warlike movements. Each spring and summer, when there +was plenty of green grass and abundance of water, usually found them +opening up a new campaign against the encroachments of the white +population. It was very galling for them to stand by and see the source of +their supplies, the buffalo, exterminated without making any contrary +movement. In fact, they did not propose to do so, but set out to +exterminate the hunters who were intent on making a desert of the plains +that teemed with millions of their favorite game. Their efforts were +sometimes crowned with success, and frequently they encountered disaster. +In spite of the reverses they suffered, as at the Chivington <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>massacre on +Sand Creek, Colorado, they did not abandon their efforts to retain their +rights to the land they had so long retained as their lawful hunting +ground. The fact that he had practically no further means of gaining a +livelihood, made them all the more determined to fight to the finish with +those whom they considered usurpers of their ancestral kingdom.</p> + +<p>To add to his difficulties in the way of the encroachments of the whites, +an unexpected circumstances arose that made conditions much more difficult +to bear. Gold had been discovered in the Black Hills. There was a rush +made upon the gold-bearing district, which stirred the Indians to greater +excitement. Immigrant trains from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and as far +east as Ohio and Michigan, began to wind their long sinuous way across the +plains in the direction of the new gold fields. They were not entirely +unacquainted with the excited condition of the territory through which +they were compelled to travel, and consequently made preparations to meet +the difficulties and dangers of the way. They were well aware that the +Indians were on the warpath and ready to give them a warm reception on +their invasion on the Indians’ domain. To meet the perils of such a +journey as they were compelled to make, each wagon train consisting of +numerous outfits, was under the guidance of some experienced plainsman. He +showed them the proper manner of procedure in the method of self-defense +in case they were subjected to an attack from the marauding bands of +red-men on the way. It was well, as far as their own safety was concerned, +that they learned how to corral their wagons and stock in the time of +danger, as more than one wagon train was attacked and completely destroyed +and the members of the party massacred on their way across the plains. In +justice to the Indians, I wish to remark that all the massacres and +plunderings of the early days were not wrought by the Indians. It is a +well-known fact that the Mormans in Utah played a part in such inhuman +affairs, as is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>evidenced by the actions of John D. Lee and his followers, +disguised as Indians, when they perpetrated the Mountain Meadow massacre. +To leave the impression that it was the work of the tribesmen they scalped +their victims, ran off their stock, and burned their wagons. There are +several other instances that might be mentioned, wherein the whiteman in +the guise of the Indian, performed deeds of deviltry and endeavored to +cast the blame upon the redman. While charging the Indian with his crimes, +let us not forget to give him credit for his virtues also, or as Theodore +Roosevelt would say, “let us give him a square deal.”</p> + +<p>Time passed on, each year bringing its quota of trouble and disaster, +without any indication or improvement in the general condition of affairs. +All the frontier posts were supplied with soldiers who seemed anxious for +something to turn up to relieve the monotony of camp life. They finally +had their wishes fulfilled, for in the spring of 1876, Sitting Bull, the +Napoleon of the Sioux tribe, succeeded in concentrating his whole force in +the valley of the Little Big Horn. No opportunity was more desired by the +whites for putting an end to the activity of the Indians. Gen. Custer lost +not a moment in taking the field against him. His past successes in +fighting the savages seemed to guarantee him victory in his present +undertaking. In his impetuosity he set out flushed with the thought of the +success that was to perch upon his arms. In his ardour lay his crushing +defeat. Custer had about 700 men—only 256 with him in actual fight where +he fell, every man killed except Curley the Crow scout who escaped. Reno +and Benteen were already held in check on the hill they retreated to when +attacked before Custer engaged the Indians. The Indians had 3600 braves or +warriors. Sitting Bull was the Bismark of the Sioux and Gall the Von +Molkte. Custer and Terry had been informed by Indian agent at Standing +Rock that only 800 braves were to be engaged. Sitting Bull had defeated +General Crook a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> days before he encountered Custer. Sitting Bull +fearing also General Gibbons and Crook at any minute to reinforce the +Seventh Cavalry hastened to make his escape to Canada, otherwise he would +have annihilated Reno and the balance of the Seventh Cavalry. These +Indians in 1881 returned to the United States and I helped put them on +steam boats at Fort Buford and Fort Keogh, or Miles City now, and sent +them to Standing Rock agency, Rain in the Face’s band being at Keogh. +Sitting Bull, by strategy, succeeded in decoying General Custer, with his +entire command, into a position that was suicidal. The wily Indian chief, +with about nine thousand warriors, on the 25th of June, 1876, attacked him +and annihilated the whole command, carrying off all Custer’s munitions of +war as trophies of victory. Acting on the principle that “to the victor +belong the spoils,” Siting Bull, by the total annihilation of the enemy +was able to replenish his larder at the expense of Uncle Sam. It was a +veritable windfall for him, as the supplies of food, guns, ammunition, +horses, blankets, and everything that was needed for comfort and safety, +were very much in demand about that time, as the Indian’s resources were +almost at the vanishing point at the time. It is not my purpose here to +offer any explanation of Custer’s failure, but it was commonly reported +that General Reno had been expected to take part in the engagement, but +did not do so. Others lay the disaster to Custer’s impetuosity, not +waiting for his auxiliaries to arrive. I am not prepared to say who was to +blame for the calamity.</p> + +<p>In the death of General Custer, the country lost one of the bravest men +that ever donned the uniform of the soldier. He had his faults but +cowardice was not one of them. He was true to his country and his flag and +his fall where the fight was thickest, was an indication of his military +character.</p> + +<p>I thought it proper to write this short sketch in order to show the +influence it exercised on succeeding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> events. It was several days before +the results of the day’s disaster became known to the general public. +There were several reasons for the delay. First, those who were to join +Custer in his attack on the Indians did not arrive for some time after the +battle and as there was not a living soul left to tell the tale of the +deeds of heroism performed in that desperate encounter, nor give any +inkling as to the whereabouts of the dead bodies of the slain, it was more +by chance than design that their location was discovered as soon as it +was. Even to those who came upon them where they lay stiff and cold in +death, it did not seem possible that there could be such a complete +massacre that not a living man was left to relate what happened. Again, +the means of communication with the world at large were very meagre. There +was the pony express, a very slow method at its best. However, the news +was finally forwarded to the country at large, and as usual, the +newspapers went into glaring accounts of the disaster, calling upon +imagination for what they lacked from authorative sources. The whole +country was aroused.</p> + +<p>When the other Indian tribes had learned of Sitting Bull’s successful +annihilation of the hated pale-face command, their enthusiasm knew no +bounds. They began to see at last the extermination of the white man. No +more would the buffalo hunter deprive them of their means of subsistence. +No more would the freighter and the settler occupy the lands that belonged +to the Indian long before the white man had set his foot on American soil. +The prophecy of the Messiah was coming true, and they were ready and +willing to have a share in hastening the day of their deliverance from the +white usurper. Naturally, they began to make their war medicine and +prepare themselves to aid in freeing their beloved plains from the +objectionable intruder. Herein, they reckoned without Uncle Sam. No sooner +had the news of Custer’s defeat and annihilation been brought to him, than +he began to make preparations for another expedition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> against them, +determined to wipe out the stain of recent defeat. The purpose of the new +expedition was probable more comprehensive than the former efforts of a +like nature. The government began to realize that it was face to face with +no common danger. The forts were put in proper condition to resist any +attack that the Indian might contemplate making upon them. New forts were +established at different points of vantage and men enlisted for the +purpose of bringing the defense up to a proper footing, as well as to +afford protection for the trade and commerce of that disturbed region.</p> + +<p>The year of 1877 was but a repetition of the preceding years with very few +exceptions. The Indian was becoming accustomed to the ways of the white +man, especially in the art of making war. Whenever and wherever possible +he discarded his primitive weapons, the bow and arrow, for the more +up-to-date and efficient firearms. These they acquired, sometimes by +barter and frequently by successful engagements in battle, as in the case +of the Custer massacre where they obtained sufficient munitions of war to +make them feel rather bold in their dealings with the boys in blue.</p> + +<p>One thing noticeable about this time, was the change in the method of +conducting warfare by the organized forces of Uncle Sam. The old army +method of fighting was improved by adopting the strategy of the enemy +while fighting on his native heath. Heretofore they had followed the +tactics of civilized warfare acquired by experience in the years of the +Great Rebellion, but they were glad to adopt the latter and improved +method of bringing the battle to the Indians in the manner that was more +conductive to personal safety and at the same time offered opportunities +for personal initiative. The change seemed to be more agreeable to the men +in the ranks, for they seemed to enjoy mounting a horse and scurrying over +the plains in free-lance fashion. One great drawback to their success was +their ignorance of the topography of the country in which they were +operating. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> were oftentimes compelled to rely upon the knowledge of +scouts who were frequently as ignorant as themselves. Since so much +depended on the accurate information given by the guide, one may imagine +the plight of a body of men guided by an unreliable scout in an expedition +through the mountains or over the plains. Happily, men of such character +were the exception and not the rule. The rank and file of the scouts were +composed of men whose knowledge of the plains seemed almost uncanny, whose +personal courage was on a par with that of the bravest of men, and who +could be relied upon to accomplish their undertakings with prudence and +despatch. Such men as Ben Clark, Buffalo Bill, Amos Chapman, W. F. +Brannan, Jack Stillwell, Billy Dixon, and others too numerous to mention +filled all the requirements for a successful scout, and rendered service +to the country that can not be properly estimated or fitly described +within the limits of a short narrative. Some of them I am acquainted with +personally, and I feel myself honored by it. They were the men that guided +the U. S. troops through the most difficult and dangerous campaigns, +blazing the highways for them, and making civilization possible on the +western plains.</p> + +<p>The summer of 1877 passed away in very much the same fashion as the +preceeding seasons of Indian warfare. The first snow fall was a harbinger +of peace, as the tribesmen do not favor the winter time as one fitted for +the activities of warfare. They preferred to sit around the camp fire in +their winter quarters and wait till the grass was green and the plains +free from snow before taking the warpath again. They were never known to +break the custom of generations, until General Phil. H. Sheridan arrived +at the conclusion that it was not advantageous to allow the Indians to go +into winter quarters to wait for another season of warfare. That looked +too much like allowing the enemy to say when, where, and how they would +fight, and that was contrary to the notions Sheridan had of conducting a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>successful campaign. He it was who ordered the winter campaign against +the Kiowas, Comanches, and Cheyennes, which proved successful and paved +the way to permanent peace with those tribes. Nelson A. Miles adopted the +same plan and drove Sitting Bull through the snowbanks across the boundary +into the Dominion of Canada, where he was quite willing to promise to +behave himself in the future if permitted to return to the land of his +fathers. I know for a certainty that he lived up to his promises, though I +do not know how far he would have done so if he had not lost his power as +a medicine man with the Sioux. He was shortly after his return shot and +killed by the Indian police. His death removed one of the greatest leaders +and warriors that ever led the Sioux tribe into battle, and conduced to +the establishment of permanent peace with that nation.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><strong>CUSTER’S LAST BATTLE.</strong></p> + +<p>The 7th U. S. Cavalry, 700 men and 28 officers, 2 companies of the 17th U. +S. Infantry, 1 company 6th U. S. Infantry—8 officers and 135 men; One +Platoon of Gatling guns, 2 officers and 32 men, of the 20th U. S. Infantry +and 40 Ree scouts, the 7th Cavalry being commanded by General Geo. A. +Custer, and the expeditionary forces under command of Brigadier General +Alfred H. Terry, at the sounding of the “general” at 5 o’clock in the +morning of may 17th, 1876 proceeded to march to the camp of Sitting Bull +in the Little Big Horn country, by 7 a. m. the 7th Cavalry was marching in +column of platoons through the post and around the parade ground, of Fort +A. Lincoln, the band mounted on white horses playing “Garry Owen” the +Seventh’s battle tune, first used when this gallant regiment charged at +the battle of Washita. The column halted just outside of the garrison and +dismounted where their wives and members of the families came out and bid +their husbands and fathers good bye, many of whom they would see no more, +after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> the farewells, the signals “mount” and “forward” were sounded and +the command headed by the Gallant Seventh, marched away the band playing +“The Girl I Left Behind Me.”</p> + +<p>The command proceeded until on the Rosebud, Indian trails were discovered +June 19th. The mouth of the Rosebud was reached June 21st, where +preparations were made for the battle that followed on the Little Big Horn +June 25th and 26th, 1876.</p> + +<p>The Indians attacked in this campaign were various Sioux tribes, also +Northern Cheyennes and Arapahoes, the leading chiefs being Sitting Bull, +Rain in the Face, Crow King, Low Dog, Big Road, Spotted Eagle and Little +Horse of the Northern Cheyennes—Gall, Crow King, and Crazy Horse were the +three ruling fighting chiefs; the total fighting strength of the combined +Indian forces was 3000.</p> + +<p>General Custer was ordered by General Terry to engage the Indians, reports +from the Indian agencies leading him to believe that there were only about +800 bucks in the field.</p> + +<p>General Crook had engaged Sitting Bull’s command before on June 17th and +was badly defeated by the Indians, indeed glad to escape without total +annihilation. General Gibbons was near, but the three commands operated +independently of each other while had they co-operated together, attacking +as a whole, the Custer massacre as it is called would never have occured.</p> + +<p>On June 25th, 1876, the Indians were attacked by one battalion under Major +Reno, consisting of Troop “M”; Captain French, Troop “A”; Captain Moylan, +Troop “G”, Lieutenant McIntosh, the Indian scouts under Lieutenants Varnum +and Hare and Interpreter Girard, Lieutenant Hodson acting adjutant, +Doctors DeWolf and Porter Medical officers, this battalion marched down a +valley that developed into a small tributary to the Little Big Horn, now +called Sundance or Benteen’s Creek, where they reached the river, and +crossing were routed by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> Indians in great force and retreated across +the river to the bluffs loosing three officers and 29 enlisted men killed, +seven enlisted men and one officer wounded, one officer and fourteen +enlisted men missing, the Ree scouts ran away and continued their flight +until outside of the danger zone. Some Crow scouts remained with the +troops.</p> + +<p>The battalion commanded by General Custer, consisted of Troop, “I”, +Captain Keogh, Lieutenant Porter, Troop “F”, Captain Yates, Lieutenant +Relly; Troop “C”, Captain Tom Custer and Lieutenant Harrington; Troop “E”, +Lieutenants Smith and Strugis, troop “L”, Lieutenants Calhoun and +Crittenden; Lieutenant Cook was adjutant, Dr. G. E. Lord, Medical officer.</p> + +<p>The third battalion was under Captain Benteen, the ranking captain of the +Seventh Cavalry, consisted of Troop “H”, Benteen, captain, Lieutenant +Gibson; Troop “D”, Captain Weir and Lieutenant Edgerly; and Troop “K”, +Lieutenant Godfrey. The pack train was in command of Lieutenant Mathey, +escorted by Troop “B”, Captain McDougall, this battalion was to proceed to +the right and supposed to cut off Indians routed by Reno, but on coming +into view of the Little Big Horn Valley succeeded in joining Reno on the +hills where he was being engaged by the Indians; while Gall was leading +the attack against Reno, Iron Cedar, one of his warriors, announced that +more soldiers were coming, which was the battalion under General Custer, +the Indians withdrawing from attack on Reno concentrated on Custer, who +never forded the river but being attacked by overwhelming forces made his +stand on a ridge where he and every one of his command went down to +defeat, not one man escaped to tell the tale—212 bodies were buried on +the battle field, all stripped and mutilated except General Custer who was +shot in the temple and left side. The bodies of Dr. Lord and Lieutenant +Porter, Harrington and Sturgis were never found, at least not recognized, +the clothing of Lieutenant Porter and Sturgis was found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> in the debris, +and showed they had been killed. The total killed of the entire command +was 265, wounded 52. Little plots of wild sun flowers mark the graves of +those resting here who died on that memorable June 25th, 1876, no one will +ever know the heroic death they met or the terrible scenes enacted but +they attest the services of the Gallant Seventh Cavalry who did more to +clear the country in the early days from Mexico to Canada than almost all +the other regiments combined. “Garry Owen” can not awake them to glory +again, and the girls they left behind will mourn until death shall enable +them let us hope, to join their departed dead never seen after that fatal +parting, May 17, 1876, at old Fort Abraham Lincoln on the banks of the +historical Missouri River.</p> + +<p class="right">GENERAL H. M. CREEL.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Trouble With the Northern Cheyennes; Little Chief Conducted to the Agency at Reno, I. T.</p> + +<p>The year 1878 found the Northern Cheyennes up in arms and on the warpath, +as were the other tribes on the plains and in the mountains. Prominent +among the roving bands of warriors was the Little Chief band of Northern +Cheyennes. They were very active and indications seemed to point out that +they were likely to make things very disagreeable for the troops as well +as for the ranch man in that section.</p> + +<p>Little Chief and his band were brought to Fort A. Lincoln in December 1877 +and remained there until July 24th, 1878, when they left with the 7th +cavalry for the Black Hills to locate a fort, named later Meade. The +fortunes of war proved very unfavorable for him and he was forced to +surrender early in the season. His whole band consisting of 375 warriors, +with the Little Chief himself at their head, was taken to fort Abraham +Lincoln as prisoners of war and placed in charge of Major Tilford who was +in command of the place at that time. They remained there till the latter +part of July, when he selected Ben Clark, General Sheridan’s chief of +scouts and indian interpreter, to take charge of them and take them under +military escort from thence to their destination at Fort Reno reservation, +in the Indian Territory. I herewith give Clark’s commission in full.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">HEADQUARTERS</p> + +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 6em;">Fort Abraham, Lincoln, Dakota,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 4em;">July 20th, 1878.</span></p> + +<p>To Mr. Ben Clark, in charge of the Cheyenne Indians.</p> + +<p>Sir: I am directed by the commanding officer to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>inform you that it +is his intention to have the Cheyenne Indians, prisoners of war, leave +this post for their destination early next week, and that you will +make the necessary arrangements for their departure at that time. If +you need any assistance or information in this connection, you will +report to the commanding officer in person. Very respectfully, Your +Obedient Servant,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">F. M. GIBSON,</span><br /> +1st Lieutenant 7th Cavalry, Post Adjutant.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img6.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">GENERAL H. M. CREEL</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Ben Clark accepted the appointment and at once began to make the +preparations necessary for the removal of the indians to their destination +at Fort Reno, I. T. It was a perilous undertaking at that season of the +year as the plains were alive with hostile Indians. Another incident arose +about the time to make the journey more hazardous than usual, viz, the +report that Dull Knife had left the reservation at Fort Reno and was on +his way northward to his former hunting grounds. In other words, Dull +Knife was on the warpath and as explained in a former chapter, was +committing all kinds of depredations. It may be easily imagined what would +occur if the tribe that had just broken away from Reno reservation were to +join forces with the Little Chief band on their way to the place the other +had just quitted. Naturally the tensity of the situation exercised its +influence on the whole force accompanying the Little Chief band. At this +juncture Ben Clark received the following telegram:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">HEADQUARTERS</p> + +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 6em;">Fort Abraham Lincoln,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 4em;">July 24th, 1878.</span></p> + +<p>Special Order, No. 175.</p> + +<p>Companies H and L, 7th Cavalry, will move into camp on the hill in the +rear of the post at one o’clock, p. m., preparatory to taking the +field tomorrow, the 25th of July, 1878, to join troops operating from +Bear Buttes, Dakota, Ter. The Cheyenne Indian prisoners will leave +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>this post with this command enroute to Camp Robinson under the charge +of Ben Clark who will draw for these Indians thirty-two days Indian +rations, and will attend to the loading, hauling, and issuing of the +same during the march. By command, Major Tilford,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">F. M. GIBSON,</span><br /> +1st Lieutenant, 7th Cavalry, Post Adjutant.</p></div> + +<p>When everything was in readiness, and there was considerable difficulty in +the task just accomplished, the expedition set out for Bear Buttes. +General Sam D. Sturgis, Colonel of the Seventh Cavalry, in command. +Captain Benteen, in command of the escort. The journey was rather tedious +as the distance to be traveled each day was limited by Ben Clark to 15 +miles. When they reached Bear Buttes they were met by Second Lieutenant H. +M. Creel, of K troop of the 7th Cavalry, and Captain Mathey, who took +charge of the escort from that place to Fort Robinson. Everything went +along as well as the trying conditions of the march would permit, and +through the watchfulness of Ben Clark the Indians had little cause to +murmur, as he looked after their interests and comfort in a manner that +reflects great credit upon him. When they reached Sidney Barracks farther +south, the following telegram was awaiting them.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 6em;">Omaha, Barracks, Neb.,</span><br /> +<span style="padding-right: 2em;">Sept. 14th, 1878, 12:35 p. m.</span></p> + +<p>To Ben Clark, in charge of Cheyenne Indians,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In care of Commanding Officer, Sidney Barracks, Neb.</span></p> + +<p>As the Northern Cheyenne Indians who were at Fort Reno, I. T., have +left there and are trying to make their way back north, the Department +Commander desires to know if you think it advisable for the Indians +under your charge to continue their journey south at present. Is there +any liklihood of their trying to join those who have left Fort Reno? +Where do you think those who have left Fort Reno will try to cross the +Union Pacific <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>Railroad? Telegraph reply to this and any other +information or opinion regarding movements of those from Fort Reno +which may be useful. By command,</p> + +<table style="margin-left: 8em;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td valign="middle">(Signed.)</td><td><span class="spacer"> </span></td> + <td>GEN. CROOK.<br />R. WILLIAMS,<br />Ass’t Adjut. General.</td></tr></table> +</div> + +<p>Major Mauck took charge of the escort under Ben Clark at Sidney Barracks. +Things went along according to the usual routine until they reached the +vicinity of the Red Cloud agency. The close proximity of that agency to +the present position of the prisoners of war, no doubt, had some influence +on the Little Chief band, as they used to belong to that section of the +territory. At this place, Iron Shirt and Black Wolf, chiefs of no mean +repute, decided that they would go no further. They declared that they +preferred to go to the Red Cloud agency and did not want to go any further +south. For a time it seemed as if there was going to be some difficulty in +getting the expedition under way again as Iron Shirt, in particular, who +was looked upon as a military genius by his followers, was quite +determined in his attitude against any further advance towards Reno. +However, the matter was promptly adjusted by the commanding officer, by +the use of a little diplomacy, as he explained matters to them through the +interpreter and put the affair in such a light that it seemed satisfactory +to all concerned. The Indians had been rather loathe to leave Fort Abraham +Lincoln and would in all probably openly resisted were it not for an +agreement made between them and General P. H. Sheridan wherein he promised +them good locations, plenty of rations, good hunting on the North +Canadian, and besides, gave them permission to retain their firearms as +there was an abundance of game in the land to which they were going. The +reader will discover later on how this agreement was respected by the war +department.</p> + +<p>The expedition journeyed along from Sidney <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>Barracks under command of +Major Mauck, via Fort Wallace, Fort Dodge, and Camp Supply, without any +interruption of any importance, though it was a very tickelish situation +all the way as they knew not at what time or place they might encounter +the Dull Knife band. It took all the wariness of Ben Clark to keep the +band out of all possibility of meeting their kinsmen who were then on the +warpath. That he did it successfully, is to his credit, and for it he +deserves the highest commendation of not only those immediately concerned +with the expedition, but of the country at large, for if those two bands +of Cheyennes united, there would have ensued another massacre appaling in +its execution.</p> + +<p>Little Chief and his band escorted by four troops of the fourth cavalry +under Major Mauck arrived at Camp Supply, I. T., in December, 1878, after +a few days’ rest started for Fort Reno, the first day’s march brought them +to the junction of Wolf and Beaver Creek, forming the North Fork Canadian +River, where the command camped, the next morning in the midst of a heavy +snow storm Major Mauck came to Lieutenant Creel’s tent about five o’clock +with a telegraphic order from General Pope commanding department of +Missouri directing him to disarm and dismount the Northern Cheyennes in +his charge and en route for Fort Reno, as the interior department at the +instigation of the Indian office refused to allow the Indians to enter the +Territory unless this was done—this was done to prevent a repetition of +the Dull Knife raid of that year. General Pope being entirely ignorant of +the promises made by General Sheridan to these Indians that they should +retain their arms and ammunition and he had called their attention to the +excellent hunting in the Indian Territory. Now on this morning the Indians +expected to start out on a great hunt and had asked Lieutenant Creel to go +with them, but immediately after reveille and breakfast were confronted +with the four troops of the Fourth Cavalry mounted and asked to deliver up +their arms and ponies. Lieutenant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> Creel told Major Mauck of the promises +made the Indians by General Sheridan and pointed to the interpretation +that would be placed upon such treatment and asked Major Mauck if he could +not defer action until they could get into communication with General +Sheridan, Division commander, but due to poor means of communication Major +Mauck was afraid to assume the responsibility. Later when General Sheridan +learned of this action on request of the Indian office, it is needless to +say he was much incensed and it was due to this fact that he in a short +time affected the transfer of all Northern Cheyennes in this band who +desired, to return to their old hunting grounds in Montana.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of the expedition at Camp Supply, they were confronted with +a dispatch from the war department through General Pope, demanding the +immediate disarmament of the Indians. When the order was made known to +Little Chief, he at once objected to its enforcement, and with his band, +stood with arms drawn and ready to rebel against such open violation of +their treaty with General Sheridan.</p> + +<p>The Indians when asked to surrender their arms and ponies refused, and +formed in battle line in semicircular formation, the women and children in +the center. Iron Shirt exhorting them to die fighting for their rights, +telling them that they had been lied to long enough, during this time had +one gun gone off, it would have been the commencement of a bloody massacre +of women and children. All the women and children that could crowd into +Lieutenant Creel’s two tents, thinking that when the firing commenced they +would be immune. Until eleven o’clock the Indians maintained a bold and +relenting attitude, their guns in hand, they stood immovable not yielding +one inch; during this tense interval when any moment one shot would have +precipitated a bloody fight, Lieutenant Creel remained with the Indians in +their midst, walking quietly up and down their line urging carefulness and +pleading for the lives of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> women and children until they finally +surrendered. The Northern Cheyennes as Little Wolf said at Washington in +the winter of 1913, had made him an adopted member of their tribe, and the +history of the Cheyenne nation or people would not be complete without his +name in it, that no white man, an officer in the gallant Seventh Cavalry +had when death was near, stood with the Indians in their midst, and on +their side as he had done, every other white man had left the Indian camp +including William Roland, a half-breed Cheyenne interpreter for these +Indians, saying there was going to be a massacre.</p> + +<p>It was certainly a very trying situation. There was not a man of the whole +command who did not admit the justice of the Indian Chief’s refusal to +turn over the arms which he had been promised to be allowed to keep as he +would need them in his new location for the purpose of killing game. The +cavalry were ordered to mount and enforce the unjust order. At this point +there occured one of those little incidents that oftentimes raises a man +above his fellows and marks him for all time as one to whom the regard for +justice is paramount above all things, even life itself.</p> + +<p>The troops had mounted and were holding themselves in readiness for +further orders, when H. M. Creel, second lieutenant of K troop, indignant +at the injustice of the order, went to the Indians and urged them to +refrain from bringing on an engagement which would prove disasterous to +themselves and cause a massacre of their women and children. As the +lieutenant could speak the Cheyenne tongue fluently, and was familiar with +the customs and habits of the tribe, he received a hearing that was +respectful. He succeeded in bringing about a conciliation by becoming +personally responsible for their firearms and anything else which they +might have that was considered contraband of war. By his course of action +in the matter, he at once won the undying gratitude of the Cheyennes, +which endures to this day, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> will continue to do so as long as the +traditions of the Cheyenne are handed down to posterity.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img7.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="caption">BEN CLARK<br />Gen. P. H. Sheridan’s Chief of Scouts</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The trouble being averted, the escort started on its way again, Ben Clark +guiding them down the river. But the danger was not yet past. General Pope +insisted on the order being carried out in spite of the fact that justice +and decency forbade it. However, he succeeded in having it fulfilled, but +when it was carried into effect there were not enough guns of any value to +arm a corporal’s guard. I have always been under the impression that the +Indians during the march from where the trouble arose to the place where +they were disarmed, succeeded in secreting the best of their arms, which +was not very difficult as the soldiers were not too strict in trying to +prevent their doing so as they saw that an injustice was being done to +their charges. I do not know what General Sheridan thought or said when he +learned how his treaty of peace with the Indians had been observed by the +war department, but, I am under the impression, that if one could have +taken a kaleidoscopic view of his thoughts at the time, there would likely +have been a very lurid tint about them.</p> + +<p>Once the Indians were disarmed, the work trials of the expedition were +practically at an end. It was a very short march down the North Canadian +to the place of their future abode. Ben Clark saw to it that things were +carried out, as far as possible, to the satisfaction of all.</p> + +<p>Nor did Lieutenant Creel leave the wards of the government at once. In +fact he remained with them for a considerable length of time in the +capacity of agent, and the confidence they had in him is shown by the +results of his tenure of office among them. He came to be looked upon as a +father to all of them, to whom they might go to have all wrongs righted, +and their rights preserved. The result of such confidential relationship +between Lieutenant Creel and the Indians is manifest today in the +high-class of citizenship that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> exists among the wards of the government, +and their advancement in the various pursuits of life according to the +white man’s ways.</p> + +<p>Creel was the man of the hour. He devoted his time, talents, and energy to +the elevation of the children of the plains. He set out to improve their +educational facilities. He wrote a grammar and a dictionary of the +Cheyenne tongue, of which he had a complete mastery. Also work on the sign +language of the North American Indians. His work in this regard was of +such a high order as to be preserved in the Smithsonian Institute in +Washington, D. C.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> +<p class="chtit">Ben Clark; General Creel; Some Observation in Conclusion.</p> + +<p>In concluding the little work, I deem it impossible to close without +paying tribute to two men who have done so much in the way of settling the +difficulties of the west, and making it possible for the white settlers to +live in peace and prosperity, freed entirely from the haunting spectre of +an Indian raid. Many have contributed their share to the important work, +and credit must be given them, nevertheless in any undertaking, there are +men who seem by nature to be better adapted to the work than others; so it +was in the closing days of the Indian troubles of the West, when the +Indian had good cause for looking on the white man with suspicion, and the +result as shown in those numerous raids upon the white settlements during +the decade of 1870 and 1880.</p> + +<p>In the long array of men who endeavored to bring the difficulties that +disturbed the West to a satisfactory close, we find two who played an +important part within the scope of their opportunities, and the results of +their work are manifest at this date.</p> + +<p>Ben Clark was a scout. The term to the ordinary man of affairs does not +mean much, but if one could ask General Sheridan’s opinion of the man and +scout, he would place him in the very first rank of all scouts of the +West. He was a man particularly gifted by nature with the endowments +requisite to achieve success in his calling. He seemed to have an uncanny +knowledge of the plains. Like an open book he read her every mood. On his +knowledge of that vast trackless plain depended the success of many an +expedition, and there yet remains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> no failure to mar the brilliant record +of his achievements. Not only soldiers, but generals placed themselves +unreservedly in his hands and felt safe. He was not a soldier, but no +soldier ever showed greater qualities of generalship than he. Generals +commanded the armies, he commanded the generals and they gladly obeyed +him. Amid all the trials and vicissitudes of his life of hardship, he ever +maintained an evenness of temperament that carried him down to the present +day, to a ripe old age, after more than fifty years of service in the +Army, not a soldier, but as a scout, respected and retaining the +confidence of the men with whom he spent days and years of hardship on the +plains.</p> + +<p>Associated with Ben Clark in the later days was one who has risen by dint +of devotion to duty to a very high position in the sphere of military +affairs. I refer to General Creel, as he is now called. Among the many +positions that General Creel has held was that of adjutant general of his +state, North Dakota, where he raised the national guard of his state from +chaos to such a degree of efficiency that the war department after full +inspection and field maneuver of the guard with regulars declared ninety +per cent fit for duty in the field on a par with the regular army. General +Creel on his own request was highly complimented by the governor for his +distinguished services, and retired with the rank of major general as +provided by law. Of his soldierly qualities there is not much need of +making the record here, as it is open to all who wish to consult the +archives of the army. Fighting qualities are expected in a soldier, +otherwise he would be out of place in the ranks, but there are other +qualities that set a man apart from his fellows. Some men have +administrative ability, some diplomacy, others skill in various lines, but +a man must have a special adaptation by nature who can take the rough, +untamed spirits of the plains away from their native heaths, from all that +is dear to them, and at the same time make them love him. Some could do it +by force, but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> result would not be lasting, as is instanced in the +case of Dull Knife; others could do it by love of justice and fair play +and convert the savage into a high-class citizen of the state. The latter +was the method used by General Creel, and to show that they have not +forgotten the spirit of fairness that characterized the man, one would but +have to visit the Darlington Agency, Oklahoma, when the general makes a +trip to the scene of his early efforts as an Indian pacifier, and see how +they gather around him and show marks not merely of respect, but of real +affection. To the work of his office he added occupations of his own +choice. He devoted himself to a thorough study of the Cheyenne tongue, and +his efforts resulted in a grammar and dictionary of that language. Not +only is the general an authority on the Cheyenne dialect, but his work on +the sign language is masterly. He is not only a man well versed in Indian +affairs, though that itself would be sufficient for most men, but is one +of the directors of the 1914 Chatauqua institute. One would be inclined to +think that with all the successes that attend his efforts, and the title +of general that he bears, that he would be inclined to be swelled with the +sense of his own importance, but not so. You will not find a more modest +man in the whole range of activity than the general. He is the last man +that you would take to be one of the great geniuses of the West if you +were to estimate him by his general behavior.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, much might be written about the complex nature of the +Indian and the trouble he created for the white man during the last half +century. But if the white man were to put himself in the place of the +Indian I doubt if he would act differently. One cannot see an intruder +come into one’s domain and lay waste the very foundation of one’s +existance without finding that trouble has originated that is likely to be +far reaching. That was the situation. The Indian had been master of the +plains from time immemorial, and like every possessor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> of territory; he +had no idea of yielding up his home, his life, without a struggle. He had +not admitted the sovereignty of the government when the white man came +among the tribes. Any territorial extension that had been made on the part +of the government was made by treaty, and any one conversant with history +well knows how faithlessly the truces and pacts with the Indians have been +kept. In fact, it is one of the standing disgraces to our country that so +many of the agreements with the original holders of the land have been +broken. It looks as if the principle that “might makes right” were the +only one in vogue when dealing with the Indian. He has not only been +deceived frequently in the past, and treaties with him violated, but he +has also been plundered in ruthless fashion by those whom the government +sent to look after his affairs. Scandal upon scandal has occured among the +agents in charge of the different reservations, with the result that the +Indians not only became disgusted with the treatment they received, but +broke away from their locations and went on the warpath. If the different +tribes that surrendered had been treated with the proper amount of +justice, half or more of the blood-curdling atrocities of the latter part +of the decade of 1870 would not have occured. What was wanted was more men +like General Sheridan, and General Creel, and less of the grafters and +boodlers who looked upon the Indian as lawful prey to be robbed and +pillaged with ruthless abandon.</p> + +<p>The government, I have no doubt was willing to do the right thing, but was +frequently unfortunate in the choice of the means adopted. The Quakers who +came upon the scene early in the management of Indian affairs, meant well, +but their peaceful measures were not adapted to the nature and character +of the tribes of the plains. They did not understand the nature of the +Indians who were wont to travel with unrestrained freedom over the vast +plains, living their lives according to their lights and traditions. The +Quaker method of curbing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> their dauntless spirit was about as effective as +trying to tame a wildcat by saying, “pussy.” As I said, they meant well, +did their best, but their efforts caused the Indian to smile on more than +one occasion.</p> + +<p>The methods frequently used by the war office to bring the Indians into +subjection did not always meet with the success that the efforts exerted +would warrant. True, it was a novel kind of warfare for civilized men to +undertake, but I do not think that the utmost care was always exercised in +carrying out the different campaigns. There is much to show that there +must have been considerable laxity in different places, as is shown in the +ease with which Dull Knife marched, by, past, and around, different forts +in his way north, and with a mere handful of men set at naught the efforts +of several regiments. There is no question about the willingness of the +private soldier to do his duty, for he was usually found at his post and +fighting to the last ditch, but there were men wearing the garb of +officers who did not exercise the judgment of skilled fighters in handling +a difficult situation, or in following an efficient plan of campaign. All +this naturally tended to give the Indian an opportunity he was looking +for, and the blows he dealt in return were of considerable heft.</p> + +<p>The day is coming slowly but surely when the last red man will have +disappeared from the domain wherein he roamed a monarch. He does not seem +to be able to thrive on the white man’s mode of life. It may be that the +veneer of civilization that he had acquired in recent years is more of a +restraint than a benefit to him. The vices of the white man have had their +effect upon him also. Whatever the causes, the race seems to be doomed to +extinction, the buffalo and the Indian seemed to be an essential part of +the plains. The buffalo is practically only a memory, and the red man is +following his trail toward the setting sun, soon to disappear over the +horizon of time.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> +<h2>AFTERWORD</h2> + +<p>Before taking leave of my readers, I cannot refrain from expressing the +appreciation I feel for the assistance I have received from numerous +reliable sources. The best authority for an account of any happening is +the chief actor in the drama, and this is undoubtedly true when the +authors themselves are men of integrity, reliability, modesty and truth. +Men of this type necessarily leave the impression of truthfulness and +reliability, on any narration of events they may make. Such men I have +consulted in my work to guarantee the authenticity and veracity of my +narrative. I take a great pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to +General H. M. Creel, Ben Clark and Mr. John Murphy. Others who have +assisted me in compiling the preceeding chapters, I have mentioned in +various parts of the book, but those I enumerate here, have assisted me in +a special manner and I feel it a duty to thank them abundantly for their +favor in directing me in setting down the correct narrative of events +described. As these gentlemen are still living, it is a very easy matter +for any one to consult them in regard to the historical events of the +preceeding chapters, but any one who knows the character of these +gentlemen will deem it sufficient that they have placed the stamp of their +approval on the pages of the preceeding work.</p> + +<p>To my wife, who so faithfully kept the light in the window as a beacon to +insure my safe return, this little volume is most respectfully dedicated.</p> + +<p class="right">THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INDIANS' LAST FIGHT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 37922-h.txt or 37922-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/9/2/37922">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/2/37922</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Indians' Last Fight + Or The Dull Knife Raid + + +Author: Dennis Collins + + + +Release Date: November 4, 2011 [eBook #37922] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INDIANS' LAST FIGHT*** + + +E-text prepared by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by +Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 37922-h.htm or 37922-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37922/37922-h/37922-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37922/37922-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://www.archive.org/details/indianslastfight00collrich + + + + + +[Illustration: Yours Truly, DENNIS COLLINS] + + +THE INDIANS' LAST FIGHT + +Or The Dull Knife Raid + +by + +DENNIS COLLINS + + + + + + + +Copyright Reserved +By Dennis Collins + +Press of +The Appeal to Reason +Girard, Kansas + + + + +PREFACE + + +The work of writing a book is one that requires a vast amount of +knowledge, natural ability and educational advantages, to produce +something that is reliable, as regards information imparted, unimpeachable +authority, and, at the same time, a power of expression that will present +the matter to the reader in a manner that will convey the proper meaning +of the author. I would not have undertaken the present work, were it not +that I was encouraged by the friends of former days who felt confident in +my ability to portray the scenes to be depicted in a fitting manner. I +should probably be able to perform the task before me with greater success +if I had some of the advantages of what is called Higher Education, but, I +set out on my journey through this new domain, encouraged particularly, by +a statement made by a certain ex-President, that he did not believe in all +the "Ph's", and "Ch's", that are in common use in our language; that he +believed in a plain, intelligent expression of ideas that conveys the full +meaning of the speaker or writer, without any unnecessary verbiage. + +My own personal qualifications for undertaking the task before me, might +be considered too inadequate to many. True, I have not had the advantage +of a University Education, but with a solid foundation of learning laid in +the little school of boyhood in Canada, supplemented by a wide course of +reading through all the years I have spent in the West, I feel that the +difficulties before me are not too great to be overcome, especially as I +have the example of so many men before me who have become self-educated by +an earnest application of time and energy to the opportunities presented. +If I have developed any facility of expression, I must attribute it to +the wealth of good books I have had the good fortune to have at my +disposal at various times. + +Another motive that has impelled me to undertake the task of presenting +the "West" to the general reader, is that there has been so much written +about it that is not veracious, and that many have a false notion of what +the term really means. I shall endeavor to set before the public a true +account of many of the recent happenings in the vast country that lies +west of the Mississippi, that they may have a better idea of its history +and its people. I have read in numerous Magazines and Journals, accounts +of the habits and customs of the Western People in general, and of the +cow-puncher in particular, with a full description of the Indian at peace +and at war, that, from the reality, it would be impossible to recognize +any of them. I am quite satisfied that the authors of the so-called +narrations did not have an opportunity of studying the subject at close +quarters, and, consequently, were not in a position to do the topic +justice. As a consequence of this unreliable mode of narration, people who +do not know, imagine that the cow-puncher was half-man and half-horse, or, +if not so bad as that, pictured him as a ranting, roaring, rollicking, +bloodthirsty, oath-emitting, unconstrained son of perdition, whose chief +occupation was murder and rapine, and whose avocation was herding cattle. +As for the Indian, he was supposed to have no other qualification for +attention than murder and pillage, totally depraved, and beyond the scope +of all civilizing influences. Such ideas are based on imaginary authority, +and are as far from the truth as it is possible for any narrative to be. I +shall endeavor to set before the reading public a proper appreciation of +both the Indian and the cow-puncher. Both had faults, but, in view of +their surroundings and circumstances of life, they both will bear +comparison with those who have had all the advantages of the higher +education, and the influence of civilization. One thing that will always +stand in their favor is that they were "men," and played the game of +life, in "man" fashion. Smallness, or rather, pettiness of character was +entirely lacking in their general scheme of life; that remained in the big +cities of the East. + +Having spent more than thirty years among the cow-men and the Indians of +the different tribes, from the Dakota line to the Panhandle of Texas, I +feel that I am not presuming when I say that in that time I have acquired +considerable knowledge of both classes of men, their habits, and ideals, +and I trust that the present narrative may be interesting to all my old +comrades of the "Plains" as well as instructive to the friends of my +boyhood days in the "Land of the Maple Leaf." I have the further hope, +that if any of the readers of this little work contemplate coming west to +grow up with the country, they may find the difficulties of the way +overcome, and the rough places made smooth. They will find a generous +welcome awaiting them from the whole-souled men of the Great West, and +will discover that their lot has fallen on pleasant places. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +INDEX + + + Page + + CHAPTER I General Conditions 9 + + CHAPTER II Santa Fe Trail 13 + + CHAPTER III Freighting on the Trail 17 + + CHAPTER IV No Man's Land 22 + + CHAPTER V Cattle Round-Ups 26 + + CHAPTER VI Good Men and Bad 28 + + CHAPTER VII Catching Wild Horses 41 + + CHAPTER VIII Why I Came West 52 + + CHAPTER IX A Cow Boy Love Affair 63 + + CHAPTER X Entertaining the Hobo 69 + + CHAPTER XI The Man From Missouri 76 + + CHAPTER XII Organizing in Self Defense 81 + + CHAPTER XIII A New Venture or Hard Times 95 + + CHAPTER XIV Returning to Kansas, The Phenomenon 127 + + CHAPTER XV Postmasters of Early Days 137 + + CHAPTER XVI Messiah Craze 144 + + CHAPTER XVII Savages on Warpath 167 + + CHAPTER XVIII The Whirlwind Raid 187 + + CHAPTER XIX The Indian Sun Dance 195 + + CHAPTER XX The Adobe Wall Raid 210 + + CHAPTER XXI The Dull Knife Raid 231 + + CHAPTER XXII The Great Awakening of the West 262 + + CHAPTER XXIII P. H. Sheridan's Arrival 269 + + CHAPTER XXIV Capture of Comanches and Kiowas 276 + + CHAPTER XXV California Joe's Weakness 283 + + CHAPTER XXVI A Period of Unrest 292 + + CHAPTER XXVII A Decade of War 301 + + CHAPTER XXVIII Trouble With the Northern Cheyennes 312 + + CHAPTER XXIX Observations in Conclusion 321 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +General Conditions. + + +Someone has said, and I think very truthfully, too, that one-half of this +world doesn't know how the other half lives, and if he had added that +one-half did not care, he would have hit the nail on the head. In order to +verify this statement, go to the frontier of any new country, and you will +readily see that the progressive, or producing class, is too busy and too +much interested in trying to make a little home, and in providing the +necessaries of life, for himself and family, to stop and inquire into the +cause of such conditions which surround him. He is busy, very busy, with +his own affairs. He must dig a well, build a dugout, and plough the sod to +roof it. He must make a storm cave, as it is one of the essentials in +Oklahoma and in Kansas, as a cyclone is liable to make a visitation, and +he himself and all that he has, may very likely be nothing more than a +memory. A storm cave is a very valuable asset, as it gives the family a +place of safety in storms, and is a very great factor socially, as the +neighbors, if there be any close enough, are most likely to drop around +should there be a threatening cloud in the sky, for the sake of mutual +encouragement and consolation. I have seen twenty-two persons in one cave +that was no larger than eight by ten feet, and all seemed to be satisfied; +at least I was. + +At one time, of the early settlement of Western Kansas, Indian Territory +and Western Texas, there were no mail routes established except between +the military posts, Fort Dodge, Kansas, Fort Elliot, Texas, Camp Supply, +Fort Reno and Fort Sill, I. T. About this time, 1870, Dodge City, Kansas, +sprang into existence, and became the Mecca for the cowmen of the +Southwest, and like Rome, all roads led to it. If mail was wanted, or +trading was necessary, one had to go from fifty to seventy-five miles for +the purpose, and in no case less than twenty, as the S. F. R. R. had a +land grant of twenty miles on each side of the roadway, and one could not +homestead inside of that limit more than eighty acres, and that is why +settlers who wanted 160 acres went farther out. + +In making those trips two neighbors usually went together, leaving their +families in one place until their return. Their outfit for the journey +consisted generally of a few blankets, a shot gun, a Winchester, a coffee +pot, a frying pan, tow lariat ropes to picket out the horses, and a box of +axle grease. The time required for the trip from three to five days and +sometimes longer, owing to the distance and condition of the roads. There +were no hotels on the way. In fact, there was nothing but the open +prairie, and when it came to camping out time they picketed out the +horses, gathered some buffalo chips for a fire, made coffee and flapjacks, +fried some bacon and then satisfied their appetites with the fare at hand. +Supper over, they discussed prospects for the future and then rolled up in +their blankets for a good sound sleep with nothing to disturb them but the +howling of the coyotes that were around looking for something to eat. At +times something would stampede a herd of antelopes and in their mad flight +they would create a noise like the roll of distant thunder. One thing that +was in the favor of the camper-out was that it seldom rained and any dust +that was made on the trail was blown away, leaving the way as clean as a +pavement. The wind generally blew from the South for four days at a time, +or thereabouts, at a rate of about forty miles an hour, and then returned +at the same rate from the North. + +On a trip of this kind, one became the messenger and delivery boy for all +the neighbors. It was mail for one, paregoric for another, Epsom Salts for +a third, and tobacco, coffee, sugar and other commodities which they were +in need of at the time the journey was undertaken. The return of the +expedition was looked forward to with as much interest and anxiety as is +the return of the Cunard steamer at the port of New York. Each day found +the children on the hillside watching and waiting for the return of the +dear ones, and night was made hideous by the howling of the family +watchdog wailing over the absence of his master. The neighbors, too, +shared the general feeling and called several times a day to see if any +tidings had been received of them, or if there was anything they stood in +need of. + +The next step in the way of progress was to sink a well. This was a +necessity of the first degree, as the early settlers were compelled to +haul water from the distant creeks, or rivers, in barrels, and the quality +of the supply was not very high class. The presence of a well near at hand +would solve the problem and at the same time save a lot of time which +would naturally be required to bring it from a distance. The task was the +work of two men, as the well had to be sunk from one hundred to one +hundred and twenty-five feet before water could be found that would meet +the needs of the situation. One man could not do the work alone, so a +neighbor lent his assistance. By means of a derrick and a cheap mule +purchased for the purpose they raised the water when the well was dug. The +animal was left at the well and each man that went to draw water was to +see to it that his muleship did not suffer from want of attention. + +The above were only a few of the difficulties that the pioneer encountered +in his endeavor to get a start in life. Those who came to the country in +'79 or the early 80's found difficulties in abundance. As it rained very +little during those years, their means were soon exhausted, and a great +many were forced through necessity to abandon their claims and return East +in search of employment. All would have been compelled to go were it not +for the carcasses left by the buffalo hunters who had taken nothing but +the hide and the hump. Buffalo bones were worth about $14 per ton, and the +pioneers that remained gathered them up and hauled them to market at +Dodge City. It took from eight to ten days to gather and market a load of +bones. This source of revenue, while not very remunerative, served as an +opportunity for them to keep body and soul together. By the time the bones +began to disappear entirely, they had succeeded in getting some land in a +state of cultivation and raised a fair crop of millet, sorghum and Kaffir +corn, crops adapted to the dry climate. Besides these things, a few +chickens and a cow or two relieved the situation a great deal. Most of the +old-timers who had the courage to stay, or rather lacked the means of +getting away, are today in good circumstances, and the land that was then +almost a desert, is now as productive as any in the United States. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Santa Fe Trail; How It Was Obtained; Freighting, Etc. + + +The man who enlists in the army under the influence of patriotic speeches +delivered by some great orator, accompanied by a brass band, has no +conception of the nerve, energy and enterprise that was required of the +first man who popped his bull-whip over the backs of his oxen at little +old Westport on the banks of the Missouri River, and shouted to his men, +"Come on, boys, we are bound for Santa Fe." There were no mile posts +before him to direct him on his way, and no scouts in advance to warn him +of impending dangers. There was nothing before but the open prairie, +trackless as the ocean, but onward he pressed across the unmarked plains, +over hills and canyons, across creeks and rivers, until he reached his +destination. His whole route lay through dangers from hostile tribes who, +if not on the warpath one day, were liable to be on the next. Everybody +was supposed to sleep with one eye open, otherwise he would be likely to +wake up in an unknown land, while his poor habitation of clay would be +left minus part of its thatch. Such were the conditions confronting the +heroes who opened up the trail and made it possible for the immigrants to +take Horace Greeley's advice to "Go West and grow up with the country." It +is true that there was a great profit in the freighting business in the +early days, but the difficulties and dangers were proportionally great. +The Indian was not the only risk--there was the prairie fire, the Texas +fever, and numerous other dangers confronting one at every step. When the +Texas fever seized the cattle, as the ox teams were called, the game was +up. I knew one man who drove into Dodge City with over a hundred head of +fine work oxen, and in less than six weeks he did not have enough stock +left to pull the empty wagons out of town, such was the fatal results of +the Texas fever. + +The prairie fire could be handled in most cases if it caught in the short +prairie or buffalo grass. All that was necessary was to start a back fire, +drive onto the burned space and wait until the head fire had passed. But +if it caught one in the river, or creek bottoms, where the grass grew from +four to six feet high, the only hope lay in flight with the chances very +much against one. + +Such were the principal difficulties to be encountered on the trail. There +were others of a less serious nature, but, nevertheless, very irksome and +sometimes dangerous, such as bogging down in the quicksand while crossing +a river, or creek. If the sand was not thoroughly packed by driving the +cattle back and forth over it before driving into it with a wagon, one was +liable to lose a wagon or two, and possibly the entire outfit. + +Freighting soon became quite an important industry. New trails were laid +off from the little towns that sprang up along the Santa Fe trail to the +different ranches in the Territory and Texas. The price paid for +freighting was at one time two to three dollars per hundred pounds, to the +Panhandle ranches. I have seen a train of wagons half a mile long going to +the Panhandle. It was about this time that the great American promoter, or +capitalist, came out of the jungles with a railroad scheme, went before +Congress and begged assistance for the infant industry. The idea was to +build the Santa Fe R. R. westward from Kansas City, and they could not +afford to do it without a land grant. It is needless to say that they +received it. It consisted of each alternate section for twenty miles on +each side of the track. The same railroad at about the same period gave +birth to another railroad (they came near being twins.) That is the branch +that runs southward through Kansas and the Indian Territory, through the +richest oil field in America. It is needless to say that they got this +grant through Congress also. I may here remark that I have watched our +legislators for a number of years and have never seen them make any +special effort to protect the farmer's infant industry, though the farmer +outnumbers the promoter and the capitalist five hundred to one. The same +can be said of the mechanic's infant industry. + +Moreover, it is to be noted that in a time of national distress, it is the +farmer and the mechanic who take their places in the ranks of the army to +fight the battle of the country. I have seen Congress take a hand in the +protection of the cattlemen in the Cherokee Strip, but at the same time +there was a certain Senator from Kansas who had interests there and who +wished that tract of land to remain a sort of "No Man's Land" for the sole +benefit of himself and the Cattle Syndicate in which he was very much +interested. This condition endured for fourteen years. During this time +Payne and Couch organized a colony of settlers or "Nesters" as they were +called, and set a movement on foot to take up some of that land, and +establish their homes. Although it was unclaimed land, as soon as the +settlers had their little homes built and things in shape to take up the +burden of their lives, the soldiers through the influence of the Cattle +Syndicate swooped down upon them, arrested the settlers, tore down their +houses, and drove the offending parties back across the Kansas line. +Through all these discouraging conditions the settlers maintained the +fight and finally won out against the powerful Syndicate, but at what a +cost! Payne was arrested and taken to Fort Smith, handcuffed like a +criminal, and was held there for a long time but was not given a trial, as +there were no legal grounds for his arrest. Poor Payne did not live to +enjoy the fruits of his labors for the early settlers, but he made it +possible for them to make homes for themselves and enjoy them in peace, +unmolested by the powerful Syndicate and those who were in league with +them. Were it not for the fight put up by Payne and Couch, the land now +occupied by homes of thousands of happy and contented farmers would now be +the grazing ground of cattle owned by the Syndicate. Verily the wheels of +Justice move slowly when the interests of the poor man are at stake. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +The Freight Outfit on the Trail.--The Difficulties and Hardships +Endured.--Different Kinds of Outfits, Etc. + + +The freighter's team was composed of from four to six yokes of oxen, +sometimes more, driven by one man called a "bullwhacker." The train +consisted of a "lead" wagon and one or two "trail" wagons. The "lead" +wagon, being the heaviest and largest, usually carried a load of about +five tons. The "trailers" were loaded considerably lighter, carrying about +two or three tons each. In ascending steep hills, or crossing streams, the +"trail" wagons were usually "dropped" if the conditions of the road +demanded it. If the river crossing was quicksandy the cattle were taken +out and driven back and forth across the stream until the quicksand was +packed sufficiently to be considered safe. This decision was left to the +judgment of the foreman, or the "boss" of the train. Then the wagons were +taken across one by one until the whole outfit was landed safely on the +opposite side. + +The old-time freighter invariably crossed the streams in the afternoon or +evenings, for two reasons. First, the teams, whether oxen or mules, would +pull much better in the evening than when hitched up fresh in the morning +as they usually had sore shoulders, and in the morning were very reluctant +to go against the yoke or collar in a very heavy pull. Secondly, it might +rain during the night and the rivers or streams would become so swollen +that passing would be impossible, and they would be compelled to remain in +camp until the streams returned to their usual shallow condition. + +The foreman always kept one or two saddle horses, a pair of forty-five +six-shooters, a Winchester, and a slicker, as it was one of his duties to +ride a few miles in advance of the train to pick out the crossings and to +avoid all difficulties of the journey, and to keep the teamsters posted +on the best route to follow. Very frequently the foreman kept the +commissary department of the train supplied with fresh meat, as deer, +antelope and other large game were plentiful, and the prairie was +literally covered with buffalo. It was no difficult matter to kill such +game, as they were unacquainted with the sound of a gun, or the sight of +man, which condition changed as they soon learned that the proximity of a +man spelled danger and consequently they became very wild. When a buffalo +or deer was killed, it was skinned and the hide salted and taken along for +use, or to sell. The hide of the antelope was considered worthless. The +meat that was not intended for immediate use was cut into strips, dipped +in salt water and hung on a line or the wagon bows to dry and was then +preserved for future use. Flies never bothered meat treated in this +manner. Such meat was said to be "jerked," and would remain in good +condition for use for over a year. + +The outfits usually made a journey of about twelve miles a day, as it was +impossible to carry enough feed along for the stock and have at the same +time room enough for the freight. Consequently, it was necessary to graze +the stock, which required a considerable time and caused much delay. It +was necessary also to have the cattle graze during the daytime owing to +the fact that the Indians had a penchant for stampeding a herd at night +and running it off to parts unknown for their own use. As a result of this +condition, what traveling was done was accomplished in one shift, as it +would require too much time and trouble to hitch up twice in the same day. +At times, when the grazing was exceptionally good, the freighter remained +in such a place for some time, as some of the stock would be footsore and +besides the wagons needed greasing, the harness and the rest of the outfit +had to be examined and repairs made where needed, sore shoulders had to be +given medical treatment, and, in fine, everything had to be done to keep +the expedition in proper shape. The teamsters particularly spent +considerable of their spare time in looking after their own accoutrements, +as it was a matter of pride with a teamster to have his implements in +proper condition. The whip to the teamster was the same as the rifle to +the soldier. It had to be looked after with care. New tips, called +"poppers," or "crackers," had to be provided. The lash, usually about +twelve feet in length, required considerable skill in the handling of it. +A green hand was as likely to wrap it around his own neck as to hit the +object intended to receive the blow. The whip in the hands of an expert +was a different weapon, and he could perform wonders with it. I have seen +drivers wrap the tip of their whip around the neck of a prairie chicken or +a grouse and jerk it into the wagon without leaving their seats. If it +were necessary some of them could tear a patch of hide off the side of a +refractory mule with the deftness of a surgeon. + +In going into camp there was one rule that the old-timers always lived up +to rigidly, and that was to form a corral by driving one part of the +wagons to the right and the other part to the left, making the two lead +wagons meet and forming a circle with the trail wagons six or eight feet +apart. The space thus left open served the purpose of a gate, and they +usually made their beds inside the corral. The stock was usually held +inside the corral for the night, or if permitted to graze were driven in +to be hitched. If any of them proved unruly, they were usually roped and +drawn up to the wagon while being yoked and harnessed. In case of an +attack by the Indians the corral offered a good protection for the men as +well as the stock. + +The third trail wagon attached to some of the teams was never as heavy nor +loaded as heavily as the others, but was used as a sort of trap-wagon or +"catch-all" for all the extras that were brought along to supply the place +of any of the parts that were broken or suffered damage. Each man looked +after his traps and particularly his own bed, consisting of a blanket. +When not in use it was rolled up and carried in the trap wagon. + +With each large outfit there was a night herder, or a horse wrangler. It +was his duty to go out with the stock during the night and bring them into +the corral in the morning. In case the Indians were on the warpath or were +reported near at hand, he had to stand guard over the outfit, as the stock +in such a case would be left in the corral until daylight. This system was +maintained by all outfits, whether they drove oxen or mules. + +The cowman's outfit was entirely different. He never used more than two +wagons, one the lead wagon, and the other the trail, to carry his supplies +and cooking utensils. He always used mules or horses in preference to +oxen, as oxen were too slow for the needs of his business. The trail wagon +was used principally for carrying bedding. In the rear of it there was a +cupboard, or grub box, built about three feet in height and fastened to +the wagon by means of bolts. The door of the cupboard, instead of swinging +as in ordinary articles of the kind, swung downwards and was used as a +dining table. The interior of the cupboard was so arranged that the dishes +could be safely stored away together with some canned goods, if it were +possible to obtain the latter, as they were seldom seen in the early days +along the trail. Outside of the necessary articles required for the +journey, nothing else was carried, so that the cowman and his party had +little opportunity to enjoy any luxuries. As supply points were few and +far between, the price of goods, especially bacon, baking powder, salt, +tobacco and other essentials was very high. The lead wagon was used for +general supplies, and it required an abundance of the same to carry the +outfit from one replenishing point to another. I am speaking here of what +is called "through herds," that is, herds on the way to market. + +While provisions were scarce and difficult to obtain, it is a remarkable +fact that the ranchers never tried to improve the situation in any +appreciable degree. They never planted a garden. No vegetables ever +appeared at mess excepting, once in a while, potatoes and onions. +Nevertheless, all kinds of garden produce might have been had at a very +small outlay, and with very little labor, but the average, and you might +say, all the cowboys had an aversion for anything that had the appearance +of farming, which they considered degrading. I have been at a number of +ranches that maintained from twenty-five to thirty thousand head of cattle +and did not see a pound of butter or a drop of milk on the table. Eggs, +chickens and fresh pork were unknown to them. In fact, they produced +nothing but cattle and considered everything else unimportant. + +When the railroad was extended to Dodge City, that place became the +shipping point for the beef-cattle of the whole Southwest. When that +assembling point was established to supply the Eastern market, it relieved +the tedium and difficulties of an overland journey to Kansas City. As a +consequence of this, the cattle industry in Indian Territory received an +impetus, and many cattlemen moved into that district from Colorado and +Texas, and established themselves along the North and South Canadian +rivers and their tributaries. Quite a number of them became very wealthy +in a few years owing to the rise in the price of beef and the low cost of +production. While some of them grew wealthy through taking advantage of +the natural resources, others lost all they possessed owing to the severe +winters, lack of protection for their stock and an insufficient supply of +food for their herds. The result of their misfortune was that they slipped +back among the vast army of the luckless ones and were seldom heard of, +while those who had the foresight to provide against all the contingencies +of the uncertain climate by putting up hay in the summer time and +protecting their ranches from the destructive prairie fires, prospered +handsomely. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +No Man's Land.--First Settlers.--Branding Mavericks, Etc. + + +About the year 1878, as the last buffalo was about to disappear, the +hunters were compelled to seek some new field of labor, or devote their +attention to some other occupation. It was about this time that the first +house was erected in what is now called Beaver City, the county seat of +Beaver county, Oklahoma. At that time the county was unsurveyed, and a +man's possessions were limited to what land he could use, or furnish +cattle to graze upon, as there was plenty for everybody, and no need of +disputing ownership. + +I shall briefly mention a few of the earliest settlers. + +Two ex-hunters, Jim Lane and Nels Cary, brought their families and built a +sod house. With an eye to business, they put up hay and built corrals for +the accommodation of freighters and cattlemen. Seeing their way open to +further development, they put in a stock of groceries and provisions of +all kinds, and were soon doing a flourishing business by providing for the +wants of man and beast. + +The Healy Brothers came from Galveston with their herds of cattle, and +located their ranch on the North bank of Beaver Creek, where their efforts +were crowned with success. + +The Kramer Brothers, Lou and Frank, with a brother-in-law, Mr. Hooker, +established a ranch west of Beaver City and also another one on Clear +Creek, where they devoted their time and attention to the improvement of +their stock by raising thoroughbred cattle. + +The Cader Brothers, formerly engaged in the hunting business, chose for +themselves a ranch on Paladuro Creek and met with great success, if rumor +is to be believed. + +Colonel Hardesty, more familiarly known as Old Jack, established two +ranches, one in Beaver county and another on the Cimmaron river, which +were known as the "Hardesty" and "Smith" ranches, and at one time claimed +to have forty thousand head of cattle. + +Another successful ranchman of those early days was John George, who is +still residing in the district where he met with such success. After the +opening of Oklahoma Territory for settlement, he was chosen to represent +his district in the Oklahoma legislature, and was one of the very few +members thereof who gave complete satisfaction to his constituents. He was +a staunch Democrat, an honest and upright man, just the kind that was +sorely needed in the Territorial Legislature at that time, and of which +there was a lamentable scarcity. + +Fred Tainter, of Boston, Massachusetts, established a ranch on Cottonwood +Creek, and bred a fine grade of stock. He remained in those parts for +years. + +There were many others who succeeded in attaining success in the business +of raising cattle, but I mention only a few of the most successful ones. + +I here mention another branch of the ranching business that met with great +difficulties in its day and which, to the cowman, was most unwelcome. The +Tarbox Brothers, Rufe and Wall, moved in with a drove of sheep from +Colorado and settled on the Cimmaron river. A sheepman is always received +with scant courtesy in a cattle country. There has always been ill feeling +between the sheepman and the cattleman, and in the trouble that generally +ensued on their meeting, the sheepman was the one to move to other +quarters. In fact, even if the cattlemen were left out of consideration, +the sheepmen would be compelled to move by force of circumstances, as +sheep are very destructive feeders, and soon ruin the range for themselves +as well as for the cattle. In a very short time after their arrival, +every vestige of grass will disappear from the range, and the prairie +will be converted into a desert. The reason lies in the fact that the +sheep crop the grass into the ground and cut up the soil with their hoofs +so that the high wind which invariably blows drives the sand before it, +cutting off the new grass that may spring up. This, together with the long +dry periods, soon kills out the roots, and the prairie is left a waste. +Moreover, cattle will not eat off the range that has been grazed over by +sheep, so of the two industries it was a case of the survival of the +fittest. + +The struggle between the cattlemen and the sheepmen was little, if any, +short of war. This condition existed for many years in Texas, Indian +Territory, Western Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and in all of +the states adapted to the raising of stock. The usual arguments advanced +by both sides of the question, in order to determine who was to hold any +particular section, generally sounded like the exhausts of a few racing +automobiles. One of the sufferers of misfortune due to the habitual state +of hostility between the two industries was the firm of Tarbox brothers, +who gave up the business of raising sheep, moved to Dodge City, Kansas, +where Rufe was afterwards elected Mayor. + +As the most desirable location for the establishment of a ranch was along +the creeks and rivers, through the necessity of having plenty of water for +the stock, and as the rivers and creeks were few and far between, all the +choice sections were soon taken up. + +As none of the ranchers cared to venture into the semi-arid plains that +lay between the far distant sources of their water supply, and being +equally unwilling to depend upon the deep wells that would be required if +they would branch out into the open flat lands around them, they left that +part of the prairie for the small farmer, or the "nester," as they called +them. + +Each cattleman had his own private brand which was duly registered and was +known to every other cattleman in the entire West. They were, also, very +careful to employ the said brand on all cattle, mules and horses, and any +young stock that had been weaned and was not running with the mother was +classified as a maverick and belonged to the first man who put his brand +upon them. + +There were many men who became very wealthy in the cattle country, whose +sole assets in the beginning were, a branding iron, a rope, a pony and a +saddle. They branded mavericks, and the natural increase of their original +find belonged to them also. In this way, in a very short time, they +accumulated quite a herd. Then, by establishing their headquarters +somewhere, they became full-fledged ranchers without the outlay of any +capital whatever. This was successful as long as they were not caught, but +woe to the man whose brand was upon a calf that was running with a cow +that carried another brand. The meanest way such men had of carrying on +their nefarious trade was to kill the mother cow after the calf was old +enough to live on grass, brand the calf and run it off to another part of +the range. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +The Round-Up.--Difficulties.--Some Incidents, Etc. + + +Every Spring and Fall occurred the general round-up, which consisted of +all the cattlemen in the country, who assembled all the cattle found on +the ranges in which they were interested. They rounded them up, or bunched +them at a common center in different districts, each ranch being +represented at each place. All the increase was branded and marked by the +owner, the ownership being decided by the brand borne by the mother cow. +The beef-cattle were cut out and shipped. Here occurred at times a +combination of forces. Ranchers two or more in number lumped their herds +together, and drove them to market, each one bearing his proportion of the +expense, and receiving his proceeds in accordance with the number of +cattle in his part of the drove. + +Between round-ups it was surprising how the cattle would drift. Even +though the cowboys took all precautions, when the round-up came there was +always a great mix-up in the brands, some of the stock having wandered as +far as two hundred miles from its own ranch. These, when found, were +separated and thrown back on their own range. During the summer while the +cattle were grazing, the rancher usually put up hay for the season when +the grass would be covered with snow. As soon as the Fall round-up was +completed, sheds were erected and windbreaks made to protect the stock +from the inclemency of the "Northers" as the storms were at that time +called. + +A few buffalo that had escaped the hunters still remained on the range, +and frequently furnished diversion for the cowboy during the dull season. +It was his sport and, at the same time, a test of his skill, to rope a +buffalo calf and bring it to the ranch to be mothered by an old cow that +already was devoting her time and energy to raising a young one of her +own. Then was displayed the motherly instinct for the protection of one's +own. As soon as the young buffalo was introduced to his foster-mother +there ensued a vigorous protest against the additional burden imposed upon +her by the scheming of others. Strenuosity was displayed at all angles, +particularly fore and aft, in her efforts to rid herself of the new-found +charge. She kicked and hooked and kicked again till kicking was a failure. +The more she objected, the more the self-adopted buffalo persisted in +devoting his time and attention to her. Once he had a taste of that cow's +milk he hung to her with all the persistency and tenacity of an Oklahoma +office-seeker, and she finally submitted with more or less bad grace to +the inevitable, and consented to act as mother to the mascot of the +ranch. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Beaver County.--Peculiar Conditions in Vogue.--Good Men and Bad.--The +Vigilantes.--Personal Experiences. + + +About the year 1876, if I remember rightly, the U. S. Government made an +appropriation to have Beaver county surveyed. The contract was let and the +county divided up into sections or townships, each six miles square, and +zinc monuments were erected at the corners of each, but as the +appropriation was insufficient to meet the costs of the survey, the work +was abandoned for a considerable time, and it was not till some years +later that the completion of the undertaking took place. + +It soon became known that there was no law in that section of the country; +nor had the U. S. Government any control over, nor authority to arrest +criminals, nor even to prosecute them there. Consequently it soon became +the dumping grounds for fugitives from justice and criminals of all kinds. +Saloon men who had been paying license for the sale of intoxicating +liquors, ceased contributing to the general fund, but continued to deal +out their wares with impunity. One man built a still and manufactured his +own whiskey and did a flourishing business, although he had to freight his +corn from Kansas to produce his wares. To give honor where honor is due, I +must confess that he produced a very good quality. + +There was considerable immigration into this county in '79 and '80, as +most of the desirable land in Kansas had been pre-empted. Hundreds of good +men and women came in and selected homes, and those who could not find +locations along the water courses went out into the flat prairie lands, +erected houses, fenced their fields to protect them against the range +cattle, broke up as much land as they could conveniently handle, and made +what improvements their means would permit. As soon as the neighbors +became acquainted with one another, they organized Sunday Schools, held +meetings at some convenient place weekly, divided the districts into +school sections and built schools. Each school house served the purpose of +a meeting house for Sunday services as well as for any other business that +required a meeting of the people. In a short time the county began to +develop the earmarks of civilization. + +Following in the footsteps of those law-abiding citizens came a class of +criminals who migrated from their native heaths expecting immunity from +the punishment due to the crimes they had committed, and which caused +their departure to this haven of refuge. Nor did they abstain from their +criminal pursuits while in this "refugium peccatorum," or asylum of the +wicked. As soon as they had become familiar with the topography of the +county, and, as they were too lazy to work, they soon took up their old +practice of lying in wait for the unsuspecting and carrying off his goods +when possible. They usually drifted from one ranch to another pretending +to look for work, and imposed upon the hospitality of the rancher, who +provided for their wants free of charge as long as they cared to remain. I +may here remark that the hospitality of the Western people has never been +surpassed, and I may say, never equalled. A cowman considered himself +insulted if one should leave or pass his ranch at meal time without +partaking of his hospitality. Not only this, but as nothing was ever +locked up, it was considered the proper etiquette if no one were at home, +to enter and help oneself to his supplies and to make oneself perfectly at +home. No one was ever asked whence he came or whither he was going. If he +volunteered the information without being asked, it was received, and if +not given the result was the same, namely, no questions asked. In this way +it was a very easy matter for the criminal to gain an intimate knowledge +of conditions, which they used to their own advantage later on to the +detriment of people generally. They did not confine their depredations to +Beaver county only, nor to No-Man's Land, but thoroughly organized +themselves into bands and extended their nefarious business to Western +Kansas, Indian Territory, and West Texas. Those who actually stole stock +from the farms and ranches, usually took them a few miles and passed them +on to their companions in crime, so that no familiar face was absent from +the scene of the theft, and thus they avoided suspicion. When a settler's +stock was stolen, he very seldom had the slightest idea of the direction +to be taken to recover them, and in most cases was financially unable to +make an extended search in any direction. Many a time the loss of a few +head of cattle meant all that he had, wiping out his whole accumulation of +years of hard work and privation and just at a time when he began to see +better times ahead as he was getting something to work with. This +condition of affairs could not be permitted to continue, and while the +means employed by the settlers to terminate this organized pilfering, and +at the same time make some return to the culprit for the wrongs suffered +at his hands, may seem hard to the people who were never subjected to +conditions such as prevailed in that country, they were as a matter of +fact nothing more nor less than cold-blooded Justice. Those who are +ignorant of the conditions must remember that the loss of a milch cow +meant the principal part of his family's support, and his wife and +children were thus put in a state of actual want thereby, and as there +were no means of obtaining legal redress for such losses, they had the law +of self-preservation to guide them and from it there was no appeal. + +At this point the idea forced itself upon the settlers that they must +organize, as it was a physical impossibility to combat a well-regulated +band of outlaws single-handed; so, after calling a meeting of the best +citizens and discussing the matter carefully, it was decided to organize a +Vigilance Committee and see what effect the hanging of a few of the +"rustlers" would have upon the remainder of them, and at the same time how +it would affect the welfare of the settlers. The moral effect of the +organization of the Committee resulted in checking to a certain degree the +depredations of the criminals, but it did not wipe it out entirely. A +great many of the more timid ones abandoned their evil ways, but the more +daring were willing to take a chance and abide by the consequences, which +several of them experienced. The Vigilantes occupied the positions of +Sheriff, Judge, Jury and Executioner, and when a culprit was caught +red-handed his case was summarily disposed of in about thirty minutes, +except for the funeral and burial services, which were left usually for +anybody that cared to participate in them. + +I had a ranch in Texas during those troublous times, and was one time +wintering a herd of cattle near Fowler City, Kansas. Consequently I had to +make a number of trips through that unsettled district, sometimes on +horseback and at others in a buckboard, and it seemed almost invariably my +good or bad fortune, as you wish to call it, to enter some place or other +at a time when a tragedy was being enacted. + +I was once crossing in a buckboard in the direction of Englewood, Kansas, +with a consignment of eggs that were beginning to suffer breakage owing to +the roughness of the journey, and I began to look for a place to dispose +of them to some settler. I soon reached a place that bore the sign, +"Groceries," and there sold my eggs, bought some tobacco and a few other +necessaries. While talking to the store-keeper, I noticed a group of men +at another sod building, and I inquired of him what they were doing. "Oh, +nothing much. They have just been hanging a man over there." I asked him +what the unfortunate had done. "Well," said he, "he has been stealing +horses." I went out to water my horses just as a part of the group were +passing. Recognizing two of them I inquired of them what the fellow had +done and where they had arrested him. They replied he had been stealing +horses both in the neighborhood and in Clark county, Kansas. The sheriff +had followed his trail and caught him South of where we were then, and was +taking him back to Kansas. He was bringing him through that section and +they took him away from the sheriff and hanged him. I asked him if he did +not think the punishment rather severe. He replied that he did not think +so, and besides there was no use of letting the sheriff take all the +trouble of bringing him back to Kansas where the judges would turn him +loose in ninety days and then he would be back at his criminality again. +Mike Shrugrue was the name of the sheriff who had the prisoner in charge, +and a braver man was not to be found in the State of Kansas, but he could +not stand off the Vigilantes. To attempt anything of the kind was to +invite disaster. It would be only throwing away another life needlessly, +as the one was doomed under any circumstances. + +The difference between the Vigilantes and a mob must be thoroughly +understood to be appreciated. The one stood for law and order, was +organized from necessity, as there was not any law than theirs, and was +approved of by the residents of the country in which they operated in the +interests of justice; the other, the mob, is a hot-headed, angry, or +rather frenzied crowd that usually defeats the claims of justice by taking +the law into its own hands in most cases where the law would handle the +case in a more satisfactory manner, if allowed to take its course. This +mode of procedure is always condemned by the better class of citizens, +while the actions of the Vigilantes, who were, with few exceptions, of the +better class, were performed usually through stern necessity, rather than +from anger. The trial given was usually very short. In most cases the +guilt was very clear, as the criminal was nearly always taken manifest, +as he was usually taken in the act of committing a crime. If the prisoner +had a plausible story to tell, it was investigated before any further +proceedings took place. If he happened to be one of the notorious class of +criminals, which was commonly the case, the culprit was given short +shrift. Neither mode of procedure is to be recommended as the safest +course to attain the ends of justice. + +The greatest difficulty to be met with in the interest of justice, was in +handling the cases of "rustlers," as there were always some of the same +ilk on hand to prove a complete alibi. Fifty men could be assembled on a +day's notice to prove that the accused was a hundred miles away from the +scene of the crime when it was committed. As a consequence of this, most +of the accused were released, or, if caught red-handed in their rascality, +were admitted to bail, which was furnished by their companions in crime, +and then they forfeited the bail and took leave to parts unknown. + +My next experience occurred not long afterwards while making a trip from +Timms City, Texas, across the country to the Fred Taintor ranch. On this +occasion my family accompanied me in the then up-to-date means of travel, +namely, a lumber wagon. The trail was in good condition and we were making +good time. One day, about dinner time, I was keeping a lookout for a good +camping place for the purpose of supplying the needs of both the family +and the cattle. It was impossible to build a fire, as the wind was blowing +a gale, and the prairie was very dry and a fire would likely spread and +lay waste the whole county. Seeing the impossibility of camping, though I +had found a suitable place, I determined to push on to some ranch where +our wants would be supplied. I knew where a man by the name of Kingston, +from Illinois, had put up a small frame building and had laid in a stock +of groceries. I finally reached the object of my search and when +approaching the store I had to pass another building occupied by a family. +As I was passing a woman stepped out and asked me if I was going to the +store. I replied that I was, and told her what my business was there. She +informed me that it was of no use as Mr. Kingston had been murdered the +evening before. She showed me where they were burying him at that moment. +She also informed me that one of the bullets fired at Mr. Kingston had +passed under the cow she happened to be milking at the time. It is +needless to say that I did not tarry long in that neighborhood, but went +on until I finally reached the Taintor ranch, where the latch string +always hung on the outside of the door. The reception we had and the +supper provided soon made us forget that we had had no dinner. After a +good night's rest we proceeded on our way to sunny Kansas. + +In the meantime I had learned the circumstances leading up to the Kingston +tragedy. It appeared that Mr. K--had received through the mail a draft for +several hundred dollars and the Postmaster had mentioned the fact to a +neighbor. The conversation had been overheard by two cut-throats who +waited until they thought it had been cashed and then hatched up a plan to +murder him for his money. It seemed from the appearance of things inside +the house that they had intended to hang him so as to give it the +appearance of suicide and then get away with the cash. The room was not +ceiled and a rope was found hanging over a joist with a noose in one end. +While making their preparations it seemed that he had broken away from +them and had reached the prairie in front of the store, where they shot +him. + +Someone has said that the way of the transgressor is hard, and in this +instance it proved undoubtedly correct, for the Vigilants set out after +those men, ran them down in the brakes of a creek and sent sixteen bullets +through one of them; the other escaped and made his way to Dodge City, +Kan., where he proceeded to fill up on whiskey and made other arrangements +to take in the town. The City Marshall's opinion was that the town was too +small for two men to run at the same time, especially as one was a +stranger who had not been duly elected for the position. As a result, a +gun argument was introduced to settle the question and the bad man was +killed in the first round. His funeral occurred next day with all the +ceremonies befitting a man of his calling and he was interred on +"Boot-hill" without flowers on his casket, or tears shed over his demise. +It turned out afterwards that Mr. Kingston had not cashed the draft, so +all the money that the rogues obtained by murder and robbery was what was +in the cash drawer at the time. + +The Vigilants, for the time being, performed valuable services for the +settlers and were largely instrumental in driving out of that country a +lot of thugs, thieves, and cut-throats, who were preying upon the people. +But, strange to say, time proved that some of themselves were not entirely +above suspicion, as the following incident will show. One day as I was +riding along the divide between Kiowa Creek and the Beaver, I met a man +whom I recognized to be Jake Smith. I use the name Smith for convenience, +as that was not his name, and I do not care to use his rightful cognomen +as he left that country shortly afterwards, went over to Kansas, married a +nice girl, went into business and became a leader socially and a pillar in +the Church, is generally respected and is living an upright life. Knowing +him well, I hailed him. + +"Well, Jake," I said, "your horse looks pretty well jaded, you must have +had a long ride." + +Said he, "Oh, that's nothing. I must ride to Alpine tonight as there is to +be a meeting of the Vigilants at eight o'clock and I want to be there." + +"Do you belong to the Vigilants?" I asked. + +"Why, yes," he replied. "I was one of the first to join them and have been +working with them ever since." + +"Well, Jake," said I, "you're a jewel, a regular diamond. You know that +you have been stealing cattle and branding 'mavericks' ever since you +landed in this country, and all the old-timers know it, and now you are +running your horse to death to catch a rustler. That is a great joke!" + +"I see plainly that you do not understand," said he. "The situation is +this: I had to join them for self-protection and also to look after the +interests of my friends. Talk of running my horse to death! I have just +been returning a favor. I have just been up to the head of Clear Creek to +tell Slim Jim to skip, because if they catch him he will stretch hemp for +stealing Old Dusenberry's mules, and besides, Slim ain't no bad fellow +when he has a good paying job." + +I have never had the pleasure of meeting Jake since, but if I ever visit +Kansas I shall be certain to call and see him to find out how he managed +to keep from stealing his own goods and hiding them out in the canyons, +through force of habit after having resolved to leave other men's chattels +alone. + +It seemed to be the custom whenever a small settlement was formed, for +some one to put up a grocery store, locate a postoffice and call it by +some high-sounding title and establish the nucleus of a city. For +instance, there was Boyd City, Beaver City, Benton City, Alpine City, +Neutral City, and Gate City, mostly located on the divides, or flat +prairie lands on the established trails. "Sod Town," whose name was not so +high-sounding as descriptive, soon sprang into existence as the Monte +Carlo, or sporting center of the whole country. It was there at round-up +time, each spring and fall, that the boys were accustomed to meet and run +their horses, discuss matters of common interest, and, in general, to have +a good time. As nearly every ranch had a fast horse or two, also a prize +roper, whenever the convention took place, things were bound to be lively +and at times quite a little money changed hands on the result of a horse +race, or other contest of skill. + +Among the famous horses of that day that I recall, were "Old Pumpkin," a +general favorite, "Stick-in-the-Mud," "Greasy Heels," "Wobble Shanks," and +"Sore Toes" with a dozen or so of others to select from, and each and +every one had its backers and admirers. + +Frank Biggers, Jim Mahoney, Sour-dough-Charlie, Heel-Fly Bill, Snake +Eater, and Bull Joe were generally the leading spirits at the race course, +and as Frank Biggers was a lover of fair play, he was usually chosen to +act as judge; besides, he had a manner of enforcing his decisions which +commanded respect and the compliance of the wildest and wooliest of the +assembly. + +For the benefit of the readers who are unaccustomed to the ways and +phrases of the Western people, I shall here state that the nicknames of a +great many of them were acquired from their calling, or from some incident +or occurence on the range. If one were to drop into the Panhandle country +and inquire for Mr. Chas. Deitrich, Mr. Joseph Parish, or some others who +were mostly known by nickname, I doubt very much if the inquirer would +find his man, but if he were to ask for Sour-dough Charlie, or Bull Joe, +any one could tell them at once where to find them or what their business +was. Some of the names allotted to individuals may seem rude to the elite +of the East and give the impression of vulgarity and rudeness, but on +acquaintance one would find them good, kind, and obliging men as ever +saddled a broncho or branded a maverick. The congregation at Sod Town was +composed of men who knew one another and any money won or lost was taken +as a matter of course, and there was no grief over spilt milk. Theirs was +a vigorous life and healthy outdoor sport appealed to them. When their +sport was over, they were off to the ranch again in good spirits. + +Among the early settlers of Sod Town were two young men, named Ellis and +Fiske, who opened a Grocery and Supply store. They kept a large stock of +provisions, as well as, boots, shoes, slickers, and other articles adapted +to the trade of the cattlemen. In a short time they built up a good trade +and were liked by all. One night, two bad men, or would-be road agents, +called at the store and rapped for admission. This was not at all out of +the ordinary as the cattleman's business kept him at all hours. It was +nothing unusual for him to rout out the store-keeper at any hour of the +night and have his wants supplied. On the night in question, when Ellis +heard the rapping, he donned his trousers and fortunately had his +six-shooters in his waistband. As soon as he opened the door of his store +he was commanded to put up his hands. He proceeded to do so, but in the +act of raising his hand he drew his gun and shot one of the bad men, +wounding him badly. Both turned to flee. Ellis pulled down on them in +their flight, and by the aid of light from a prairie fire that was burning +at the time, fired at the fleeing bad men and killed outright the man he +had wounded at the door. The other villian made his escape into the +darkness. Of course, Ellis was arrested and taken before the U. S. Court +for that district and was honorably discharged. He should not have been +arrested for a case of that kind, but there were milage fees to be +considered, and the marshall seldom if ever overlooked an opportunity of +the kind for increasing his wealth. I have never heard of any other bad +men calling on Ellis and Fiske in search of assistance in a financial way, +especially in the manner mentioned above. + +Sour-dough Charlie had a little ranch of his own on Wolf Creek where he +kept a few horses. He raised a few colts each year, and to fill in his odd +time he tanned deer skin, made gloves for the cow punchers, and at times +used to cook for a round-up as he was an artist in that line of work as +well as being a very entertaining fellow. His chief work of art was the +construction of sour dough bread and he had the reputation of being a +master in the work. One afternoon a cow-puncher pulled up to the wagon and +called for his chuck-a-way, and said he wanted it at once as he had to +return to the herd and stand guard while his partner came for his supply. +The cook told him he would have to wait for awhile as he did not have +things in shape to get an extra meal. Without further parley and without +any warning the puncher picked up a crock full of sour dough and struck +the cook over the head with it. The contents spilled over his head and ran +down into his eyes and mingled with his whiskers. Right then and there was +originated and conferred upon him the title of "Old Sour-dough Charlie," a +name that will remain with him as long as he lives. + +Nicknames and titles, in this county, amount to about the same thing +although conferred in different ways according to conditions. The man who +succeeded in accumulating a herd of cattle amounting to one or two hundred +was given the name of Captain. If he acquired five or six hundred, he was +addressed as Major, and a man who through good management and perseverance +numbered his stock by thousands became the "Old Colonel." There was one +very noticeable change in the habits, manners, customs and character of +the men who had acquired the title of Captain, Major, or Colonel, and that +was shown in their dress. The styles of their garments differed, they +dispensed with the snake-skin band, they changed their underwear, +frequently had their whiskers trimmed and hair cut, and occasionally +became a power in local politics. The question was never asked when and +how these men became possessed of such large herds in such short time, but +to the old-timer it was plain that the Old Colonel was a great business +man, or was an expert with the lariat and an artist with the branding +iron. + +How different is the conferring of titles in foreign lands, especially in +Great Britain, where titles have to be ratified by supreme authority and +approved of by local potentates, and even there we find some titles +resting on tottering foundations and others hang by a very slender thread +which is liable to part at any time and leave the possessor in a pitiable +mass of social wreckage. The ceremonies on such occasions are calculated +to dazzle the eye and deceive the judgement of the spectator. The +sleight-of-hand performer and the street fakir practice the same system +and the man with the three-shell game and the three card monte man are all +on the same level, but Royalty claims age and dignity wherever you find +it. When Capt. Drake returned to England after his expedition of murder, +plunder, and piracy, and his arrival was announced to the Good Queen Bess +who was on the throne at the time, she at once called for a royal banquet +to be held on board his vessel. After rounding up all her Royal +roustabouts, flunkeys, and followers, she proceeded direct to the ship +where she was going to preside in state until she had knighted the Capt., +whose hands were still red with the blood of his murdered victims. When +the time for the ceremony was at hand, at a motion of her magic wand the +Captain dropped to his knees at her feet to receive the power and +authority to take and keep any property on the seas that he felt like +confiscating; which meant any that he might be able to lay his hands on. +The ceremony consisted of laying the sword of authority across his bald +pate and telling him that henceforth he was at liberty to do as he pleased +and that he should remain her loyal subject. She then commanded him to +arise and he did so, but was so dazzled with the great honor conferred +upon him that I do not suppose he could tell whether he was a duck or a +drake. + + A prince can make a belted Knight, + A Marquis, duke, and a' that, + But an honest man's aboon his might, + Good faith he muna fa' that. + +The price of titles, like other commodities, depends greatly upon the +locality where they are granted. In England, the title cost Sir W. Raleigh +his head; in Texas, a title cost Sour-dough Charley but a few loaves of +bread. Imagine the difference. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Wild Horses; Traits; Difficulties of Catching Them; Preparations for the +Same; Personal Experiences. + + +My experience has taught me that there has not been another animal on the +plains as inquisitive and suspicious as the wild horse, or mustang, as it +is called. The early horse hunter took advantage of this characteristic +inquisitiveness to approach sufficiently close to effect his capture. This +was done by placing a wagon sheet, or a bed quilt on a stake and then +hiding in the bushes or grass in the vicinity. The hunter was compelled to +remain perfectly quiet in his lair as the slightest sound at times would +stampede the horses and render his quest futile. The mustangs, on +discovering the strange object in their neighborhood would commence to run +round and round in circles, reducing the radius of the circle each time +until finally they were within a distance of about two hundred yards of +the object of their curiosity. Then they would stand perfectly still and +that was the time there was need of caution on the part of the hunter, as +the breaking of a twig, the sound of a voice, or any slight noise that +would be likely to reach their ears, would start them off in wild affright +to return no more as long as there were any indications of disturbance in +the neighborhood. If the hunter remained quietly in hiding and gave no +sign of his presence in any manner, their curiosity would bring them back +again to make a further exploration of the strange phenomenon. In this +manner the old horse-hunter used to entice them close enough to "crease" +one of them, as it was called. This "creasing" consisted in taking a very +careful and deliberate aim with a rifle and shooting the horse in front of +the withers, through the top of the neck close to the spinal cord. This +stunned or shocked him so that he would fall in his tracks, paralyzed for +the time being, giving the hunter time, if he moved swiftly, to run from +his hiding place with his hobble-rope and hog-tie him before he recovered. +It frequently happened that the hunter arrived there too late as the horse +often recovered from his shock and was up and away before his arrival; or, +the shot being badly aimed, reached a vital spot and the horse would be +dead before he could get the hobbles on him. If everything worked out +satisfactorily, and the mustang was secured, he would place a "Hackamaw" +on his head in such a way that it could not be shaken loose in the +struggle that was bound to follow. I shall here explain that a Hackamaw is +a sort of halter, or headstall, made of the end of a lariat rope and put +on in such a manner that it holds the head of the mustang firmly without +the danger of choking the animal. When the animal was secured, the hunter +gave his partner a signal to bring up the saddle horses that were held at +a distance and out of sight so as not to scare the herd before capture. +The fun commenced in earnest when the hobbles were removed and the +captured mustang was permitted to rise. The first thing on the program was +to try to escape back to the herd. That failing, he would go on the +war-path and it took a skillful horseman and active ponies to bring him +under subjection. It usually required, at least, two, each with his lariat +attached so as to prevent the mustang's reaching the other. Several hours +of hard fighting then ensued, but in the end when the mustang was +conquered he made the toughest and wiriest of cow-ponies. + +It very frequently happened that two of these bands of wild horses met and +then trouble began. Every herd was headed by a stallion that exercised +supreme authority over the whole band at all times, and never allowed any +intruder to trespass on his rights and privileges. As a result, when two +herds encountered each other, war was at once proclaimed by the two +stallions for the complete control and management of both herds. Never did +knights of old covered with armor, go forth to battle with more dignity +and determination to protect their lady loves, or to maintain the honor of +their own good names, than was displayed by those mustang stallions. With +ears turned back and their noses to the ground, they dashed forth to the +deadly conflict. The meeting of the two champions was of the fiercest +nature. At times they fought standing on their hind feet with their teeth +sunk in each others neck, and at others they waged their mortal combat +standing on their fore feet using their hind feet as weapons of offence. +Sometimes these battles terminated fatally to one or both of the +contestants, but more frequently ended when one of the struggling brutes +became so exhausted that he was unable to continue the fight, and +acknowledged defeat by retreating to the protection of some canyon or sand +hill with his little band of mares and colts, provided the other stallion +did not have sufficient energy left to run them into his own harem leaving +his defeated adversary to a lonesome existence on the bleak prairie. + +I had an old friend at one time who followed up the pursuit of catching +wild horses for a living, and for patience and perseverence he never had +an equal among his contemporaries. He met disaster and disappointment with +unflinching energy and returned to the conflict with unabated courage. +Though the renumeration was small, there was a fascination about the work +that he could not resist. Before entering upon an expedition of this kind, +he fitted up a camping outfit consisting of a few blankets, a tarpaulin, +slicker, coffee pot, skillet, knife, fork, hobble ropes, a supply of +lariat ropes, a winchester, six-shooters, and some bacon, the latter being +taken along for grease to be used in cooking, as fresh meat was to be had +at all times. The prairies were alive with antelope, turkey, deer, and +occasionally a stray buffalo was discovered. Such buffalo, deer, and +wolves as were taken, were skinned and the hide salted for sale on the +market. He used no wagons in his business, but took two mares with him, +one to be used as a saddle pony and the other for the purpose of serving +as a pack animal. His favorite pony was called Topsy, and was the mascot +of the expedition. He had raised her and trained her from colthood and she +was trained to such a degree of perfection that she would obey the sound +of his voice, whistle, or signal given by the waving of his hat, and never +did a railway engineer, or brakeman respond with greater promptness than +did Old Topsy when she received the signal from her master. At the word of +command she would lie down or rise, and owing to this peculiarity of her +training she was frequently used as a wind shield during a cold storm from +the north, her master making his bed beside her for protection. + +Preparations for these trips were usually made in the early autumn, during +the month of September, as the heat of the summer was somewhat lessened by +that time, and he generally managed to set out when the moon was new so as +to travel by night if necessary. He was so thoroughly acquainted with the +country that he knew every creek, and canyon, every spring and waterhole +where the mustangs were accustomed to get water. He was not compelled to +scour the country for his quarry as every wild horse within a range of +five miles seemed to know by instinct the arrival of his pack animals and +ponies. Such uncertainty of knowledge did not satisfy them, but to satisfy +their curiosity they came along on the run to make an investigation into +the character of the intruders who had so uncerimoniously intruded into +their domain. By the time the huntsman had unpacked, had his camp-fire +built, and was preparing his meal, they would be encircling his camp, +running, romping, and playing. The stallion usually took the lead in these +diversions with the mares and young colts by their side trying to keep up +to his advance. Finally they would come to a standstill and remain +perfectly quiet until some noise would startle them and off they would go +pell-mell only to return and repeat their investigation into what was the +new element that was disturbing the peaceful possession of their range. +This hunter's method was different from what was usually followed by +others. It was not his intention to excite or disturb the wild horses in +any way; on the contrary his object was to get them accustomed to his +presence, get them acquainted with the domestic mares, and render them +peaceful and quiet. In a few days his object would be accomplished, and +then he proceeded to set the herd in motion to drive them back to the +settlements where they could be corraled and handled. He never permitted +them to get a moment's rest, day or night, once he had them in motion, and +as little chance to graze as possible. In the mean time he saw to it that +his own mares had every advantage possible. In a few days, such a system +could not but have its effect on the mustangs and they would as a +consequence become more docile. Gradually he got closer to them without +the danger of stampeding them, until within the course of ten days or two +weeks they showed unmistakable signs of weariness and weakness which +allowed him to get in closer touch with them. In fact, so much was he in +their presence that they came to look upon him as one of the herd. Then +took place the working out of his design. He headed Old Topsy for home +over the hills, through the canyons and creeks, never stopping for +anything, gradually moving along, slowly and quietly nursing them into +captivity. Such was the care that he exercised that he made no more than +five or ten miles a day on his straight course. At times, before the herd +became too wearied, the flight of a bird or the barking of a coyote would +stampede them and thus he would lose five or ten miles that he had gained +with so much difficulty. On he went after them, doing over again all that +had been done before. In case there were no unforeseen difficulties, or +accidents, he would finally drive them into the neighborhood of some good +strong corral where, with the permission of the proprietor, he would run +them in until such time as he would be able to hobble the leaders, which +usually required a week or more. + +A mustang is so sensitive and observing that I sometimes thought he could +count the buttons on one's clothes. In fact, I know, that should one +change his clothing while breaking one of them, he would have all the work +to do over again until the mustang became accustomed to the change. He +received everything with suspicion and even a fence-post would call for an +investigation. The corral was a new world entirely for him and it took +days of patience and perseverence to induce him to enter it. Old Topsy +would go in and out and make herself at home, but not so with her +associates, at least for quite a long time. Finally they would venture in +little by little, the hunter permitting them to pass in and out several +times before putting up the bars on them. As soon as the mustangs found +themselves unable to get out they became badly frightened and excited, +especially during the absence of the hunter. His return seemed to pacify +them very much. He had to manage them with great judgement until he +managed to hobble the leaders, which, as I said before, took days to +accomplish. + +It is true that he could have roped and hobbled them in a short time once +he had them in the corral, but this was not the way with my friend. He +said often times that once he had gained their confidence, he could not +betray it. After the mustangs had been corraled for some time and had +grown accustomed to the presence of men, then the interesting work took +place. They had to be broken to the saddle and bridle and ridden by +somebody, and I wish to state that it was a work that required an expert, +all green-horns and tenderfeet barred. Around all ranches was to be found +a man whose sole occupation was to do this work. He offered to accomplish +the task of reforming the wild mustang at from two to five dollars a head, +and he usually had the work assigned him. By the time they were broken +they were usually sold at a fair price for that class of stock while the +hunter made preparations for returning to the plains for another lot of +mustangs, a work which he seemed to enjoy. + +These mustangs did not command a very high price as most of them were too +small for cow-work, and too light for single drivers. Sometimes one could +pick up a team of these ponies and find them the toughest and wiriest +animals that were ever hitched to a buckboard. They could travel from +sunrise to sunset at ten miles an hour and never turn a hair. But viewed +from all angles the business was not a financial success and the men +engaged in it never cleared up any great amount of money, as I proved to +my own satisfaction later on. + +Before what is now called Meade County was established, there was nothing +there but the open prairie. A fence was an unknown thing except where some +settler had built one around a stack of hay to protect it from the range +cattle that were roaming the plains in great numbers in those days. It was +necessary for him to do this as a small stack of feed would be a tempting +morsel, in cold weather, to the thousands of cattle wandering loose and in +search of fodder. In case they did succeed in reaching the tempting +supply, it lasted about as long as a water melon at a negro picnic. It had +been reported on what I considered reliable authority that there was a +black stallion running on the flat between Crooked and Sandy Creeks, about +nine miles southeast of the present county seat of Meade county, Kansas. +The cowboys had often tried to capture him, but in every instance failed. +He was described to me as standing about fifteen hands high, which was +exceptionally large for a mustang, with long flowing mane and tail, and he +could trot faster than any cow-pony could run. After weighing the matter +carefully for some time I decided to go out and capture him. From the +description given, he was just what I wanted for a saddle horse. I +determined to have him provided I could enlist the services of G. W. +Brown, an old Indian scout, and former companion of the buffalo range. He +was, moreover, an expert with the lariat rope and was considered one of +the best trailers in the country. The other man I wanted, and whom I +finally succeeded in getting, was C. M. Rice, formerly of Jasper, Ind., a +veteran of the Civil war, an old and experienced plainsman who knew every +creek and trail in the country. After discussing the matter carefully in +all its different aspects, we decided to capture him regardless of trouble +and expense attached to the undertaking, even though it took all summer. +We had to take a camp wagon, grain and provisions enough to last several +weeks, as we would not be able to return for more if we happened to run +short. We took our favorite saddle ponies and started early so as to get +in operation as soon as possible. It was our intention to locate him early +in the morning and have the whole day for the first run. We were fortunate +in finding him shortly after daybreak, but his looks were rather +disappointing as he did not seem as large as he had been pictured to me by +the cowboys. However, we were there to capture him and determined to do +so. One thing favored us and that is one of the peculiarities of the +mustang, he will not leave his range unless driven from it. He will take +his departure very reluctantly and will return at the earliest +opportunity. + +Our first night was one of rest, with nothing to disturb us but the +howling of the coyotes and the bawling of the cattle. Morning found us up +early and ready for the chase. We knew it would be useless to try to catch +him on a straight run as he would have, at least, half a mile start on us. +We decided to run him in a circle, keep inside of his course, and keep him +on the run until he became jaded and exhausted and then let him get a +chance to drink his fill of water as he would surely be very thirsty after +a long gallop. The consequence of this strategy would be that the mustang +would become stiffened and it would be easy to run him down and rope him. +After making the first large circle, C. M. Rice, seeing his horse lathered +with perspiration that trickled down from the flanks of his horse, his +favorite Old Tom, decided to return to camp and prepare something to eat +for himself and us on our return. If we did not return by night-fall he +was to keep the camp-fire burning to act as a beacon for our guidance. In +order to save our horses, Brown and I decided that one of us should keep +on the chase whilst the other rested his horse. This gave each of us +chance to refresh our mount with water and grass until it came his turn to +take up the pursuit. In the meantime the mustang was not allowed to have a +respite from his exertions, but was kept on the move until about three or +four o'clock in the afternoon. Nature asserted herself in his case and +frequently, after that time, he would stop to look around and see if his +pursuers were likely to give him a chance to rest and refresh himself. It +was plainly evident that the pace was telling on him, but he found that +his pursuers gave him no opportunity to rest his weary legs. Closely and +more closely they came in spite of all he could do to ward off their +unremitting pursuit. The moments he took to stop and look around offered +us an opportunity to draw closer. Then we both took up the chase at the +same time. We divided our forces, one going on one side of him and the +other on the opposite. By this time we were within twenty rods of him. By +this strategy we headed him for Gypsom Creek in the hope that when he +reached it he would stop and drink his fill. That would give us an +opportunity of roping him. Everything worked out as we had planned. When +the thirsty brute reached the water he drank abundantly of the refreshing +fluid. It seemed as though he would never stop. When finally he had his +fill we ran him off to the mouth of a canyon where, if once we could get +him to enter, there would be no opportunity of his escape as there was no +outlet at the other end. I say none, or rather should have said there was +one but it was practically out of the question for him to make it. It was +about a mile away and the road was filled with boulders and sand heaps and +was up hill all the way, and we knew that in his present condition his +wind would be gone before he could again reach the open prairie. Now came +the opportunity to rope him if he was to be captured at all, as there was +nothing left for him to do but choose between the rough boulders and +ledges of the other end of the canyon, or strive to evade us by seeking +safety in the way he entered. Brown went around and awaited his arrival, +while I followed as best I could until I saw him disappear at the head of +the canyon. Then I retraced my way and rode around on the divide so as to +be in on the final chase. When I came in sight of Brown, I saw that he had +him roped securely, but on reaching him I discovered that he had captured +him in a prairie-dog town and in the struggle that followed the roping he +had jumped into one of the holes and broke his leg between the knee and +the fetlock, and the bones were protruding through the flesh. Under those +conditions, as he would be of no value to me, and also, as it would be +inhuman to turn him loose to suffer and starve, or become the food of +mountain lions, or coyotes, I thought it best to end his misery without +further delay. This being done, we tightened up our saddle cinches and +returned to camp very weary and much wiser than when we set forth in the +morning. Thus ended my first, last, and only chase after a wild mustang +stallion on the plains of Kansas. As per agreement, Rice had kept the camp +fire burning and had, moreover, prepared a supper of hot beans, biscuits, +antelope steak, and coffee, which was a feast fit for a king and one which +I think no guest of Delmonico ever appreciated more. + +The next morning we arose and went to look after our ponies. What a +pitiful sight we beheld when we came upon them in the secluded place where +we had tethered them! They were gaunt, covered and caked with +perspiration and dust of the preceding day's chase. + +We gave them a good rub-down and plenty of food and water, which refreshed +them very much. After a good breakfast, we took a farewell look at the +camp and returned to the ranch. The black stallion with his flowing mane +and tail became a matter of past history of the plains. In conclusion I +shall say that my two companions of the chase of thirty-two years ago are +still both hale and hearty business men in the Queen City of the Canadian, +El Reno, Okla. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Further Reflections on Western Life; Also on the East; Why I Came West; +Some Men I Have Met; Cowboy Acquaintances, etc. + + +When commencing to write this semi-historical work, it was my intention to +confine myself to the early settlement of "No-Man's-Land," but find that I +must include the Panhandle to Texas and the South-western part of Kansas, +as the soil, climate, and social conditions were almost identical. The +industries of all three localities were very much the same, excepting that +the Panhandle was much better adapted to cattle raising than to +agriculture. In fact, farming was looked upon by cattlemen as too menial +an occupation for them to engage in, and, consequently, they knew little +about it and cared less. Their indifference to agriculture was such that +they would prefer literally to starve to death than endeavor to gain +subsistence from the soil. The difference between the old-time cow-puncher +and the Chyenne Indian as agriculturists was very little. The former might +do a little at farming if he knew how, and the latter might know how if he +would only do a little at it. It seemed to be the height of the average +cow-puncher's ambition to ride on a fifty-dollar saddle, wear a ten-dollar +Stetson hat, a pair of silver mounted spurs, a pair of ten-dollar +high-heeled boots, leather leggings, a slicker and a forty-five calibre +white handled six-shooter. This made a complete outfit to suit his vanity. +Riding broncos, roping wild cattle, running races, and branding mavericks +were his principal business and amusement. Attending the spring and fall +round-ups, and driving beef stock to market rounded out his season's +work. + +It is true that there are some exceptions to the general rule. As an +example, about twenty-eight years ago I became acquainted with a green +cow-puncher, fresh from some Texas town, a tall, fair-haired lad, who was +rather reticent, but very punctual in his work. He was the first out in +the morning, last in at night and was ready for anything that was to be +done in the meantime. His manner lacked the boisterousness of the +swaggering swearing, blow-hard that was very frequently encountered in the +days work. It was apparent to all that he was a man of reliability and +integrity. He was employed by R. M. Wright and Martin Culver to +superintend the "W-L" ranch. He was successful in his management and at +the same time displayed an honesty that was something new to some of the +settlers in his neighborhood. He never permitted a man to rope an animal +until he was certain of the brand, and knew to whom the property belonged. +Such a man was certain to rise in the world and today one would find it +difficult to recognize in Mr. R. A. Harper, president of the First +National Bank, Meade, Kansas, the stripling greenhorn of thirty years ago. +Another of the old-time successful cow-punchers, who fought the battle of +life alone and single-handed as cowmen, farmer, merchant, sometimes +overtaken by adversity but never discouraged, who plodded on until he +reached the top of the financial ladder beyond the reach of want, is Mr. +C. M. Rice, of El Reno, Okla. + +The majority of the early settlers who stayed throughout the first hard +times, managed to do fairly well, accepting the changed conditions as law +and order moved in, while a few developed foolish notions about the +curtailment of their freedom, as they called it, and resented the +encroachment and manifested their disposition by holding up trains, or +other depredations. Such a course of conduct invariably proved a failure +and brought disaster upon the defenders of such a cause. The state prisons +are still harboring some of those misguided men, protecting them from +themselves as well as defending society at large from their peculiar +notions. It may seem strange to the reader, but the greater part of the +so-called bad men of this country came from the East where they first +conceived a false impression of the wildness of the West. The origin of +their idea arose from the reading of a poor class of literature. Such +reading created in their young minds the idea of being "bad men of the +West" and they were not long in putting the idea into practice. Just to +mention a few of the most notorious, I shall set down the names of Billy +the Kid, from New York, Dutch Henry from Michigan, Sam Bass from Indiana. +I might mention dozens of others whose careers of iniquity did not last as +long as those mentioned above. As for the real Western-bred bad men, they +were very few in number and were usually driven to it by being credited +with the crimes of others. + +One of the principal causes of the development of the outlaw was, as I +said above, the publication of fiction and falsehood in such papers as the +New York Weeklys and dime novels. These were scattered broadcast over the +country in cheap editions and the result was the creation of false +impressions of the West, and at the same time inflamed the imagination and +corrupted the minds of many of the then rising generation. + +Well do I remember my introduction to the name of Buffalo Bill. It was in +the columns of the New York Weekly, in 1874, when in a lumber camp in +Northern Michigan, that I read of his alleged engagement with the chief of +the tribe of the Sioux Indians. It ran as follows, as near as I can +remember it: "They met on the plains and each measured his chances to +overcome his adversary, etc." It would take no great philosopher to tell +that the Indian with no weapon but the bow and a bunch of arrows, stood +but a very meager chance with Bill armed with two six-shooters and a +winchester. "At the first crack of Bill's trusty rifle the wily savage +toppled over and fell to the ground. Then, as if by magic, about fifty +braves galloped out of a canyon and set out to capture the heap-big pale +face who had slain their chief. That purpose was more easily planned than +accomplished, for at the psychological moment Bill was re-inforced by his +favorite scouts, Little Buckshot and Hotfoot John. After a brief +engagement in which they killed about fifteen warriors, they retreated to +headquarters for more re-inforcements." This is but a sample of the lies +that filtered through the columns of the Eastern papers regarding the +Indian outbreaks of the West, and the worst part of it was that such trash +was believed by thousands, myself among the number. + +Whenever I read of the hair-breadth escapes of "Dare-devil Dick," +"Shuffle-foot Sam," "Moccasin Mike," and "Goodeye, the Scout," I felt that +I would like to take a hand in some of those adventures, having had a +rather fair training in Canada by attending the county fairs, and having +had the advantage of a course of training in collar-and-elbow wrestling +under Prof. John Lennon. Besides these advantages I was rather proficient +in the hop-sted-and-leap, high jumping, high kicking, foot racing, but not +in shin kicking. + +Shin kicking was introduced into Canada by Cornishmen. As I have never +seen it practiced in this country I shall endeavor to describe it for the +advantage of the reader. Like all games of competition it had its +champions. On occasions of merriment it was customary to indulge in this +sport, though I do not think that everyone will agree with me that it was +a sport. When the crowd had assembled and some preliminary feats of skill +were performed, then a man with a voice on him like the Bashan bull would +announce in stentorian tones that the champion shin-kicker was requested +to appear. A ring was immediately formed by the bystanders locking arms. +Into this ring so formed the champion threw his hat as a challenge to all +and each. After fifteen minutes delay if no one appeared to take up the +challenge, the champion retained his title by default, and to add to the +occasion a prize of some kind was added as a reward for his willingness to +entertain them by his skill. If an opponent stepped into the enclosure, +judges were chosen and preparations made for a battle royal. First, the +shoes of the contestants were examined by the judges to see that there +were no spikes, nor toe-plates, and to see that the shoes were the common +clog type. Then their trousers and drawers were rolled back above the +knees leaving the leg bare from the knee cap to the shoe top. Things were +then ready for the performance. They caught each other by the shoulders +and at the dropping of a hat, or other signal, the Battle was on. Kicking +as high as the knee was called a foul and judgement rendered accordingly. +It required great skill and agility to take part in a contest of the kind. +From what I can hear, the game has fallen into oblivion as times have +changed the notions of games of the kind. For myself I did not indulge in +it very freely as I felt that my legs lacked sufficient side action to +permit me to become sufficiently expert at it, to issue a challenge to the +champion. + +Returning to the thread of my story, I must say that after reading several +numbers of the New York Weekly, I came to the conclusion that Buffalo Bill +was getting short handed, and that unless he received some help rather +soon the Indians would drive him out of the country and the advantages +already gained by his prowess would be lost to succeeding generations. +With such ideas running through my head, I bought a railway ticket and +started West to look over the field and see for my own satisfaction how +things were getting along. I stopped off at Leavenworth and made the +acquaintance of several military men stationed at the fort. They seemed to +know nothing of the Indian troubles as published in the Eastern papers. +Thinking, perhaps, that they might not be well informed on the matter, I +left that place and set out for Topeka. I was certain that the officers +there would know something definite about affairs of the kind. I made +inquiries and soon found that they, like all politicians, were too busy +fixing political fences to pay any attention to such matters. The nearer I +approached the seat of war, the less I heard about it. I continued my +journey and finally reached Dodge City, Kansas, and secured lodging in the +Western Hotel, managed by a genial host, Dr. Gallard. + +As I arrived there after dark I did not venture out until I had a good +night's rest and a hearty breakfast. Next morning I took up my position on +the porch to take in a view of the surroundings, and I confess they looked +strange and weird to me. I had been told that Dodge City was the +ante-chamber of the Infernal Regions; that the temperature began to rise +at Great Bend and did not return to normal until one crossed the Colorado +line; that the population was made up of cut-throats and thieves; that +vice and crime walked brazenly in the streets, while virtue and innocence +were unknown in that region of iniquity. Funerals were reported to me to +be held every morning, to bury those killed during the preceding night. +The cemetery where the unfortunates were to find their last resting place +was called "Boot Hill," because those who were buried there were laid to +rest with their boots on. The above impression is only a sample of what I +had gleaned from the Eastern journals. From where I took my stand I could +see thirty or forty cow-ponies tied to the hitch racks. Each pony wore a +good saddle with a Winchester in a scabbard hanging at the side. After +viewing the situation for some time, and not hearing any shooting, nor +seeing any funerals, as everything appeared peaceful and quiet, I decided +to take in the sights, although I confess I had a rather creepy feeling +when I ventured out. I felt somewhat encouraged, as I remembered I was +wearing a Stetson hat, and a pair of high-heeled boots, which, from the +reports I had received, were considered the passport to the best society +in those days. I crossed the railroad tracks which ran up Main street, +and took my course along the sidewalk, encountering in my way men with +their pant-legs in their boots, wearing wide-leafed sombreros with +snakeskin bands around them, with wide cartridge belts around their waists +supporting six-shooters large enough to kill a buffalo. Everyone I met +seemed to be peaceable. The only representative of the weaker sex I +encountered was a lady dressed in fine style with her face painted and +powdered, her hair done up a la mode, and decked out in a mother-hubbard +large enough to cover a corn shock. + +To my great surprise I spent the first day in Dodge City without any +evidence of shootings or funerals, and in my meanderings about the place +formed the acquaintance of men who afterwards proved themselves to be as +high-principled as could be found in the whole country. + +The horses that I had seen hitched to the racks, were all ridden across +the river to the different herds to stand guard over the cattle and +prevent stampedes. Some of the herds were waiting to be shipped, while +others were rounded-up to drive them to the branding pens, after which +they would be turned back to the range. In this way the natural increase +of the herd was maintained for the owner. + +Next morning I set out with a better opinion of the town and of its +inhabitants. I found the same ponies tied to the same racks, and the +streets full of wagons, some loading for the different ranches, others at +the shop for repairs. I found the river banks on both sides lined with +campers, a mixed lot of immigrants, looking for land, freighters resting +their stock, horse traders, Mexicans, and a multitude of others with their +old-time prairie schooners. Everybody was busy, some greasing their +wagons, others mending harness, repairing ox yokes, or oiling and +refitting six-shooters and Winchesters. The stock had all been turned +loose in the care of herders who remained with them to keep them from +straying off, and who would bring them in when they were required. The +old familiar camp kettle and coffee pot were kept simmering over a slow +fire so as to have everything hot at meal time. When the noon hour +arrived, the tail gate of the wagon, which was the door of the grub-box, +was let down to form a table. Each man found for himself a plate, knife, +fork, and tin cup to help himself when the meal was ready. As soon as +dinner was over, they scattered again through the town, some to the +saloon, others to the dance-halls, others to their trading, or to make +arrangements for their next load of freight. After spending some time in +observing all that was to be seen, I returned again to the town. As I was +walking up the street I overheard a conversation between two cow-punchers +whom I afterwards found to be known as "Broncho Jack" and "Slim Jim." They +were arguing about Slim's ability to ride a broncho called "Gabe," that +Jack had brought to camp that morning. This argument led to the general +result--not a fight, as I supposed it would, but to a bet. The +conversation ran about as follows: + +S. J.--Say, Jack, I see you bringing in Old Gabe this morning. What are +you dragging that old skate around for? Why don't you shoot him, or don't +you want to waste a cartridge? Going to sell or trade him? + +B. J.--Oh, I just brought him in, as I thought some tenderfoot might want +to take his lady-love out for a ride, and Gabe would afford some fun. + +S. J.--You don't suppose any tenderfoot, nor anybody else wants to be seen +riding that old crow-bait around with a young lady? He can't travel fast +enough to work up a sweat. + +B. J.--Can't he? He has enough life and vinegar in him to throw any +puncher on the "81" ranch, and don't you forget it! + +S. J.--Oh, pshaw! Jack, you talk like an old parrot my mother used to have +down in San Antonio. He would repeat anything he heard and when he could +not hear anything, he talked to himself. + +B. J.--Money is what talks in Dodge City, and I'll bet you five dollars +you can't ride that broncho two blocks without getting thrown. + +S. J.--I'll take that bet if you'll make it three blocks. I don't care +about short rides. Why, I can ride all over the old goat and make +cigarettes while doing it. + +B. J.--Say, Slim; that old horse will throw you so high that the sparrows +will build nests in your leggins before you come down. + +S. J.--That will be all right! Where have you got that old mouse-colored +critter, and where do you want the money put up? + +B. J.--He's around here in Cox's corral, and we can put the money up in +Kelly's hands. + +S. J.--All right! Let's go and put the money up and get down to business. + +I went along to see the fun, and especially to see how it would terminate. +We entered a saloon finely furnished, with a mirror behind the bar that +cost more than the average 160-acre farm in that country. We approached a +big, two-fisted, well-dressed man who stood before the bar. Jack addressed +him as Mr. Kelly, the man decided upon to hold the stakes. He explained +his mission and asked him to hold the money pending the test of +horsemanship. Mr. Kelly replied, "I'll hould anything yese give me, but I +would loike to know what will be done with the money in case the young man +is kilt." "Oh," says Jack, "just treat the crowd and let the balance go to +the house." "All right," said Kelly. Slim agreed to the proposal. + +B. J.--Well, Slim, you had better take a cold drink before you start, or +make arrangements to have some one throw you a bottle of water, as the old +pony will throw you so high that you may die of thirst before you come +down. + +S. J.--Never mind! I'll take that drink after the job is done. Let's go +and get busy. + +By this time quite a crowd had collected and set out to see the fun. I +joined them for the same purpose. It was but a short distance to Cox's +corral. When we arrived there, Slim said to Jack, "Go in and rope your old +dry land turtle. Bring him out here and I'll see what I can do for him." + +Jack went in and pitched his rope on a sleepy-looking, pot-bellied, +dun-colored pony that would weigh in the neighborhood of eight hundred +pounds, and led him into the street. Slim procured his saddle, bridle, and +blanket, and proceeded to saddle him. He first put on the bridle and then +put a gunny-sack over it. The purpose of this was to blindfold him till +the saddling was complete. When the saddling began, Old Gabe stood +perfectly quiet, except to take a few short steps, apparently to make sure +that all of his four feet and legs were there. As soon as he was saddled, +Slim said to Jack, "When I crawl his hump, you take off the gunny-sack and +I will take a little ride." As soon as the sack was removed, Old Gabe put +his nose to the ground and went to bucking and bawling like an old cow. He +bucked about six or eight rods, but found he could not throw Slim in that +manner. Then he stood straight up on his hind feet and fell over +backwards. As soon as he struck the ground, Slim was standing beside him. +When he regained his feet Slim was on his back, and then the bucking and +bawling began in earnest. He did the figure eight several times, jumped up +and turned half-way 'round and repeated the same, going in the opposite +direction, alternately. When he found that this was not successful he +headed for an alley close by, bucking and bawling all the time. He worked +like a cyclone among a lot of oil barrels and dry goods boxes, +wheel-barrows, and obstacles of all kinds that littered the alley. He +drove his way through that strange assortment of difficulties until he +reached the open street. Then Slim, by means of the application of spurs +and quirt got him into a gallop. Then I knew that the battle was over and +Old Gabe had met his master. Slim rode back to the crowd and dismounted, +and he and Jack went over to Kelly's to collect the wager. Then the +bantering was continued, as follows: + +B. J.--Well, Slim, how does it go? + +S. J.--Oh, not bad. I guess I'll take that cold drink you spoke of. I feel +a little thirsty. + +B. J.--Yes, and I reckon you feel a little bit sore, too. + +S. J.--Oh, shucks! he was a little bit fussy, but he is nothing like those +outlaw horses on the 81 ranch. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Getting Acquainted With the West--The Character of the Cow-boy--A +Cow-boy's Love Affair, Etc. + + +Next day I began to breathe easier as I had not witnessed any shooting +scrapes, nor funerals, so I felt rather safe in walking the streets, +although I was rather suspicious of anybody I met wearing a six-shooter. +Nevertheless, I kept on the move, endeavoring to find where I could locate +a good homestead, as that country was nearly all open and unsettled. In my +wanderings I happened into Cox's feed yard where Broncho Jack kept his +horses. I entered the camp house and found Jack and Slim Jim sitting on a +bench and there was every evidence to show that they had been indulging +too freely in "Kelly's Sovereign Remedy for a Sour Disposition." They +seemed very confidential in their conversation, and I could not help +overhearing it. It ran about as follows: + +S. J.--Jack, do you know that old nester that settled on the flats out on +Crooked Creek? + +B. J.--No, I don't know him, but I heard there was a fellow out there +going into farming and raising fine stock. + +S. J.--Well, he's there all right, and has two of the prettiest daughters +I ever saw. + +B. J.--What has that to do with you? + +S. J.--It has this to do with me. I am done ranching. I am going to drop +off this old broncho and will step right in between the old man's plow +handles and there I'll stay until removed by death, or the County Sheriff. + +B. J.--Have you had any introduction to those young ladies, or what is the +matter with you? Have you taken leave of your senses and gone wild? + +S. J.--I never had an introduction to them, but I met them at the +post-office and they had a nosebag full of letters and a wheel-barrow full +of papers and books. Oh, I tell you they are educated, or what would they +want with all that printed stuff. I am going farming, that is what I am +going to do. + +B. J.--Now I know you are daffy. Talk about farming, don't you know it has +not rained out there in the last eighteen months. I met a traveling +evangelist the other day who told me that he almost had to forego the +pleasure of immersing a class of six cow-punchers for want of sufficient +water to perform the ceremony. He was afraid that if it did not soon rain +he would lose them sure as he would not be able to get them again if they +went back to the ranches before they received his ministrations. + +S. J.--Oh, that is all right about the rain! The old man does not need +rain. He has a wind-mill and a trough to water his stock, and I can tell +you that his stock is first class. I saw some of them and the milch cows +had bags on them the size of washtubs and the teats hung down like +baseball bats. He is well fitted in every way. He has a top buggy with a +high back and a low seat all for himself. He wears a white shirt just as +some folks do in Texas when they are running for office. I met his boy on +the train a day or so ago and he shows good raising. He had shoes and +stockings on, and he is no more than fifteen years old. He also had on a +collar and tie and did not swear once while I was talking to him. I asked +him where his pa had got the big stock and he said that they came from +Ohio, and that they were Poland China or something like that. + +B. J.--Let me tell you, Slim, if that old man is from Chicago and is a +Republican, he has no use for a cow-puncher or a Democrat, no more than a +pig has for side pockets. He would not want you to picket your horse on +the trail in front of his place, nor to holler in his rain barrel, much +less going to call on one of his daughters. Why, they scare the +children back there and compel them to be good by telling them that the +nasty, old, long-haired cow-puncher will take them away to the ranch where +there is nothing but wild cattle, cow-punchers, tarantulas and centipedes, +and a lot of other reptiles. + + +[Illustration: CHEYENNE INDIAN GIRL.] + + +S. J.--Well, I have to leave you Jack, and the next time I see you I shall +be on my honeymoon trip. I am now on my way to the farm to see the lady +that I expect to soon be Mrs. Slim Jim. + +B. J.--Good-bye, Jim. Good luck to you! + +About two weeks afterwards, Broncho Jack and I were seated on the bank of +Crooked Creek discussing the situation, whether the opportunities for +making money were better in hunting or picking bones, catching mustangs, +or blacksmithing. I came to the conclusion that the last was the most +conducive to wealth just then, and later on opened up a shop there. During +our conversation Slim Jim rode up. Throwing the reins over his pony's +head, he dismounted and shook hands. Slowly he rolled a cigarette and +began to unbosom himself to Jack. + +"Say, Jack," said Slim, "you remember what you told me in the camphouse in +Dodge City the day I left you. You recollect saying what a consarned fool +I was about that young lady, and what you thought of the old man? Say, I +hope to die and go to heaven if every word of what you told me was not +true. I have ridden for two days to tell you what kind of a durn fool I +am. You are a fortune teller, a prophet, a prognosticator. I had not +ridden out to Five Mile Creek until he got to soliloquizing with myself. +You know all cow-punchers do that out on the prairie! Well, I got to +fixing up how to act, what to do and say when I got out there where the +young lady lives. I had read a society book that some fellow from back +East had left at the ranch once. There was some of it torn out, but there +was a lot of it left and I learned a whole lot out of it, and I was going +to govern myself accordingly. It said that a young man in company after +taking his seat, should sit erect and throw his head back, keep his knees +close together, and that chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes was not +good form. Under no circumstances should the young man wear spurs, carry a +gun, especially in the company of the young lady with whom he is anyways +intimate. I guess that book was written for the Texas trade, as there was +a proviso that gun-wearing would be permissible if there were other +gentlemen present. If there was anything about the disposal of the hands, +it must have been torn out or I forgot it. It was most likely torn out, as +that crowd of boys at the ranch would tear the leaves out of their +mother's Bible to make a cigarette. I can ride a horse or throw a rope, +but what to do with my hands when I entered the house was beyond me. I +knew how to hold my head, chest, and knees, but I could not for the life +of me figure out what to do with those hands. I felt as if each hand was +as big as a ham and the nearer I approached the house, the larger they +seemed to grow. I felt pretty much like a Hottentot. He is usually +pictured with a very depleted wardrobe. He has no books of instruction on +the art of going into society, and I am of the opinion he had just as much +trouble with his hands as I had. I guess he just folded his hands across +his manly chest and backed in. By the time I arrived at the Mulberry Ranch +I had decided to do all I knew and trust to luck for the rest. When I had +staked out my pony, I went in and slicked up some. I washed, combed my +hair, brushed my clothes, and then took about three fingers of old Tom +Duggan's best bourbon, not as a stimulant, but to put some color in my +cheeks. As soon as the bourbon began to show some of its efficacy, I put +on a couple of rings I had bought in Dodge and headed for the old man's +ranch, letting my hands take care of themselves. In my generosity of +feeling I pictured myself being invited to supper and perhaps even being +requested to spend the night at the old man's. With an eye to putting an +appearance on things I was going to try to trade some long-horned stock +for some of his short-horns. I was in terror lest the young lady I was yet +to choose, would smell my breath, and if the old man and his family were +prohibitionists, I knew it would be all up with my chances. However, I was +encouraged in the knowledge of the fact that this was to be my first call +and I was not likely to get within breath-smelling distance of the lady of +my choice. Regardless of consequences, I turned in and rode up to the +hitching post, dismounted, took off my spurs and my gun, and then set out +for the house. It seemed miles from that hitching-post to the front door. +I finally covered the distance and rapped gently on the panel as I did not +want them to think I was one of those rough, roaring, cow-punchers--the +kind you mentioned. I listened attentively for one of those gentle +footfalls, or the sound of an angelic voice bidding me to enter. I +imagined once I heard the rustle of a silk dress but I am satisfied now +that I was mistaken as I believe the sound was caused by the girls husking +roasting ears for supper. You know that husking green corn makes a kind of +squeaking noise. I did not have long to wait as I heard the sound of +footsteps--the kind a bull moose makes when in trouble. The door was +thrown open savagely and I was confronted by an old man who weighed about +two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a face like a full moon with side +whiskers to match and a moustache that resembled a second-hand shoe brush. +He wore a white shirt with a home-made collar that reached to his ears. I +tell you he was a fierce looking object. He stared me straight in the eye +and said, "What can I do for you?" Now, Jack, you know that I am a fairly +good talker, but right there my voice failed me. I could not utter a word +if my life depended upon it. To make matters worse, he kept those two big +eyes on me just like a dog setting a quail. My throat became all tied up +in a knot, but after a pause I pulled myself together and asked him if he +was bothered by any range cattle breaking through his fences. I thought I +would get him into conversation in that way, and said that the range +foreman had asked me to make the inquiry. He turned and slammed the door +in my face. My love that a few moments before threatened to burn a hole in +my shirt, was turned to hate. I detest that old man, and what makes my +hatred more intense is the fact that when I was riding away I saw the +girls laughing and making fun of me. I have come to the conclusion that I +had better stick to the ranching as I never did care much for farming +anyway. As for society and things like that, I abominate them." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +What One Sheep Rancher Did--Entertaining a Hobo--A Practical Joke. + + +About the year 1877, an extensive sheep ranch was established in the +Panhandle by a Mr. Southerland. He came from California and bought up the +range in the neighborhood of the Adobe Walls, for the purpose of +transferring his flocks from that far off State, where the grazing was +getting very scarce, to the northern part of Texas, where there abounded +better opportunities for pasturage. He was not the only one to cast a +longing eye upon that territory, for many cattlemen from the same State as +Mr. S--, also visited the Panhandle district looking for grazing grounds. +As Mr. S. was the first to acquire rights there, the story in this chapter +will deal with his men and his flocks. + +When he returned to California after securing the title to the property, +he sent his step-son, Bill Anderson, in charge of the drive from his +native State to the new range. Besides the thousands of sheep that were in +his care he brought along a few hundred head of horses and burros with +enough Mexican help to make the drive successful. Of course, there was +quite an outfit of mules and wagons to transport the equipage of an +expedition of this kind. There was no opportunity of going to the corner +grocery for supplies, nor was there any chance of securing them along the +way, as the journey led over hills, mountains and canyons, amongst wild +tribes of Indians, from California to Texas. It was a tremendous +undertaking, but Bill was equal to the occasion. + +He was a man of iron nerve, a good shot with either six-shooter or +winchester and his skill and daring in roping wild animals excited the +admiration of even the hardiest of his followers. It was a common thing +for him to ride into a herd of buffalo, rope and hog-tie one, and then +turn him loose again, just, as he used to say, to show the boys how it was +done. Along with his great physical courage and fortitude, there existed +another quality often found in men of rugged health and spirits. Bill was +a practical joker, and in the pursuit of his endeavors to provoke a laugh +he spared neither age, sex, nor previous condition of servitude. It seems +to me that I can hear his merry laughter ringing in my ears though many +years have passed since I had the pleasure of being in his company. His +was a sunny disposition and the dark side of a cloud never appealed to +him. He saw the brightness ahead long before it was visible to others. +Such was the leader of the expedition that set out from California, and +many a merry yarn or joke lessened the burden of the long drive. + +At the outset of the journey, the Mexican herders were started off with a +supply of bacon and coffee, besides having burros laden with bedding and +other utensils. He divided the whole flock into smaller sections, each +with a herder in charge. They moved along in close proximity to one +another for the sake of company as they would likely be out on the road +for weeks, and would return to camp only when in want of provisions. If +fresh meat were wanted, all they had to do was to kill a lamb, or procure +some of the wild game that infested the way, such as antelope, wild +turkeys, prairie chickens, quail and other game. Their horses did not +require much attention as there was plenty of grass and water was easily +located. + +Thus they kept on their way during the long weeks, day succeeding day with +the same monotonous routine. Finally they reached their range in safety, +glad that the long and tedious journey was completed. Here they made their +first improvements in the way of a settled habitation. They constructed a +dugout and covered it over with poles and willows. On these they piled a +layer of soil to turn the rain. The furnishing of the dugout was of the +simplest kind. A split log to sit on, a table made in the same way with +sapplings for legs, was all they had in the way of household furniture. +Their bedchamber consisted of the open prairie with the blue sky above +them for a canopy. This done, they were at home for friends and neighbors. + +Among the members of the outfit that followed Anderson from California, +was a faithful and trusted employee named James Farrell. He had been with +them for years and was one of the family. He was a shrewd man and one hard +to deceive. One thing he felt proud of was that Bill Anderson never +succeeded in working off a practical joke at his expense. He boasted of +the fact that Bill had often tried, but always failed and he felt +confident that he would never succeed. And thereby hangs the following +tale: + +One day as Bill was sitting in front of the dugout doing nothing in +particular and having lots of time to do it in, he spied a man in the +distance coming toward him on foot. This was something very unusual in +those days, as a man on foot in the prairie is very much like a man in the +middle of the Atlantic, he feels as though he is twenty miles from nowhere +and does not know how to get there. Bill came to the conclusion that the +man afoot was some cow-puncher that had been thrown from his horse. He +soon discovered his mistake, for the stranger proved to be a veritable +hobo. He gave no information regarding himself, and it was impossible to +find out anything about him, whence he came, or what profession he +followed to gain a livelihood. He manifested an interest in only one thing +and that was when meal time came. Then he was a whirlwind of energy. He +had been invited to take a supper with the outfit, and Bill even went so +far as to divide his blanket with him, favors which the hobo appreciated +so much that he continued to stay for meals and share the proprietor's +blanket. Time passed on, as time usually does, and the sign of taking his +departure. In fact he seemed so much at home that it seemed impossible to +drive him away. Weeks went by, but still the hobo was not accused of +showing any inclination to work except when the table was to be cleared of +provisions. However, all good things come to an end, and Bill felt that he +had done all that the laws of Western hospitality required and felt +impelled to do something to rid himself of his unwelcome guest. He thought +the matter over carefully. If he offered the hobo a job, the latter turned +the subject of conversation into politics or something else. It was +useless to hint to the star boarder that the climate of other localities +might be better for his health. He seemed proof against hints, +invitations, or even mildly expressed wishes that he would take his +departure. Nothing but personal violence would rid them of his company, +and they were loath to do that. Bill began to worry over the matter. He +went around with a thoughtful look as though he had something serious on +his mind. Finally he determined to lay the matter before Jim to see if he +could not suggest some way to be rid of a guest, who was not only a burden +but a nuisance. After some reflection, it was decided that Jim was to act +crazy, and some time or other when all were assembled at the table, at a +given sign, he was to give a jump, knock over the table, stick his dirk +into one of the rafters of the dugout, and grab his gun and begin to shoot +up the place. Of course, he was not to kill anybody, but the purpose was +to stampede the hobo and set him on his way over the hills to other +localities where he might have an opportunity of showing his staying +qualities. + +The next day it happened that Bill and the hobo were down at the corral to +brand some colts. It dawned upon the proprietor that right here was a +brilliant opportunity for a practical joke and at the same time put an end +to Jim's assertions that he could not be tricked by any practical +jokesmith on either side of the Rockies. It made Bill smile. He took a +look around to see if Jim was in the neighborhood and found him sitting +at the door of the dugout braiding a lariat. With an air of simplicity, +and trustfulness he told the hobo that he had something to tell him; that +he was thinking of telling it to him some time ago, and that was as good +an opportunity as would present itself to him to do so. "You know," said +he, in a guileless manner, "Jim has been with me for a number of years and +I have found him one of the best fellows that I have ever known. He is +trusty, and is a good judge of stock. I can rely on him at all times and +he takes as much interest in the work and the ranch as I do myself. +However, he has been a cause of much worry to me. I do not like to tell my +troubles to others but I find I must tell it to someone. I have taken +quite a shine to you and I feel that the confidence I place in you will +not be abused. Well, to bring the matter to a focus, I must tell you that +Jim is subject to spells, and when in that condition is likely to be quite +dangerous. The cause of his condition is this. A few years ago, out in +California he was thrown from his horse and in falling his head struck a +stone. He was quite delirious for a long time. He grew out of his +condition after a year or so, but at certain periods he has a return of +his old illness and is likely to turn things topsy-turvy before we can get +him quited. We have tried everything in the medical line, but it was no +use. We found out by accident, one day, that the only thing that would +restore him to his senses was a jar on the head. He had one of his spells +and made an attack on one of the hands with a knife. The man in +desperation let fly at Jim with his fist and knocked him senseless for +about ten minutes. When he recovered from the blow, he was as rational as +any of us. I know it is painful for us to have to lay violent hands on the +poor fellow, but it must be done, and besides, Jim is very thankful for +our doing it, as he has a very tender heart and would not for anything in +the world be the cause of injury to anyone. The reason I am telling you +this is that I may have to be away some time or other and as you are +pretty well acquainted with the run of things around the ranch, you will +know what to do if the poor fellow has one of those sudden attacks. You +may not feel like doing it, but he will thank you for it when he has +recovered, and besides, Jim thinks a lot of you. When I was leaving +California I promised my poor old mother that I would look after Jim and +see that no harm came, to him on account of his weakness." + +When Bill returned to the dug-out, it would not take a mind-reader long to +figure out that there was something going to happen. He kept his face +straight, but he could not conceal the merry twinkle of his eye. He kept +the cause of his merriment to himself, but frequently he would take a look +out of the corner of his eye at Jim and if Jim was not looking, a smile +would spread over his countenance. The thought of working a practical joke +on Jim was too much for him at times and he would have to go outside to +conceal his feelings. + +Things went along thus for a few days, but the tension became too great +for him to control himself any longer. One day, at dinner he gave the +pre-arranged signal to Jim. With a yell Jim jumped up upset the table and +spilled the contents all over the floor of the dug-out, grabbed his dirk +and stuck it into the rafter of the dug-out, then pulled his six-shooter +and let blaze. He ploughed up the earthern floor with some of the bullets, +others he sent flying through the roof. All the while he was yelling like +a Comanche Indian on the warpath. By the time he had emptied his gun, the +place was filled with smoke. At the first shot Bill and the others filed +through the door, or rather threw themselves through it, but the hobo +mindful of the instructions given him some time before, worked his way +around through the smoke until he came within arm's length of Jim. He +summoned up all his strength and let fly one of his fists. It was a mighty +blow, delivered with care. It landed on the side of Jim's head and sent +him reeling and senseless into a pile of gunny-sacks lying in the corner. +With an eye to the necessity of further ministrations if necessary, he +stood looking at the poor fellow lying there. In a minute or more, Jim +opened his eyes and reached for his gun. It was empty of course, and he +reached for his cartridge box also. Bill looked in through the door when +he heard no noise. He saw what Jim was doing and also noted by the flare +in his eyes that there was going to be moments of activity there as soon +as he succeeded in getting the chambers of his 45 filled. He took one look +at the hobo, and uttered the word "run." Without waiting any further +instructions, the hobo fairly flew through the door and bounded away like +a cat pursued by a bull dog. Jim dashed for the door with his weapon ready +for vengeance. He saw the fleeing figure bounding over the prairie and let +fly at him with the six-shooter. Happily for all concerned, he was too +excited to take aim, and consequently all of his shots went wild. Every +shot seemed to increase the speed of the swiftly running hobo. He was over +the hill and far away in about the shortest time he ever made. Jim looked +around the end of the dug-out and found Bill and his companions rolling on +the ground and holding their sides with laughter. He realized immediately +that there was something strange about the whole affair. It seemed more +than he could stand. "Bill Anderson," said he, "I believe you are at the +bottom of all this. If I were certain of it I would send you back to +California on a pair of wooden legs, but out of respect for your good old +mother whose feeling I would not like to hurt on account of a 'bloody +spalpeen' like you, I want to warn you never to do the like of it again." +Jim never afterwards made the boast that he could not be tricked by any +one on either side of the Rockies. + +Bill sold out the ranch sometime afterwards for $125,000, and the last I +saw of him he was setting out for Old Mexico. + +If Jim ever had any more crazy spells, I never heard of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The Man From Missouri; An Attempt at Dry Farming, etc. + + +While out hunting one day, about 18 miles south of Dodge City, I chanced +to meet a stranger who inquired the way to the nearest horse corral. In +the twinkling of an eye I took an inventory of his outfit, and I must say +that it was good. He had a fine team of young mules, a three seated spring +wagon covered over, harness all covered over with brass mountings. His +wife and children who were with him were well-dressed and he himself +showed traces of being well bred and was rather a good talker. His +conversation showed refinement, though at times he sandwiched in a mild +cuss-word to emphasize his statements. From his bearing I could see that +he was rather high-strung. Before giving the required information I +ventured to ask if he was going to take up land for the purpose of +farming. He said that that was his intention. I looked the family over and +felt sorry for them, knowing what they would have to endure on a claim. I +had not the same regrets for proprietor of the outfit as I felt that a +little experience and exposure was what was needed to round out his +character. The more I explained the general conditions of the neighborhood +of his destination, the more he seemed determined to go. I explained to +him that others from the different states of the East had tried to raise +crops and made a failure of the venture, and returned to their several +homes disgusted with the West. "Oh, pshaw!" said he, "I have heard that +same tale of woe more than a dozen times during the last three days, and +the land-agents in Dodge City told me that yarn was fabricated expressly +by the cow-men to discourage the farmers from settling on the range and +cutting off their supply of pasture." "Moreover," said he, "I have a +little provision made for the future and can stand it as long as any of +them." + +During my interview with that gentleman, I learned that his name was +Waugh, that he was a native of Pennsylvania, and had been living in +Missouri on a rented farm during the preceding two years. He had become +dissatisfied with the state and had come farther West to improve his +fortunes. I ask him if he did not think it better to return to Missouri +where his children would have the advantage of schools, and he and his +wife would be able to enjoy some society rather than establish a home on a +raw prairie. He replied, "I see, stranger, that you have never lived in +Missouri. I tell you those folk back there don't know the war is over yet, +and besides one's standing in society depends upon how many hounds one +keeps and, also, on the length of one's whiskers. Why, don't you know that +there was only one razor in the neighborhood where I lived and that was +owned by the school teacher. He was some up on social niceties. Once in +awhile he used to go to St. Joe to have his hair cut and the back of his +neck shaved and this caused some of the patrons of the school to threaten +to take their children away from him if he did not stop such unwarranted +proceedings. I am sure they would have done so if they had known that he +used to go down to the creek every Saturday night to take a bath. No +Siree, I do not want any more of Missouri in mine. The first year I worked +there I did fairly well. I made about half a crop. The next year was a +complete failure. I raised nothing, absolutely nothing, and when I saw the +hens bringing leaves from the timber to build nests, I told Hannah to put +out the fire and call the dog and we would start for Kansas." + +The next time I met Mr. Waugh was one afternoon about three months later. +I noted that his mules had fallen away in flesh, and on inquiring about +his general condition, he stated that things were in poor condition. He +said the grass had been poor and that it was impossible to procure corn +for the cattle. In fact he had not plowed nor put in any crops. He +informed me that it had not rained since he had taken up his claim and to +plow was out of the question. The only line of work open for him was to +gather buffalo bones. He said that things had come to such a pass that he +had to exchange some of his belongings for others not as good. His spring +wagon had to go for an old lumber-wagon as he could not use the spring +affair in the work of gathering the bones. In this trade he received a cow +to boot. + +When next I met him he had traded off his mules and brass-mounted harness +for a one-eyed mule and a pony, receiving boot on that occasion also in +the shape of a sewing machine and a shot gun, with a set of chain harness +thrown in for good measure. He said he preferred the chain harness as the +dry weather did not affect the corn-husk collars and if it rained he could +throw it on the ground and it would suffer no injury from the moisture. +Shortly after this he came to my blacksmith shop to have the wheels of his +wagon set. Before that he used to soak them in the bed of the creek, but +as the water in the creek bottom failed, he had to bring them to me to set +them. + +The last time I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Waugh, he was camped at +the creek with his family. He was busy at the camp-fire cooking his meal +at the time. After the usual greetings, I ventured to ask him how he liked +farming. He seemed very despondent. "Don't talk to me about farming in +this desolate country," said he. "It has not rained enough between here +and the head of the creek since I have been here to wet a postage stamp. +Moreover, there are skunks enough up there to drive the Standard Oil Co. +out of business, and coyotes without number. They gave us no rest. They +would steal a chicken out of the pot while it was boiling on the fire." +"Why," he continued, "You know old man Spriggins up there? Well, only +last week his chickens got so all-fired hungry that they went out on the +trail and tried to hold up a bull-train to get some corn. I would not have +believed myself if I had not seen it. I tell you those chickens were +getting desperate and you would have believed it if you had seen that +Shanghai rooster strutting back and forth in front of those oxen and +crowing. When the old man saw it himself he went down to John Conrads and +traded his old fiddle and a cultivator for some Kaffir corn." + +"Well," said I, "you filed on a claim, didn't you?" + +"Not that any one knows of," said he. "I caught on to that game in time to +save my fourteen dollars. It is nothing but a gambling game anyway, and I +believe that the same law applies to poker and other games of chance, +ought to reach Uncle Sam for trying to unload a lot of worthless land on a +lot of poor suckers that can't help themselves. Why, he don't take any +chance at all. He simply puts up one hundred and sixty acres of parched +vacancy against your fourteen dollars that you can't remain on it for five +years without starving, to comply with the contract he makes with you. I +tell you he has a dead sure thing here in Kansas. He has made some good +winnings. Some of those claims he has won back five or six times each and +he still holds the land waiting for another sucker to come along." + +Well, then, I said, you are not inclined to engage in agriculture, nor to +remain in this part of the country, are you? + +"Not if I know myself," he replied, "and I think it about time I was +becoming wise. You told me the whole unvarnished truth about this country +the first time I met you and if I had taken your advice I would not be in +this disagreeable fix." + +Here he took a side glance at his one-eyed mule, which seemed to raise his +temperature to about 160 in the shade. He then raised his voice to +correspond with the temperature, and striking his hands together said; +"any gosh-durned country that gets so dad-burned dry that it will take an +antelope--and he is the fastest animal there is--twenty four hours solid +traveling to find a drink of water, is a little too dry for me. I am going +back to Pennsylvania. That state will be good enough for me for all the +time to come." + +He hitched up his one-eyed mule and made ready to go. I bade him good-bye. +He nodded, clucked to his mule and rode away. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Colonization Indian Scares; Organizing in Self Defense, etc. + + +In the autumn of the year of 1878, a gentleman by the name of John Joplin +was sent out from Zanesville, Ohio, to select a suitable place in Western +Kansas for the purpose of locating a colony. The intention was to start a +co-operative business in farming. After surveying the country at large, he +came to the conclusion that the Crooked Creek valley, Meade County, where +I was living at the time, was the most desirable for the purpose. He +returned home and gave a glowing report of what he had done, and his +efforts and report received the approval of the future colonists. They +made their arrangements and moved westward in the following spring. When +they had reached their destination, they learned that Chief Dull Knife, a +leader of a band of northern Chyenne Indians, had left the reservation at +Ft. Reno where he and his followers were held as prisoners of war. +Followed by a numerous retinue of tribesmen he started for the Black Hills +and had passed through the Crooked Creek Valley, killing the settlers. +They continued on their way, killing, burning, and destroying everything +and everybody in sight until they were re-captured at Ft. Robinson, +Nebraska. From there they were brought back and placed on the reservation +once more. + +The particulars of the Dull Knife Raid will be given in another chapter. + +Needless to say, these reports caused considerable excitement in the +valley. Every few days rumors were circulated that the Indians were +returning, or would return as soon as the grass had begun to sprout +again. Hardly had one rumor died until another was put into circulation. +Excitement reached such a degree that all deemed it necessary to organize +for protection. A meeting was called which all the settlers were invited, +or requested, to attend. The Colonists assembled at the dug-out of a Mr. +M. B. Wilson, one of the leading spirits of the movement, to devise ways +and means for protection in case the Indians should return. After a +general discussion of the prevailing conditions, it was unanimously agreed +that we should appeal to the Governor of Kansas for fire arms, as there +were few of us that had any, many had none, and some had no money to +purchase them, and some that did have them, had very little knowledge of +their use. Our secretary was instructed to write to the governor, explain +the conditions of affairs, and request him to send us the necessary guns +and ammunition with which to protect ourselves against the Indians in case +they should make another descent on the valley, which they would likely do +as they were threatening to leave the reservation and go on the warpath a +second time. After a good deal of correspondence and red tape we succeeded +in getting the governor's attention, and he kindly informed us, after +several week's delay, that if we wanted any assistance from the state, we +should join the militia. He informed us that when we were duly sworn in, +he would send the necessary arms for protection of our homes and families. +To the disinterested reader this action on the part of the governor may +seem magnanimous, but to the settler whose family was living in a dug-out +with nothing to protect them but a fire shovel or a hatchet in case of an +Indian raid, it looked very much like a case of criminal neglect. Another +meeting was called, and it was well attended. There were many women +present who seemed anxious to organize a company for the protection of +their homes. After some discussion it was decided to organize and join the +militia. Among those present was a veteran of the Civil war. He was +elected Captain on his war record--one of the home-made kind, as none of +his comrades of the war recollected any time or place where he performed +any deed of valor--as he would most likely know the best thing to do at +the proper time. To hear the Captain tell of his numerous exploits, the +number of men took prisoners of war, how he had on several occasions +leaped over the breastworks of some beleagured fort in the midst of a +shower of grape and canister, and tore down the Confederate flag, one +would think that he, Capt. Milligan, bore a charmed life. It seemed +strange to me that such a thoughtful man as Abe Lincoln did not send +somebody down south to assist the Captain as he seemed to be doing all the +heavy fighting himself. Such was our captain, the last and the greatest of +the Milligans up to that time, and it would require a remarkable scion to +eclipse his record, if one hundredth part of what he said was true. + +Returning to the thread of my story, and I hope you will pardon the +digression but it would be impossible to pass over the merits of our +worthy Captain without bringing to the notice of the world at large his +claims to the honor conferred upon him, we elected G. W. Brown First +Lieutenant, Mr. Gantz, Second Lieutenant, and C. M. Rice, Sergeant. The +above officers were veterans, or had been scouts, and the remainder +required to complete the contingent had no military experience whatever. +We instructed the secretary to notify the governor that we had organized +and were ready to be sworn into the State Militia. We did not actually +want to join the militia, but would rather join the Women's Relief Corps, +or the Suffragette Movement, or the Populist party, anything to get the +guns and ammunition. (The swearing part of the program did not play a very +important part as there had been enough swearing done along the Creek +already over the Governor's indolence and failure to send the relief +requested, yes, enough to have sworn in seven regiments with some to +spare.) + +As the assemblage was about to disperse, some one called for a speech. +Others called on Capt. Milligan to harangue the multitude. This was kept +up until the Captain, with all the dignity of a well trained +parliamentarian, condescended to make a few remarks to show his +appreciation of the favor conferred upon him, etc. He selected a small +knoll from which to deliver himself of the sentiments that filled his +manly breast. He assumed the pose of an orator of the old school and +delivered a discourse in something like the following words: + +"Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen: We are now on the eve of a +terrible conflict to decide whether the white man with tens of thousands +of years of civilization, culture and refinement behind him, or the wily +undomesticated, uncivilized, uncouth, uncultured, unrefined, undressed +savage will rule the plains. Whether the untutored savage will continue to +water the virgin soil of the rolling prairie with the blood of the best of +our citizens, or whether the white man shall give to the unlimited area of +the plains the advantage of a training developed by centuries of progress +in the arts of peace and agriculture. (Cheers, and hurrah for Milligan). I +am here to state my views and express my sentiments on the question that +each and every one of us is debating in the depths of the individual +heart." It was quite evident that the Captain was laboring under +difficulties, as he delivered the above in a very hesitating manner. What +he lacked in fluency of speech, he made up by violence and frequency of +gestures. He swung his arms and stamped his feet to emphasize the degree +of his perturbation while contemplating in advance the horrors to which +they were to be subjected. He became so wrapped up in his subject and was +so earnest in his endeavors to move his hearers, that he did not realize +that he was standing on a hill inhabited by a colony of red ants; nor was +he aware that a regiment of them had set out to explore the depths of his +unmentionables and were at that very moment making rapid progress through +the recesses of his underwear. Suddenly he became aware of something +peculiar about his feelings and to cover the difficulty under which he was +laboring, and at the same time to prove to his hearers that his reputation +was above reproach and his patriotism beyond question, he accentuated his +remarks by more violent gestures than before, striking himself on the +thighs and even reaching beyond the limits to which gestures were supposed +to extend, realizing that farther speech with decorum was out of the +question he was compelled by force of circumstances to desist from further +efforts. He made an assault on his personal enemies as best he might under +the circumstances in such a public place. He squeezed and pinched, slapped +and crushed, but the greater the efforts he made, the more they seemed to +be impelled to greater efforts of offense. He rolled up his trouser legs, +as far as public decency would permit, but exposure only drove the enemy +to seek more advantageous hiding places. He could not ask his friends to +help him because it seemed such a personal affair, and besides, they were +at that moment helpless in their efforts to stifle their laughter. In his +desperation he started for the creek, which, fortunately for him, was +close at hand. A clump of hackberry and plum bushes screened him from the +multitude, and in the friendly cover offered him by nature herself, he +began to put the enemy to rout. However, mindful of the position to which +he had been elected, and the duty incumbent on him of stirring them up to +the proper degree of patriotism, he sent word that he would return shortly +to continue his harangue. More than half an hour elapsed before he +returned, and to guard against more interruptions, we pulled an old wagon +to the fore and fixed it up in proper shape for him to continue his +remarks. + +Upon his arrival he was assisted by Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown to +mount the newly made rostrum. After apologizing for his abrupt departure, +he continued his address as follows; "Ladies and Gentlemen: I am ready +for the worst if it must come. A brave man dies but once, whilst the +coward dies every time danger approaches. There is no use of being timid +nor chicken-hearted in the present cause. I do not encourage cruelty, but +we must stand firmly together to defend our rights and protect our +families and firesides. (Cheers). For my part I want to emphatically say +that no invader can leave his moccasin track on my threshold, nor disturb +the peace of my household until he has crossed over all that is mortal of +Capt. Milligan. Do you think that I would sit silently and submissively by +and see him shoot down the old family watch-dog, work him up into +bouillion, and eat his repast in the shadow of my "sorghum stack." I say, +No! a thousand times, No! I would prefer to meet their leader in single +combat on the open prairie and when I had driven him from the field of +battle, follow him to his tepee, destroy his totempole, tear his wampum +belt from his body and carry it away as a trophy of the expedition." +(Tumultuous applause.) + +As it was getting rather late, and many had long distances to travel +before reaching home, the Capt. closed his harangue, thanking them for +their attention and assuring them that their interests were his interests, +and that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to defend their rights, +and homes. + +In a few days we received word that the Governor had instructed Adjutant +General Noble to proceed to Dodge City and thence to Crooked Creek where +he was to receive the oath of allegiance of the colonists, and deliver the +guns and ammunition, and give us such instructions as he deemed necessary +for us in our line of duty. On the following Thursday he arrived and went +through the formality of enlisting us and delivering to us the weapons of +war. Henceforth we were full-fledged members of the Kansas State Militia. +After turning over to us the arms and ammunition, he delivered a short +talk in which he instructed us in our duties to the State and to one +another. + +When the arms were distributed, it was found that there was a surplus +left, which came in handy to shoot antelope with afterwards. These guns, +in the meantime, were left in charge of Lieut. Brown. The Adjutant-General +then bade us good-bye and departed for home. + +We immediately set to work to provide for our defense. After some +deliberation, we concluded to provide a fortification in which to place +the women and children and all those who might happen to be in the +neighborhood in the time of danger. As funds were lacking, and rock, or +timber was not to be had, we decided to build it of sod. The following +Saturday was the day set aside to vote on the proper location of our +future fortification. On the appointed day, all assembled. They expressed +their willingness and eagerness to do anything to further the project. One +thing each one was determined on was to have it built as near his claim as +possible. It did not take long to arrive at a conclusion regarding the +position in which the fort was to be built. As it was impossible to +satisfy everybody, we abandoned the project entirely, and it was further +decided that each one was to take his share of the guns and ammunition and +take care of himself. Another subject that gave us much concern was the +matter of drilling. The adjutant had told us to become familiar with the +use of the arms, to meet at least once a week and drill to render +ourselves fit for duty. When the time arrived for our first lesson in the +"manual of arms," it was found that there was not a man present who knew +anything about it. The old scouts who were present, knew all about how to +ride a horse, and to lie down in a buffalo wallow and take a shot at an +Indian if one came in sight, and they were, besides, first class hands at +discovering watering places and the like, but in the matter of drill they +were entirely unsophisticated. Even Capt. Milligan, if he ever knew +anything about the matter, declared he had forgotten it entirely. He felt +sure, however, that it would be impossible to perform the proper +manoeuvers with those short-barreled guns, and that if the Governor would +send some with long barrels that he would be right at home in the matter. +As no one seemed capable of conducting the class, we settled the +difficulty in the same manner as we did that of the fort, by abandoning it +also. It was unanimously agreed that in case of trouble, each should go to +the aid of his neighbor if assistance were needed. This was very +satisfactory for me especially, as I was fortunate in the possession of +splendid neighbors, Sergeant Rice living on one side of me, and First +Lieut. Brown on the other. Both were possessed of abundant fighting +material at all times, and knew how to use it in an emergency. + +Things seemed to drag along in the usual way, everybody settling down to +his own affairs and everything would have gone along tranquilly enough +were it not for the numerous cowboys passing through the settlement, +spreading reports as they went, that the Indians were mixing war medicine +and would shortly make a descent upon the palefaces. It was a source of +great delight to them to stampede the settlers by disquieting reports, and +then have a good laugh about it. Their efforts at fun kept the settlers in +a state of ferment. + +It happened that Capt. Milligan's claim was located on the south side of +the settlement and nearest to the Indian Territory. As he was rather +nervous and always on the alert, he kept inquiring continuously of the +cowboys, of the possibility of an Indian raid, and, of course, they filled +his anxious ear with war news. Nearly every other day I noticed the +Captain calling on either Sergeant Rice or Lieutenant Brown, and as he had +to make a ride of ten miles or so to make the visit, I concluded that +there was some significance to these numerous calls. However, as they were +my superior officers, I did not feel at liberty to make any inquiries +about the Captain's frequent visits. I did not have to curb my curiosity +very long before acquiring the desired information. In a few days I saw +the Captain riding up in my direction on his old bald-faced horse and +could see at a glance that his arrival was something of importance as he +was riding straight up in his saddle with as much dignity as it was +possible for one horse to carry. Upon his near approach I felt that I must +do something to acknowledge the presence of my captain. Not being versed +in military etiquette, I doffed my Stetson hat. As I was leaning against +the fence, with a spade in one hand and my hat in the other, I realized +that my appearance lacked something of the military precision required in +a subordinate, and I apologized for my lack of training in the case. He +dismounted from his horse and condescended to shake hands with me and said +that the salute was only a matter of form anyway; that he understood my +position exactly; that he was a recruit once himself; that on such +occasions as this he could overlook little technicalities of the kind, but +on the field of glory he would have to be more exacting with his men. I +then invited the Captain to take a seat on a cottonwood log near at hand +so that we could discuss matters pertaining to the Company more at leisure +I congratulated him on the choice of officers which he had made. + +"Yes," said he, "they are all good men and true, but if I had it to do +over again, I would try to have you act as First Lieutenant of the +Company. Brown is a good man and a good scout and has seen some service +with the Indians, but he lacks aggressiveness. I want men who are +aggressive and who will go into battle as if they are going to breakfast. +By the way," he continued, "I dropped over to see you and to leave orders +for you to go down into the Indian Territory and size up the situation. +Find out if the Indians are in an ugly mood, and if they are likely to +make a raid in the near future. Then report to me on your return and I +will take some steps in the direction that will be best for all concerned. +The cowboys have been circulating some reports concerning an intended +raid, but I do not know whether any credence is to be placed in them or +not. Consequently I decided to come over to see you and send you down to +look the field over, and then I would feel more satisfied, and know just +what action to take in the matter." + +I asked the Captain how he expected me to go down there, and who would +bear the expense of my journey. + +"Oh," said he, "you can take your own horse, and I suppose the State will +be responsible for any bills you make whilst under my orders." I then +asked him what I should do for food for myself as well as for my horse. A +broad smile lit up his countenance and he replied, "Don't you know that +the cowmen will be more than pleased to have a soldier stop at their +ranches for the feeling of security his presence will engender? Your board +and horse-feed will not have to be considered at all. You can go to the +R-S ranch, the Doc Day ranch, the Y. L. ranch or the Driscoll ranch, and +they will receive you with open arms. I can assure you that no charges +will be even mentioned." + +During this short interview I discovered a nigger in the Captain's +wood-pile. The fact was that the cowboys had him half scared to death by +telling him all kinds of Indian war stories. The particular reason he had +in calling on me, was to have me go down to the Territory, and if I was +not scalped while on my mission, and if I found that the Indians were +really going on the warpath, I should report to him without delay so that +he might be able to withdraw his precious(?) person from the zone of +danger and escape to Fort Dodge. I told the Captain that he was somewhat +mistaken in the estimate a cowman places on a soldier as a means of +defense where the Indians were concerned. I assured him that I had learned +their personal views on the subject, and they had arrived at the +conclusion that the soldier was a detriment and an encumbrance to them in +case of trouble with the Indians, and, moreover, they felt quite capable +of taking care of themselves in times of danger from such sources. I went +on to tell him that if he were anxious to have an investigation of +conditions made, he might come over to my place in a day or so and we +would go down together and make the inquiries proper to the occasion, and +that I would feel safer with him than if I were alone. I immediately saw +that the Captain was getting an attack of what the hunters call +"buck-ague." "Thunder and turf," he exclaimed, "I cannot go. I am subject +to orders from the Governor, and I should be in a queer fix if I were +called to duty in some other part of the State while I was down in the +Territory. However, I can order Corporal Copeland to go with you." I told +him that the Corporal had no horse, and it would not be right to send him +on foot. I also informed him that he would have to look around and make +some other arrangements, as my horse was too old, and his knee was sprung +from roping cattle, so that an Indian war horse could catch him without +any trouble. Conditions being such, I told him I did not think I would go. +"What!" he shouted, "you do not mean to disobey orders!" His eyes bulged +out until they looked like old English watches, and his chest measurement +seemed to increase perceptibly. He jumped up from his seat on the log and +started for his horse, saying on his way, "If you persist in disobeying +orders, I shall be forced to disarm you and court-martial you for +insubordination." "Well," said I, "you will raise the deuce +court-martialing me, when there is only five or six members of the Company +who can read or write and they are all on my side." I heard nothing more +from the Captain for several days. Finally I received a letter from him +telling me that he had written to the Governor regarding my disobedience. +I replied to his message, saying that if the Governor was as tardy in +taking action on my case as he was in sending arms and ammunition, I +should die of old age before the matter would be adjusted. I also informed +him that I had received word that the Indians would be in our neighborhood +in a few days, and that he should see to it that means were taken for our +defense. Next day I received another note from him in which he told me +that he had changed his attitude toward me, and that I should call on +Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown and tell them to report to him for duty +at once, and I was to accompany them. The message I received by special +delivery. I made a visit up the creek to see my friends, Rice and Brown, +and reported the change that had taken place in the Captain's attitude, +and also showed them his request and instructions, asking at the same time +their opinions on the matter. Brown replied, "O pshaw, that does not +amount to anything. Those cowboys over on Sand Creek have the old Captain +about frightened to death, and I think we had better remain where we are. +There's not an Indian in the country, and I do not think there will be." +We acted on Brown's suggestion and remained where we were. + +At this time the cowmen were holding their Spring round-up on Sand Creek, +to cut out and take back to their ranches the cattle that had drifted off +during the winter, besides branding the calves before turning them loose +again on the range. There were about one hundred cow-punchers at the round +up, all well mounted and well armed. Each man had from three to five +horses in his mount, all in good shape because they had been grain fed for +the occasion. Their arms consisted of Winchesters and six-shooters. There +had been so many rumors circulated about the possibility of an Indian raid +that all went prepared for any emergency. One day while they were all +lying around awaiting the arrival of the round-up herds from the +Southeast, a happy thought occurred to them to put to the test the bravery +of Captain Milligan, of which they had heard much, thinking at the same +time to have some sport at his expense. They formed a company of about +thirty, dressed up like Indians, or near enough to the real thing to be +mistaken for them at a distance. The leader was fitted with a red saddle +blanket decorated with sage brush for a war bonnet, with a few cat tails +for plumes. He looked more like a grizzly bear than an Indian, but his +appearance was well calculated to strike terror into the heart of any +civilized human being, especially when everyone was looking for trouble +from such a source anyway. The rest of the crowd dressed up as each saw +fit, carrying their hats inside their shirts so as to travel bareheaded +after the Indian fashion. When all was ready they took a direct route for +Captain Milligan's place. They all knew how to render the Cheyenne war +whoop when the proper time arrived, and the leader rode along at a +moderate pace chanting his war song. They came to a halt to decide whether +they should burn him alive, or capture him and hold him for ransom. One +man said it was useless to hold him for any ransom as he knew most of the +company, and as for burning him alive, he did not think there was a +cow-puncher in the crowd that would waste time necessary to gather chips +for the sacrifice. In the meantime the chief kept ranging around and +waving his hands, keeping his war bonnet as much in evidence as possible. +They moved up to a position within about a quarter of a mile of the +Captain's house and then gave a war whoop. By this time the object of the +joke became aware of their presence and felt his peril keenly. He made a +dash for his corral where he kept a little, old, notch-eared, sore-backed +pony that he always kept saddled for any emergency. To say that he went +rapidly, is putting it mildly--he fairly flew. When he got started the +Indians(?) made a rush to capture him, firing at him in the meanwhile. +They remained a safe distance behind so as to be sure not to capture him, +but kept up the shouting and whooping for about two miles. The Captain +took the shortest course to Fort Dodge, and the cowboys returned to camp +laughing heartily at the brave man's flight. + +When the Captain had made about five miles of his hasty retreat, he +happened upon one of his neighbors, Mike O'Shea, who had begun to dig a +well. As he passed in his headlong flight he shouted to Mike, "Tell Rice +and Brown they are here, and I am going to Fort Dodge for relief and +succor." He was in too great a hurry to stop and explain the cause of his +excitement, and as Mike explained it afterwards, he said he thought he was +going for a "thafe and sucker" or something of the kind, or maybe it was +"relafe and supper, or something like that." He also noticed that the +Captain's horse was almost out of breath, and the gentleman himself was +very much excited. + +Whilst Rice and Brown were interviewing Mike, another man came along and +stated that he had seen the Captain about ten miles north, and he reported +having had an engagement with the Indians that day at his claim, and said +that he had stood them off until they had retired. As he was about out of +ammunition at the time of their departure, he took advantage of their +retreat to make his way to Fort Dodge for relief and succor. He did not +say how many he had killed, but maintained that he had a very narrow +escape. + +I suppose, if Captain Milligan is alive today, he does not fail to tell of +the time he stood off five hundred Cheyenne Indians, single-handed and +alone, and how, after driving them off, he beat them to Fort Dodge in +quest of aid. + +A few days after the encounter with the supposed Indians, Lieutenant Brown +received the following note from the Captain: + + Fort Dodge, Kansas, April--,'79. + + Lieutenant Brown: + + Dear Comrade:--I am in receipt of a telegram from the Governor, + ordering me to go at once to Topeka, to take charge of the + strike-breakers. The railroad employees have gone out on a strike, and + it will take the strong arm of the militia to hold them in check. Sell + my land and all my effects, and forward the proceeds to my address, + which will be, State Capitol, Topeka. + + Yours in command, + Captain Milligan. + + P. S. Regards to all the comrades. + +Thus terminated the war of 1879. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A New Venture.--Hard Times.--The Territory, Etc. + + +For three years, from 1879 to 1882, it seemed as if the very elements had +conspired to render the attempt at settling Western Kansas futile. The +continuous drouth, together with the hot winds, made any attempt at +farming discouraging. As a consequence a great many settlers sold their +holdings for what they could get for them, and returned to their former +place of abode. The gathering of buffalo bones, which had been their chief +source of subsistence during that trying time, was beginning to fail owing +to the great number engaged in the business, and the distance they had to +be hauled and the ever receding base of supply. Many abandoned the work +entirely, and the few that remained actively engaged in that occupation +found themselves daily meeting greater difficulties. The scarcity of the +supply became so great that they would often be compelled to go a hundred +miles or more to gather a load, haul them to the nearest trail, and then +transfer them to some freighter on the way to Dodge City, the only market +for them in the country. To make the exchange and have them taken to +market usually required a division of the profits, and one can easily +imagine what a small share was left for the original collector when the +goods were sold. No matter how small the profit, on this the gatherer had +to subsist as well as supply his family with necessaries during his +absence. There was hardly sufficient remuneration in the work to obtain +the plainest of provisions. + +To the young people of America who may perhaps be reading this little +story of the early settlement of the West, in the comfortable surroundings +of their own cozy homes, I will say that they know little of the price +paid to make such conditions possible. I have frequently seen, on the top +of a wagon loaded with bones, a gunny sack containing the skeleton of a +man, that had been picked up by some freighter or some cowman or some +settler, and put in the sack to be taken to Dodge City for burial. That +gunny sack contained a sermon as well as a skeleton. It told of the +certainty of death as well as of the uncertainty of life. It told the +reason why father, mother, Mary, Ellen and Julia never received a reply to +their last letter, written to John, Jake or Jim, marked on the lower +left-hand corner, "In haste, please," to be sure of prompt delivery. Quite +likely, when the poor old mother would be grieving over the long +disappointment, the girls would encourage her by saying, "Oh, that is one +of his pranks. He is just waiting until we are all quite lonesome, and +then he will come rushing in upon us to take us by surprise." He has never +returned, but the family still keeps alive the glimmer of hope that +flickers in the human breast, that they will all meet again, somewhere. + +Confronted with such conditions as mentioned above, with no indications of +any relaxation of the drouth that was compelling even the big ranchmen to +look around for water, we saw a very gloomy outlook for the future. + +After weighing the matter carefully, I decided to make a change in my +business affairs. I took into my confidence a cow-puncher named Bill +Wagner, who is now living in Meade, Kans. Having fully discussed the +situation from all points, we determined to embark together on a course +that would at least promise us some profit from the undertaking. We made +up our minds to go down into the Territory and trade with the cattlemen +who were coming North with their herds from Texas, on their way to Montana +or Wyoming, either to sell or turn loose to graze on the Northern range. +We rounded up a few saddle horses, among which was my old favorite Jimmy, +and set out for Dodge City to purchase the supplies necessary for the +journey. I also wanted to deposit some money and dispose of some mules +that I would not need, on my trip. On my arrival at Dodge City I formed +the acquaintance of James Langton, who introduced me to a Mr. R. M. +Wright, of the firm of Wright, Beverly & Co., who were engaged in a +Wholesale Supply business. I found Mr. Wright one of the most genial men +with whom I ever did business. Having previously sold my mules, I +deposited my money with the firm I was introduced to. I told Mr. W. that I +intended to go down into the Territory on a trading expedition. I +explained to him that the cattlemen would be on the trail, and as there +were no stores to be found between the Red river on the North line of +Texas and where we were then standing, there would be a good opportunity +to trade provisions for some cattle that had become sore-footed on the +way, with a good profit for me. He agreed with me that it was a golden +opportunity, and added as an encouragement, "You will do well, if the +Indians do not scalp you in the meantime." I replied that as conditions +existed on Crooked Creek, a man would be no worse off dead in the +Territory than living where I had been. I saw very little difference. + +I loaded my wagon with what goods I thought would be most in demand by the +cattlemen. I selected a considerable quantity of tobacco, bacon, baking +powder, canned goods of several kinds, a coil of rope, cartridges of +different calibre, coffee, sugar, and some other things--all necessary on +the trail. I also bought a tent and cooking outfit. The latter consisted +of a coffee-pot, skillet, frying-pan, coffee-mill, six knives and forks, +six tin plates, six cups and saucers, the latter of tin, in order to +provide against the possibility of our having some company on the road. By +the time I had my trading done, Wagner was ready and waiting. We hitched +up and pulled across the river, where we encamped for the night. Part of +the horses we hobbled, and two we kept picketed in order to guard against +being left on foot the next morning if anything should stampede our stock +during the night. When the stock had been cared for, we proceeded to make +arrangements for ourselves, and while Wagner cooked the flapjacks I was +looking around for sleeping accommodations, as it was difficult to find a +place level enough to suit the purpose. The making of our beds did not +cost much effort, but one had to guard against sand-burrs, cactus, +tarantulas, rattlesnakes and centipedes. + +The next morning found us up early after a good sound sleep, and hustling +around to get ready for the first day of our new venture. When we had +tended to the wants of the stock and ourselves, we hitched up and started +off at a slow pace, as the team was not accustomed to the heavy work, and +it would take some time for them to become inured to the hardship of the +trail. Out across Five Mile Creek and up the divide along the old Camp +Supply route until we reached the summit, we made our toilsome way. We +reached the apex about noon time and halted for dinner. After giving the +horses a good rest, we proceeded on our way, and as our route now lay down +grade we made better time. Evening found us at Mulberry Creek, where +Johnny Glenn and Dutch Pete kept a road ranch. This roadside caravansary +served as a halting place for the stage coach, and furnished refreshments +for passengers when needed. As there was a good camping ground there, we +unhitched and turned the horses out to graze and made preparations for our +own accommodation. When we had eaten supper, we brought the horses in for +the night, and then after chatting and smoking for some time we turned in +for a good night's rest. Early morning found us on our way again towards +the South. We kept rumbling along until we reached the division point of +the stage line, where horses were changed by the driver, P. G. Reynolds. +This location, I believe, is not very far from where the present town of +Ashland, county seat of Clark county, is situated. Here we stopped and had +dinner at what was called the Widow Brown ranch. From this place we +proceeded down the Bear Creek trail and reached the Cimmaron River that +same evening. The river being up, we could not cross, and we camped on the +North bank not far from where an old German named Clem maintained a road +ranch. The river as I said was full and this may seem strange, as it had +not rained in this section for more than three months. The cause of the +rise lay in the fact that there had been considerable rain in Colorado. +This added to the snow melting on the mountains made the river rise to its +full capacity. Here we had to remain for three days, waiting till the +waters would subside enough to permit a crossing. We were not the only +ones that met with an obstacle in our progress by the river's behavior, +but it proved a boon to us as well as adding to our store of knowledge. On +the other bank of the river were cowpunchers with their herds waiting to +cross also. It was amusing and instructive to us to watch them in their +efforts to induce the leaders of the herds to take to the water. When a +puncher succeeded in getting the leaders into the stream, he would ride or +swim his pony alongside of them to keep them from milling, or drifting +down the river. It was very exciting to watch those herds crossing the +swollen stream with the cowboys yelling and whooping among them. It seemed +as if pandemonium had taken a holiday. By the time the last of the herds +had crossed, the river had subsided somewhat, and we pulled over to the +opposite side without any great difficulty. It was with a sigh of relief +we reached the solid footing on the other bank. + +Then we were in the Territory and bade farewell to civilization until we +returned to the North bank of Cimmaron River. We left the Camp Supply +trail and went Southward to the old Custer trail, which was being used by +the cowmen at that time. We did not stop at noon time, but kept on our +way, intending to make a short drive and camp where the grass had not been +eaten off by the trail herds, and where there was a supply of water for +our stock. About four o'clock in the afternoon we found a satisfactory +location and went into camp. We turned the horses loose to graze. They +needed it, as they had been living on rather short rations since we had +started on our jaunt. For ourselves, we built a fire of cow-chips and made +out a supper on bacon and flapjacks. This done, we looked over our outfit +and made what repairs were necessary for the next day's drive. Everything +being attended to, as security demanded, we turned in for the night, +intending to make a permanent location the next day. As this was my first +night in the Territory, I must say that I felt very lonesome. It was a +fine moonlight night, and the stars seemed to flicker and dance for my +special benefit. I could see the handiwork of the Great Creator all over +the firmament as far as the eye could reach, and my admiration for the +beauty of the planetary system was unbounded. When I arose in the morning +and threw the saddle on my old favorite pony, Jimmie, to get an idea of +the lay of the land, things seemed to look different. When I had returned +to camp after my survey of the neighborhood, I had come to the conclusion +from the general appearance of the country and the great contrast with +what I had viewed from my bed at the wagon, that some Spirit of Evil had +been brooding over things in general, and while in that mood had laid the +country round about in waste, and Nature was doing her best to restore it +to its primitive beauty. We travelled that day until we discovered what we +considered an ideal spot to locate our store. It was not far from the +trail, and there was plenty of good grass and water for our stock. We set +to work to arrange things for our purpose, and it was not long before we +had things in shape to do business. Our tent-store was, fortunately, +placed about half a mile from where the cowmen used to halt and bed down +their herds for the night. The presence of those men served the purpose of +breaking the monotony of our surroundings, for it was a pleasure to hear +them singing as they rode around their herds at night to render them quiet +and keep them from drifting off during the night. Not only did they help +to pass away the time for us, but it gave us an opportunity to do a little +business also. + +When we had located and arranged things to our satisfaction, we spent some +time riding around looking over the situation and conjecturing the +prospects. We found very few range cattle in our vicinity, which I +afterwards learned was due to the fact that the ranchers kept their cattle +away from the trail so that they would not become mixed with those on the +drive, or become infected with the Texas or splenic fever. For the purpose +of effecting this, they maintained men along the trail to turn back any +range cattle that showed a tendency to wander in the direction of the +through herds. During our ride we killed a brace of wild turkeys, and this +gave us a welcome change from the monotony of rusty bacon. + +Things did not look very prosperous as yet, and began to think that I had +made my journey to no purpose, and would likely have to haul my load back +to Kansas again. While in this frame of mind, and not being very cheerful +over it, sitting in the shade of my tent, a man rode up to my emporium of +commerce. We passed the usual salutations and had a chat. In the midst of +our conversation he informed me that he had met a man who would likely +purchase some of my wares. I could hardly realize the gist of his remark, +as it was such a surprise, although I was there for the purpose of selling +goods. I managed to recover from the shock with considerable alacrity, and +invited him into my tent. He looked over my stock of goods, and before he +left me he had purchased more than half of it, and gave in payment an +order on Wright & Beverly. He said that his herd would be along in the +evening, and he would have the grub wagon load up the purchases. + +That evening the herd came along, and as the place was the bedding ground +for the through herds, they made the necessary preparations for putting in +the night. When the cowpunchers had eaten supper, they came over to our +tent to purchase supplies of tobacco and cartridges. As there was nothing +else to do, and as we had been getting rather lonesome in our retired +place, we spent the evening agreeably, spinning yarns, relating +experiences of the trail, etc. In the meantime the grub wagon arrived and +was loaded with the goods purchased earlier in the day. Before bidding us +good night, the boys invited us to take breakfast with them on the +following morning. We accepted, and shortly after daybreak we heard the +cook's cheerful announcement that "chuckaway" was ready. As the wagon was +near our tent we did not have far to go, and before we reached it all +hands were up and dressed and ready for the morning repast. We were +somewhat surprised to find that the cook had fried salt bacon for the +boys. In explanation of this he said that they were tired of fresh meat. +We were weary of salt bacon, but good manners forbade our saying so, and +we did our share with as much gusto as possible. A little fresh beef would +have been much to our liking just then. By the time breakfast was over, +the horse wrangler had arrived with the saddle stock. Ropes were +stretched, one from the front wheel and one from the rear wheel of the +wagon, and the horses driven in between them, where each man roped his +mount for the day. The cook and the wrangler then attended to their own +wants. After covering the camp-fires with soil to prevent the fire from +spreading over the prairie, they were ready to set out on their long jaunt +to Montana, or some other feeding ground. We bade the boys good-bye and +returned to our store to await new arrivals. + +As the business of the preceding day had been more than I expected from +the general survey of things when I first arrived, I soon saw that if I +had another customer of the same dimensions of the first one, I would have +very little with which to do business. I determined to send Bill to Dodge +City for another load of provisions. I made out a list of what I wanted, +greased the wagon and started him off. Under favorable conditions, he +should make the trip in about eight or ten days, but if the roads became +bad, it would require a much longer time. Before he left I had him make a +good store of biscuits for me, as I was not able to turn out an article of +the kind that would coincide with the digestive powers of any human being. +I gave him strict orders, among the other things, not to forget to bring +something to read, as there was nothing at hand for that purpose except a +Patent Medicine pamphlet, and I had read that so often and so thoroughly +that I had some of the symptoms of seven different maladies that were +therein pronounced fatal. If I had been in the neighborhood of a drug +store at the time I should have bought a supply of the cure-all regardless +of results. Living as I was at the time, alone, I escaped the consequences +of both the cure-all and the diseases mentioned in the pamphlet. When Bill +was well on his way, I meandered around into the tent and out again, down +to the creek and back again; in fact, I was just like a stray colt, did +not know where to go, nor what to do. I soon discovered what my malady +was. It was lonesomeness in its direst form. It settled on me like a fog +settling over a marsh. It penetrated my very being. Everywhere I went I +could feel it. Whatever I saw seemed tinged with it. I tried drinking +strong coffee to drive it out, but that was no avail, so I saddled old +Jimmie and took a ride over the prairie. On my way back to camp I killed a +wild gobbler, thus providing myself with fresh meat. The cleaning and +cooking of my prize relieved the monotony a trifle. I don't know whether I +cooked him according to the recipe in the latest cook book published, but +in any case he tasted fine. My pony seemed to realize how lonely I was, +for whenever I went out of my tent he endeavored to come to me, and +strained at his rope to approach as near as possible. I went over to him +and he put his head on my shoulder and seemed to say, "It's all right, +Dennis, Bill will be back in a few days and then you will have company. In +the meantime I shall try to keep you from becoming too lonesome." Needless +to say, I put in considerable time with old Jimmie, currying him and +fixing his water and feed in the best manner possible. I loved old Jimmie, +for he was my friend. I knew not at what hour, nor what moment, my life +would depend on his fidelity, and I knew that I could rely upon him to the +last breath. + +One day followed another without any perceptible difference between one +and the other. In my surroundings I lost track of the time. I was longing +for the return of my partner, and continued to picture the progress of his +journey, where he was, what he was doing, etc. I felt like Robinson +Crusoe, and in some respects his plight was more endurable than mine. He +declared himself the monarch of all he surveyed, and his right there was +none to dispute. Not so would he have issued his declaration if he were +living in the Territory at the time, as his right would likely be disputed +by the first man that came along, and as for there being a monarchy at the +time, it was not thinkable, at least under the conditions in which I was +living. + +That was a time when every man was supposed to remain silent about what he +had heard, and have very little to say about what he saw. Horse stealing +had become quite an industry at the time, and was carried on by bands of +outlaws between Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado. As there was no +telephone, telegraph or mail facilities, they were comparatively free from +detection, especially as they travelled through the most unfrequented +parts of the country. Their route brought them through the section where I +was camped. One day I saw five of them coming in my direction, attracted +by the sight of my tent. When they arrived where I was sitting, I invited +them to dismount and come into my tent. They did so. They inquired if I +had any tobacco, and I told them that was one of the commodities I was +dealing in at the time. As that was all they wanted, they bought several +pounds and then prepared to depart. I invited them to remain to dinner and +they accepted the invitation. When they had consented to be my guests, I +told them I had everything to make a first-class meal, but was short on +biscuits, and could not make them as I did not know how, and I said I +would be pleased if one of them would make them. One of them remarked, +"Now, Jack, there is a job for you." I pulled out a sack of flour, a can +of baking powder, gave one of them the coffee mill to grind some coffee, +took a bucket and started for the creek for a pail of fresh water. The +rest of them busied themselves building a fire of cowchips, and things +began to take on the appearance of home. When Jack had his biscuits ready, +I brought out my select assortment of tin-ware, passed around plates, +knives, forks and whatever else was necessary, and we all set to work with +a gusto. The gobbler, biscuits and other edibles did not last long, as +each of us seemed to have a first-class appetite. While eating and joking +at the same time, I told them of the reason of my asking them to remain +for dinner, namely, that I was out of biscuits and that I was tired of +living on crackers, and I knew there would be some one in the crowd who +would be able to make them. I saw, besides, that their horses were jaded, +and told them they might as well remain for a time to rest their stock. In +all my joking and talking with them I took particular care not to ask them +whence they came, nor whither they were going, nor what their business was +in that part of the country, as that would be the height of impropriety. +After we had chatted for a considerable time, they took the saddles off +their horses, picketed one or two, and turned the others loose to graze. +My loneliness was fast disappearing as the result of companionship of my +fellowmen, even if they were a gang of horse thieves, and as a result I +began to feel better and things began to wear a different aspect. I +recalled a statement made by some one that it was not good for man to be +alone, and I found it true, and made a resolution that I would never be +left alone again in the future. + +That night I saddled up old Jimmie, and taking one of my visitors, went +out in search of some wild turkeys. I had previously seen a flock in the +neighborhood, and had a fairly good idea of where they were roosting. As +soon as the moon had come up we began looking around among the trees that +grew along the bank of the creek, and to our great delight discovered a +few. We secured two of them and returned to camp. Next morning, Jack, who +had been delegated to cook for us during his visit, was up and had the +game dressed in the most approved fashion, and had also turned out a new +supply of biscuits. When I rolled out of my blanket, I discovered that my +company was made up of early and energetic risers, and I was delighted to +know that the cook had done so well, and showed my appreciation later. The +rest of the group had gone off in search of their stock, and were then +returning. Breakfast was ready by that time, and we all set to without +much preliminary apology for poor appetites, for we had good ones. The +service was rather plain; a tomato can served the purpose of a sugar bowl, +a sardine can for a salt cellar, and other utensils were provided in the +same manner. During the meal one of the boys asked me which was the best +way, through No Man's Land to Colorado. I divined immediately that they +were horse thieves, for I had only a suspicion of it before. I gave him +some kind of an answer, and I do not know whether it proved satisfactory +to them or not. Breakfast being attended to and the dishes washed and put +away, they made preparations for departure. They thanked me for my +kindness and assured me that they would be glad to meet me at any time or +place. When they had gone I began to feel the loss of company again, but I +also began to realize the danger I had encountered owing to their brief +stay, for if a posse of officers had happened along while they were my +guests, it would have been hard for me to explain my compromising +position. As it is usually the innocent bystander that gets hurt, I +suppose I should have been the one to suffer, as there would have been +some very warm work for a while. There was one thing impressed itself on +my mind very much during the stay of my visitors, and that was the absence +of vulgar or profane language. That went to prove that they had had good +training by good parents who would have been proud of their personality, +though they could not approve of their occupation. + +When they had gone over the hill on their way, I thought I would improve +my time by writing a few letters. I improvised a table for the purpose by +bringing into service a cracker-box. The remainder of my office fixtures +were in keeping with my desk. However, I was not ashamed of my +surroundings, and sat down to write with all the dignity of an Indian +chief sitting in council. It dawned upon me suddenly that it might be +weeks before I would have an opportunity to post them, and as I was doing +it to ward off another attack of lonesomeness, I decided that a good walk +over the surrounding neighborhood would serve the purpose as well. In my +travels I discovered a cloud of dust rising on the horizon, and came to +the conclusion that there was another herd coming along the trail, and it +would only be a matter of a few hours before they would arrive at the +regular halting place. I returned to camp and made out a lunch from the +remnants of the breakfast, and then saddled old Jimmie and set out to meet +the oncoming herd. I wanted to get acquainted with them as much as +circumstances would permit, find out if they had any lame cattle they +thought would be unable to make the journey to Dakota, Montana, or +wherever they were going, and what would be the possibilities of a trade. +If they would not ask too much I felt that I could make a little money by +doctoring them myself and disposing of them afterward. When I came up to +the cowmen they seemed to look at me with suspicion, as they did not +expect to find a white man in that section of the country. When I +explained to the foreman the nature of my business in that part of the +Territory, he seemed very much pleased to meet me, and to know that I was +selling goods that he needed, as he had not had a chew of tobacco since +he had left the Red River, nor lard enough to grease a skillet. I looked +over the herd and made an estimate of the number of lame cattle they had. +I rode back to my camp thinking over the situation, and when they arrived +later I figured up what I was willing to pay for the lame and footsore +cattle they had in the group. As soon as they arrived, the foreman rode +over to my tent to look at the goods I had in stock. He purchased about +what I had remaining after the previous sale. While talking on things in +general he remarked that he would have to remain where he was for a day or +so in order to let the stock rest, as he had driven them rather rapidly +owing to the fact that the Comanches were troublesome to him while he was +passing through their reservation, and he had to hasten along in order to +get away from them. That determination to rest was as pleasing to me as it +was to the cowpunchers, and the cattle showed it was agreeable to them, as +they looked exhausted, which was inevitable after a long and furious +drive. I sauntered over to where the cowboys were gathered around the grub +wagon, and soon was on friendly terms with them as far as short +acquaintance would permit. I heard the cook complaining about the dog, +saying he would have to get rid of him as he was always nosing into +everything, and had become a nuisance. I told him that I would gladly take +him for the sake of his company, and he was handed over to me. I did not +know that I was adding to my misfortunes or afflictions when I received +him, though I might have suspected it from the ease with which the cook +parted with him. + +Next morning found me riding around the herd in company with the foreman, +looking over the lame cattle, or drags, as they called them. I examined +them very carefully, and made a dicker for about fifteen head. He agreed +to have his men help me rope and brand them, to cross out the road brand, +and also hobble them and help me doctor their sore feet. We built a fire +to heat the branding irons, and soon everything was ready for the +operation. I placed my brand upon them, a ladder on the left side and a +crop off the left ear. While the irons were hot, I cauterized their sore +feet, and applying tar and turpentine, wrapped them up in gunny sacks and +turned them away from the herd to graze along the creek. Many hands make +light work, and we were through with our task before noon. To complete the +transaction, the foreman wrote out a bill of sale for me, giving a general +description of the cattle and the road brands, signed it in the presence +of witnesses, and turned it over to me to secure me against all claims for +the stock I had purchased. This being done, I wrote out a check for him, +and the sale was complete. I began to feel as though I were somewhat of a +cowman myself when I looked down toward the creek to where my stock was +grazing. I soon found out that I had much to learn. + +A Bill of Sale was necessary in a cow country, and it was my only +protection against the claim of some other cowman who might assert that +the stock had broken away from his herd in a storm, and might say that I +had caught and branded them. If the case were so, I might not only have +the cattle taken away from me, but I would be lucky if they did not treat +me as a cattle thief. But with the Bill of Sale safely tucked away in the +safety deposit vault, which in this case was a cracker box, I felt easy +about the matter. + +Our business being completed, we sat around chatting and narrating +experiences on the plains. Even this palled on us after a time, and one of +the boys, in order to relieve the tedium of the delay, proposed a horse +race. That suggestion seemed to please them generally. The proposal was +greeted with enthusiasm, but it was a difficult matter to arrange the +proper distance, or the amount of the wager. I was asked if I would care +to take part in the race, and I replied that I could not say until I had +seen who and what I was to compete with. That morning I had noticed on my +trip around the herd that their horses seemed pretty well jaded from +their long trip from San Antonio to the North side of the Territory, and +did not seem equal to a very long race. Just then one of the boys came up +with a bunch of horses, and one of them was roped. They began to saddle +him and one of the boys asked, "Are you going to run old Pinkeye? If you +are, I am willing to bet a dollar on him if Slim Jim rides him." The boys +continued to parley about what they would and would not do, and finally +they asked me to match my horse against Pinkeye with Slim Jim for rider. I +consented to make the match if we could arrange the preliminaries. I said +I would ride a half mile or a quarter mile dash, whichever they preferred. +They asked me who would ride my horse, and I remarked that I thought I +would perform that duty myself. A knowing look and an incipient smile +lighted up their countenances when I volunteered my information. One of +the wise ones asked me where I came from, and I told him Maidstone Cross, +Canada. Right there he set me down for a tenderfoot, and was out to have +some sport with me. As far as they were concerned the race was as good as +won, and all that remained was the shouting. Of course, we should have to +go through the formality of a race, but that was of minor importance as +far as the wager was concerned. If ignorance is bliss, they had a right to +be supremely happy. They did not know that my pony, Old Jimmie, had not +missed a feed of grain during the past six months, and likewise they were +not aware of the fact that I had handled horses all my life and had spent +the preceding four years on the plains. Yes, Jimmie was the dark horse of +the race, as he was in prime condition, and had just enough exercise for +the past few weeks to keep him in splendid shape. Of course the race +looked bad for me, as I weighed two hundred pounds and Slim about one +hundred and thirty. The odds seemed so much in favor of Slim, that I +demanded twenty-five yards start for a quarter of a mile race, and I +wagered a side of bacon against a three-year-old steer. We finally +compromised the matter by my being allowed twenty yards start, and the +bet to remain as it was. I saddled up Old Jimmie and we then made the +necessary measurements, starting point, etc., in proper form. The signal +for starting was to be a shot from the foreman's gun. The crowd would +decide the winner, as they were to congregate at the winning post. We drew +up to the mark and announced that all was ready. The gun flashed and we +were off. When about half the distance was traversed, I looked back and +discovered that Pinkeye was not making as good a run as I expected, so I +slackened my pace a trifle and crossed the line a winner by about five +yards, which would show that Jim and Pinkeye had gained about fifteen +yards in the struggle. Then the air was rent with shouts and whoops for +the victor. Roars of laughter followed one another at Jim's discomfiture, +and he came in for some real joshing. "Oh, shucks! Jim, you can't ride and +Pinkeye can't run fast enough to catch a milch cow. Next time you ought to +race with a bull train." + +After the first round of excitement and merriment had subsided, they +proposed another race for the same wager. They wanted to make it an even +start, but I would not agree to that, but they finally consented to give +me ten yards start. Back we went to try it over again. By this time Old +Jimmie began to do some fancy side-stepping and prancing, just to show +that he had imbibed enough of the spirit of the race to make him feel +good, and I was satisfied that he was in better fettle than at the opening +of the first heat. The foreman called, "All ready," fired his gun and away +we went again, Slim Jim pouring the rawhide into Pinkeye. This time I did +not hold back, especially as I heard Jim urging his pony by words and +quirt, but I had no fears about the outcome, as Old Jimmie would not +permit anything to pass him as long as he was able to throw a hoof +forward. When we reached the line, we were in about the same relative +positions as when we started. He had not gained a yard on Jimmie. The +usual whooping and yelling took place again. As it was getting late, I +thought it best to get my two steers, brand and hobble them and put them +with the rest of the little bunch I had bought earlier in the day. The +boys good-humoredly branded them and the foreman wrote out another Bill of +Sale which I tucked away with the other. As there was nothing else to do +after the racing was over, I took a couple of the boys and we went out and +brought in a few wild turkeys which the cook dressed and cooked for the +evening meal. The rest of the evening we spent in chatting about life on +the trail. + +Next morning they set out on their long drive to Montana. I rode with them +a few miles, bade them farewell, and returned to my duties at the camp. +When I reached my tent, I found that the old dog, Nero, had declared +himself dictator, and positively refused to let me enter. I could hardly +blame him, as there had been so many around since I acquired possession of +him that he could not figure out to whom he belonged. I went to my saddle +and took down my lariat rope and gave him a liberal application of it, and +established order once more on the premises. To rehabilitate myself in his +affection I brought him out a good meal of bread and cold turkey. With +nothing else at hand to require my attention at the tent, I rode down to +where my herd was feeding to see if any of them had wandered off. They +were all there and I felt satisfied. + +On my arrival at the camp on my return, I found a man sitting on his horse +awaiting my coming. He introduced himself as a line-rider of the Y. L. +ranch. I invited him to come in and make himself at home. He gave me his +name as Jack Jernigan, and said that he had been an employee of the ranch +for some time. I asked him to remain for dinner and he accepted the +invitation. I apologized for my inability to make bread. He assured me +that I need not apologize as he would attend to that part of the matter if +I would attend to the business of making a fire and getting the coffee +prepared. His visit was a welcome one as it dispelled an idea that was +forcing itself on me that I was likely to be alone for some time. His +visit was short, but as he lived in the neighborhood, he promised to come +frequently to see me, and he lived up to his promise, frequently bringing +turkey or venison with him as a proof of his marksmanship and +thoughtfulness of me in my lonesome condition. In this way our friendship +was cemented. When my visitor left me, I often experienced touches of +lonesomeness that not even the presence of Nero could abate. Instead of +being companion and comfort to me, he was just the reverse. He spent his +days chasing rabbits, and made the nights hideous with the howls he +emitted in answer to the call of the denizens of the wild. One night as I +felt very tired from a long jaunt I had taken, I decided as there was no +business to attend to, that I would have a good night's rest. I spread my +blankets and settled down to slumber. I had turned the dog loose to take a +run at leisure over the plain. I was just dozing off into slumberland when +I heard a noise approaching. I could not distinguish what it was. It +sounded like a cross between a fog-horn and a calliope. Before I could get +dressed, in fact, before I got my hat on, Nero came tearing over the plain +like a miniature cyclone. He rushed up to me and got between my legs for +protection. I grabbed my six-shooter and went on a tour of investigation. +I had hardly gone a hundred yards when I heard a coyote, and there never +crossed the Atlantic a bagpiper who could emit such a variety of sounds as +that coyote worked out of his system. He had been the cause of my dog's +commotion. I returned to the tent for my winchester, hoping to get a shot +at him, but it was of no use, he had gone away. One thing I discovered in +my midnight ramble was the fact that a mother skunk had moved into the +neighborhood with her whole family. There is one thing that a cowman +dreads very much and that is the bite of a skunk. I knew personally two +cases where men had died of hydrophobia after being bitten by the +malodorous brutes. In my state of mind, sleep was out of the question +until I had destroyed or driven away the newcomers. When I reached the +neighborhood of the late arrivals, I walked very cautiously, as a skunk is +constructed very much on the principal of a "Queen Anne" musket, there was +danger at either end, but it was hard to determine which end had the +greater executionary power. As there was very little moonlight, I could +not get a very good aim at them. When I thought I had located them +properly I began to blaze away with my winchester, and kept up the +fusilade until the chamber of the gun was empty. Next morning I was +delighted to find that I had killed four of my unsavory visitors, and at +the same time felt proud of my marksmanship in the dark. However, I had +little rest during the night as I was not sure of my shots, and I did not +like to take risks with them, so I spent the remainder of the night +soliloquizing on things in general and nothing in particular. During my +vigil I heard the wheels of a wagon rumbling along the trail and I knew it +was Bill returning with more goods. I built a fire and made some coffee +for him as I knew he must be tired after his long journey. After arranging +matters in a sufficiently satisfactory manner for the rest of the night, +we sat and talked over our experiences since we parted. We spent an hour +or so in this manner and then turned in for a good solid sleep. Morning +came and we put things in shape for business and awaited our next +customer. We went down to the creek to take a look at the stock, and it +was well we did so as some of them needed such medical attention as we +could give them. As Bill had brought some books and papers, I felt much +relieved. I discovered that, on consulting the almanac, we had done our +horse racing and trading on Sunday. However, as I was in complete +ignorance of the day, I hope it will not be held against me. + +It may be of interest to the reader to know that the Comanche Indians and +Texans had not been very friendly since Texas had gained her independence +from Mexico. The Comanches claimed that the Texans had been stealing their +horses, and also their cattle, and the Texans put in a counter claim of +the same nature, and in addition to the stock the Indians were said to +have taken, they kidnapped their children whenever an opportunity +presented itself. As a proof that there was some truth in the statement of +the Texans, I will say that Quanah Parker, the late chief of the Comanches +was the son of a white mother who had been kidnapped when a child from a +Texan family. He was a good chief and held in high repute by the whites as +well as by the members of his own tribe. The result of the habit of +carrying off the white children may be seen in the features of many of the +tribesmen today. The unfriendly feeling caused by those savage incursions +exists today, and will continue to do so for ages to come. It is true they +do a little business with each other, but a close observer can readily see +that it would take a very small spark to set the flames of hatred and +vengeance aglow once more. The Texans in driving their cattle northwards +were compelled to pass through the Comanche country, and the Comanche had +advanced far enough in the white man's ways to levy tribute from them. It +was not long after a herd had passed the Red River until an Indian, or +perhaps several of them, made a visit to the cowmen and demanded "wohaw," +or in other words, beef. That meant the delivering over of one or more +steers. The Texan understood the situation well enough to make no refusal +to demand. If he failed to comply with the demand, that night, the same +Indian would likely appear among the herd in the guise of a gray wolf, or +a cougar, and stampede the herd. Such a movement, would cost more than the +price of a brace of steers, as it would take days to collect the cattle +once they scattered, and some of the stock they might never see again. +Without much parley they turned over the stock to them and the Indian went +on his way rejoicing. The first demand did not always settle the +difficulty, as they were likely to appear again in a day or so and demand +more. Such a course of proceedings was very expensive and aggravating to +the cowmen, and as a consequence they pushed on as rapidly as possible to +get away from the dark shadow of the trail, and get over into Chickasaw, +or Caddo country to avoid further trouble. By the time they arrived at the +Cherokee Strip, where I was located, they had several lame, or sorefooted +cattle which they were willing to dispose of at a very reduced price. As I +was the only man on the ground who would take them off their hands, I came +into possession of several head of cattle. After a few weeks rest and some +surgical attention, they would again be in good condition and ready to +forward to the market. Usually I sent them to my ranch in Kansas where I +kept them until I could dispose of them to good advantage. + +A few days after Bill's return, another herd happened along and I did +considerable business with them, selling what goods they needed, and +buying several head of injured cattle which I tended to in the customary +manner. It happened that they had an extra man with them and I hired him. +I put him on the wagon and sent him after more supplies. I kept Bill with +me as I was determined not to remain alone in that locality. When the herd +had gone forward on the drive, we went out to look after our own stock, +and found them as well as could be expected. Shortly after our return to +camp, we saw a horseman coming towards us, and I concluded we were going +to have some more company. When he rode up, I invited him to dismount, as +that was the custom of the country. He thanked me, but declined, saying +that he was in a hurry, that he had had some trouble with the Comanche +Indians, in which there was some shooting done, that he would like to get +a fresh horse to push on his way. I saw that he was pretty well +upholstered in the matter of armament, as he had two six-shooters in his +belt and a winchester in his scabbard and looked, as though he would be +able to protect himself. I asked him no questions as the condition of his +horse told the story as plainly as any words he might use. The spur marks +on the pony's sides showed that his vitality was about expended and that +he would not be able to go much farther. When he asked if I could supply +him with a new mount, I told him I could furnish one. I asked Bill to +change his saddle for him, and gave him some directions to guide him +towards a cow ranch. He proposed leaving his horse with me as a guaranty +that he would return mine to me. I told him that was out of the question, +that if the Comanches came along and found his horse with me they would +conclude that I had hidden him somewhere, which would mean trouble for me, +a thing I did not want just then, especially with the Indians. I told him +to take his pony along with him and if he could not keep up with the fresh +one, to turn him loose upon the prairie and some cow-puncher would take +him in and care for him until called for. He put a hackamaw on his jaded +steed, mounted his fresh pony and made ready to start. I told him not to +spare the quirt, as the horse could stand a good dash, and that he would +be at the ranch in a little over an hour if he rode steadily. He was off +in the direction I gave him, and Bill and I set in to make a checker board +to while away our idle hours. Something shortly afterward attracted our +attention, and on looking up we beheld three Comanche Indians riding +towards our tent, with their rifles across their saddles, which meant +business. I spoke to Bill and he stepped into the tent and buckled on a +pair of six-shooters. I happened to have my winchester near at hand. When +they rode up close enough for us to see plainly what they were doing, they +stopped and began to make signs. I could not understand the Comanche sign +language, so they had to resort to some other means of communication. They +drew closer and one of them said 'How,' the second one grunted something +and the third remained silent. Bill and I went on making our checker +board apparently oblivious of their presence, but all the while I kept my +eye on the rifle with an occasional glance out of the corner of my eye at +the Indians. Finally one of them spoke in broken English and asked if a +white man had been there. I told them a white man had stopped for a short +time, but went north, and I pointed out the trail. After they had sat in +silence for some time, they wheeled their ponies around and galloped off. +It would not take much of a genius to see that their visit was not a +friendly one, and that they were looking for trouble, and particularly +wanted to see a certain white man that had passed that way shortly before. +If they could not find the object of their desires, they would likely make +some trouble for some innocent party. As they saw that Bill and I were +pretty well furnished with fire arms, they thought it better to pursue the +object of the search. I knew that, by this time, the pursued was beyond +the reach of the pursuers and was likely safe among the cowboys of some +neighboring ranch, where the Indian would not follow him. The Indian had a +wholesome respect for cow-ranches and did not care to go prowling around +that locality, for at that particular time the cowman had lost all respect +for the Indian's feelings. As we did not know at what time they would +return, if they ever did, nor did we know what humor they would be in, +though we could give a shrewd guess, Bill and I thought it better to make +what efforts were necessary to protect ourselves and our stock in the +event of their returning with designs, upon us, or our cattle. We took our +blankets and guns and spent the night on the prairie near our horses. +During the vigil we were keeping we heard some horsemen passing and +concluded the Indians were returning from their white-man hunt. + +Next forenoon a line rider came over to see us, bringing with him the +horse we had loaned the visitor who was in such a hurry. He said that he +had seen nothing of the Indians at the ranch. He said that the fugitive +horseman had received a new mount at his ranch and had gone on his way, +but did not fail to send back his compliments saying that he was grateful +for the kindness we had shown him and hoped some day to be able to repay +it. + +That afternoon, the herd, from which the fugitive above mentioned had +taken his departure, arrived in our neighborhood, and from the boys of the +outfit I learned the particulars of the whole occurance. The foreman gave +me all the information in the case, and I shall detail it here. He said +that the Indians had met them over in the Comanche country and had made +their usual demand for "Wohaw." As he had given one steer already down in +the Red River district, he did not feel obliged to yield to their demands +for a second contribution. In order to get rid of them, and at the same +time to make a peace-offering he said he would let them have another. That +did not satisfy the Indians and they started for the herd to cut out what +they wanted. That was the thing that brought matters to a focus. They +might have known that their presence in the herd would cause a stampede. +When they persisted in doing so in spite of the warning to desist, then +came the signal for the disturbance which followed. + +The first steer they cut out from the herd was met and driven back by a +young fellow by the name of McRay. An Indian tried to prevent his driving +the steer back to the herd. That spelled disaster for the Indian, for the +young fellow drew his forty-five and shot the Indian off his pony. All was +confusion for a brief space, but no more shooting took place. The Indians +picked up their wounded comrade and bore him away as fast as they could, +and then the herd moved on. McRay, acting on the advice of the foreman, +sought safety in flight towards the north. That was the fugitive that came +to my tent in search of a fresh pony. If he had remained with the herd, +serious trouble would have resulted, and if they had caught him in his +flight, he would likely have been scalped, if not subjected to other +barbarities. + +I am not going to say anything about the merits of the case as it stood, +but will say that if the same conditions existed today, the same would +occur again. + +As on the arrival of the former herds, we made another bargain for some of +the foot-sore cattle, and after doctoring them to the best of our ability, +we turned them in with the rest of our stock. + +We did considerable business with the foreman of the outfit. After getting +what goods he wanted, he moved onward with his herd. + +When they had gone, I saddled Old Jimmie and took a ride down to where our +stock was feeding along the creek, to look them over and see if they +needed any attention. They seemed in good condition, so I rode on, more +for pastime than with any object in view. When I had passed a mile or so +beyond where our herd was grazing peacefully, I saw something that I could +not account for, and proceeded to make an investigation. As I drew nearer +to the object of my curiosity I found an Indian sitting on the bank of the +creek. I was rather surprised to see that he had no pony in sight, nor +were there any other Indians in view. I approached him with the purpose of +making a closer scrutiny of this lone denizen of the plains. His wardrobe +consisted of a breech-clout, a pair of moccasins, and three feathers in +his hair. I rode up to him and saluted him with the customary Indian +"How." He made no reply, did not give even a grunt of recognition. I +studied him carefully for awhile. I noted that his hair was well braided +and hung down his back, and was tipped with strips of Beaver fur. I rode +on a short distance, and returned again to take another look at him. I +addressed him as before, with the same result. He set me thinking very +seriously as he had no fire-arms and no pony. I thought that, perhaps, he +might be one of the three that had visited me the day they chased the +cowboy. + +When I returned to camp I found a visitor, a line-rider. I explained to +him and Bill what I had seen, and the line-rider volunteered the +explanation that the Indian was a runner, or what one would call a +mail-carrier and was likely carrying some message to the Caddos, perhaps, +an invitation to a green corn dance, or some other festivity. His +appearance there had no further significance, so I let the matter drop. In +the meantime, Bill was busying himself cooking some venison the cowboy had +killed, getting ready for our next repast, which was about due. While +waiting for Bill to put the finishing touches on his work of art, we +amused ourselves with a game of checkers. When luncheon was ready we +abandoned the checker board with alacrity and threw ourselves very +earnestly into the work of demolishing what Bill had taken so much care to +prepare. + +A strong friendship had sprung up between Bill and Nero. It was very much +like the story of Mary and her little lamb, wherever Bill went, there was +Nero at his heels. Such devotion was very touching, but in Bill's case it +was almost too touching for it nearly cost him his life. As my partner was +not much given to riding horseback, any more than he could help, he used +to divert himself by taking a stroll over the prairie, and of course, the +dog was at his heels. It amused Bill to see the dog chasing jack rabbits, +or diving at prairie dogs, but both species seemed to have an uncanny way +of avoiding his onslaughts. He never caught any of them. One day as he was +tearing around after a rabbit, a herd of wild cattle came over the brow of +the hill. The dog was heading for them straight as an arrow; barking and +cavorting in a fashion wonderful to see. Any man who has had any +experience with wild cattle will know what danger my friend and partner +encountered at that point. Wild cattle are curious, and when they see a +man afoot, they begin to investigate immediately, and therein lies the +danger. If anything were to excite them at the moment they would trample +him to death. That was just about what was due to happen to Bill as the +dog had excited them and they were coming toward the man afoot. The idea +of self-preservation struck Nero about the same time as the cattle began +to move toward Bill, and he rushed to his master to save him. The cowboys +added to the pandemonium already turned loose, by trying to shoot Nero. I +always kept a horse saddled at the camp for an emergency, and when I heard +the commotion, I mounted and set out at full gallop to the scene of +action. I was just in time, for there was Bill hitting only the high +places in his flight for safety. I met him and he needed no invitation to +mount behind me, but caught the horn of the saddle and swung himself up +with alacrity and away we went at top speed. The danger was not entirely +passed, for there right behind us was Nero, the cause of a great part of +the trouble. Bill pulled his gun and shot the dog. That itself seemed to +check the herd, but we had a narrow escape. One stumble of the horse, and +we would both have been trampled into such small pieces that there would +be left only a damp spot on the ground where we had fallen. However, we +were safe and that was the chief thing for us. We saddled our ponies and +went to help the cowboys round up the herd that had become scattered +through the playful antics of Nero. As it was time to eat when we had got +the cattle back on the trail and quieted down, we joined the cowmen in +their meal. There was considerable joking and laughing over our +predicament, but they said not one word about the danger we encountered in +our flight before the stampede. + +As this was an opportunity for us to do business again, we took advantage +of it. Bill bought some of the footsore stock, and I sold them provisions +to last them until they could find a more convenient market. + +When the outfit had gone northwards, things began to assume the monotonous +routine of dull times. We did the best we could to entertain ourselves +with checkers and talking over prospects, but it was not very exciting at +best. From a business point of view it seemed a success, and we thought it +advisable to establish ourselves in a dugout and make a lengthy stay of +it. The prospects were good, the success of the past argued well for the +future, but "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglee." + +Next morning I rode down to take a look at our growing herd and had not +gone very far when I found that one of my cattle had been killed. I +dismounted to examine the carcass more closely and found evidence that the +cow had been killed by some wild animal. I could not say what animal had +killed her as the manner of attack was entirely different from any I have +ever seen. It was not a gray wolf, as I was familiar with their mode of +destruction. I examined the ground and found the foot-prints of two +animals, one large and one small. I followed their trail for some distance +and found where they had been rolling in the sand after their feast. I +endeavored to follow it farther, but it was soon lost in the long buffalo +grass, and I had to give up the task. + +I returned to camp and reported the matter to my partner, and he said that +he would fix things for them. He concluded that if he put strychnine in +the carcass they had already killed, they would come again, and in that +way he would rid us of the intruders. We applied the strychnine in the +most approved fashion laid down by old hunters and trappers, but it was in +vain. Next night they returned and killed another steer, but did not go +near the one they had killed before. As we were looking over the result of +the night's work, a line-rider came by, and we explained the situation to +him. He said the mischief had been wrought by a cougar, or Mexican lion, +and that it was useless to try to poison him as he would not eat anything +in the nature of flesh except what had been freshly killed by himself. +Furthermore, he said, they had been attracted by our cattle because, being +footsore, they could not put up a fight to defend themselves, and thus +fell an easy prey to the marauders. We saw at once that there was only one +way out of the difficulty and that was to shoot the lions, as they seemed +to wary to be taken by poison. If we did not take that course, we would +soon be out of cattle. With that end in view we moved them up in the +neighborhood of our tent. We made a temporary corral for them, and awaited +an opportunity to send a bullet into the expected visitor. He came as +usual, but we did not get a shot at him, as he did not give us a chance. I +wish to say that in all my experience I have never met, in Canada or in +the West, another animal so cowardly and treacherous as the Mexican lion. +I have known them to kill an animal not more than four rods from where I +was sitting, and before I could reach the corral, he would be out of +sight. I could not shoot towards the corral for fear of killing or +crippling some of the stock. I have known them to kill a two-year-old +steer, and by the time I could get there the cougar was gone, but the +attack was so swift and sure that the poor beast would be still standing +with his entrails hanging on the ground. That gives some idea of how short +a time it takes a cougar to kill a cow. In spite of all his great +strength, he is a great coward, as he will not face a man. I tried to rid +myself of the pest that was thinning out my herd, and devoted a good deal +of time in trying to find his den, to get a shot at him, but my efforts +were to no purpose. I had to do the best I could, watch and wait, in the +hope of success. + +While engaged in the hunt for the cougar one afternoon, I saw, at some +distance, a horse grazing along the creek. He had a saddle and bridle on +him, but no rider. I thought he had run away from some outfit, and went +down to where he was to secure him and bring him to my tent, so that the +owner could call for him when he had time. Upon reaching the place where +the pony was grazing, I saw a strange sight. There sat an Indian on a +knoll, wearing a Navajoe blanket, ear-rings that hung down like small +sleigh bells, his hair plaited and hanging down his back, his head +decorated with eagle feathers, all of which made me think I had met a very +distinguished gentleman. As a neighbor I greeted him with the customary, +"How." To my greeting he made no sign of recognition, did not even move a +muscle. I rode past him for some distance and then returned on the +opposite side of him, and then I discovered the cause of his sullen +dignity. He had fastened to his blanket a small-sized pewter plate +polished as bright as a new dollar fresh from the mint, and around the rim +of it was inscribed the letters of the alphabet. I saw that he had left +his rifle in the scabbard of his saddle, and if he made any move of a +warlike nature, I could do a lot of business before he could get organized +for battle. This condition made me bolder and encouraged me to make a more +critical inspection of his wardrobe than I would have done if he had his +winchester near at hand. He wore a pair of moccasins highly ornamented +with beads of all colors. Whether he had any under garments I was not in +position to know, but he looked to be clothed in the highest degree of +cool, calm, unruffled dignity. As I had seen no cartridge belt on the +saddle, I was satisfied that he wore one around his waist, with the +customary pair of six shooters for ornaments and use. As he remained +stolid in his attitude towards me, I gave up any hope of finding out +anything about him, and rode home. I related my experience to Bill, +laughing over the dignity displayed by the Indian, based on the possession +of a pewter breast-plate that once belonged to some white child, and which +he had found on his meanderings over the plains. + +After a quarter of a century has elapsed, and taking a retrospective view +of the situation at that time, I can see what a trifle it would have taken +to send one of us, if not both, over the Great Divide to the Happy Hunting +Grounds. + +Bill had been out in another direction in search of the cougar, but met +with as little success as I had. It became a question of sitting up +nights guarding the herd, with the hope of being able to get a shot at the +cause of our misfortunes, but it was in vain. Every morning brought us +evidence of further devastation wrought by the bloodthirsty brute. Things +came to such a pass that we had to choose between losing the whole herd, +or moving to Kansas, and we chose the latter. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Returning to Kansas; A Settler; A Phenomenon, etc. + + +Reluctantly we folded our tent and started off in the direction of the +Sun-flower State, where our ranch was located. Business had been good and +we were loath to leave such a good opportunity for increasing our profits, +but the unseen enemy made further delay impossible. Our outfit on the +trail did not present a very inviting appearance, but there was something +substantial about it that cheered us considerable. We had increased our +holdings during our sojourn in the Territory, and were now returning with +the fruits of our venture. Personally we were not much to look at, as we +had not had a shave in several months, but that fact did not interfere +with the happiness we felt at the prospect of seeing the old homestead +once more. On the first night of our advance we camped in the brakes of +the Cimmaron river. We were fortunate in killing a deer, which provided us +with a change of meat. It was the last wild game we expected to obtain, as +the antelope and other wild game had been shot at so much that they had +become gun-shy, and it was impossible to get within any close proximity to +them to obtain a shot at one of them. The antelope in particular we did +not expect to see, as that animal does not frequent the low lands, and the +only time he is found there is when he is on the way to get water. Even +then they seem to have on one guard at all times, so that at the sight of +a man they are off like a shot and soon out of sight. Antelopes and wild +horses are very much alike in their habits, as neither will enter a creek +or a canyon except for water or shelter. + +Next morning found us up and away. As the traveling was down grade, we got +along nicely. We were very much pleased on reaching the river to find +that the sand was packed down owing to the numbers of cattle that had +forded the stream during the preceding weeks, and we were able to cross +without much difficulty. Having crossed the stream we pulled our outfit +into Clem's ranch, where we sold the greater part of our supplies for a +fair price. With a lighter burden, we set out on our way again, leaving +the supply trail, and moved in a north-westerly direction toward Meade +Co., Kansas. Frequently we were compelled to cross what is called a +sand-draw, but we managed to do this without much trouble, as by fastening +our lariat ropes to the end of the wagon tongue and fixing the other end +to the horn of the saddle we could assist the team in pulling through the +canyon and reach the firm footing on the other side. Our route lay through +the section about midway the Beverly cow-ranch on the South Sand Creek, +and the place where Ashland, the county seat of Clarke County now stands. +We crossed several small trails, but as they were running in another +direction they could not be of any assistance to us. That evening we made +a dry camp, but expected early next day to reach the head waters of Little +Sand creek, or as it was afterwards called, Johns Creek, in time to water +our stock. We went through the usual procedure of picketing the horses we +were using, and hobbling the loose ones, and getting the cattle in shape +for the night. + +On my tour around the herd I found that there was a dug-out in the +neighborhood. I went on a visit of inspection to see if there was any one +there, for there seemed to be some signs of improvement around it. I was +agreeably surprised to find a solitary man walking around the dug-out, +with his hands behind his back and his head bent as though deep in +meditation. I decided to call on him and find out something about the +topography of the country, also the distance to Crooked Creek, Kansas. I +introduced myself and told him the purpose of my visit. Once the ice was +broken, the conversation took several turns. From his remarks I gleaned +that he had not been there very long, and was likewise anxious to sell +out, in fact, he even seemed to insist that I should buy him out. I told +him I was sorry that I could not take his offer, as I had some property of +my own in Meade County and felt that was all the Kansas real estate I +cared to handle just then. + +During my interview I cast my eyes around the place to get a general view +of my surroundings. I noted that he had placed four forks in the ground +and roofed them over with hay and brush, the whole forming a sort of arbor +to protect him from the sun and rain. About three feet from the ground he +had fixed a scaffold for a bed. I was nonplussed at what I saw, and +ventured to inquire the reason of the arbor-like structure. He replied +that he was unable to sleep in the dug-out, for he had tried to do so, but +found that it was impossible, owing to the number of tarantulas and +centipedes that infested the place. The arbor was a partial solution of +the difficulty, but did not quite meet all the demands of the situation. +The fleas he could not escape, they were in his bedding, and he was unable +to discover a means of putting them to flight. What he could not avoid, he +had to endure. I could see at a glance that his opinion of farming in +Western Kansas was not very elevated. He was determined to sell out at the +first opportunity that presented itself. As I had to return to camp to +make arrangements for standing night guard over the herd to prevent their +wandering off, I bade my new-found acquaintance farewell, wishing him all +manner of good fortune in his new home. When I reached our outfit, I found +that supper was ready, and we were ready for it. We attended to the duty +of providing for the wants of the inner man with considerable alacrity, +though our manner of doing so might have lacked some of the etiquette +required by the rules and regulations of refined society. After a chat +over things in general and prospects in particular, the boys rolled up in +their blankets for the night, and I went on my solitary errand of looking +after the herd. The stillness of the night was unbroken save by the +hooting of an owl in the neighboring canyon, or the barking of a coyote on +a side hill. Even they would cease their clamor for a time and then the +stillness of the night was appaling. I sat on my pony in meditation +evolving thoughts and considerations induced by the calm of the +surroundings in which I found myself. My reflections were interrupted by +the musical notes of the lone settler, borne over the prairie on the wings +of the night. He had a voice that was rich and melodious, though art had +never tried to improve the natural gift. The first sweet tones that fell +upon my ear were the strains of an old familiar strain I used to hear back +home in Canada, and they never seemed sweeter than they did then. I +listened entranced. A flood of memories came rushing from some long +forgotten corner of my mind, and I sat entranced. I was in hopes that he +would repeat the song again, but my hopes were not realized. Instead, he +changed off into some old-time granger rhyme that had more philosophy than +music in it. It might well be entitled "The Lament of a Kansas Granger." I +was glad when he was through it. Then he came back with one old and ever +new, ever welcome and ever sweet, the song called "Home Sweet Home." I do +not believe that the effect produced by Jenny Lind, when she first +rendered it could have been as great as that produced in my heart at that +moment. The days of boyhood were returned again. I saw the old log house +where I was born, and the surrounding forest. I saw my playmates on the +green and took part once more in their merry games. Memories came rushing +so fast that I could not analyze them in their kaleidoscopic passage +through my brain. Half consciously I wiped away a tear that began to +trickle down my cheek. The music ceased and I sat as one dazed; only to be +rudely awakened by the resumption of the barking of the coyote near at +hand. I looked across to where the settler had his home. The embers of +his fire were burning low. He must have retired to his arbor for a rest. I +could not then imagine why he had chosen that hour of the night to give +vent to his feelings in the manner mentioned. It may have been out of the +bitterness of a discouraged heart that he poured forth his soul in such +harmony, but whatever it was, I must say that he had a very attentive +listener in one lone horseman standing guard over a herd of weary cattle. + +The hours of the night passed slowly. The silence of the tomb seemed to +enfold everything in its mantel. I made my rounds to see that things were +in proper condition, and then returned to camp to arouse my partner, Bill, +to take up the burden of guarding the herd while I obtained some much +needed sleep. It seemed to me that I had hardly lain down when I heard the +cook calling to all hands, "Chuckaway," which, in the language of the +civilized nations, means breakfast is ready. I awoke with the call, and +found the sun streaming into my face. In the meantime Bill had come in +from his tour of inspection, leaving the cattle grazing quietly. It did +not take me long to arrange my toilet, a ceremony that the cowpuncher does +not usually give much attention to, and I was soon in the midst of the +bustle of getting my share of provender for the morning meal. We simply +took the first articles of tableware that we happened to find convenient, +seized upon the proper allowance of food, and then we sat down on the +prairie and gave our undivided attention to the work at hand. As it was +agreeable work, we devoted a lot of energy to it, and accomplished the +task in a very brief time. This done, we made arrangements to set out +again. We rounded up the stock that had wandered off while grazing, got +the ponies together, loaded the wagon and were on our way once more. + +Having given the boys the direction to follow, I set out to pay a farewell +visit to the singer of the night, saying that I would overtake them before +they had proceeded very far. + +I reached his dug-out and found him up and around. After the usual +salutations, I offered my thanks for the pleasure he had afforded me +during the preceding night. He thanked me for the compliment, and said +that the pleasure was mutual. He said it was a boon to him to have some +one call on him, as his nearest neighbor was seven miles distant. Not only +that, but there were difficulties about his neighbor coming to visit him +as he had only a team of oxen to travel with, and they were not very well +broken yet, and travel under such conditions was not very inviting. I saw +from the tone of his remarks that he was disconsolate, or rather +discouraged by his present condition in life, and I ventured to repeat the +advice given by Horace Greeley to young men, namely, "to go West and grow +up with the country." "Oh," said he, "that is all bosh. That man, Horace +Greeley did not know the first 'jump in the road' of what he was talking +about. When he came through this country, he was riding in a Pullman car, +with lackeys and servants to wait upon him. He knew absolutely nothing of +the real condition of this country and I am willing to bet that he would +not take a thousand dollars and sleep one night in that dug-out of mine. +He was a very smart man, well versed in politics, living in New York where +he could sit in his parlor and look into his neighbor's house and see what +the family had to eat. Such advice is sound enough in theory when +delivered through the columns of the New York Tribune, or in the heat of +some political campaign, to an audience composed of tenderfeet, but the +same idea promulgated whilst leaning on a hoe handle, between two rows of +sorghum, in Western Kansas, would have a different effect. Horace Greeley +was a very good citizen, but knew comparatively nothing of the trials and +tribulations, privations and hardships, to say nothing of the lives it +cost to move the boundary line of civilization one step farther West." +Such were the sentiments of my philosophical friend, and they contained +more truth than poetry. By this time the herd was almost out of sight, and +I was forced to bid him good-bye, requesting him, at the same time, +that if he were ever over in Meade County, to call on me, for there would +be a welcome for him at all times and that he would always find the latch +on the outside, that meant for him to walk right in and make himself at +home. I left him, and as I was topping the crest of the hill I looked back +and saw him sitting on the top of his dugout, waving farewell. + + +[Illustration: "GOOD BYE"] + + +We did not delay for dinner, as we wanted to reach Little Sand Creek, +where there was plenty of water. As this was to be our last night out, I +can assure you that we did not lose any time along the way. We reached our +camping ground about three in the afternoon. As we were only about eight +miles from the home ranch, we turned everything loose, and laid ourselves +out to have a general good time. The cook had been advertising his ability +to make custard pie, and we thought this a convenient opportunity to put +his ability to the test. Of course, he had to have milk, for there is no +substitute for that article in a first-class custard pie. Being that Bill +and I fairly doted on custard pie, it was our duty to provide the milk for +the occasion. For the benefit of my readers, let me say that if you have a +longing for custard pie, try to throttle it in infancy, or train it so as +to render it subject to proper environment, but do not, at any cost, let +that hankering exercise its influence on you when you have to invade the +rights and privileges of a wild Texas cow,--unless you are prepared to +fight to a finish. Bill and I felt equal to the occasion and set out to +produce the required article. We chose a cow that seemed to have more milk +than her calf required. Bill roped her, threw her down,--which was a cruel +thing to do to a young mother--and hog-tied her. I was on hand with a can. +I held her down while he was endeavoring to separate her from her milk. +With much labor and some verbal protests against her restlessness, he +succeeded in extracting about a pint. I took the fruit of our labors and +rope up to the camp and proudly gave it to the cook. He informed me that +there was not enough for a first-class pie, and I had to enlist the +services of Bill once more, to procure the required quantity. It took +considerable wrangling with two more of those restless creatures to +persuade them to favor us with some of their milk, but in the end we +succeeded and returned to camp again. In the meantime the cook had +uncovered some turkey eggs that he had found a day or so before, and set +to work on his masterpiece--a custard pie. Needless to say, his production +was up to the advertisement, and, also, to our expectations. + +Our cook was a genius in his line of endeavor. It was a rare thing to meet +a cowpuncher who could not turn out biscuits of some degree of edibility, +but we had a master hand. When he turned over to the inspection of an +outfit such an article of food they were light and fluffy, and when dipped +in antelope gravy, one would have to have a case of indigestion in an +alarming condition if he could not eat them with an appetite like a +section hand. His manner of preparing the dinner table was simplicity +itself. He used to spread out the wagon sheet for a table cloth, and use +mother earth for the table. When everything was ready he called out +"Chuckaway," and found us ready and willing to pay a compliment to his +endeavors. + +When we had demolished the supper, and particularly the custard pie, Bill +went down to the creek to wash out a few shirts as he did not wish to +return to the ranch with his clothing in an unpresentable condition. While +he was gone the cook and I played checkers to see who would wash the +dishes. I lost. + +When the usual routine of camp life with the herd had been completed, we +turned in to have one good rest to be ready for the final drive next day. +As a reward to Old Jimmie for his fidelity I gave him an extra measure of +grain and a few caresses to show that I remembered what he had done for +me. Next morning found us about ready to start, when we met with an +unavoidable delay, Bill's shirts were not dry and we could not go without +him. We filled in our time picking up wood and filling the waterbucket for +future use. In due time Bill's lingerie was in a proper condition for use, +and we were on our way once more. + +We set out in a north-westerly direction. When we had gone about two miles +we crossed the trail of the wood-haulers coming over from Meade county, +for fire wood and fence posts, which they were compelled to collect from +the vicinity of Sand Creek, or its tributaries. As the trail was nearly +parallel to the direction we were going, we followed it slowly homewards. +We halted our herd for the purpose of getting dinner, and to permit the +cattle to graze or rest as they wished. We remained a couple of hours, +knowing that we could make the home ranch by sundown. We set out for the +final drive, moved along slowly, taking things easy as there was no need +to hurry. About four o'clock, much to our surprise, it clouded up and a +drizzle set in. It was the first rain we had seen in months, and we fairly +enjoyed it. However, we put on our slickers to avoid too much of a good +thing. It lasted only a short time and then the sun shone again. When the +sun broke through the overhanging clouds a peculiar phenomenon presented +itself to our view. Not more than two hundred yards in advance of the lead +cattle was formed, as if by flash light, a small rainbow directly across +the trail. It did not seem to be more than one hundred and fifty yards +from side to side, and not more than half that distance in height to the +arch overhead. I have seen cyclones, blizzards, and mirages, but I was +totally unprepared for such a phenomenon as I then witnessed. I confess, +if I had been alone, I would have ridden around it rather than pass +through the archway. I could not give a scientific explanation of the +affair, and luckily for me Bill did not ask for one, as he was one of +those impulsive, unimaginative men who take things as they see them and +inquire not into the causes that lead to their existence. Not so with the +teamster, he was from Arkansaw, and was very superstitious. When he saw +the wondrous arch stretched from side to side before him, he stopped the +team until Bill shouted at him to go on and not be a fool. He got in +motion with fear and trembling. The cattle seemed to realize that there +was something strange about the affair and crowded through as though going +through a gateway. When we had passed on for some distance I looked back, +and the phenomenon was gone. I asked the teamster why he had stopped the +team, and he gave me a characteristic reply, "Gosh, I was afraid it would +fall on me. I heard a Sunday School teacher say once that the Lord was +going to put up one of those things every once in a while to show that he +was not going to destroy the earth by flood any more." "That's all right +for Western Kansas," said Bill, "but it does not apply to Arkansaw where +they are drowned out every spring." + +We reached our ranch by sundown, and turned the cattle loose to graze. We +unsaddled our horses with a sigh of relief that the long trip into the +Territory was over. By the time we washed ourselves and combed the sand +out of our whiskers, supper was ready and we sat down and placed our feet +under a table for the first time in months. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +The Opening of the State of Oklahoma; The Race for Land; Irrigation in the +Panhandle; Postmasters of Early Days; New Locations, etc. + + +In the spring of the year 1889, the president of the United States issued +a proclamation that Oklahoma was opened for homestead settlement, the few +Indians that had already settled there to be allowed to remain in +undisturbed possession of their holdings. As the proclamation included but +a small portion of the present state, the other little nations were left +for future consideration. + +The manner in which the homesteader secured his claim is unique in the +annals of history. I do not believe that any other people under the sun +ever acquired the right and title to a homestead in quite the same fashion +as that employed to dole out to homeseekers the claims which they had +acquired a right to by registering at the land office. I am under the +impression that it is an institution peculiarly American. Whatever the +merits of the system maybe, it produced results more or less beneficial, +according as you look at it from the point of view of the homeseeker, or +the grafter. For the benefit of posterity I shall set it down that they +may see, at least, how it was done, and be able to judge of the merit of +the means employed to insure the results intended. + +On the day set aside for the opening of the new territory to homeseekers, +all those who had filed on an allotment, were to take their position on a +line marked for the purpose, just as the foot-racer toes the scratch +awaiting the signal for the dash. Some had been there for some time, +others came at the last moment. No one was permitted to invade the new +territory until a signal was given and then they were to rush pell-mell +to secure the claim they found to be the most in accordance with their +wishes. It was a strange sight to behold them drawn up in every +conceivable kind of vehicle, and those who had no vehicle were on horse +back, mule back, or on foot. Anxiety was pictured on every countenance. +Those who had waited longest had their patience tried to the limit. In +order to insure every man a chance for an equal opportunity, a company of +soldiers was drawn up to prevent any one taking any undue advantage of his +neighbor. At least, they were supposed to do so, but under the cover of +darkness during the night before, hundreds of persons known afterwards as +"Sooners," crept through the line and hid themselves in some convenient +ravine and remained there under cover until the signal was given next day. +These men, as soon as the word was given to go, rushed out and staked a +claim, and when the lawful owners appeared, they were ordered to move on, +and the order was enforced at the end of a gun. The Sooner was not only in +possession, but stood ready to defend his claim against all comers as he +had witnesses to prove his statements about the preemption of the property +and his prior right to the land in question. + +On the day appointed for the start of the race, every one was in a fever +of expectancy. The starter was eyed keenly in his every move to detect +some indication of the signal about to be given. Horses heads were pushing +over the line, the driver standing in his wagon ready to ply the whip to +produce the required speed for the occasion, old ramshackle buggies were +there whose very appearance signified that this was likely to be their +last run. Even oxen with their necks bent beneath the weight of their +bows, felt the fever of the excitement and were anxious to be off. +Horsemen stood in the stirrups with a quirt ready, to make a dash across +the rolling plains. As the hands of the watch crept toward twelve, one +could notice a tightening of the jaws and a look of grim resolve come +over the countenances of those participating in the race. Eagerly they +looked for the signal, slowly the hands of the watch in the timekeepers +hand moved on. The starter was seen to move hand to the pistol scabbard +and draw his weapon. Up it rose slowly in the air and absolute silence +prevailed. For one moment he held the gun aloft and then, "Bang" went the +forty-five and the race was on. Yelling, whooping, swearing, off they +dashed in their mad flight. Wagons rumbled and bounded over the uneven +ground, whips were wielded with pitiless abandon; horses dashed in mad +affright to gain the front of the wild careening mob; oxen tossing their +wide-spreading horns, with lumbering gait, dragged their burden of a +rattling wagon in their mad dash. All was confusion in the first mad +plunge. Then slowly but surely the better mounted and better bred +gradually drew away from their slower-footed competitors, and disappeared +on the horizon. Naturally those in advance secured the better locations, +excepting where the sooners had stealthily pre-empted some desirable +location. With the slower ones, it was a case of take that was left and +make the best of it. In case a man found himself dispossessed by a Sooner, +there was only one recourse remaining and that was to buy him out at once, +or go to court about the matter, and that was as hazardous as trying to +drive him out, as the courts were largely operated on the kangaroo plan. +The judge of today might be the criminal of tomorrow, and the criminal of +today might be tomorrow seated on the judge's bench administering justice? +in a very summary manner. + +This transpired a quarter of a century ago, and some of those who went +into court to contest for their rights are still pleading their cases with +little likelihood of their ever attaining a solution of the difficulty as +long as there are fees to be collected. + +I noticed in my experience during the opening of the territory to +homeseekers, that Cash, Clemency, and Justice traveled on parallel lines, +and when the Cash failed to put an appearance, Clemency and Justice +disappeared also, as the dew dissolves before the morning sun. There were +some Sooners sent to the penitentiary for perjury, but they were likely to +be pardoned in time to vote at the next election. In view of the number of +felons who have been set at liberty, one is forced to conclude that there +have been some very tender-hearted Governors in the state. + +When the first homeseekers were drawing up in line for the mad race across +the plain, I joined them. I was very curtly told that I had not any right +to take part in the free-for-all scramble for property, as I had 640 acres +of land in the Panhandle of Texas. Being that they felt that way about it, +I did not press my right, but gracefully withdrew, and took only an +observer's interest in the headlong gallop that occurred. When the +excitement had somewhat subsided, I returned to my holdings in the +Panhandle and took up the burden of making what improvements I thought +necessary to make it a desirable homestead. I had in view the completion +of an irrigation ditch that I had begun before I left to see the opening +in Oklahoma. On my return I hired a few laborers to help with the work. It +took considerable labor and money to complete the task, and when I had it +done, I found that all my labor and money had been in vain. When I did not +need water, there was too much of it, and when I did need it, the creek +that was to furnish me the supply, was as dry as a bone. I became +disgusted with that place and sold out for about fifty per cent of what +the improvements cost me. Times were hard just then. There was but little +money in the country, a long hard winter had killed off multitudes of the +range cattle, and the long dry summer had killed off all hopes of relief +to be found in successful farming. To make our condition more lonely, the +mail facilities were not what they should have been for some time. +Sometimes a week would elapse, and very frequently several weeks would +pass by without our hearing anything from the outside world. Our +postmaster was not entirely to blame as he did the best he could in +fulfilling his duties. As he could read or write very little, it placed +him at a great disadvantage, but he struggled along against the +disadvantage of his lack of training to try to satisfy his patrons. When +the mail arrived, he opened the sack and dumped the contents out on a +barrel head and permitted each patron to help himself. If Big Jim, or +Little Ike happened to be in from some ranch or other, they would look +over the pile and take the number of letters they thought belonged to +their respective ranches, put them in the pocket of their slicker, mount +their ponies and ride away. Perhaps, in a week or so, some of the letters +would be returned to the office marked, "opened by mistake," and others +were never returned at all. I will say that there were more letters opened +by mistake in that office than in any office in the whole United States, +taking into consideration the numbers of letters received. As many years +have passed since that time, I have often wondered what became of the +efficient postmaster of Wolf Creek. As he was a good, loyal Democrat of +the Andrew Jackson type, I thought I might see him some time in the +Oklahoma Senate, but have looked in vain. He may have received an +appointment to an Ambassadorship in Mexico, but I have not heard of it. +However, wherever he is, if he be living, I wish him well. + +About the time of which I am writing, it was currently reported and +generally believed that a millionaire named George R. Timms was building a +city at the head of Kiowa Creek, and that there were churches, schools, +and all the improvements that go to make a prosperous town. One could get +all the advantages of such a place by buying a lot or two on the +installment plan. I decided to take advantage of such a brilliant +opportunity of getting into closer touch with civilization. I rounded up +my horses and cattle and set out toward the land of so much promise. +Imagine my surprise and even astonishment when I reached the place, to +find it almost totally abandoned. I rode around through the deserted +streets without seeing a single person. I was about to pronounce the thing +a complete failure, from the point of view of population, when I +discovered a bench-legged, bullet-eyed individual approaching me. Where he +came from I do not know. In questioning him about the place I was informed +that he had been one of the original inhabitants, that the rest had left, +but he couldn't get away for lack of means. In his desire to take +advantage of opportunity, he offered to sell me a town lot. I replied that +I did not think there was any great demand for town lots just then, and +that there was little likelihood of a boom there for some time if present +conditions were any indication of the business prospects of the town. I +inquired where I could find a house to move into, and he told me to take +my choice of the whole place. I looked the town over and finally decided +that the hotel was about the best building for my purposes just then. +There I remained during my stay in Timms City. I made some further +inquiries of my fellow townsman as soon as I had taken up my abode in the +Timms House, and he told me that all the population had gone away to +Oklahoma to take up land; that there were only two persons left behind. I +remained in the forsaken city for some time, and spent my leisure moments +in hunting antelope. I did not meet with much success in this line of +endeavor, as there were very few left in the locality. + +One day, while sitting in front of my new abode, I was called upon by some +ranchmen in the neighborhood. They asked me if I would take charge of the +postoffice. They explained that it was very difficult for them to get +their mail, and if that office was closed up, it would leave them in a +very serious predicament. I replied that it was impossible for me to take +charge of the office as I was about to take a trip East, and hence would +not be able to attend to the official duties of the place. I told them +that I appreciated the confidence they had in me, a stranger, thanked +them for the offer, but declined firmly to undertake the duties of the +position. I made mention of the fact that my wife had had some experience +in the work, and if she would be willing to undertake the running of the +place, it would be agreeable to me. She undertook the task and after three +months of trouble and worry incident to the business, the returns showed +that she had received ONE DOLLAR AND THIRTY-NINE CENTS, a handsome sum for +the time and energy spent upon the thankless task. After that matter was +disposed of, they requested me to accept the office of "Justice of the +Peace," an offer that I declined, as I never had any hankering for +political preferment. They told me they had to find some one to fill the +office until the next election took place. They gave me to understand that +the man who had filled that important position knew nothing of the Texas +laws. To give me an example of his mental acumen and his judicial +integrity, they said that, on one occasion he tried a man for stealing a +cow. The theft was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt. When the evidence +was all in, he took the case under advisement for ten days, and then he +sent the man who owned the cow to jail for ninety days and turned the +thief loose. When asked why he had taken such a course in his +administration of justice, he replied that, in his judgment, they were +both thieves, and he had sent the man to jail who could best endure the +confinement. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Messiah Craze; A Thrilling Experience; An Arkansaw Traveler, Etc. + + +A short time prior to the period of which I am writing, there had been +taught and promulgated by some half-breed, a religion which afterwards +became known as the "Messiah Craze." It had spread all over the Northwest +territories and finally reached Oklahoma. The principal tenet of this +strange religion was that the Great Spirit was going to remove all the +white folks and restore the buffalo to his native plains, which were to +become a sort of "Happy Hunting Grounds" for the Indians, or a heaven on +earth where everything was to be peace, joy, and chuckaway without end. + +I had heard something about it, but had paid little or no attention to it. +The current of events lent an aspect of truth to the prophecy, as, about +that time the cowmen were being removed from the Cherokee Strip, their +fences and ranches torn down and moved away. All this seemed to say to the +half-crazed Indians that the white man's race was about run. All they had +to do was to wait a while and their earthly paradise would be opened for +Indian occupation. I could not see things in the same light as the Indian +enthusiast. It looked to me as if the Government intended to throw the +Cherokee country open to homestead settlement. The truth of this +conjecture was proven shortly afterwards, and showed that I had the +correct solution of the movement. + +I made up my mind to make a journey down through that section to learn +something of the topography of the place and also to find a good location +in which to make a settlement when it was opened for the purpose. I fitted +out my wagon with the necessary supplies for the jaunt, took five head of +horses, and took my little boy, Emmet, then about twelve years of age, for +company. When all preparations were properly made, we started out on what +was to be a perilous journey. + +On our first night out, we stayed with Judge Gard, on Mammoth Creek. He +was County Judge, one of those whole-souled men who never knew what it was +to pull in the latch-string-that hung on his door. We spent the evening +very pleasantly exchanging experiences of former days. Next morning we set +out before dawn, and sunrise found us on Wolf Creek trail. We followed +this along the creek until we reached its mouth, where it joins the +Beaver, and forms the head-waters of the North Canadian River, about a +mile and a half from Ft. Supply. From there we took the trail leading to +the little town of Woodward, only a station erected alongside the railroad +which had been recently built through that country. Here I had the +pleasure of meeting Thomas Bugbee, an old-time cowmen who was shipping his +cattle preparatory to leaving the Cherokee Strip. I had a friendly chat +with him, and then pulled out and proceeded on my way along the Canadian +River. We had not gone very far on our way when we met an old frontiersman +and prince of scouts, Amos Chapman, taking a band of Cheyenne Indians to +Camp Supply to draw their rations. As it was now past noon, we stopped to +let the horses graze while we prepared something for our wants. Whilst +there we inquired of Amos how things were running down the river. He told +us something about the excitement that had been stirred up. While we were +eating the Indians filed by, and their appearance was not any too +encouraging. Before parting with us, he advised us to keep a close watch +on them as they were all affected with the Messiah Craze; that they had +been making medicine, and were liable to break out at any time, but that +up to the present they had done nothing more than was customary with them. +As he had several bullet marks as souvenirs of former encounters with +them, and had also lost one leg in an Indian fight, I knew that I was +talking to a man of no small experience, and felt that his advice was +worth taking. He noticed that I had some good horses with me, and warned +me to keep them picketed close to me while I slept, as a good horse was a +very great temptation to an Indian, especially a bad one, but generally +speaking my stock was safe enough. I thanked him for his counsel, and as +the afternoon was fast slipping away, I moved on. + +As the cowmen had nearly all left that part of the country, and as the +Indians had all gone to Camp Supply for their rations, we did not meet +many travelers on the trail that afternoon. We went into camp early, and +pursuant to the advice given us, we picketed our horses near at hand. +There was no curfew rung that night, but there was a good substitute, for, +about a mile away there was camped a company of soldiers, sent out from +the Fort ostensibly for the purpose of exercise, but in reality to watch +the movements of the Indians. At the passing of every hour we could hear +the sentry call out that all was well. As this was my first night to camp +out in some time I did not sleep very well, and, consequently, was up at +daybreak ready to start. The usual formalities of breakfast for ourselves +and attention to our outfit had been attended to, and we took up our +journey once more. We had not gone more than a mile when I discovered a +lone man standing beside the trail with a gun in his hands. What he was +doing there was a mystery to me. I could not see any horse near him, nor +was there anything else in sight to give a clue to his presence there. In +the meantime I kept moving on, with one eye on the man and the other on +the trail. When I was within a few hundred yards of him, he raised his gun +and fired. I could see the smoke and hear the report, but could not +discover the object he was trying to shoot. As I approached him, I +discovered that the man before me was an Indian, bare-headed with his +hair plaited down his back, and wearing a good suit of Uncle Sam's +clothes. His foot-gear consisted of a nicely beaded pair of moccasins. His +was a majestic figure as he stood there straight as an arrow and measuring +about six feet, four inches in height. He saluted me with the customary +Indian, "How," and I returned his salutation. I enquired of him what the +difficulty was, as it was an unusual thing to meet a lone Indian on the +prairie. I knew there was something out of the ordinary, or he would not +be there. Then my difficulty began. He knew comparatively nothing of the +English language and I knew less of his sign mode of communication. He +seemed rather eager to communicate with me, and I was anxious to know the +cause of his rather unusual predicament. It seemed a hopeless task to try +to make anything out of what he was trying to tell me. However, by +battling with his broken English, and mixing in a few Cheyenne words that +I knew, I arrived at some solution of the difficulty. The fact was that he +had been over on the South Canadian on some mission from the sub-agency, +and his horse had thrown him and left him afoot on the prairie. As there +were no Indians in the neighborhood from whom he could borrow a horse, +(they were all away attending the Messiah dance), he was trying to make +his way back on foot. As he had had nothing to eat since the day before he +had been trying to shoot a prairie dog, but he had met with no success. +Then I knew that he was hungry. + +The Government has succeeded in moving the Indians around from one agency +to another, and in some instances the agents have plundered the wards of +the Government of their provisions and clothing, but they have never +succeeded in removing a live Indian's appetite. + +That Indian's condition aroused my sympathy, and I felt that something +should be done to relieve his immediate wants. I reached behind the seat +to the grub-box, and brought forth some cold biscuits that remained from +the meal of the day before. When he saw what I had in my hand, a broad +smile of satisfaction spread over his face. When I saw that he relished +the biscuits so much, I cut open a can of tomatoes and handed it to him. +This seemed to delight him even more than did the biscuits, and it was a +pleasure to see him drink the liquid first and then with a broad grin eat +the tomatoes one after another with all evidence of deep content. There I +was doing as the Good Samaritan had done, to the man that I thought was +standing beside the trail to shoot me. During my interview with the +Indian, one of the horses had strayed away some distance, and Emmet had +ridden after him to bring him back to the buck-board. When the Indian saw +him, he said admiringly, "Heap good papoose." He seemed to take a great +interest in the boy, but I was wondering whether it was the boy or the +rifle he was carrying on his saddle. As I had learned the direction of his +teepee I invited him to take a seat beside me so that we might be moving +onward. When he settled himself into the seat, he gave a loud grunt of +satisfaction. We rode along for several miles to where the river make a +bend, and came close to the trail. There I decided to camp as it was +convenient for wood and water. I turned in there, and I had no sooner +stopped than the Indian was out gathering wood and kindling to start a +fire. I unhitched and Emmet drove the horses down to the river to get a +drink, and let them graze until they were needed again. At this time I +needed no interpreter. I handed the Indian a knife and a side of bacon, +pointed to the skillet, and he understood the signs perfectly. He +immediately set to work to attend to the frying and I undertook the work +of getting the dishes ready for our meal. As I had a guest, I took out an +extra quantity of coffee, and an extra plate, etc. The Indian showed +himself no novice in the line of cooking, and we soon had a repast ready +that would satisfy the craving of any hungry man, prince, potentate, or +plebeian. Some folks might think it intolerable to dine in the manner +employed on such occasions. We bade defiance to all the germ theories that +were being advanced at that time, and adapted ourselves to the conditions +of time and place. After the horses had grazed for some time we hooked up +again, and set forth without any further ceremony. My guest seemed to wish +to communicate some idea to me and kept his hands and fingers as busy as a +Drogheda weaver, but all to no purpose as I could not understand him. I +drove along on my mission, the Indian all the time making his signs. At +times he looked disgusted because he could not break through my ignorance. +Probably, if I had made more of an effort, I might have understood enough +to avoid some unpleasant complications which followed soon afterwards. In +the meantime, Emmet, boylike, had been keeping his eye open for anything +in the shape of game and held his gun in readiness to bring it into +immediate play. We were jaunting along rapidly enough, and the rattling of +the buckboard disturbed the repose of a coyote that was lying in the sage +brush along the trail. When he jumped up to take a survey of the +situation, Emmet fired at him and, whether through accident or good +marksmanship, I cannot say, brought down the beast on the spot. At the +crack of the gun, the Indian turned his head just in time to see the +coyote fall, then turned loose some more sign language and closed his +efforts by saying, "heap good papoose." We proceeded along our way until +we were in the neighborhood of Cantonment. Then my fellow-traveller made a +sign that he wanted me to stop, which I did. He left the buckboard and +started off through the brush, I suppose, to where his teepee was located, +some place along the river. + +I learned afterwards through an interpreter that my companion was not a +bad Indian, but one of the numerous Red Men appointed by Uncle Sam to look +after the movements of the different tribes who at that time were taking +part in the Messiah craze, and report to the fort or agency the condition +in which he found them. + +In the distance I could see the timber which skirts a small creek running +into the river, where I concluded there would be a good place to camp as +there would be plenty of wood and water there, and likewise good pasture +for the horses. It was now past the middle of the afternoon, and I decided +to go into camp early so as to have a good night's rest, and give the +horses an opportunity for a good graze to freshen up after the long drive. + +It did not take me long to reach the creek, and when I drove over the hill +and down into the bottom lands, what was my surprise and consternation to +find that I had driven into the storm center of the Messiah Dance then +being held on the bank of the river. There were between five hundred and a +thousand Chyennes and Arpahoes in the assemblage. Just at the moment they +were holding what the cowmen call a "powow." I was evidently in a very +ticklish situation. What to do I did not know. One thing I decided on in a +very hasty manner, and that was that there was no use in showing the white +feather just then. I drove up within about twenty rods of their +headquarters. I got out and began to unhitch. I was certainly taking the +dilemma by the horns and determined to make the most of the situation. +While trying to make myself feel comfortable, which I was far from doing, +I told Emmet to hobble the rest of the ponies to prevent their wandering +away. Then I set to work to make flap-jacks and coffee, and I do not +believe that flap-jacks were ever turned out under such circumstances +before or since. I had been doing a lot of thinking over the situation, +but found that, no matter what angle I viewed it from, I was in +difficulties. I did not dare to tell Emmet what was passing through my +mind for fear he would lose his courage, and I must say that my own was +fast ebbing. I did not like to acknowledge to my boy that I was afraid. +They say that God hates a liar, and I must say that I am no greater +admirer of such a man myself, but when Emmet ask me what the disturbance +was all about, I had to evade his question and put him off by saying that +there was nothing wrong, that the Indians were out on one of their +picnics, which they were accustomed to hold frequently. I knew I was +deceiving him, but felt that it was the best I could do under the +circumstances. I knew that the Indians claimed to be in touch with Messiah +and Messiah had promised to remove the white man and restore the buffalo +to his native plains, and I began to think seriously that I might be the +first pale-face on which that order might take effect. + +While making my flap-jacks for supper, I had a visit from some eight or +ten bucks dressed up in white sheets. They came and stood around me in a +half circle. They did not speak a word, nor even utter a grunt. I +continued to give my undivided attention to the work at hand, apparently +unaware of their presence. They remained there motionless as statues for +fifteen or twenty minutes. If one of them moved a muscle, I did not know +it. Their presence was rather disconcerting, to say the least, but what +could I do about it? Why they were wearing those white sheets, I could not +understand. It might, probably, have been a part of their regalia for the +ceremony. Whatever it was, it did not add anything to my feelings of +comfort. At a signal from headquarters they left me as uncerimoniously as +they had come. I had a winchester leaning against the front wheel of the +wagon, and a six-shooter lying on the top of the grub-box, and Emmet had a +rifle close at hand, which went to show that we were pretty well able to +look after ourselves in case of emergency. Just then my attention was +attracted by the rumbling of wheels and on looking around I saw a man +driving a small team of ponies in my direction. I was rather glad of his +arrival, whoever he might be. Some one has said that "misery loves +company," and I have yet to learn which was the greater nuisance, my +misery or my new-found arrival. I was anxious for a relief from the +present embarrassing conditions, and invited him to stop and have +something to eat. He complied with my request, or rather invitation. He +unhitched his ponies, not a very difficult task as he employed a +simplified harness of the chain variety, with corn-husk collars, and no +throat-latch to the bridles. When he went towards the wagon the old ponies +seemed to know what was coming, and shook their heads and the bridles fell +off, and they went to grazing. While Emmet was making more coffee and +frying an extra quantity of meat, I went over to inspect his outfit. It +was certainly a strange make-up for a man on a journey. There was no +bedding in sight, and no kind of cooking outfit. There was an old gun that +had once been a flint-lock, and might have seen service in the battle of +Waterloo. The breach had been cut off and it had been restocked. The +barrel was about four feet long, and for a front sight it had something +that very much resembled a brass collar button. The butt of the stock was +wrapped in a gunny sack and tied up carefully with binder twine, which I +learned afterwards was for the purpose of lessening the concussion on his +shoulder when firing it. + +My guest sat down to eat, and while he was thus occupied, I made bold to +question him as to whence he came and whither he was going. He informed me +that he was from Arkansaw and was on his way to No-Man's Land where he had +relations. I then ask him to mention some of the folks he was going to +bless with his presence. From the reply he gave me I knew that I was face +to face with an artistic liar, as I knew all the settlers up in that part +of the country. Having in earlier years made a study of phrenology, I +thought this the proper time to put some of the principals I had learned +to the test. I began to make a sort of mental examination of the formation +of his cranium and came to the conclusion that he would violate at least +seven of the commandments without a second thought, and the remaining +three would have to depend upon circumstances for their observation. One +thing I found in his favor and that was that he would not commit murder as +the bump of combativeness was almost entirely lacking a view which in a +very short time proved to be correct, for almost immediately, without any +preliminaries or forewarning, as if by magic the Messiah Dance was opened, +and the man from Arkansaw almost melted away through fear. + +As it was now dark, I could see plainly the movements of the Indians by +the glare of the camp fires around their teepees. Their leader commenced +intoning a wierd Hi-Yi-Hi-Oh-Yip-Yip-Hi-Oh, and maintained the monotonous +chant as an accompaniment to the tom-tom. This was kept up without +intermission until the first set of dancers became exhausted. Then +everything became quiet once more. The silence remained unbroken until the +next performance was ready. When the recess had lasted about half an hour, +the signal was given a second time, and all the dancers, bucks and squaws, +fell into line and began a performance which resembled very much a +continuation of the old-time hop-step. They leaped and chanted at the same +time. The melody of their song was very much in keeping with the music of +the tom-tom, but entirely unlike anything I had ever heard, before or +since. Most of the bucks were decorated with the insignia of the rank they +held in their respective tribes, while the remainder were clothed in the +regulation blanket, moccasins, and breach clouts. The squaws, like their +white sisters, endeavored to outdo each other in the matter of fantastic +habiliments. They wore no head dress, and their hair was done up in the +latest style. They wore some splendid blankets which I judged were of +Navajoe make, and were highly ornamented. Besides this they wore moccasins +beaded in many colors, and leggings. + +Still the dance went on with the same powow, with no variation in the +music. It was left for the third and final dance to make the grand display +of the evening. When they had enjoyed the second recess in sullen silence, +they broke forth in one grand effort to make the finale the +piece-de-resistance of the evenings entertainment. They seemed to have +restrained themselves for this special production of their hideous and +welkin-splitting pandemonium. Everything they had done in the way of +cavorting in the complex measures of their former dance, seemed to be +nothing to what was expected of them in the last grand splurge. From my +own observation of the performance I should best describe it by saying +that it seemed as if the infernal regions had been turned loose for a +holiday. The readers imagination will have to picture what really took +place in that final orgy of riot and disorder. Words cannot adequately +describe it, and I would be unwise to attempt to do so. But just to give a +faint idea of what really took place I will say that at a given signal +they all fell into line again as in the previous performance. In addition +to their former efforts, they included the call or cry of every bird or +beast known to them, from the guttural growl of the wild bear to the call +of the peewee. It was all there in one jumble of discordant sound, the +neighing of the horse, the roaring of the bull, the call of the bobwhite, +the barking of dogs, the howl of the coyote, the call of the peacock, the +familiar gobbling of the wild turkey, etc. This was continued until they +dropped from sheer exhaustion. The revel and riot was at length completed +and silence reigned again. + +In all my experience I have never heard or seen anything like it. Anything +that I had ever seen before was like a children's picnic when compared +with the Messiah Dance. I had read of Tam O'Shanter peeping through the +crannies of the Auld Kirk of Alloway, feasting his eyes upon the dance of +the witches, but it was not to be compared with the Messiah Dance, for +here there were real, live mortals enacting a dance that was incomparable +in its weird peculiarities. + +When the festivities had ceased, I asked my Arkansaw guest what he thought +of it. He replied that he had just about concluded to leave at once. "If," +said he, "they do such things in play, what would they do to us if they +took the notion to put into practice some of the barbarities for which the +Indian is famed." I told him to get that notion out of his head +immediately, for, if he did, the Indians would likely follow him and take +his scalp for a prelude to what they would do afterwards to him. I assured +him that there was some security in remaining where we were, but that +there would be none in leaving, as they would think he was afraid and then +would follow him with results not to be desired. After a good deal of +persuasion, I induced him to share my blankets with me and my boy, which +was a great trial for him. + +The bucks and squaws had, by this time, retired to their tents, and +everything, was quiet. The camp fires were still burning and lit up the +trees and shrubbery so plainly that one could see each separate branch and +twig. The reflection of the blaze lit up the little valley in such a way +that we seemed to be walled in by a cordon of liquid fire. + +As I was fatigued after the day's journey, I turned in like a trooper's +horse, with my shoes on, to be ready to meet any emergency that might +arise. As innocence knows neither crime, nor danger, Emmet was curled up +in sleep like a babe in its mother's arms. But such was not the case of +the Arkansaw Traveller. He was lying on the opposite side of the "bed," +next to Emmet, but in spite of the fact that he was removed from me in +that manner, I could hear his heart beating so distinctly that it seemed +like the fluttering of a bird trying to break from its cage. For myself, I +just trusted in a kind Providence, and slept the sleep of the weary. + +At daybreak we were up and thankful that we were still alive. We went +about the preparation of breakfast as though nothing unusual was taking +place around us. As the weather looked as though we would have rain very +soon, I set about the task of building a teepee, as I had no shelter. I +intended to cover it with a wagon sheet, as that was the most serviceable +for the purpose of keeping us dry. In the meantime Emmet had strayed off +through the trees and brush to see what he could find in the way of game. +I had just cut some willows to make the framework of my teepee, when the +boy came running excitedly back to camp and exclaimed, "papa, papa come +down to the river and see what those Indians are doing!" As I saw he was +excited about something, I dropped everything and followed him to the +river which was not far from our camp. There I saw something that was +novel to me. There were about five hundred bucks and squaws in the water +taking their morning bath. They were not in one group, but were separated +about seventy-five yards, bucks in one group and squaws in another. +Between them was an imaginary dead line over which, by tribal custom, no +young buck or brave had the temerity to cross. They were splashing around +in the water like nymphs, disporting themselves after their own fashion. I +did not notice that indispensable attache of refined society, the chaperon +domineering over those simple, stainless daughters of the plains to keep +them from drifting from the path of moral rectitude. A native sense of +modesty, as well as tribal traditions dispensed with such a guardian. +There was no need of one. There were no ladies of high-degree lolling on +benches on the bank, with a broad brimmed hat, and all the other follies +that go to make up what is called "style," neither were there any little, +black nosed, red eyed, fluffy-haired dogs with expensive collars around +their necks, nor pugs with tails curled up so tightly that it would be +almost impossible for their hind legs to touch the ground. No, they were +not there, neither were many other devises that go to improve the figure +to make it Juno-like, nor were bathing suits in evidence, but in spite of +all that they seemed to be enjoying the frolic in the water. + +As I had left the kettle of beans simmering on the fire, I had to return +and look after them as the mind of the man from Arkansaw was too much +perturbed to be in condition to mind anything so commonplace as beans. +When I reached my outfit, I was surprised to find a half dozen Indian +police awaiting me. They bore a message from the Indian agent stating that +he wished to see me. As I was rather anxious to depart from that locality, +I was not long in making the necessary arrangements to do so. When I +arrived at the agency, I made inquiries of those who were there as to the +whereabouts of the agent. I was directed to the office. I entered and +introduced myself and inquired what was wanted of me. The agent, who +introduced himself as Boak, a very nice gentleman, told me that the +Indians were holding their Messiah Dance and did not care for the presence +of white folks, as witnesses. As they had seen me begin to build a teepee +they came to the conclusion that I was going to become a permanent fixture +there, and they requested the agent to invite me to choose another +locality for my habitation. Of course, he informed me that I was welcome +to such hospitality as the agency could furnish. I believed him and +thanked him for his generosity. I assured him that it had not been my +intention to disturb the Indians in their religious proceedings. I did not +say anything about my being afraid that I would be disturbed by them. It +chanced that our feelings in regard to the matter were mutual. The more we +discussed the matter, the more he seemed to insist upon my partaking of +his hospitality, which led me to believe that he was rather uneasy on +account of the Messiah Dance and wanted not only my company, but whatever +assistance I could give in case the Indians became threatening. I did not +find any fault with him for having that feeling, and it would take a man +better versed in Indian lore to tell what was likely to happen next. + +As it was getting along in the forenoon, and I saw there was no further +use in prolonging the interview, I left the agency, went and got my +belongings and set out on my journey up along the river. I took the bottom +trail that wound a zig-zag course through the timber. My progress seemed +to be made through a leafy tunnel. The trees on each side of the trail +were heavily leaved, and the branches above reached across the trail, +forming a beautiful corridor-like passage. When I had gone on my way for a +mile or more, I happened to glance behind and saw an Indian on a pony, +with a winchester across his saddle, who seemed to be following me. I did +not like the looks of things just then. I concluded that if the Indian had +any trouble he wanted to settle, the best thing was to have the matter +attended to without delay. I drove on until I came to a rather lengthy +passage, free from windings, and then stopped the team. I motioned for him +to come up to where I was. He did so. When he arrived, I asked him in an +uncertain tone of voice what he wanted? He uttered but one word, "tobac." +I had about half a sack of Duke's Mixture which I handed to him. He took +it hastily, turned his horse around and plunged into the brush at the side +of the trail, and that was the last that I saw of him. I found it hard to +reconcile myself to the belief that it was tobacco alone that he was +wanting. + +The rain had begun falling in the meantime, and to say that it was merely +raining will not convey the proper idea to the mind. It poured in +torrents, and continued to do so all day long. About noon we stopped and +tried to make some coffee for dinner, but it was no use. We set out again +and plodded along in the deluge until late in the afternoon. I was +continually on the look-out for some sort of shelter, and my sight was at +last gratified by observing at some distance from the river, a stockade +building. I set off in the direction of the expected shelter, and when I +reached it, found that it had a good dirt-roof, but no windows nor doors. +It was what is called a wind-break and I determined to preempt it for the +night. I knew it belonged to some Indian, but as he was likely off to the +Messiah Dance, he would not return just then, and even if he did, I would +try to make him as comfortable as circumstances would permit, divide my +chuckaway with him, even go so far as to share my blanket with him, but as +for deserting that shelter just then, it was not to be thought of. If he +were to become hostile and wanted to fight, I would accommodate his +longing as there would be little or no chance to seek safety in flight. I +made preparations to cook some supper, and Emmet attended to the horses, +hobbled them and turned them loose to graze. In the meanwhile, I must not +forget to say that Arkansaw had been following me like a shadow ever since +I left the agency. To see him as he was then in his bedraggled condition, +with his ramshackle outfit, one would think that the genius of famine and +desolation had descended upon the land. I carried the chuck-box, bedding, +guns, and utensils into the shelter preparatory to getting things ready +for supper and bed. I enlisted the services of Arkansaw to gather some +wood to build a fire, and I must say as a hauler of wood he was a dismal +failure. However, we finally managed to get a fire started and set in to +dry our clothes, bedding, etc., along with getting something to eat. We +were all ravenously hungry, and the flap-jacks disappeared with wonderful +alacrity. When our appetites had been satisfied, things did not look so +bad to us. It was not the most comfortable place to spend the night, but +it was far better than the rain soaked ground. To add to our discomfort, +it began to turn cold. We crawled under the partially dried blankets in +the hope that wearied nature would provide a good sound sleep. As we were +not distracted by such howling and yelling as we had endured the night +before, things would have been favorable for a good night's rest. But I +cannot say there was much prospect for a refreshing sleep as it is one +thing to find repose under dry blankets, and another to seek the same balm +for a wearied body under bedding that has been exposed to a downpour of +rain for hours. No, it was not going to rest, it was just lying down for +want of something else to do. I noticed that the heart of the Arkansaw +Traveller did not beat as loudly as on the preceding night, and it was not +long until he began to snore with all the variations of a steam calliope. +I was glad to know that he at least could find sleep under such +conditions, but for me, there was not much comfort. I thought that by this +time my fellow traveller was over his scare, but in the midst of his +dreams he let a yell out of him and exclaimed, "Let up on that, you can't +scalp me, I'm from Arkansaw." I reached over and gave him a poke in the +side and told him that it made no difference whether he was from Arkansaw +or New Jersey, that he would be scalped unless he was ready to put up a +pretty stiff fight. When we rolled out shivering in the morning, we found +that it had frozen during the night. We welcomed the coming of the dawn, +as the night had been one continual toss from one side to the other, and +no comfort was found. I arose and shook myself to see if I were all there, +and found myself intact. The others followed my example with the same +results. I stepped outside to see how the horses were faring and found +they had wandered off. I left word for Arkansaw to prepare something to +eat and went off in search of the ponies. I had a rather good idea of +where they had gone, and after walking about a mile I found them. They +were huddled together for warmth. Their hobbles were frozen stiff. I +removed the frozen hobble from one of them, mounted him, and drove the +others back to camp. When I returned to the shelter, breakfast was ready +and soon attended to. I gathered up my belongings once more and we set out +again. It was a beautiful morning and the sun seemed to be trying to +compensate us for the hardship we had endured during the night. The +horses seemed anxious to go, and their speed shortened the time of our +journey considerably. We rode on for about ten or twelve miles, when we +came to a beautiful grazing ground sheltered by a sand hill. With such a +fine location I decided that this was a good opportunity to spread out the +bedding to dry, and attend to our other wants. It seemed as if we were +always hungry, and when a fine opportunity presented itself for preparing +a repast, we simply had to yield to the occasion. I set Emmet and Arkansaw +to cooking, while I attended to the horses. I then took a ramble around +for I had seen where there was evidence of a flock of wild turkeys in the +neighborhood. It was no great difficulty to follow their trail in the soft +earth, and I soon happened upon a flock of forty or fifty feeding on the +heads of wild rye that was growing in a sort of pocket formed by the hill. +I took in my surroundings at a glance, and to my agreeable surprise I saw +a deer about two hundred yards away nibbling at the leaves of a shin oak. +I determined to take a chance with the deer first. I took careful aim and +fired. My shot was not true, but I succeeded in breaking his hind leg. He +did not seem to realize where the shot came from, and turned and came +straight for me. I will admit that his advance upon me was disconcerting +as it was so unusual. I waited until he had come within about twenty yards +from me, and fired again. The bullet struck within about six inches of +where I was aiming, which showed that I was influenced by what is called +"buck fever." While all this was taking place, the turkeys had flown off +over the hill. I followed them, knowing that they would not be far away. I +came upon them. They were all huddled together in one dense mass. I sent a +bullet into the midst of them and succeeded in killing two of them. The +others flew away, and I knew by their flight that more of them had been +hit. I gathered up the two that I had brought down and took them back to +where the deer was lying. I found that I had carried them about as far as +I cared to, and went off to get some dinner, intending to have Emmet +saddle up his pony and bring them in later. I accompanied him as he was +too young to attend to the matter alone. I hung the turkeys on the saddle +horn, and the pony seemed to object as he bucked considerably. He did not +take kindly to dragging the deer after him and showed his displeasure by +performing such gyrations as only a Texas cow pony can accomplish. +However, we succeeded in persuading him to perform the task and set out +for camp. When we had returned to our outfit, and I had begun to dress the +deer, Arkansaw came to me in an apparent state of trepidation and told me +that, during my absence, a band of Indians, seven in number had called at +the camp and left word for me to leave the reservation. To be sure that I +understood him aright, I asked, 'how many?' "Seven" said he. I asked him +if they were all on horseback and he said that they were, that one of them +wore a war-bonnet. I made no reply to this, but when I had completed the +task of dressing the deer and turkeys, I made a circle around the camp, +about fifty yards out, and found no traces of any Indians being there. +When I returned to the camp, I felt satisfied that Arkansaw was about the +most artistic and monumental liar west of the Mississippi. I then knew +that he was still frightened and wanted to get as far away from there as +he could and that as soon as possible. He was afraid to go alone and +originated the tale to induce me to set out at once. I did not tell him +what I thought of the originality of design he manifested, but if he had +an ounce of judgment he would have seen that I would easily detect his +falsehood as my horses were all shod, and I could easily detect the marks +of the unshod Indian ponies in the soft earth if they had been in the +neighborhood. I did not make any preparations to depart immediately, but +left Emmet and Arkansaw to look after the things about the camp, and set +out again to secure more game if possible. It was with reluctance that my +brave? friend consented to do such a little thing as greasing the +buckboard, as he felt there was grave danger in delaying there any longer. +Before leaving I informed him that I was thinking of departing next +morning, but if any more Indians appeared on the scene while I was gone, +to inform them that I was not in a hurry to leave those parts, and, +furthermore, if they were looking for trouble, I was there to accommodate +them. + +The absence of danger is sometimes a great stimulus to a man's courage, +and I felt that there was no peril in store for us as it was most likely +that there was not an Indian within fifteen miles of us, and, besides I +wanted to scare the Arkansaw Traveller properly. + +I took my gun and sauntered off over the hill, enjoying the walk after +being cramped up in the buckboard. I could have killed several turkeys, +but preferred to get another deer if possible. In my meanderings I came +upon an Indian grave. He had been laid to rest upon a platform, rolled in +his blanket and wrapped in an outer covering of bark. I must confess that +I had an uncanny feeling as I approached the last resting place of that +noble red man, but it was a sensation entirely different to the ones I had +experienced in meeting some of them in the flesh. However, since he was +there and I was close by, I thought it a good opportunity to satisfy my +curiosity about their customs of burial. I approached him with about as +much alacrity as one would expect under the circumstances. I found the +blanket in which he was rolled, incrusted with sand that had blown upon it +from the neighborhood. It was rotten from long exposure to the elements +and had about the same consistency as paper. I turned back one corner to +get a view of the condition of the remains. The flesh had disappeared, the +long braided hair was there, but from its appearance I could not tell +whether he had been there thirty days, or three years. It had a gloss to +it that seemed to indicate that his burial took place recently. I turned +back the blanket and left him as I found him. I retraced my steps towards +camp, as I was beginning to have another attack of what usually ailed me, +hunger. On my way, I discovered another deer near the place where I had +killed the first one, and was able to bring him down at the first shot. I +left him where he fell and went back to where Emmet and Arkansaw were +whiling away the time making ready for the next lap of our journey. I sent +the boy back with the pony to bring in the game. + +While we were alone, Arkansaw, while watching me get supper, grew +confidential. He told me about leaving his native state, and how he had +traded coonskins for the gun with the remarkable action. I asked him why +he did not use it when an occasion presented itself for bagging a few +turkeys. He replied that he was rather afraid to shoot the weapon, as, +just before leaving his home, he was short of ammunition and had no +opportunity of procuring any. Besides that, one of his neighbors told him +that he would be likely to meet some bad men on the way to the Territory, +and advised him to put a plow bolt down the barrel to keep the load that +was in it from getting damp. He said that he was afraid the bolt had +rusted in the barrel and consequently he had not the courage to fire the +gun. Just to add to his pleasurable feelings at that moment, I thought I +would give him some of his own coin and told him that I had seen an Indian +on my travels, who was dressed differently from those we had seen at the +Messiah Dance, and that there were likely more in the neighborhood. I +warned him to prepare for an emergency by getting that gun into working +shape. I advised him to pour bacon grease into the lock and try to get it +into working order, for if those Indians he saw would return, there would +be some moments of activity around that neck of the woods. As Emmet had by +this time arrived with the deer, I set to work to dress it and put things +in shape for our departure in the morning. To have some more sport with +Arkansaw I tried to get him to stand guard during the night. I told him +that now that his gun was in good shape he would be in a position to +protect himself, and at the same time warn us of the approach of Indians. +He tried for a while, but I could see that he was suffering agony untold +on account of his fear of an attack. The rustling of a leaf caused him to +tremble, and any louder noise made him jump. It is a wonder that in his +excitement he did not turn loose with the old gun, but I suppose he forgot +all about it. I took pity on him and told him to lie down, that there was +little or no danger. He gladly sought the shelter of the blanket and was +soon giving me selections on the calliope. Next morning we still found +ourselves in possession of our scalps, and felt much refreshed after the +good night's rest. We gave the usual attention to breakfast, which did not +take long. We were about ready to start, except for one thing. I did not +like the idea of Arkansaw carrying that old gun around with him, +especially since I learned that it was loaded with a plow bolt. I tried to +get him to fire it off as the jarring of his old wagon or some other +concussion might explode it and kill some person, or injure some of the +horses. To rid myself of the danger, I agreed to fire it for him, to which +he readily consented. I took the gun and tied it to a tree, fastened a +rope to the trigger and when all preparations for our farewell salute were +made, I pulled the trigger. The old gun went off in two different +directions. The barrel went forward, and the recoil kicked the old stock +backwards about five feet and it stuck fast in the sand. Right there my +worry about the old gun terminated. + +With our game packed on the buckboard and covered with the wagon sheet to +keep off the sand which was blowing plentifully at the time, we started +for Timms City. The horses were fresh and the trails in good condition, +and we advanced rapidly. My only trouble was to keep Arkansaw and his +festive steeds out of the way, as he was determined to put as much +distance between him and the scene of his fright as possible. At times he +had his poor old nags on the gallop. Such a pace they could not maintain, +and about noon time they gave out. We stopped for refreshments. When we +were ready to set out again, I pointed out the way to Sod Town in No-Man's +Land and left him. When I parted company with him I felt that I had met +one of the strangest characters I had ever encountered in all my days. I +reached home the same night. In conclusion of this article I wish to say +that I have never had another hankering to attend a Messiah Dance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Conditions Prior to the Indian Raids; The Frontier Line; Savages on the +Warpath; Custer's Fate; General Forsythe's Predicament. + + +Before setting down the narrative of the Dull Knife Raid, or any other, it +is not amiss to relate something of the conditions that prevailed prior to +those events. + +In 1878, and for ten years prior to that time, the most of the plain +Indians had been on the war-path for some reason or another. To give an +idea of the size of the country which was the scene of their endeavors, it +is well to outline the frontier as it existed then. Civilization was +supposed to have terminated its advance at the Saline, Solomon and +Cottonwood rivers, though a few straggling settlers had established +themselves on the Little Walnut, and White rivers, with a colony at +Council Grove. Beyond that line the domination of the white man was +supposed to cease, and it was not the Indian's fault that it did not. He +did his best to have it do so, but the result was far from successful from +his point of view. Beyond the line above mentioned there existed only the +Indian, the buffalo and a few venturesome spirits who formed the trains +that forced their way overland to Colorado and the Black Hills, or endured +the more hazardous undertaking of making the long march to California in +1849. They were, indeed, venturesome, for to undertake such a trip, one +took his life in his hands, and the result was that many of them paid the +penalty for their daring. Not only were they harassed by the Indian tribes +they encountered on their way, but privations beset them on all sides and +starvation often traveled with them to their sorrow. At any moment such a +wagon train as they conducted was liable to attack from savage bands, and +there then occurred a fight for life. Nor were all those attacks +engineered by the Indian alone. The Mormans did their share of the +dastardly work under the guise of the Indian. This statement may appear a +trifle strong, but it is proved beyond all doubt that John D. Lee with a +gang of cut-throats perpetrated the Mountain Meadow massacre, with all the +ferocity and butchery of the most savage of tribesmen. He did his work too +well, and endeavored to cover up his tracks by making it appear that it +was the work of the Indian. He not only murdered the members of the train, +but mutilated the dead bodies of the slain after the fashion of the +Indian. He and his accomplices then looted the train, and what they could +not carry away, they destroyed. The world was well rid of such a man when +he was shot off his own coffin lid to pay the penalty of his crimes, +though in his death he did not make compensation for one per cent of all +the butcheries he had committed. To return to the thread of the narrative, +all that scope of country lying between the western boundary of settlement +and the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, was estimated by competent +judges to contain about fifteen hundred square miles of territory. It was +the grazing ground in 1870 for about three million buffalo. The fighting +forces of the Indians roaming that huge tract of country at the time was +approximately six thousand, five hundred men of different tribes, not to +say anything about the number of squaws who followed in their wake dealing +death to the cripples and mutilating the dead. At that time, each lodge +had on an average of about 125 or 150 ponies for use in their raids. +Taking all these things into consideration, one must come to the +conclusion that there was a formidable force to contend with, especially +as the Indian mode of fighting was not governed by the laws of civilized +warfare. To protect the settlers from the destructive raids of these +tribes, the Government had erected a line of forts manned with an +insufficient force for the work at hand. The list of such forts +comprised, Ft. Hays, Ft. Wallace, Ft. Harker, Ft. Larned, Ft. Dodge, Camp +Supply, and Ft. Elliot. As I said, they were poorly garrisoned, as the +best men they had, had been called away to fill vacancies in the regiments +used in the Civil war, and their places were supplied by raw recruits, or +old soldiers who had re-enlisted for want of something else to do. To add +to their inefficiency in Indian warfare, they knew nothing of the +topography of the country in which they were expected to serve. One can +imagine what a predicament they would be in on the first occasion of their +engagement with the natives of the plains, and an example will be shown +presently. I do not wish my reader to think for a moment that I want to +say anything derogatory of the valor of the American soldier. His +reputation for bravery established on scores of battle fields, is too well +founded to be shaken by anything I might say to the contrary. But this I +will venture to state, namely, that when he came face to face with the +Indian mode of warfare in a country of which he knew practically nothing, +he was confronted by a set of circumstances over which he had no control, +and all the military training of former years was of little value to him. +This is true both of officers and privates. Bitter experience has proved +that both officials and men in the ranks were in the same predicament as +regards the best mode of meeting the wily Indian on his own ground. To +give the proof of this assertion I shall mention two cases, one briefly +and the other at greater length, to bring into full view what these men +had to contend against. + +In the first case, the disaster to Gen. Custer proves the correctness of +my contention. Gen. Custer was a man with a national reputation for valor +and military experience, yet he allowed that wily old Indian chief, +Sitting Bull, to inveigle him into following him and his band into the +valley of the Little Big Horn where he turned upon him with all the +savagery of which the Indian nature is capable, and not only defeated, +but totally annihilated his command. No, not a living man was left to tell +the tale of the disaster. + +In the second case which I will present to the reader, I shall show not +only the inefficiency of a man trained in any other school than that of +the "plains," to fight the Red Man on his native heath, but will bring out +some of the characteristics of the Indian's mode of procedure. + +Gen. G. A. Forsythe was the man whose military reputation as a commander +was second to none in the service of Uncle Sam, a man in whom Gen. Phil. +Sheridan placed the greatest confidence, a man with whom the same Gen. +Sheridan took counsel in any matter requiring military strategy. To show +the General's esteem of this man's skill, and at the same time show his +appreciation of his worth, Sheridan took him with him, to Germany to view +the manoeuvres of the Franco-Prussian war. The above will give the reader +an indication of the character of the man who met with so much ill success +when fighting the Indians. + +In 1868 Gen G. A. Forsythe was located temporarily at Ft. Wallace, having +gone to that point for supplies. While there, daily reports were brought +to him of the numerous depredations committed by the Indians along the +railroads. The last report to reach him brought the unpleasant +announcement that two freighters had been murdered and their stock driven +off. This was too much. The Indian seemed to be committing all manner of +misdeeds with seeming impunity, and he decided that he must put an end to +such a state of things and at the same time punish the guilty ones for +past misconduct. With this purpose in view, he gained permission from Gen. +Sheridan to organize an expedition against them. The license was granted +and with forty-seven scouts, among whom was Surgeon Moore and Lieut. +Beecher, he set out about the tenth of the month of ----, in a +north-westerly direction to overtake the savages. In the inception of +this expedition he made one grave mistake for which he paid dearly in the +near future. He took along provisions for only ten days, on pack mules. He +had no ambulances, nor wagons. In the case of an engagement he did not +have men enough, nor sufficient quantity of supplies, to meet the +requirements of a cattle round-up, much less an undertaking of the kind he +had in view. He set forth in high spirits, for he did not realize the +magnitude of the undertaking he had mapped out for himself, nor the danger +into which he was rushing. The weather was favorable and the country +rather level, so there was nothing to impede his rapid progress. On the +fifth day out, some of the scouts discovered a few Indians. Their trail +was picked up and as they progressed it became plainer, which showed that +they were nearing the vicinity of the foe. On the fifth evening out, they +went into camp in a small valley in the northwest corner of the state of +Kansas, and not far from the eastern line of Colorado, just where a small +stream called the Arickaree flows into the Republican river. In that +little stream was a small island covered with scrubby timber. It could not +be exactly called an island, as the water flowed on one side of it only, +and at a depth of only about a foot, while the other channel was +absolutely dry and filled with coarse grass and brush. As they were all +weary with the long march already made, they lay down in their blankets to +secure a good rest, little thinking what the next day had in store for +them. About daylight, the next morning, some of the scouts heard a +commotion among the horses and jumped up to see what was wrong. They +discovered the Indians in the act of endeavoring to stampede the horses, +and they gave the alarm. As soon as the scouts saw the situation, they +opened fire upon the redskins and drove them away. The shooting was a +signal for all to rise. They realized that danger was near, and they did +not have long to wait until it was present. In less than an hour's time, +between five and six hundred Chyenne warriors appeared on the hill side, +painted and decked out in all the paraphrenalia of a full-fledged war +party under the leadership of Roman Nose who at that time was the +Bonoparte of the Chyenne tribe. + +It seems that the Indians had been keeping close watch on the movements of +the little parties of scouts, and as they were now about eighty or a +hundred miles from their base of supplies, thought that if they could +stampede the horses, they would be able to secure the band as an easy +prey. When they failed to make way with the horses and mules, their next +move was to open fire upon the men, which they did without delay. This +turn of affairs was so sudden and unexpected that the General seemed to +lose his head, and stood there in profound amazement. While the General +was in this state of uncertainty as to what to do, with his men exposed to +the Indian fire, Jack Stillwell, a boy of nineteen, without any regard for +formality of ceremony, yelled out, "Why in blazes don't you go over on +that island?" The General took the advice so freely and informally given +by his subordinate, and all broke on the run for the shelter of the +pseudo-island. They arrived there, but not before several of them were +wounded in the dash in which several of the horses were killed, or +crippled. The scouts utilized the dead horses as breastworks and poured +such a hot fire into the Indians that they withdrew to the shelter of the +hills. The scouts employed their time in digging rifle pits, as they were +sure that the Indians were not going to give up the fray without another +effort to wipe out the little band. It was only a very short time until +the Indians were seen coming down the hillside with intensified ferocity +due to their first repulse, howling warwhoops from six hundred lusty, +savage throats, and adding to the din by beating tomtoms. It was a sight +to send a chill to the stoutest heart to see them wildly flinging their +arms in the air to the accompaniment of their thunderous yells, the +rumbling of the flying horses as they descended upon the little band, in +their mad career. At their head rode Roman Nose encouraging his followers +and urging them on to deeds of valor with shout and gesture. One may +imagine the chill that crept over many a heart at such a terrifying +spectacle, but it was not time to show the white feather, as they could +expect no quarter from the blood-thirsty band coming upon them with all +the intensity of a whirlwind of fury. When the Indians were within rifle +shot, the scouts opened upon them with a fusilade of bullets, with deadly +effect. Many a horse was tumbled to the earth and many an Indian bit the +dust, either entirely killed, or mortally wounded. The savages returned +the fire with but little effect as the scouts were entrenched behind the +dead horses, or in their rifle pits. On they came undaunted by the first +shock of battle. They advanced almost to the bank of the little stream +that flowed between the half-island and the main land. There Roman Nose +was seen to reel and fall from his saddle, shot through his body. Another +chieftain, I shall not say more daring than the others, but more favored +by good luck, succeeded in fording the little stream and advanced to the +very bank of the sand bar, or island, before he fell riddled by the +bullets of the desperate little band. The continuous fusilade of bullets +poured into the serried ranks of the Indians at such close range, together +with the loss of their leaders impelled the savages to retreat to the +hills once more. This they did accompanied by a shower of bullets that +emptied many a saddle before the retreating savages were out of danger. +They disappeared behind the hills, but not with the intention of giving up +the fight, as they considered their plans for massacreing the little band +to be too well laid to be set aside on account of the two repulses they +had already received. They waited till afternoon to make a third and final +assault upon the island. On they came again, but with the same result as +before. They were driven back before the galling fire of the besieged. +Determined to continue the fight at all hazards, they kept themselves out +of range of the rifles of the islanders, but maintained a desultory fire +which had no effect upon the men entrenched in the rifle pits. They then +spread themselves out and rode around the island in a circle, but out of +range of the guns of the entrapped soldiers. It was plainly their +intention to starve the scouts to death or into submission, which was all +the same to them. + +In the meantime the situation on the island was far from pleasant. Though +they had defended themselves with desperate valor, the members of that +heroic little band did not escape from all injury. The dead numbered a +score, among whom was Lieut. Beecher, a nephew of the renowned Henry Ward +Beecher. Among those seriously wounded was Surgeon Moore, who was lying at +the point of death, and General Forsythe, with a bullet through his leg +and his scalp creased with another leaden missile. + +The situation was critical in the extreme. Their food was gone, and the +only substitute they had was the flesh of the dead horses that lay around +them. From these they cut pieces of flesh which they ate raw, as there was +no opportunity for cooking it. This stayed their hunger for a time, but it +was a poor substitute at best. They lacked, also, for want of water, for, +although the stream lay within a few feet of them, to reach it was +impossible, for, if a man showed his head but for a moment he was greeted +with a shower of bullets that made him seek cover without delay. The +exigency of the situation made them inventive, and as they were almost +desperate from want of water, they had recourse to a very slow method of +digging down to the water level in order to secure even a scant supply. +They cut open a canteen in such a way that it would serve the purpose of a +shovel, and with this crude implement went to work to scoop up the sand to +such a depth as would bring them to the object of their search. Their +patience and persistence was rewarded better than they expected. Not only +did they obtain sufficient to meet their immediate needs, but also plenty +to bathe the General's wounds. As far as the dead were concerned, to bury +them could not be thought of, as even the movement of a branch would be a +signal for a dozen or more bullets which would drive them back to the +shelter of their defenses. Though the Indians seemed to realize the +predicament of the beseiged, they did not have the temerity to make a +final dash to complete the work of butchery they had originally planned. +Their first, second, and third attempts had cost them too dearly, and they +were content to hover near with the intention of cutting their foe to +pieces if they should make an attempt to escape. They waited patiently, +apparently secure in their conviction that the beseiged would eventually +make a dash for liberty, and if such were to occur they would descend upon +the stricken little band and with one fell swoop annihilate them +completely. Their long desired wish was never accomplished. Intent upon +the final destruction of the whites, they neglected to bury their own +dead, not only because they were too busily engaged, in watching the +besieged, but principally because they did not care to risk the danger of +adding to the already too long list of their fellow tribesmen who had +recently gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds. Moreover, the approaching +night would give them a better opportunity to secure the bodies of their +slain without incurring any risk of being sent to join them in the land of +their forefathers. + +Night fell, and with it came a cessation of hostilities. It must not be +concluded that the Indians had abandoned the fight, for they did not, but +kept a wary eye upon that little island, knowing that delay would surely +put the palefaces in their possession. Nor did they make any venture to +attack the stronghold of the enemy under cover of darkness. That was not +the Indian's way of conducting his warfare. The hour favorable for the +Indian raid is just about dawn, when they expect to find the enemy asleep, +when they fall upon their unsuspecting victims and butcher them +unmercifully. As for the little band on the island, they put in a most +miserable night. An enemy could not wish them more discomfort than what +they experienced. Tired, hungry, surrounded by their dead companions, they +were not in a condition to find comfort in a situation where they were +surrounded by their mortal enemies who, they thought, would take advantage +of the darkness to crawl up to the very edge of their retreat and do them +to death without mercy. However, in spite of such unpleasant conditions, +the besieged kept up some show of cheerfulness. Morning found them far +from depressed though the situation had not changed for the better. One +wag, in spite of the fact that death might be lurking in his path, +cheerfully remarked, "Well, boys, I guess I shall have to rustle some mule +meat for the General's breakfast. I suppose he will like a change of diet +as he had only horse meat yesterday." It was this spirit of mirth amid +trying surroundings that kept the little band alive and ready during the +long days of imprisonment that followed. + + +[Illustration: STARVING ELK] + + +The next evening did not bring any change in their environments. The day +had been spent very much like the preceding one, except there were no +direct assaults upon the island. In the meantime the General's leg had +become badly swollen, and inflammation had set in. Whilst bathing it, one +of the boys discovered the bullet close to the surface, and with the +General's permission performed a surgical operation with a pocket knife +and removed the shapeless mass of lead. In order to keep the inflammation +down as much as possible, the embryo surgeon continued the application of +cold water to the affected part, which was somewhat efficacious. With the +condition of the camp in such a demoralized condition, the outlook did not +appear very promising. Even though the Indians should leave, which was not +very likely, the situation would not be relieved to any great extent, as +the General could not travel without the aid of a horse, and just then +all the horses were dead, or had been stampeded. Things were beginning to +assume a desperate aspect. Their food supply was about reduced to +nothingness as the horse flesh on which they had been subsisting was no +longer available as it was fast becoming tainted. This told them only too +plainly that their stay upon the island was to be of short duration, and +the prospect of relief from the outside world was very slight. Their only +hope, and that a forlorn one, was to cut their way out through the ranks +of the hostile Indians, and even the prospects of success in such a +venture were not very alluring. Though they might succeed in breaking +through the red cordon that held them prisoners on the island, the hope of +reaching Fort Wallace could hardly be thought of in their enfeebled +condition. It would amount to this, that they would have to fight their +whole way back to the fort without so much as a cracker or a drink of +water to sustain them on the way. It is hardly possible to imagine a body +of men in such straitened circumstances keeping up, and even fighting +against hope for delivery. After reviewing the situation from all its +different angles, and with the desperation that urges a drowning man to +grasp at a straw, the General saw but one way, and that one indicated very +meager chances of success, namely, to call for volunteers who would +endeavor to make their way to the Fort and bring assistance. Immediately, +upon the proposal being made, S. E. Stillwell, better known by the name of +Jack, and another scout named Pierre Truedell, expressed their willingness +to make the attempt. It was sad enough to have to admit the failure of the +expedition and report the news of the disaster, especially when they had +started out with high hopes of success, but it was a measure that had to +be taken if any relief was to be expected. + +It was a perilous undertaking fraught with all manner of hardships. Danger +lay all around them, and whether they would reach the end of their +journey, or be taken prisoner and tortured by the Indians, they did not +know, but brave at heart, they feared not, but set out to do their best or +perish in the attempt to bring succor to their beleaguered companions. +That same evening they stole forth from the camp and crossed the little +stream, taking with them the best wishes and prayers of their fellow +scouts for success. If ever men prayed fervently and expressed sincere +wishes, it was on that occasion. No sooner had they crossed the stream +than their difficulties began. As soon as they had crossed the water, they +found their shoes filled with sand and water, and they were compelled to +stop and empty them as well as they could. Then they started on their +perilous undertaking in earnest. They did not know at what moment they +would encounter some of the lurking foe and be compelled to fight for +their lives. They did not dare to walk upright, but got down on all fours +and crawled along over the sloping hillsides like dry land terrapins. +Slowly, carefully, they wound their way among the dead Indians that +littered the plain. Painfully they picked their way with tedium through +the sullen foe, at times making haste as best they could in their stooping +position, at times lying flat upon the ground while some restless Indian +kept guard and patrolled his beat upon the hillside. During one of those +unavoidable delays, Stillwell took time to change his shoes from which he +had not been able to entirely remove the sand, and which were hurting his +feet on that account, for a pair of moccasins which he removed from the +feet of a dead Indian he encountered in his slow progress. After creeping +like an infant on all fours or worming themselves along on their stomachs +for over a mile they decided to risk standing up and in this manner +increasing their speed, as they felt certain they were outside of the +circle of Indians who were keeping watch on the little band of their +comrades on the island. Their conclusion about their position relative to +the savages proved correct. When they had gone far enough to permit them +to risk whispering to each other, Truedell complained that his feet were +hurting him on account of the quantity of sand in his shoes. As there was +no dead Indian near who had no further use for moccasins, he adapted +himself to the necessity of the case and removed his shirt. This he tore +into bandages in which he wrapped his feet. They were well aware of the +fact that there was no time to be lost in their mission, as every moment +of unnecessary delay meant hardship, suffering and danger to their +companions recently left behind. They strode on at a greater speed than +before, but did not feel safe in talking in their natural tone of voice +until they had put several miles between themselves and their starting +point. Daylight found they still trudging hastily on, but the light +compelled them to seek shelter in a friendly canyon, as the Indians would +be sure to find their trail sometime during the hours of light and likely +set out to overtake and kill them. Into the canyon they crawled and sought +the shelter of the most secluded nook they could find. They then sat down +to take a much needed rest. Fortunately for them, they had taken the +precaution to bring with them some of the horse meat. They had matches but +did not dare risk lighting a fire as the smoke would attract the attention +of the Indians and bring them down upon them post-haste. They contented +themselves with making the best of a bad situation and ate the horse meat +raw. Then they turned over and went to sleep. Nightfall found them on +their way again with renewed energy and determination. They felt that the +loss of a whole day on their journey meant added sufferings to their +companions, but such delay was unavoidable if they wished to reach the +Fort alive. On through the darkness they went, now running, now stumbling +over the uneven ground, but doggedly moving forward with unceasing ardor. +Daylight found them far from the canyon where they had spent the preceding +hours of sleep. The only shelter that presented itself to their view was a +dry buffalo wallow. Into this they crawled and spent the remaining hours +of the day in sleep if possible, or reflecting on their trying +difficulties. They had neither food nor water. It had been hours since +they had taken the last sup of water, and they suffered acutely. Their +lips were beginning to swell and they found talking difficult. Hunger, +too, added to their discomfort, but there was no relief at hand. They had +to make the best of a bad situation and hope for the best. They were +willing to suffer the pangs of hunger and thirst, if they could only bring +relief to their beleaguered friends. Night came at last, and they dragged +themselves out of the wallow to make the last desperate effort to complete +their journey. Hungry and thirsty they plunged into the darkness. Their +progress was impeded owing to their weakened condition, but on and on they +went, staggering and stumbling along, half mad with thirst, and tormented +by hunger. Morning found them in a pitiable condition. Weary and wan they +seemed as the morning sun showed them that they were not yet within sight +of the fort they sought. Half maddened with suffering they were ready for +anything. Truedell shot a rabbit, more by accident than design, and this +they fairly tore to pieces and ate raw. They were too ravenous to wait +until they could build a fire to cook it. On they went again, until they +came to a buffalo hunter trail leading to the Fort. Footsore and weary +they dragged themselves along till almost exhausted they found their way +into Fort Wallace. They sought Colonel Bankhead's quarters where they +delivered to him the news of the disaster that had befallen the ill-fated +expedition. This first and most important duty done, they then sought the +canteen where they found everything that was necessary to satisfy their +pressing wants. Relieved of the excitement of the journey, tired and worn +in every member, conscious of the fact that they had done their share in +forwarding relief to their friends still in distress, they sought +convenient bunks and were soon dead to the world in deep repose. + +The next night after Stillwell and Truedell had left the island, the +General deemed it a prudent move to send two more scouts on the same +mission. He feared that, perhaps, some misfortune had overtaken the first +emissaries, and if such were the case, the report of the disaster would +never reach the Fort, nor would succor come to him and his command. He +called for two more volunteers who would be willing to try to elude the +hundreds of savage eyes that were glinting with hate on the courageous +little band, and watching every movement that took place in their +primitive defense. No sooner had he issued the call than two volunteers +offered themselves for the perilous undertaking. They realized the danger +they would dare, but as they then stood, there would hardly be more peril +in their efforts to break through the encircling foe, than there would be +if they remained inert upon the island with starvation staring them in the +face, and a band of bloodthirsty Indians ready to pounce upon them at the +very moment they showed signs of distress. + +If they did not go, total annihilation awaited them; if they did go, there +was some slight chance of being liberated from their present predicament. +With the odds against them, they were willing to do their best. The two +courageous volunteers for the second effort were A. J. Pliley who now +lives in Kansas City, and Jack Donovan. They set out in about the same +manner as their two companions did on the night before, and were very +successful in eluding the foe. Things went well with them until the second +day. Perhaps their first success in eluding the Indians made them +over-bold, but the fact remains that they were followed by a band of +Redskins who discovered their trail. On the second day out on their +mission they experienced a great scare. They were lying in a dry buffalo +wallow when Pliley heard a noise. He peered carefully over the edge of the +wallow and discovered in the distance, about half a mile away, a band of +about thirty warriors coming directly towards the spot where they were +lying concealed. He turned to his companion and said, "Jack, I guess it +is all up with you and me. There are about thirty Indians coming straight +for this wallow." "Well," replied Jack, "if that is the case, I am not +going to trade even; I want two for one." They were certainly in a +dreadful predicament. Surrounded as they knew they would be by those +relentless warriors, they determined to sell their lives as dearly as +possible. They knew the process only too well. They could see already that +band of warriors riding around the wallow in a circle, shooting at them on +the run, or perhaps, even making a rush of it to overpower them by weight +of numbers, and murder them heartlessly. Perhaps, they might make them +prisoners, to be reserved for future torture. Carefully keeping an eye +upon the oncoming band, Pliley kept his friend informed of their +movements. It would not do to expose themselves too soon, as there might +be some hope that the Indians had not discovered their actual whereabouts. +On they came, and the two men spontaneously reached for their weapons to +defend themselves. Nearer and nearer they came, and the besieged made +ready to give them an opening salutation of welcome. A little nearer they +approached and then they halted. They cast a scanning glance over the +surrounding country, and apparently they were satisfied that their +intended victims had eluded them. Then they turned their ponies and rode +away in the direction whence they came. With a sigh of relief, the two men +put back their guns, and felt that they were safe for the present. That +night when they set out again, they hastened their steps as rapidly as +possible, knowing that the foe was on their trail. Stumbling along in much +the same condition of hunger and thirst as the two former scouts had done, +they reeled into the Fort the same evening as Stillwell and Truedell. It +was needless to say that there were heartfelt congratulations expressed +when those four scouts met at Fort Wallace. + +The band of Indians seen by Pliley and Donovan, were undoubtedly a part +of the Roman Nose contingent. They had discovered the trail of the men +shortly after their escape from the island and pursued them with the +determination to overtake them and put them to death, but all to no +purpose. They little knew how close they came to being successful in their +efforts, especially as at one time they were within about forty rods of +them as they lay in the dry buffalo wallow. Apparently they became +discouraged in their efforts and gave up the chase. + +Having received the message delivered by the four men, it did not take +Colonel Bankhead long to call out every available man and horse, to fit +out ambulances, and wagons laden with provisions, and make whatever +preparations were necessary to relieve the wants of the distressed. + +When the Indians knew that the messengers had eluded them and had likely +reached the Fort in spite of all the measures they took to forestall such +an event, they thought prudence the better part of valor and withdrew +their forces from the neighborhood of the island. They foresaw that relief +would come to the brave defenders of the little sand bar in a very short +time, and as they had such small success with a small band, they felt that +they would hardly be able to contend with a greater force which would be +certainly sent out for their relief. + +Once the relief corps got in motion, it did not let the grass grow under +its feet. Their progress was necessarily slower than that of the +expedition on account of the baggage they were carrying, and, also, +because they had to exercise the greatest care in marching for they knew +not at what time they would encounter a band of hostile Indians. The +journey to the locality of the disaster occupied several days. They were +rather surprised to find the nearer they approached their destination the +less the presence of Indians was noted. When they drew up in sight of the +island, not a savage was to be seen or heard of. + +In the interim of the departure of the scouts for relief, the prisoners' +on the island suffered acutely. Around them lay the dead bodies of some of +their companions whom they did not dare to venture out to bury. They were +rapidly decomposing and the atmosphere was laden with the nauseating smell +that accompanies such a condition either of animal, or man. Added to this +was the number of dead horses, which added to the intensity of the +malodorous smell. The wounded suffered more and more as inflammation set +in or increased. Their condition was pitiable as very little could be done +to relieve their sufferings. Above all this, they had to endure the pangs +of hunger, which every day grew more and more irksome. It was a sad +spectacle that the eyes of the relief corps beheld when they came upon +them first. Hardly able to raise their weakened bodies from a recumbent +position, the wounded endeavored to give a cheer at the sight of their +deliverers, but it was such a mockery of cheer that it was enough to bring +tears to the eyes of many a veteran. Those who had not been wounded, and +they were few, lent a willing hand to the administration of medical +assistance to their stricken companions. They felt so overcome with joy +themselves that they could hardly express themselves in the intensity of +their happiness. But their newly-arrived fellow scouts and soldiers knew +by their looks the depth and sincerety of their feelings of gratitude, and +felt happy to be able to reach them before death had overtaken the whole +band. + +The first duty to be attended to by the relief party, was the burial of +the dead. Delay would have been dangerous and, perhaps, fatal, as they +were, as mentioned above, badly decomposed. They performed the sad duty +over the remains of their former companions with all the reverence that +their circumstances would permit. Next, they had to look after the wants +of their General. He had been suffering intensely from the wound in the +scalp and in the leg. They administered such remedies as they had, which +produced some relief. The rest of the wounded were attended to in much the +same fashion, each one receiving what attention could be given them. When +all this had been done, they made ready to set out for the fort. It was a +slow journey, but in time they reached their destination where proper +remedies soon restored them to fighting condition again. + +The expedition of Gen. Forsythe, which he insisted on making against Roman +Nose and his band, terminated in dismal failure. It had cost the lives of +several valuable and experienced men, and marred to some degree the +reputation for success which he had hitherto gained. Nevertheless, the +lesson bore fruit. It taught the American people at large, and General +Forsythe in particular that all the knowledge of Indian warfare is not +taught at the military academy at West Point. In fact, it was impressed +upon the minds of several who were in a position to profit by the lesson, +that the "University of the Plains" was far better adapted to produce men +who would be successful in that mode of fighting than any of the academies +established for the purpose of instructing the neophyte in the art of +conducting warlike manoeuvres. + +The writer is indebted to S. E. Stillwell, better known to his friends as +"Jack," for the information regarding the battle of Arickaree, in which he +played so prominent a part. His feat, alone, of bearing the message from +Gen. Forsythe to Fort Wallace was sufficient to win him undying fame. In +such high esteem was he held by those to whom he lent his services, that +Gen. Phil. Sheridan characterized him as being the bravest and most daring +young man he ever knew, and he knew a multitude of them. He was, later on, +the trusted and boon companion of Buffalo Bill, "Col. W. Cody," in +fighting the Indians on the plains. At one time, later on, he was Police +Judge of the City of El Reno. This position he retained until he was +appointed United States Commissioner at Anadarko, Okla. This position he +resigned and went to the North Plate, Neb., where he died and was buried +within a day's ride of the battle ground of the Arickaree. While he was +filling the office of Commissioner at Anadarko, the writer frequently +spent hours with him chatting over the events of former days upon the +plains. During one of those visits, he ventured to inquire of the +Commissioner if he thought he himself had killed Roman Nose. He replied +that he did not know, but after taking a few puffs of his cigarette, he +naively remarked that if he did not, it was attributable to his aim and +not to his intention as he gave him his undivided attention from the time +he came within range of his rifle until he fell from his horse. He paused +then and took a few more puffs, and closed the subject by remarking, +"perhaps, some of the other boys did it." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +The Whirlwind Raid; Great Expectations Reduced to Disappointment, etc. + + +For several years succeeding to terminations of the Civil War, the whole +plains country, as I have said in the previous chapter, from the frontier +settlements westward including a great portion of the Rocky Mountains, and +from the British line on the north to the Red river of the north line of +Texas, was claimed by the Indian by virtue of his title begotten of prior +possession, and was used by him as a hunting ground, and also as the +theatre in which to stage the settlement of tribal difficulties. As a +variation from those internal battles, or wars, as you may wish to call +them, they frequently made raids upon the white settlers, killing and +scalping the men, kidnapping the women and children, and running off their +stock as spoils of war. They roamed that vast expanse of territory at +will, seeking their sustenance from the abundance of wild game with which +the plains were teeming. Buffalo and deer were there in innumerable +quantities and were easily slaughtered. Smaller game abounded everywhere. +When the bucks returned from the chase with a buffalo or a deer to show +for his efforts, the squaws took possession of the carcass, cutting off +huge chunks of meat for provisions, and then tanning the hides at which +they were experts. In times of peace they worked faithfully at the task of +converting the green hide into something serviceable, but when the war +alarm was sounded, they readily threw aside the work at hand to follow +their lord and master on the warpath, not as an idle onlooker, but armed +with a scalping knife and tomahawk, they followed up the work of slaughter +by assisting in the scalping, or mutilating the bodies of the dead. In +this last feature of the raid, they seemed to be carried away by a sort of +frenzy, and the manner in which they treated the corpses of those slain, +was brutal and inhuman in the extreme. In my own experience I have known +squaws who were so fascinated by this kind of brutality or rather +ghoulishness, that at the first notes of the war song they deserted their +white husbands to follow in the wake of the war, although at the time they +were drawing rations from the government and were in possession of +comfortable homes. + +In this connection, it may not be amiss to say something of the Medicine +Man, and the part he played in the Indian raids. I might say that he was +the most important factor in such undertakings, as well as in the +inter-tribal disputes. He seemed to have such an influence over the +destinies of the tribe in which he was operating, that the chiefs and +their followers placed implicit confidence in his decisions. On him alone, +rather than the chiefs in council, depended the undertaking of any raid, +or struggle. Whenever there was any prospect of trouble arising, he called +the chiefs and warriors and held a seance in which he made inquiries of +them as to their opinions and views regarding the matter under discussion. +This done, he set about a series of orgies and incantations to discover +from some secret agency the advisability of making the venture, or +abandoning it. A consultation of this kind often took several days, but +when he arrived at some conclusion, it was announced to the chiefs and +their followers, and his decision in the matter was final and devoid of +any appeal. As soon as the result of his incantation was promulgated, the +warriors buckled on their armor, if I may use the expression, though there +were few buckles and oftentimes no more armor than a breach-clout and a +blanket with some instrument of warfare, and made ready for the raid on +some white settler's cabin and stock, or to engage in a death struggle +with some other tribe. The success or failure of his prediction did not +affect the medicine man in any great degree as regards his position in +the tribe. If the raid was a success, he became the lion of the hour and +the tribe looked upon him as something of a supernatural being, but if, on +the contrary, things resulted adversely, he had little to lose except his +reputation, and that would be so badly shattered that no other member of +the tribe would care to wear his mantel of prophesy. To illustrate the +case in point, I shall mention what befell chief Black Kettle's Medicine +Man. After holding a seance for several days, he arrived at the very +pleasing conclusion that the white man's gun was no good; that the bullets +would fall to the ground close to the muzzle of the gun and consequently +would not injure an Indian. When Gen. Custer fell upon him, one winter's +morning, on the Washita and killed more than one hundred of his warriors +with Black Kettle himself, and took the remainder of the band prisoners +and brought them to Camp Supply, the estimate on that Medicine Man's +ability as a prognosticator was diminished to a vanishing point. We are +inclined to smile at the credulity of the Indian in the matter of +consulting the Medicine Man, but, in this curiosity to secure a knowledge +of future events, especially where they refer to his welfare, they were +not much different from the rank and file of white folks who consult some +street fakir or clairvoyant, turning over half a dollar to find out +whether a business man is dealing fairly or otherwise, or to discover if +the partner of one's joys and sorrows, is travelling the path of rectitude +or not, or to discover some secret source of wealth that will place the +inquirer beyond the reach of want. Such foolish curiosity is not confined +to any race or tribe, as I find in my varied reading that the practice of +clairvoyancy, soothsaying, etc., has been in practice and fashion from the +days when Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt down through the +ages to the present day, and you will find on investigation that the +clients of the fakir are not limited to the unlettered class, but embrace +members from every grade of society from the proletariat to the Four +Hundred. However, to return to the thread of my story, I must say that +since the day when the long range gun has been put in the hands of man, +the calling of the Medicine Man has become almost obsolete. + +In regard to the manner of conducting campaigns, there was no fixed rule, +but every chief conducted his fight as circumstances dictated, and some of +the later day chieftains manifested an ability in their campaigns that +would stamp them as Napoleons of their tribes and times. Precision and +alacrity were seldom wanting in the raids. If they came in contact with +the soldier, they outclassed him to some degree, as, after the first few +volleys, they scattered and disappeared from view with a readiness that +was astonishing. Nor could the trained soldier of the line follow up his +foe to any advantage as they seldom left a trail behind that would guide +him to their hiding place. The untrained eye of the military man militated +against any success he might otherwise have had, and it required the scout +of the plains to ferret out the marks and signs that would give any +opportunity for pursuit. In the meantime the Indian on his fleet-footed +ponies would likely be fifty or one hundred miles away from the point of +encounter. + +The Indian did not always confine his raiding propensities to the white +man, but as frequently gave his attention to some of the neighboring +tribes with whom they had some matter to adjust. Needless to say, when two +tribes met in conflict, the fighting bore a character of savagery that was +in keeping with the untamed nature of the participants. Naturally, the +Indian was compelled to confine himself to the use of such weapons as his +limited ingenuity could provide, but in the use of what he had he was an +adept. Before the introduction of fire-arms his chief weapons consisted of +the bow and arrow, the tomahawk, and the scalping knife, but if an +opportunity presented itself for him to make use of the more up-to-date +weapons of warfare, he took advantage of it, as is instanced in the case +of the raid made upon the Back and Fox Indians by their more southerly +neighbors. + +The Sack and Fox Indians were located in Kansas, and by reason of their +close proximity to the settlements of white men, and also on account of +carrying on trade with them, they came into possession of fire-arms which +they used with considerable success in hunting the buffalo. They found it +to their advantage to use the weapon for laying up supplies of meat and +hides. This opened up an avenue of trade for them as they found a ready +market for the buffalo skins they procured, but in their prosperity they +nearly were overcome by disaster. The plain Indians learning of the +success of the Sack and Fox Indians, became jealous of them and resolved +to exterminate them. A conference was called and invitations issued to the +different tribes to take part in the general pow-wow. The assemblage was +to take place on the Arkansas River, where they were to decide on what +measures to take, or, in other words, lay out a plan of campaign. The +Kiowas, Comanches, Arappahoes, Apaches, and Chyennes presented themselves +on the day appointed, and initiated the proceedings with a Medicine Dance. +Then a council of war was called and they came to the unanimous conclusion +to go north to the Smoky Hill river and wage relentless war upon the Sack +and Fox Indians and thus terminate the slaughter of the buffalo on the +plains. The leadership of this expedition was by common consent bestowed +upon Chief Whirlwind. They then indulged in their customary war-dance and +set forth upon their mission of destruction. + +It was Robert Burns who wrote that, + + The best laid plans of mice and men + Gang aft aglee, + And lea' us naught but grief and pain + For promised joy. + +This quotation applies definitely to the Whirlwind raid. He started forth +like a "plumed knight" chanting his war song and whooping along the way to +instill courage into his braves, each of whom carried a back-load of +arrows and a couple of well-strung bows as his weapons of war, and +expected to share in the glory of a great victory. Nor did the chanting +and roaring of their chieftain fail of its purpose. By the time they +reached their destination they were all strung up to the highest tension, +in fact they were all but counting the scalps they were about to carry +away in triumph, etc. They reached the canyon in the Smoky Hill country +where the Sack and Fox Indians had secreted themselves, prepared to give +the invaders of their hunting ranges a warm reception. Whirlwind and his +band advanced in confidence, knowing they outnumbered their intended +victims, but they were not acquainted with the new ally of their foe. They +knew absolutely nothing of the use of fire-arms, their efficiency, and +death dealing powers. They had not become acquainted with the sound of the +carbine, nor of the shot-gun. This was a power they did not to reckon +with, nor knew how to estimate its value. The only thing that concerned +them just then was to make a sudden whirlwind dash upon their foe, butcher +them, and carry off the spoils. They were led up to the mouth of the +canyon chanting and shouting, when the muzzles of a hundred guns belched +forth thunder and lightning, and a hail of leaden bullets flew around them +in death dealing myriads. They turned and fled, stampeded like a herd of +antelope toward their starting point. They reached the Arkansas, but oh! +how their bright expectations had been rudely shattered. One conclusion +they arrived at as the result of their unprofitable venture, and that was +that bows and arrows was no weapon to offset the effect of a musket or a +carbine. It was a sad return for all their brilliant hopes. Behind them +lay the corpses of fifty of their bravest warriors, whilst twice that +number came limping back home, crippled by the unthought-of ally of their +foes. Nor could the loss be estimated at the death of their fellow braves, +nor in the wounds borne by the cripples, nor in the number of horses that +had been shot from under them, but in the blow to their tribal pride. +There they suffered most, for it was inconceivable to think that +one-hundred and twenty-five Sack and Fox Indians should in any manner +possible overcome the flower of the various tribes that participated in +the raid. It is estimated by those who know, that there were between +twelve and fifteen hundred warriors of the southern tribes under the +command of the mighty Whirlwind. As a battle, there was little or nothing +to it. The chief with all his experience could not get his men to face +that leaden hail that smote the ranks so mercilessly. There was nothing to +do but turn tail and flee, which he did. + +When they returned to the Arkansas, they mutually agreed that the +expedition from the view-point of results obtained was a failure. From +there they made their way south until they reached the North Canadian +river and there disbanded, each tribe seeking its own reservation, or +hunting grounds as it saw fit. They never again returned to molest the +Sack and Fox tribes in their peaceful occupation. + +It was currently reported and believed by many that Whirlwind on his +return to the hunting grounds on the North Canadian, said that every +feather had been shot from his war bonnet during the engagement, in the +Smoky Hill canyon. I never had the pleasure of being intimately acquainted +with that doughty warrior, but I have seen him on several occasions and +have also seen his war bonnet, and I know something of the amount of +feathers required to decorate it. Since he has passed to the Happy Hunting +Grounds, I shall take this opportunity of denying that he ever made such a +statement, for I do not believe that he ever said it, as the evidence +would plainly indicate that he would not be telling the truth, which +would be plain to all. Knowing how much the wily old warrior prized the +emblem of his former prowess in the field of battle, I feel certain that +he would never submit to have it disfigured by the bullets of his foes, +particularly, whilst his head was beneath it. So I shall repeat what I +said before, "He did not say it." + +The reader may be pleased to have a little insight into the general +character of Whirlwind, the leader of the expedition that failed. Like all +leaders whether white, black, or bronze, he always made it his motto to +win. Kill, conquer and destroy were the methods he employed in his +campaigns. In the heat of battle, he was relentless and uncompromising, +but when the battle was over and he had returned to his own hunting +grounds, he showed a spirit of forgiveness and generosity, as well as many +other redeeming qualities, for which he should receive due credit. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +The Sun Dance; Preparations; Its Religious Significance; and Purpose; How +it was Conducted, etc. + + +It may not be amiss to insert here a description of what was known to the +various Indian tribes as the Sun Dance. Each nation, people, or tribe in +past history has had some ceremony, symbolic in its nature, by which +honors and dignities were conferred upon those who sough honor and +preferment. Nor has this custom been confined to any particular class, for +all have, at different times, indulged in the practice, nor was it without +its influence and effect upon those who sought advancement. The Knights of +the Middle Ages, when in the act of receiving the symbols of their office +and vocation, were compelled to submit themselves to some kind of ordeal +by which they manifested their fitness to wear the honors they sought. So, +too, it was with the denizens of the plains, as the following narrative +from unimpeachable authority will illustrate. Just as in the days of old, +the ceremony was partly religious in its development, so, too, the +children of the plains invested the conferring of honors and rights to +preferment with religious ceremony and physical tests. + +The Sun Dance, as practiced by the Cheyenne tribe of Indians, dates back +to time immemorial. In the performance of it, the Indian makes a +profession of faith in the Supreme Being, and at the same time subjects +those who engage in it, to a physical test that is sufficient to try the +heart and soul of even the most valiant. The first step in the proceedings +of this semi-religious festival, is to select the proper location for the +celebration of it. Weeks, and perhaps months in advance, some pow-wow is +held at which they make the selection of the place in which they wish to +hold their festival. Usually some well-known camping ground is chosen on +account of the abundance of fuel and water, both of which were necessary +for the proper conduct of the ceremony, for it was essential that there +should be means at hand for preparing the final feast, as well as an +abundant supply of water for the multitudes assembled from the different +districts for the purpose of watering their stock, as well as, affording +bathing facilities to such a vast number. + +For several days prior to the actual enactment of the ceremony, Indians +would begin to assemble, straggling in from long distances, bringing with +them the greater part a their household belongings. North, south, east, +and west sent their contingents. Whole families with their teepees, +ponies, and dogs, assembled from all parts of the reservations or the +plains to participate in the festivities or to be merely on-lookers hoping +in their mere presence to receive some benediction from the Great Spirit +whom they assembled to worship. Long before the arrival of these scattered +bands, the Medicine Man was on the scene to give his attention to whatever +preparations were required for the occasion. He usually selected some +central point wherein to erect his place of worship. In this chosen spot +he was to enact the two-fold role of High Priest and Medicine Man, to +minister to their spiritual and corporal necessities. + +Many days elapsed before the arrival of the final contingent, and the +intervening time had to be employed as best they could. This gave those +who had already arrived on the scene, an opportunity of visiting their +relations and friends, whom they had not met, perhaps since the preceding +Sun Dance. The older folks were content to while away the passing hours in +social converse, whilst the young engaged in feats of skill, contesting in +games peculiar to the tribe. It was quite evident that they were supremely +happy in their childish amusements, and enjoyed them as thoroughly as +their white contemporaries found pleasure and enjoyment in their more +up-to-date and scientific play toys. One thing particularly noticeable in +all their endeavors was the spirit of prompt obedience to parental +authority. The control that the Indian parent exercises over his child is +marvelous, and in all my intercourse with the children of the plains, I +have never known of a parent chastizing his child in a cruel or harsh +manner. It is a thing unheard of, that a child ever raised a hand or +uttered an unfilial expression of contempt towards his parents. I believe +that if an Indian child were to emulate the example of many white +children, whom I have known not only to treat their parents with contempt, +but even go so far as to treat them contumeliously, the Indian father +would be so staggered by such an outbreak and disregard for the +proprieties of his position, that it would require a council of chiefs to +decide upon the proper mode of dealing with the case, as it would lack all +precedent. The little redskin is attentive to the wants of his parents, +and at all times exercises a continual watchfulness over their wants to +forestall any command to fulfill some duty. Nor do the parents fill the +childish mind with tales of goblins and hobgoblins to excite terror in his +little heart. Even the customary punishment of locking the little child up +in some dark corner, is lacking, for there is no need of it. Obedience to +authority is part of the nature of the Indian child and it comes so easy +for him to render it that it never becomes irksome. + +When the last stragglers have arrived, and the interchange of social +courtesies is fulfilled, the large central teepee, or ampitheatre is +erected and ready for occupancy. In the center of this teepee is placed a +large pole much the same as the old-time May pole used by the people of +the Middle Ages on the occasion of their annual celebrations, but in this +case the purpose was very much different, as will be seen later on in this +narrative. + +During the time the rank and file of the Indians were enjoying their +intercourse, the young men who were candidates for honors in the trials of +endurance, were busying themselves plaiting their hair and painting their +bodies. They decorated their faces and other portions of the body with +every conceivable kind of animal and reptile that human ingenuity could +invent, as taste or custom suggested. Some of the productions were very +artistic, and some were rather grotesque, but the tout-ensemble served the +purpose for which the work was intended. They were no novices in the art +of extracting colors from the plants and shrubs that grew in abundance on +the plains, and at the same time had developed the art of applying them to +the human body for decorative purposes. The paints were not indelible, +consequently they could be easily removed and another application made as +circumstances required. At times, the renewal of the decoration took place +as many as four or five times a day. + +The ceremony lasted four days without any intermission. During that time +the candidates for honors were obliged to such a strict fast and +abstinence, that not a morsel of food, nor a drop of water passed their +lips during the time. One favor was conceded to them; they were allowed to +smoke. One might be inclined to think that, at times, the regulation was +not faithfully observed, but there he would be mistaken. There were too +many eyes upon the candidates to permit of his stealing off to the +commissary department of the assemblage, nor could he by any means carry +off beneath the folds of his garments a morsel of food as the extent of +his habiliments would not permit such a thing as his outfit consisted of a +breach-clout around his waist and a few feathers in his hair. + +At the hour appointed for the opening of the ceremony, a chief mounted his +horse and rode through the assembled throng crying out that the ordeal was +about to begin. It was his duty also to set down the rules and +regulations governing the performance. When he had explained the +ordinances sufficiently to be understood by all the candidates, he +withdrew and the Medicine Man appeared on the scene. He was decked out in +his most gorgeous array of feathers and finery, with his hair plaited down +his back and ornamented with more feathers and quills. Truly, he was an +imposing spectacle to the simple minded tribesman and they looked upon him +with a species of awe. In his hand he bore the wing of an eagle. He took +up his position in a very conspicuous place and struck an attitude very +much like some of the Indians we see pictured standing on some eminence +with his hand shading his eyes and looking far away over the plains in +search of something of interest. The Medicine Man assumed about the same +attitude, using the eagle wing to protect his eyes from the sun. He stood +motionless for a period lasting about half an hour, gazing in the +direction of the blazing sun. I never came to learn the true meaning of +this action on the part of the Medicine Man, but I presume he expected to +discover some supernatural visitor coming from the direction in which he +was gazing. I can readily imagine what his consternation would be if one +of our modern aeroplanes passed close over his head while he was making +observations of the heavens. There is no doubt he would drop his eagle +wing and make a dash for his teepee laboring under the impression that the +devil was out making morning calls. Such an apparition would most likely +interfere with the completion of the programme, and the tribesmen would +probably seek shelter or protection from the whirring, roaring monster, in +the depths of the nearby timber. However, as no such occurance took place, +the Medicine Man continued his vigil until such time as he thought proper +to terminate it. Upon his return to camp, the tomtom sounded and the dance +was on. All the braves fell into line, and the pow-wow started with each +brave keeping step to the beatings of the primitive instrument. No squaws +were permitted to engage in the ceremony as it was to be a strict, test +of physical endurance. Much less, are white men permitted to participate +in the Sun Dance, as this is an institution particularly appropriated to +the Indian tribes. The squaws had their share of the work to do, and while +the ceremony was going on, they spent their time in making preparations +for the feast that was to follow upon the completion of the dance. The +young men who were not otherwise engaged and who did not care to undergo +the terrible ordeal about to follow, mounted their ponies and scoured the +plains for game. This was a necessary undertaking, as the amount required +to supply the throng present with food, was very great. True, each +tribesman brought some provisions, but that supply would be inadequate to +the demands of such an occasion. + +If any white man had an opportunity to witness the proceedings of the Sun +Dance, he would most likely arrive at a very erroneous idea of the intent +and purpose of the occasion, nor would he understand the significance of +what he might see. The wild, wierd scene before him, the fantastic +movements of the participants in the drama would probably create in his +mind a false impression of the nature and character of the ceremony. +However, to arrive at the true meaning of what was being done, it is +sufficient to say that the heads of numerous families were present on the +occasion I speak of, to do homage and worship the Great Spirit, and offer +thanks for favors received in the past. This goes to show that the Indian +was not unmindful of his obligation to the Great Spirit, but brings out to +our view a side of the Indian character that is very seldom mentioned by +those who appear or seem to know all about him. They were grateful for the +gifts received from the hand of their Creator and on occasions of this +kind strove to show it. They probably had some friend or relative who +escaped from some calamity. If so, this was the occasion on which they +showed their gratitude to the Father of all. Perhaps, some of them had +wives and children who had recently recovered from some ailment. If so, +they were grateful. Sundry were the purposes for which they assembled on +this occasion to offer up their meed of praise and thanksgiving to the +Great Spirit. Their devotion was as sincere and deep-seated as the +Pilgrims who made long pilgrimages to the Holy Land to visit the sepulchre +of Him, who died for us all. The scoffer may not be able to see it, but +there is One who sees and judges, and who will render to each and all the +just reward on the day of the final reckoning, and the Indian may not be +as bad as painted when seen in the light of the Kingdom of Heaven, where +he will be judged according to his lights. + +When the hunters have returned from the chase, each deposits in the +commissary department the trophies of the hunt, antelope, deer, badgers, +coons, rabbits. All is grist that is brought to that mill. Even the dogs +contribute their share to make the supply equal to the grand display of +culinary art that is to be staged at the close of the ceremony. It may +appear strange to the reader that the turkey had no place on the menu card +of the feast. The reason of this lay in the fact that the Indian +considered him too cowardly and timid to be food fit for the brave and +warlike members of the tribe, as it would have a tendency to diminish, if +not destroy their spirit of bravery and fortitude. + +In the meantime, all had been a scene of activity in the ranks of those +who were contending for honors, as I have mentioned in a former paragraph. +The tom-tom had sounded the call to the test. The old warriors and the +young bucks who were out for preferment, had formed a procession and were +marching toward the ampitheatre. The old bucks who had won their honors on +the war-path were dressed in their fanciest blankets, while those who were +to undergo the ordeal wore nothing save the breach-clout, and a few +feathers. When the excitement of the preliminary movements had taken +possession of the young men, one of the most reckless of the young bucks +broke from the ranks and began to dance around the pole. There he gave +himself up to a frenzy of movement, gyrating and gesticulating in a manner +marvelous to behold. Swinging his hands, kicking up his heels, twisting, +twirling, performing antics of all kinds supposed to be of the nature of +warlike movements, he all the time gave vent to a series of yells, whoops, +and screams of the most unimaginable kind. At the proper moment, a new +feature of the ceremony took place. A man selected for the purpose came +forth bearing a knife in his hand. His duty it was to make incisions in +the back of the aspirant for honors. Two incisions were made on each side +of the back, about half an inch apart. When the knife had done its work, +the flesh was raised between the gashes and a skewer of wood, much +resembling the old-fashioned husking peg, was forced through the flesh +beneath the skin. Around the projecting ends of this was tied a buckskin +thong to which was tied a lasso. This operation was performed on both the +incisions. A buffalo skull was then tied to the lasso at its further +extremity. The operation is then complete, unless the young brave should +request an additional skull which would be provided if convenience, or +opportunity, permitted. If it were not possible to provide a buffalo head +for the occasion, the skeleton of a deer, or a bear would answer the +purpose as well. In fact, the skeleton of any beast of prey was considered +to suffice, as it was supposed to engender a warlike spirit in the +candidate. This feature of attaching the skeleton of a beast of prey was +not always performed in the same way, as some of the tribes preferred to +have it attached to their breasts. + +When properly equipped with this new attachment, whether buffalo skull or +skeleton of a deer or other animal, the young buck was then turned loose. +He joined in the chanting and kept step with the other dancers, but did +not mingle in the ranks, as the appendage attached to him and dragging +along might interfere with the rythmical movements of the dancers. He did +not, fail to keep step with his fellows, nor neglect his part of the +singing, but confined the field of his operations, separate from the +others, where he could conduct himself with what freedom the impediment he +was dragging, would permit. There he discovered himself confronted with +difficulties at several points, as the buffalo skull might become +entangled in a tuft of grass and intensify the pain he was already +suffering so heroically. In case of difficulty of the kind, he received no +assistance from outside sources, but was compelled to wiggle and twist +until he succeeded in loosing it from its hold or tore the flesh and skin +from his back. It might happen that the first obstacle that he met would +break the fleshy bonds that hold the skewers in place, and free him from +his burden, or he might drag his burden around for days. Oftentimes, in a +spirit of playfulness, some young redskin, promped by the genius of +mischief, would jump on the skull and tear it loose from its moorings, but +lacking this fortuitous event, and weary of the burden, he would +frequently in desperation wilfully become entangled in something or other +and break it of his own volition. When he became detached from the buffalo +skull in the manner described, there necessarily was left a gaping wound +with ragged edges. Then he received attention from the Medicine Man who +was close at hand for such an emergency. With his knife he trimmed off the +rough edges and expectorated the juice of some herb which he had been +chewing, into the wound. This remedy was supposed to be sufficiently +potent to eradicate any infection that might be lurking there, and produce +beneficial results owing to the healing qualities of the plant he +masticated. That was the total of the medical treatment the candidate +received during the whole term of his torture. Frequently there were as +many as a dozen candidates on, trial at the same time, and all were +compelled to endure the same torture. It frequently happened that some of +them weakened by hunger and exhausted from the pain they were suffering, +fell in a swoon. If such were the case, he was left where he fell, and no +attempt was made to render him any other assistance than throwing a +buffalo robe or blanket over him where he lay. There they permitted him to +lie, to recover or die as the case might be. It made no difference to the +other dancers what his condition might be, they continued their gyrations +apparently indifferent to the condition of the victim of hunger and +torture beneath the blanket. If he revived, he began again his dancing and +chanting as though there had been no interruption, which he continued +until freed from his burden. The test is the same for all, and the +attention and medical assistance rendered is identical in every case. + +As I said before, other tribes prefer to have the incisions made upon +their breasts, but in such a case do not bear the burden of a buffalo +skull, but are attached by the lariat rope to the limb of a tree, or to +the centre pole of the ampitheatre round which they dance until they +succeed in breaking loose by tearing the skewer through the flesh that +holds it. As for the medical treatment, it is the same in all cases. + +The ceremony is continued until the supply of volunteers for honors is +exhausted. Those who have passed through the ordeal successfully are in +line for promotion to the higher offices of their respective tribes +providing a vacancy occurs through death or accident. They are considered +the proper material to fill the offices of chief. They have been put +through a test sufficiently harsh to try the heart and soul to its utmost +capacity for suffering. Their courage and constancy was beyond question, +and henceforth were looked upon as men having a prior right to fill the +place of any old chief who might go to the Happy Hunting Grounds. They +were not only proud that they had borne the test successfully, but also +were more pleased that they had lived up to the traditions of the family. +They were firm believers in heredity, and were proud of the distinction of +being descended from some former warrior of prominence as the present day +white man is jealous of his descent from the first colonists who came over +in the Mayflower. I have met Indians who gloried in their descent from +Roman Nose, Black Kettle and other noted leaders who have long since +passed away, and I have found others who traced their lineage back to +Tecumseh, and Black Hawk. + +The system of dancing just described was suppressed by Col. Woodson whilst +he was in charge of the Darlington Agency, as he considered it too cruel +and barbarous to be permitted on the Reservation because he thought it +would have a tendency to retard any progress the younger Indians might be +making towards a more civilized manner of life. I understand, however, +that Col. Woodson's order was rescinded by another Commissioner of Indian +Affairs at a later date, and they are now permitted to practice it in a +modified form. + +It has been my lot to witness nearly every form of dance from the Irish +Jig to the latest form of Tango, or Bunny Hug, Scotch Reels, the French +Four, the Dutch Waltzes, the old American Cotillion, and the Virginia +Reel, but all these combined and set in motion at the same time to the +wildest and weirdest music known to the white race, would fail to produce +the soul thrilling, hair-rising emotions created by the Cheyenne Sun Dance +when in full swing. The sound of Patrick Gilmore's band, in its palmiest +days, would be as the twittering of the snow bird in comparison with the +roar of the Rocky Mountain lion, when the festivities were at their +height. + +When the time limit of the Sun Dance expired, everything was placed away +for future use. The buffalo skulls, sacred utensils of the feast, were +carefully secreted, and the ampitheatre removed. Nothing remained but the +trampled grass to show that anything beyond the ordinary had taken place. + +The Dance having been completed, the feasting begins. During all the time +the braves have been engaged in their soul thrilling, hair-raising +performance, the squaws have been busy. They were running back and forth, +making preparations for the banquet. Some spent their time skinning a +coyote or other animal, others dressing and cooking the food already +prepared, others looking around for choice morsels to tempt the appetite +of some lord and master, as they felt he might be in need of something +delicate to meet the wants of a stomach sensitive from long fasting. +Whatever the occupation, they were all busy, as the number to be waited +upon might number thousands. It was no easy task, but they were equal to +the occasion. At the signal given as before, the feast is on. To see them +plunging with reckless abandon into the midst of the feast, one would be +forced to conclude that the long fast had little effect upon their +appetites except to render them sharper. All thought of the stomach being +in a delicate condition was forgotten, and the chief work at hand was to +give undivided attention to devouring as much of the viands within reach +as the capacity of the stomach would permit, and that was some capacity. +Nicety of choice was not manifested to any great degree, for their hunger +was usually at such a pitch that they could devour anything that the teeth +could masticate to some degree. Here you might see a lordly old chief +manipulating the hurricane deck of a gray wolf, or a skunk with wonderful +dexterity; there another warrior bold making a savage attack upon a +handful of raccoon claws, and so it went from one end of the multitude to +the other, each earnestly intent upon demolishing the pile of viands set +before him and wondering if there was any more left for a second assault. +The time generally allotted for the repast was sunrise. Then each and all +squatted upon the ground anxious for the welcome ordeal to begin. Sitting +on their haunches, facing the rising sun, not a word was spoken. It might +have been that they were too worn out from the long fast, or perhaps they +were so pre-occupied with the thought, of the great spread before them +that they had no inclination to talk, but the more probable reason is that +it was one of the regulations set down to govern the termination of the +festival. No matter what the motive was that governed the conduct of the +throng in the matter of maintaining silence and avoiding undue noise, the +fact was that they set to the work of supplying the wants of the inner man +without delay, either in beginning, or continuing the work of demolition. +All the rules of etiquette, as prescribed for the four-hundred, were +suspended. It was a case of "Reach what you can, and while making way with +it keep the eye on the lookout for more. Anything you do not see is not +good for you." They did not merely eat their food, they seemed to absorb +it. The execution was rapid and effective, and the final result might have +been summed up in a huge pile of bones from which the meat had been +thoroughly removed. + +The breakfast, as one might call the repast just ended, did not terminate +their stay in the locality, but each and all felt it a bounded duty to +remain as long as there was any of the huge pile of provisions remaining. +They were all jubilant over the happy termination of the ordeal, and the +young men who had endured the test successfully strutted about with a +pardonable pride in their bearing. Feasting took the place of fasting and +all were merry as far as their method of life would permit the expression +of that feeling. When the last vestiges of the immense store of game +disappeared, they all gathered up their possessions and made ready to set +out to their respective camping grounds. Prior to their departure they +held a sort of conclave in which they decided when and where to hold the +next meeting, and also outlined the nature of the dance to be performed on +the occasion. It might be a Medicine Dance, or a Green Corn Dance, or +some other festivity peculiar to the notions of the tribes and the +exigencies of the occasion. Whatever the decision was, it was abided by +faithfully on the time appointed. This settled, they returned home with +the satisfaction of having done what they considered a duty, and felt that +they had fulfilled their obligations to the Great Spirit. + +I feel very much indebted for the above description of the Sun Dance, to a +lady who spent many of her younger years among the tribe who conducted it. +She is familiar with the customs of the tribe, knows their traditions, +and, in fact, may be considered an authority on things relating to the +history of that nation. Her name, at the time of which I write, was Mina +E. Ashpard, but was changed by the Indians to Tat-ta-voe-e-tau, or Blue +Beads, on account of the string of blue beads which she usually wore +around her neck. She was loved and admired by the whole tribe, but +particularly by several young chiefs who sought her hand in marriage. Her +affections, however, leaned to another direction, and she afterward +married W. C. Ross, who owns a large tract of land adjoining the +flourishing City of El Reno, the Queen City of the North Canadian. Mrs. +Ross is today the mother of a large family of sons and daughters who are a +credit to her and an honor to the State of Oklahoma. Even today she +delights in telling how she used to enjoy riding out on a broncho, +lassoing a wild antelope, or deer, and dragging it back to camp amid the +cheers and acclamations of the whole tribe. + +W. C. Ross, through his foresight and good business management, succeeded +in locating his family allotments in close proximity to the City of El +Reno, as I have mentioned above, and his location proved to be one of the +most valuable in the Canadian Valley. By its increase in value, due to its +location, and by his knowledge of farming, he has placed himself and his +family above the reach of want. He is educating his sons and daughters in +the Catholic School of El Reno, and they have proved themselves good +students. Their native talents developed in such surroundings, show that +they are or will be capable of fulfilling the duties of responsible +positions in the very near future. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +The Adobe Wall Raid; Reason for Description; A Day and a Night of +Terror--Some Hitherto Unknown Heroes, Etc. + + +Before setting down in detail the series of events that comprise what is +called the 'Adobe Wall' raid, I wish to put forth my reason for +undertaking the task of making known to the public an event that will long +be remembered, not only by those who took part in the occurrence, but, +also, by many of the early settlers of the then Far West. So many accounts +of the above mentioned raid have been written that it is impossible for +the seeker after the truth in the matter to discover what he is looking +for, that I deem it proper to narrate the story of the raid as it was told +me by one of the most prominent members of the little band who so +heroically defended themselves from the murderous assault of the Indian +marauders. So much has, also, been written in the past, that sets the real +West before the unenlightened in a manner that is misleading, that I think +it fitting to give credit to whom credit is due wherever it is due. The +ordinary writer from the East is not in a position to narrate the +occurrences of the West, because he has no immediate knowledge of events, +and, moreover, when he undertakes to set them before the public after +receiving them from another, his, narrative will lack the ring of truth +because he does not know the environments and the atmosphere of the events +he is trying to describe. True, the rank and file of readers may not know +the difference, but for those who know the facts of the case, the effort +to portray the history of the West by writers who have gleaned their +knowledge by hear-say, is pitiful and puerile. + +In regard to the narrative of the "Adobe Wall" raid, I shall state again, +before proceeding farther, that my authority for the facts to be mentioned +hereafter was a member of the fighting squad. I have had the honor of the +acquaintance of several of the individuals who took part in the defense of +the place, and have had the story related by them, and in its entirety, +they all agreed on the most salient features of the narrative, and being +men of integrity, their word is sufficient guarantee for the truth of what +I write about the matter. The story I tell was related by Jimmie Langton. +If the reader wishes any corroboration of my tale, he may refer to R. M. +Wright, Charlie Rath, or James Langton, whose addresses I shall append to +the end of this article. + +The "Adobe Walls" ranch was situated about one hundred miles west of the +north line of the Indian Territory, and about thirty-five miles south of +what was then called No-Man's-Land, on a little creek, about a mile and a +half north of the South Canadian River, in what is now called Hutchinson +County, Texas. The settlement consisted of one sod building, a saloon, and +a blacksmith shop. The sod building was used as a store and in it occurred +the chief events of this narrative. The saloon was owned by a man who went +by the name of Jim Hanrahan, and the blacksmith shop was operated by +Andrew Johnson, who now resides in Dodge City, Kansas. + +The store, or what was then called the "Dobe Walls," was owned by R. M. +Wright, Chas. Rath, and James Langton, better known as Jimmie, and who +performed the duties of book-keeper for the firm. As I said above, I am +indebted to Jimmie for the facts of the story as he was the only one of +the partners present in the store at the time of the raid, the others +being in Dodge City. + +Those who took part in the fight numbered, at most, about fifteen, not +fifty or sixty, as some writers have it. In the saloon at the time there +were five or six, but their part in the fray was only a minor one, as the +Indians did not have any particular purpose in making an attack on that +place. In the store were Jimmie Langton, Andy Johnson, Billy Tyler, Miller +Scott, A. J. Chappell, Bat Masterson, Mr. and Mrs. Olds, who did the +cooking for the ranch, and six or seven other freighters or travellers who +happened to be there at the time. + +Of the Indians who took part in the raid, I shall enumerate them by +tribes, with their chiefs. + +Big Bow led the Comanches on the occasion. Quanah Parker was not present, +as he was too young to be a participant in the capacity of chief. + +The Kiowas took part in the raid under the leadership of Lone Wolf. This +gentleman now resides in Hobart, Okla., and has become so much converted +to the white man's mode of life that he wears a celluloid collar and a +derby hat. + +The Cheyennes, who played no small part in the expedition, were led by Red +Moon, Chief Mininic, and Gray Beard. Chief Mininic also played the role of +Medicine Man, and claimed that his medicine was so strong that the bullets +of the white man's gun could not injure him. However, when his horse was +shot from under him, he explained the matter by saying that the bullet +struck a part of his horse's anatomy where there was no paint. + +Besides the above mentioned tribes, there were the Arpahoes, who, however, +did not have a hand in the fight. True, they had come for the purpose of +exterminating the white man from the buffalo-hunting grounds, but when +they had arrived at the scene of action, the Comanches informed them that +they were not to take part in the annihilation of the pale-faces, but +requested them to remain in the distance and see how they, the Comanches +and their other friends, would put an end to the intruders on their sacred +plains. I believe it was not the mere quest of glory that induced the +Comanches to forbid the Arpahoes taking a hand in the extermination of the +common foe, but rather the knowledge that there were several hundred high +power buffalo guns and an abundant supply of ammunition that would be part +of the spoils of war when they wiped out the obnoxious white man, and they +did not care to have too many on hand when the dividend was to be +declared. That they would surely secure such a prize, they had no doubt, +but whether they did or not remains to be seen. + +The list of the white men killed on the occasion of the raid is comprised +of only about half a dozen, and nearly all of them were killed before the +raid took place. There were the Scheidler brothers who were slain and +mutilated at some distance from the ranch. They had gone off to seek new +pasture for the cattle, as that around the ranch house was completely +destroyed, both by being eaten off and then being tramped out of the +ground by the stock. According to the usual Indian custom, they were also +scalped. There was also a Mexican "bull-whacker" who happened to be +camping near the Scheidler brothers, and he met the same fate as they, and +a negro. The only other death among the white folks, was that of Mr. Olds, +who met his end in a very peculiar manner, as will be shown later on in +the narrative. + +On the morning of June 27th, 1874, the Indians made their descent upon the +"Adobe Walls" ranch. There had been rumors of Indian outbreaks in other +parts of the country, but those present at the ranch on the occasion had +not the remotest idea that there was an Indian within the neighborhood of +fifty miles. As they did not come with the blare of trumpets to announce +their arrival, the little party at the ranch did not know that death and +destruction was prowling in the neighborhood until the early hours of the +dawn, on the morning of the 27th of June. That was the hour the Redskin +preferred in making his calls upon his white neighbors, especially if the +visit was to be one of a warlike nature, and they were on the war-path on +this occasion. There is a good deal of philosophy in the Indian's reason +for preferring the early hours of the dawn for his first attack. It gives +him an opportunity to steal upon his enemy unawares. He made it his +business to hide his approach so that his white foe would fall asleep in +apparent security, and then with one fell swoop, rush in upon him and deal +death and disaster before the unsuspecting victims could become alive to +the dangers of the moment until it was too late. On this occasion, they +followed their usual custom and crept silently on the sleeping inhabitants +of the little hamlet. The first warning that the sleeping white men had, +originated in the screams of the negro who was being done to death at the +door of the ranch house. The night was hot, and for the sake of fresh air +and whatever coolness he could find, he spent the night in a wagon box at +the door of the ranch. Were it not for the coolness and calmness of Miller +Scott, the whole party would have suffered the fate of the negro. As soon +as he heard the first scream of the unfortunate black, he immediately +divined that the Indians were upon them. Without a moment's delay, he +seized his gun and through the open door of the ranch poured out such a +deadly fusilade of shot that the invaders were compelled to flee. The +shouts of the Indians and the roar of the buffalo gun pouring out its +relentless fire, soon turned the little peaceful hamlet into a den of +confusion. How many there were in the attacking party at that moment he +did not know, and apparently did not care, for he was determined to defend +himself against all odds or die in the attempt to do so. Apparently the +Indians had enough of the entertainment offered on that occasion as they +withdrew in a hurried fashion to the protection of the timbers and the +hills. Nor was Miller Scott the only one that took a part in giving their +unwelcome guests a vigorous welcome, but the others who played their parts +were rather slow in getting into action. They had just awakened from a +sound sleep and it took some time for them to realize their predicament, +but when they did, there was no further delay, but they set out to aid +Scott in repelling the attack as vigorously as possible. When the Indians +had retreated nursing their discomfiture and several wounds, the first +attack was repulsed. + +The object the Indians had in view was to get possession of the stock of +goods and fire-arms that were in the store. Mr. Langton says that he had +more than one hundred buffalo guns, and about eleven thousand rounds of +ammunition. Besides these desirable commodities, there were on the outside +several horses, mules, and oxen, that attracted the attention of the +Indians. There was also the additional reason that they wanted to +exterminate the buffalo hunters who had been killing off the game in large +quantities, shipping the hides East, and leaving the bulk of the carcasses +on the ground to become the food of coyotes, wolves and buzzards. They had +laid their plans well, and as far as they could see, they were sure to +produce a successful issue, but they had no means of knowing that a negro +teamster would offer such strenuous objections to shuffling off the mortal +coil that he would arouse the whole neighborhood in the loudness of his +protestations. That the ranch people would be in a position to offer any +vigorous resistance, they did not dream. They knew they had that little +band of pale faces surrounded, and there remained only the formality of +killing them with the usual amount of ferocity, take their goods and +return to their camping grounds and plot another raid. For the ranch +folks, there was nothing to do but fight like grim death. One thing +favored the little band in the ante-chamber to eternity. The walls of the +building were about three feet thick and were impervious to the bullets +from such guns as the Indians then had. It was, moreover, impossible to +set fire to the building from a distance, as the invaders tried that +procedure later on and failed. As far as guns and fire were concerned they +were as safe as if they were defended by the Rock of Gibraltar. + +Nor were things inside the adobe building very inviting. They all +realized that it was no holiday affair. In fact, most of them had just +about come to the conclusion that they were about to assist at their own +funeral with the flowers and music lacking. Nor could one blame them for +feeling that things had a very hopeless appearance. There they were, a +mere handful, surrounded by hundreds of hostile Indians in war dress, +ready to swoop down upon them at any time, without the least chance of +assistance from outside sources. If anything were to be done, it had to be +done by themselves, or perish in the attempt. It was certainly critical +enough to try the stoutest heart. I have no doubt that, at the first +charge, there were not half a dozen of them that were fully aware of what +was occurring around them, and whatever they did, they performed on the +spur of the moment because they saw others doing it. Some of them became +so excitedly helpless that they were unaccountable for what they did, and +it was providential that they did not do anything imprudent. Others became +nauseated and freely parted with the contents of their stomachs. Mr. +Langton confesses that he himself became so overcome with the realization +of the horror of the situation that he too parted with his supper of the +night before and the only reason why he did not lose his breakfast was +that he had not had time to eat it when the first attack was made. He +recovered his composure hurriedly, as the exigences of the situation were +such that one could readily forget a little inconvenience when one's life +was at stake. After the first display of nervousness had passed he did his +duty like a man, and played a very important part in the defense of the +ranch. It is not to be imagined that the Indians had not put up some kind +of a fight. The fact of the matter is that they did considerable shooting +in their own behalf, and that they failed to accomplish anything in the +way of killing the white folks was due to the fact that they were rather +hurried in their movements. How many of the Indians were killed in this +first encounter, it is not possible to say, but the sight of several +empty saddles, and several lifeless bodies on the ground around the ranch +bore testimony to the fact that the bullets from the buffalo guns had done +some execution. Stationed at the one window of the store, stood Miller +Scott spiting out death and demoralization from the mouth of his buffalo +gun upon the savages as they madly careered around the place on their wiry +ponies. Crack, crack, as fast as he could push home the charge, went the +gun, and another warrior was sent to join his forefathers in the Happy +Hunting Grounds. As soon as one gun became too hot to handle, another was +put in his hands to carry on the defense. Mr. Langton personally saw to it +that he was amply provided with ammunition and guns to perform his duty. +Nor were the other members of the party idle all the while. They punched +holes in the sides of the building and through the opening did what +execution their opportunity afforded them. + +It was an appaling situation for a dozen people to be over a hundred miles +from civilization, surrounded by five or six hundred, yelling, whooping, +devil-daring redskins thirsting for their blood. There they rode, painted +in all manner of colors, cavorting like demons around them, roaring +defiance, and threatening at every moment to break through the zone of +fire and burst in upon them in overwhelming numbers and put them to death +mercilessly. It was well for them that they did not lose their nerve +completely, as the situation was one to try the stoutest heart. It was +well for them that Miller Scott rose to the importance of the occasion and +dealt out such a rain of death dealing bullets as to appal the intrepid +Indians. Outside roared and ranged the howling mob and inside things were +not any too assuring. Poor Mrs. Olds fainted. She was the only woman in +the hamlet. Kind hands poured water on her face until she revived. When +she recovered her senses, the realization of the predicament in which they +all were, and particularly the awful fate that awaited her, if they were +overcome, so overpowered her that she tried to commit suicide. She set up +a series of yells and screeches in her fright, that the Indians outside +must have thought they were killing one another to save themselves from +butchery. Strong hands prevented her from doing violence to herself, but +there was no way to prevent her screeching, and the only thing to do was +to give her freedom to screech until she became exhausted. + +In the meantime, the Indians, feeling that their attack was somewhat of a +failure withdrew to the shelter of the hills. According to the words of an +old timer, the first assault upon the place was not a howling success. But +the little party in the ranch knew that they would return, and they made +what preparations they could to entertain them on their arrival. They did +not seem to be in any particular hurry about making the second attack, as +in the distance could be seen Indians riding in pairs, scurrying back and +forth on their war ponies, dragging the dead and wounded between them. All +of the rider that was visible was an arm and a leg. They made a dash on +each side of a fallen victim, and seizing him by the hair, dragged him to +a place of safety, either for the attention of the Medicine Man, or for +burial. Whenever an opportunity presented itself to the little band of +whites to take a shot at them, they did so, and in this manner, if they +did not do much damage, they, at least, hastened their movements to a +considerable degree. + +The little party within the ranch was delighted with the success of the +first repulse. None of them had been injured, and beyond the first +nervousness, or nausea, suffered nothing. They realized to its fulness the +necessity of meeting the marauders when they returned. Every man saw to it +that enough weapons were within reach for immediate use, besides having +near at hand a dish of cartridges for rapid reloading when the fight was +at its zenith. With anxiety and nervousness they awaited the second +attack. They did not have long to wait. In less than an hour after the +first repulse, they saw them breaking over the hills and descending upon +them in dense array. On they came chanting their war songs, or raising +their raucous voices in wild war whoops in the weirdest manner possible. +For some reason or other, they seemed to halt at some distance from the +ranch. Out of their midst rode a chief, who swept on his way chanting +wildly, dragging a dry buffalo hide by the tail. Apparently he was trying +to incite them on to glory by performing a deed of valor. It may have been +that they were a trifle bashful about exposing themselves to the galling +fire of the little band entrenched behind the walls. Whatever the reason +of their delay, it had no effect upon the lone rider who advanced +fearlessly up to the very door of the ranch, gesticulating in a wild +manner. He threw the hide upon the ground, and with a spring from his pony +landed upon it and began a weird chant to incite his followers to follow +his example. To show his contempt for those within, he seized an empty +barrel that happened to be standing near and threw it with full force +against the door of the building. Just as he let fly the missile, a bullet +from Miller Scott's rifle tore its way through his chest. He gave a leap +into the air and with a wild shriek fell dead upon the buffalo hide. When +his followers saw their chief fall, their enmity was aroused and on they +came in one wild charge. Bullets spat upon them as they came, emptying +many a saddle in their wild charge. Pit, pit, the bullets sank into the +three foot walls of the ranch, and boom, boom responded the buffalo guns +in a roar that was interrupted only for such time as it took to send +another charge home, and then they boomed again. Indians were falling +thick and fast, dead and dying, men and horses were tumbling about on the +open plain in a confused mass. Pitilessly the little band poured out the +rain of bullets, until no living being could stand the galling fire. The +Indians retreated sullenly before their deadly aim, to the shelter of the +hills, once more. + +The little incident of throwing the empty barrel against the door, called +to the attention of the defenders of the ranch the necessity of +barricading it. In the excitement of the first charge they entirely +overlooked that important matter, and it was only the foolhardiness of the +Indian chief that called the matter to their minds. As soon as they saw +how much they were exposed to danger through their oversight, willing +hands began to pile sacks of corn and other commodities against the door +until there must have been a ton of material stacked up against it. +Apparently it was the intention of the chief to break in through the door, +and had he succeeded, his followers would have completed the work begun by +him. Happily for them, Miller Scott's bullet cut short his career, and +probably saved them all from death. + +The death of the chief had rather a chilling effect upon the rest of the +invaders. Instead of continuing the rush upon the place, they withdrew to +a rather safe distance, and contented themselves with doing some long +range shooting. The firing became desultory. The Indians had withdrawn for +about a mile, and though the buffalo guns would carry that far, it was +practically impossible to do any accurate shooting at such a distance. The +only chance of doing any execution was possible when any of the Indians +gathered in any prominent locality. Then a bullet from a buffalo gun would +sing around them, and they would seek safety in the shelter of the hills. +Another motive that impelled the besieged to save their ammunition was +that they did not know how long they would have to entertain their +unwelcome visitors, and it was necessary to keep that thought in mind. + +The Indians seemed to have re-organized again, and once more set out to +make their third attack on the resolute little band. It was galling to +their pride to think that a mere handful of pale-faces were able to +withstand their onslaughts so successfully. Besides, it was rather +disconcerting to have the principal object of their invasion frustrated +just when success seemed to perch upon their banners. The killing of the +few inhabitants of the ranch was not so important as securing the arms and +ammunition they knew was stored up behind the "Adobe Walls." It was doubly +galling to the Comanches to think that they had invited the Arpahoes to +remain out of the fight to witness the extermination of the hated +pale-face, and now they would have to suffer the humiliation of defeat +where they expected to return laden with the spoils of victory. On they +flew the third time, urging their little ponies to topmost speed, more +maniacal than ever in their wild shouts and gestures. Around the little +ranch they rode in a fusilade of shots as they passed and repassed, but +all to no purpose. Their ranks were thinning through the unflinching fire +of the besieged. When a buffalo gun boomed, it was a signal for an Indian +to throw up his hands with a screech and fall dead or wounded from the +back of his flying steed. The nearer they approached the ranch, the hotter +became the fire, until it was impossible to draw sufficiently near to do +any damage. They fully realized that their shooting had been in vain. They +experienced no diminuation in the rapid fire of the little band within +those three-foot walls. They felt that it was useless to attempt to take +the place by assault, and consequently they withdrew beyond the range of +the guns of the besieged, beaten. Three times seemed to satisfy their +efforts for pillage and murder. They hovered around at some distance as +they did not wish to abandon their dead and wounded. There was no Red +Cross Society there to attend to that matter for them, nor was there any +flag of truce hoisted to denote a cessation of hostilities. As far as the +besieged were concerned, they took good aim and shot to kill whenever an +enemy came within range. + +Several times during the day they had attempted to recover the body of the +chief lying before the door of the ranch, but all their efforts proved +futile. They finally gave the matter up for a time, acting as though they +thought the whites were using him for a bait to lure them on to +destruction. They did not intend, however, to leave him there, for, during +the night that followed, under the cover of darkness, they succeeded in +removing the body from where it lay. Apparently one of them sneaked up +during the night and fastened a rope around it, hitched the other end to a +pony and dragged the body off to their encampment. He did not do this +without attracting the attention of those within. Anxious ears were +listening for every move outside, and when they heard the body begin to +drag along the ground, they knew that someone was near, and they +immediately poured out a volley upon the rescuer. If they did not hit him, +they at least compelled him to hasten his footsteps on his way. They +afterwards came to the conclusion that the rescuing party got away +successfully as there was no sign of his dead body encumbering the plain +the next morning. + +As may be imagined, there was no sleep during the night that followed the +day of the battle. What the Indians could not do during the light of the +day, they might attempt at night, and this thought kept every man alive to +the exigencies of the desperate situation. Every man did sentry duty all +night long, not on the outside, as that would have been suicidal, but +within the walls. When not pacing back and forth across the floor, they +strained their ears listening at the openings in the walls for any noise +that would indicate the approach of the foe. Light they had none, as they +did not dare to so much as burn a match. It was maddening to have to spend +the weary hours waiting for they knew not what. They tried to be brave, +but it was a difficult matter to do so at such a critical time. There was +not a one of them that was not willing to die in defense of the ranch, but +the uncertainty of the situation was more galling than the attack itself. +Hour followed hour, each one seemed an age, and yet there was no sign of +another assault. Wearily, anxiously they waited, each moment dreading what +the next might bring. + +Morning dawned at last and the little band breathed easier. They felt that +there was more than an even chance while daylight lasted. The condition of +the place was deplorable. With weary haggard looks they gazed at each +other in the pale morning light and tried to smile encouragement to each +other but it was a wan effort. The excitement of the previous day, and the +anxiety of the night just passed, was plainly visible on their +countenances. But one thing remained, they were undaunted and ready to +face their foe again if necessary. The sanitary condition of the place +resembled the Black Hole of Calcutta in a lesser degree. True, they had +food in abundance, but their water supply was exhausted. Fortunately for +them, there was a supply of canned goods in the store. Some of these they +cut open, and drained off the liquid to quench their thirst. It was not +entirely, satisfying as water, but it tided them over a difficulty. + +In the meantime the silence from their enemies continued to cause them +considerable uneasiness. They could not imagine what new kind of deviltry +they were planning to effect the purpose of the raid. They awaited another +attack, but apparently it was either being delayed purposely, or the +Indians had decided to forego any further attempt on the place. Which of +the two it was, they did not know. Finally, when their anxiety became +unendurable, Mr. Olds, the husband of the good lady who had stirred up so +much excitement in the early part of the fray, volunteered to make a +reconnoitre. For this purpose he built a temporary ladder. When the rude +implement was constructed, he ascended to the roof of the building. Then +he proceeded to make an opening in the sod roof, through which he might +make a survey of the country in the neighborhood. To guard against any +attack from nearby, he took a rifle up with him for safety. He looked out +through the opening he had so laboriously made, and reported that there +was not an Indian in sight. All were overjoyed at this bit of information. +Then Mr. Olds began to descend. In some way or other, his gun caught in +one of the rounds of the ladder and was discharged when he was about half +way down. With a lurch from the ladder he fell heavily to the floor. +Whether from the force of the blow as he fell on his head to the hardened +earth, or whether it was the bullet that struck him, his brains were +scattered round about in gruesome fashion. It was a very unfortunate +occurance, and it cast a gloom over the whole party. Mrs. Olds was +heartbroken over the sudden and untimely death of her husband. Needless to +say, the other members of the heroic little band offered her what +consolation their rough ways would permit. As she had just experienced the +fidelity of the manhood around about her, she was much comforted, but it +was hard to bear the burden of her loss with the evidence of the accident +before her. + +When the first duties to the afflicted had been accomplished, others +thought of the feasibility of making a more extended reconnoitre from the +outside of the ranch. There was also another reason for wishing to breathe +again the pure air of the plains. Their water supply needed replenishing, +as they were all suffering in some degree from the want of it. With +anxious hearts, they removed the barricading sacks from the door and +prepared for what might come. Andrew Johnson proposed that some one should +go for water, and offered to make the journey himself. To this they all +agreed. He took a bucket and as he stepped out, he took a good look around +for any possible redskin that might be lurking in hiding. Seeing nothing +to indicate the presence of the foe in the neighborhood, he set out for +the creek. His companions covered his journey all the way with their +buffalo guns, so that if any Indian put in an appearance, they would have +either driven him to flight, or adorned the landscape with his remains. +Happily for all, no foe appeared and Mr. Johnson made the journey without +molestation. When he returned, he was greeted by his friends in +misfortune, with all manner of expressions of gratitude. As there was no +indication the presence of the foe, they did not barricade the door again. + +The next move was to send out scouts to discover, if possible, whether +there was any further danger of attack. Needless to say, they did not +wander far afield, as, just then, it was a wise proceeding to be in close +proximity to the base of supplies and protection. Those who did not go on +the scouting tour, performed the humane task of burying Mr. Olds, and +those who had been killed outside the ranch house. With what tenderness +their natures possessed they laid away the mortal remains of their +companion not far from the spot where they had spent such a heart-rending +day and night. As for burying the Indians that lay around them on the +plain, they left that part of the duty to the coyotes and the buzzards. At +least, I have never heard of any burial service being read over them, on +that occasion. Such a method of procedure was common enough in those days, +as it seemed to be the usual way in which the enemy regarded the disposal +of the remains of his victims. They could not be charged with neglect of +duty, as, of all the white men that I have heard of being scalped, +murdered, and mutilated in any part of the West, I do not know of one case +where the Indian ever took the time and trouble to bury them. There is +more truth than poetry in the remark of Gen. Sherman, that "War is Hell," +and the little skirmish had a strong resemblance to a section of the +infernal regions while it lasted. + +The above is the general outline of the fight as it occurred. As I have +said in the beginning, my authority for the truth of what I have said was +one of the leading men of the battle, if there were any leading men in +that terrific struggle where every man stood up to the fight like a 'man.' +I have read several accounts of the affray from sources that are +unreliable. As a proof of what I say in that regard, though the article +purport to be written by some one who had a hand in the affray, it is +apparent that they did not write them personally, but left it to some +scribe to put down some of the salient features, passing over some of the +most important events of the struggle. How would it be possible for a +writer who had a share in the battle to forget the important part played +by Miller Scott? You say it would be impossible, yet I have seen accounts +of the battle in which he is not even mentioned. How could he forget the +tragic death of Mr. Olds? However, some writers fail to mention it. How +about the killing of the negro in the wagon? And some of them narrate the +story in an entirely different manner. I fear that the imagination of many +a writer has filled up with fancy when facts of the most thrilling kind +were at hand. I know that a writer, in narrating a hair-raising episode +under the pressure of excitement is liable to overlook some important +feature, nevertheless, for the sake of accuracy and truth, he should +revise what he has written and correct the error when discovered if he +knows it. + +To satisfy the curiosity of the reader in regard to the origin of the +Adobe Walls, and how it happened that there were buffalo hunters in that +neighborhood in preference to any other locality, I shall append an +explanation as well as mention many of the old-timers who followed that +occupation. + +In regard to the origin of the Adobe Walls, of which some writers appear +to know nothing, I shall narrate the story as told me by those who know. +The original walls were built of brick dobe made out of clay and grass, +and were sun-dried before being set into place. Under the ordinary care, +these walls would have lasted one hundred years or more. These walls were +built by the Mexicans before the country was granted its freedom, and long +before it entered the union. There was a chain of such structures built +across the country to be utilized as trading posts, as well as for +fortifications. This chain of little forts extended from the Wichita +Mountains down through Texas to Mexico. The reason of their being located +so far northward was due to the fact that there were mines in operation in +the Wichita range long before the country gained its freedom, and these +forts served as protection to the freighters who were engaged in +transferring the ore down to Old Mexico. When Texas gained her +independence, all these forts and supply stations were abandoned, and in +course of time were rubbed and horned down by the countless buffalo that +ranged at will over the territory. Then the country became almost a waste, +the home of the buffalo, the cougar, and the other wild beasts that grew +in number unmolested by man. + +About thirty-five years ago I became acquainted with two Mexicans named +Romero. They told me that they had freighted ore from the Wichita +mountains to old Mexico, and that if I would go with them they would show +me where they got it. As I did not know anything about mining I declined +the kind offer. Today there are hundreds of men exploring these mountains +in search of the precious metal, and if ever they come upon the site of +the Mexican mines, their fortune is assured. + +In regard to the presence of the buffalo hunters near the Adobe Walls, I +am compelled to say that they were there, more by necessity than by +choice. The trail passed by the Adobe Walls and offered an opportunity for +the hunters to ship their hides into Dodge City, the only trading post +within the radius of over a hundred miles. They were compelled to pitch +their camp where they could find water for their stock as well as for +themselves. For this reason they located themselves at the head of Wolf +Creek, in what is now Ochiltree county, Texas. Others located their +outfits in the breaks of Clear Creek, on the south line of No-Man's Land, +and a few more were established in the hills on the north side of the +South Canadian river, and west of the Adobe Walls. They could not +possibly camp on the flats on account of the scarcity of water. There +extended there a strip of territory thirty-three miles wide where there +was no water except after a prolonged wet-spell, which seldom occurred. +Regarding the other conveniences, such as fuel and other things, they had +little difficulty, as the buffalo chips supplied the demands in abundance. + +As an aftermath of the raid, when the various hunting outfits received +word of it, they assembled on Clear Creek for mutual protection, as they +did not know when they might receive a visit from the same band who would +not be in any friendly mood after the defeat at the Adobe Walls. When they +had all assembled, they began to discuss the matter from all angles, and +came to the conclusion that the most prudent thing for them to do just +then was to move into Dodge City until things became more settled. Having +decided what to do, they lost no time in putting the plan into execution. +They gathered up their belongings and set out on their hundred mile drive +fully alive to the danger of the situation. They crossed Beaver Creek, and +slowly trudged along their way over the divide to the Cimmaron River. It +was a rather difficult journey, and when they crossed the Cimmaron they +went into camp to give their stock a chance to rest up and enjoy a +breathing spell themselves. When the stock had been turned loose to graze, +they spread out their bedding to give it a sun-bath. Some of the boys went +down to the river to have a swim, and others went off in search of game. +They wanted a change of diet as they had been munching buffalo meat three +times a day for some time past and the regularity with which it came +became monotonous. George Ray and Jim Lane remained at the camp to look +after whatever needed attention, and prepare the wagons for the next day's +journey. Everything was going along peacefully when Lane happened to look +up and he saw an Indian coming out of the mouth of a canyon not more than +a hundred yards away. He spoke to George, and they both grabbed their +rifles and opened fire. As they were seen by the Indian first, before they +had a chance to shoot, there was nothing visible of him but one arm and +one leg, for he fell over to the opposite side of his pony and put him on +the dead run. The two of them fired three shots each before he could get +out of sight into the canyon. They told me afterwards that they did not +think that their shooting had any more effect than to speed the Indian on +his way. + +At the sound of the shooting, the boys who were absent, lost no time in +returning to camp. However, they did not lose the object of their hunting +expedition as they brought back a fine antelope. When the matter had been +discussed, they felt somewhat uneasy, but as no other Indian appeared in +the neighborhood, they did not become unduly alarmed. They spent what +remaining time they had before making their departure in cutting up their +meat and curing it for future use. They were soon on their way again. They +crossed the river, and pulled through the sand hills out on the Adobe +Walls trail. Their journey led them across Crooked Creek, then over the +divide. On their way they met General Nelson A. Miles at Mulberry. He was +leading his troops to the assistance of those men who were at the Adobe +Walls, but that was hardly necessary then, as the disturbance caused by +the raid had in a great measure subsided. The buffalo hunters pursued +their journey to Dodge City, where they waited until matters began to +adjust themselves. Some of them then returned to the range, while others +went to freighting, some to Fort Supply, others to Fort Ellis, or +Mobeetie, Tex. + +There were no cow ranches in that territory at the time of the raid, nor +for some years afterwards. For the information of the reader, and also to +let the old-timers know that they have not been forgotten, I shall give +here the names of several of them. I knew the most of them personally and +followed their interesting careers with pleasure. + +Nelson Cary and Jim Lane, after freighting a few trips, built the first +house where Beaver City now stands. They went into the mercantile business +and remained at it for years with considerable success. + +Jack and Bill Combs, George Ray, and Johnny Loughead continued freighting +for some time after the Adobe Wall raid. They remained at this occupation +until they built what was known as the wild-horse corral, on Crooked +Creek, north of the County Seat of Meade County, Kansas. This they +maintained for some years and then went back to the old life of hunting +and freighting. + +Bob and Jim Cader settled down on Pladuro Creek and established a small +cow ranch. By close attention to business and industry, they became +wealthy. + +Ben Jackson, another old-timer, hunter and plainsman, settled on Wolf +Creek, about five miles from its source, and went into the business of +raising cattle. + +I could mention many others, and I knew nearly the whole of them, who were +engaged in the business of hunting and freighting in the early days, but +their numbers, by no stretch of the imagination, would ever reach +two-hundred as some of the narrators of early days would have it. + +I shall close this article by giving the present location of some of the +principal actors in the drama of the "Adobe Walls." + + James Langton, Salt Lake City, Utah. + Charlie Rath, + A. J. Chappell, El Reno, Oklahoma, + R. M. Wright, Dodge City, Kansas, + Miller Scott, Santa Fe, New Mexico. + +I trust that my readers will see from the internal evidence of the +narrative just given, that it rings true, and when reading other so-called +accounts of the "Adobe Wall" raid, will be able to sift the truth from the +fiction which such writings portray. + + +[Illustration: CHIEF DULL KNIFE] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The "Dull Knife" Raid; The Indian's Motive for the Same, etc. + + +The summer of 1877 found the Indians as active as they had been for some +years prior to that date. They had long since come to the realization that +if the buffalo hunter continued his destructive work upon their base of +supplies, the time would soon come when they would be brought to the verge +of want. They had so long considered the buffalo their natural source of +sustenance that they could not behold the plains depopulated of the vast +herds without offering some kind of protest, and the only one that +appealed to him was the rifle, and the tomahawk. Prior to '77 they had +levied a heavy toll upon the settlers in varied shapes of depredations. +They murdered wantonly, they carried into captivity many wives and +daughters of the settlers, they ran off the stock and what they did not +take away they destroyed. Things had come to such a pass that the settler +had to be protected if the vast plains were to be opened up to +agriculture, or ranching. With the removal of the buffalo, the cattle man +would have an opportunity of stocking the vast territory with marketable +beef, or the farmer would be able to convert the boundless acres of the +plains to the production of much needed cereals. Hence it came to pass +that the U. S. soldier took a very active part in affording protection not +only to the scattering settlers who were brave enough to risk the dangers +of Indian incursion, but also, to the cattlemen who were rapidly filling +the plains with herds to replace the once numberless buffalo. Miners and +freighters also came in for their share of protection from the lawless +incursions of the marauding natives of the plains. As a consequence of +the activity of the army, several bands of hostile Indians were captured +and placed on reservations. Amongst the contingents brought in was Dull +Knife with his followers. They were held under surveillance at Red Cloud +Agency, Nebraska, until an order was issued by the Department to Capt. +Lawton, telling him to take charge of the Dull Knife Band, and take them +under military escort to Ft. Reno Reservation, Indian Territory. This +order was promptly complied with, and he started southwards and located +them on the above mentioned Reservation without any trouble or annoyance +on the part of Dull Knife. + +It might be well to interpolate here an assertion of Dull Knife, as it +will explain some of his future conduct. He made the claim that he +surrendered under a promise, or form of agreement that in case he should +become dissatisfied with the Darlington agency at Ft. Reno, he would be +allowed return to his northern hunting grounds again. I cannot vouch for +the truthfulness of the statement, but will let it pass for what it is +worth. The fact of the matter is that he was only a very short time at the +Darlington agency before he began fomenting trouble. He managed to render +himself obnoxious as possible to every one with whom he had any dealings. +John D. Miles was in charge of the Darlington Agency at the time, and +Major Misner was in command of Ft. Reno. They each of them kept a close +scrutiny on every movement of their distinguished? guest, as his +reputation for being a disturber among the Indians as well as amongst the +whites had preceded him, and they soon discovered that his change of base +did not change his disposition for the better, in fact, it seemed to have +the contrary effect upon him. When he was brought into the reservation, +the agent located him about nine miles above Reno, close by what was known +as Dutch Jake's ranch, and not far from where the present town of Calumet +is situated, in the valley of the North Canadian. He was not there very +long until he discovered that the whole scheme of creation seemed to be +out of harmony with his needs and comfort. He made the startling discovery +that the water was no good, that the grass lacked the nutritive qualities +necessary to keep his ponies in good condition, and last, but not least, +that the agent was stealing his chuckaway and that he, his family and all +that was near and dear to him were fast becoming mere shadows of their +former selves owing to such scantiness of rations. I do not know whether +there was any truth in the claim that the agent, John D. Miles was guilty +of the crime charged against him, but this I feel very safe in saying, +that a great many of the troubles with the Western Indians had their +origin in just such practices, as has often been shown upon investigation. +There are usually two sides to every question, but, in the case in +discussion, whether there was any truth in the charge, or not, I am safe +in remarking that Dull Knife with less provocation, in fact, with only an +excuse for provocation, could stir up more strife with less raw material +to start on than any Indian I ever knew or heard of, and certainly lived +up to the description the Irishman gave of his wife, when he was carried +away by his feelings of resentment, "Bad luck to your ould head, ye're +never at home only when ye are abroad, and never at peace but when ye are +at war." + +The condition of which Dull Knife complained with so much petulancy and +bitterness continued to exist during the winter. However, when the day +arrived for the Indians to draw their rations, he appeared with the rest +and took his share. The manner in which the cattle were turned over to +them was rather peculiar, but filled the bill to a nicety. At the time +appointed, they all adjourned to what was called the "issue" pen where the +cattle were turned over to them to kill after their own fashion. As soon +as the steer was turned loose the Indians set out in pursuit of him, armed +with bows and arrows, with which they endeavored to despatch him. They +rode alongside of him, often times the distance of more than a mile, all +the while trying to sink their arrows into some vital spot. Many a wild +race they had after some refractory steer goaded to desperation by the +wounds inflicted upon him by the arrows. As soon as the beast fell in his +track, the pursuers work was done. The attention required to convert the +fallen steer into food was given by the squaws who followed the pursuit, +some on foot and others on ponies. Arrived at the death scene they +immediately set to work with their skinning knives and soon had the steer +divested of his hide. That done, they made short work of cutting up the +carcass into the portions allotted to each family. Those to whom the meat +was distributed looked after the conveyance of it to their quarters in +whatever manner suited their taste or convenience. Some wrapped it up in +blankets, others hung it from their saddles, others brought into service a +gunny sack or any other article that would suit the purpose of +transporting their share to their dwellings. In the work of disposing of a +steer, they were very economical, as there was very little left of it when +they had finished the work of dismembering him. Even the entrails came in +for their attention. The smaller intestines they usually relieved of their +contents by squeezing between their fingers. When they had them +sufficiently cleansed of all foreign matter, they braided them carefully +and hung them around the necks of their ponies. If the work happened to +take place in warm weather, by the time the work was completed there was +usually a halo of flies encircling each squaw to accompany her on her +homeward journey. The bucks seldom, if ever, took a hand in the butchering +as they considered that work beneath the dignity of a warrior. A few years +later this system of disposing of the cattle was abolished by an order +issued from the Indian Department at Washington, as the officials +considered that manner of killing a beast too barbarious and cruel. To +accomplish the end desired, they had the Agent select a good marksman to +go into the issue, pen and shoot the animal selected for each family. +Then the beast was dragged outside and the family to whom it was +apportioned, dressed it and made the division of it that suited their +fancy. On the day of "issue," I have frequently sat for hours watching the +aborigines at their work, and I must say that outside of a few little +things, the scene had a certain amount of fascination for me. Here I had +an opportunity to study the Indian at close range, and I found it far from +uninteresting. However, education and environment has wrought considerable +change in the habits and customs of the natives of the plains, though it +was a somewhat difficult matter to break away from the mode of life +founded upon years of existance under a species of wild and untrammeled +freedom such as they enjoyed before they came under the dominion of the +white man. I have oftentimes, in my travels over the plains and visits to +the different agencies, come upon a family of Indians at their meal. All +were seated upon the ground in a circle around the food, each one devoting +careful attention to the work of demolishing some choice morsel with a +gusto that would make Lucullus envious. Frequently, upon encountering them +in such circumstances I discovered young men and young women who had been +at Carlyle, or some other institution in the East, I could tell at a +glance that they had had the advantage of an educational training, as, +upon my arrival they would turn their faces away from me, much embarrassed +and somewhat ashamed to be seen in their old habits of life when they had +been permitted to enjoy the elevating influences and advantages of higher +life. They had not been back from school perhaps, for more than a couple +of weeks; perhaps, they were only making a short visit to the old folks on +the plains, but they could not conceal their training, and they sought to +avoid embarrassment by turning away from the visitor who happened to call +upon them. They were wearing the blanket just to please the old people. It +was the custom of the early days, and still the mode of life of their +parents, and they found it rather difficult to live in a manner different +from their people when they were in the midst of them. One who suffered no +embarrassment from the visitor was the old buck himself. There he sat +munching a piece of raw beef as unconcerned as if no visitor had ever +appeared before him. He was apparently oblivious of his surroundings, and +it seemed as if the sole purpose in life, just then, was to give his whole +time and attention to a quantity of meat, oftentimes of such size that a +section of it would be protruding from the corner of his mouth. There he +sat and just chewed, like a work ox munching his quid, or a mountain goat +contentedly masticating some tough but savory morsel of food. + +I have digressed considerably from the subject of Dull Knife's doings, but +I hope that matter just mentioned has not been uninteresting to the reader +as it gives some idea of the manner of life the old rascal led while at +the Darlington Agency. To continue the narrative, the Agent kept up his +mode of procedure in dealing with Dull Knife, and the latter continued to +raise objections. He kept the trail between his abode and the Agency in a +well worn condition owing to his numerous visits to the presiding +official. In this manner he managed to put in the whole winter. In other +words, he kept the kettle boiling, and one could see that there was +something brewing. + +If there is anything that an Indian dislikes, it is to get into any +trouble that would force him to leave his camp in the winter time, +especially when there is much snow on the ground. Gen. Phil. Sheridan was +aware of this fact when he made his winter campaign on the Washita after +Black Kettle, Satanta, and Lone Wolf, and forever settled the outbreaks of +the Indians in that section of the country. + +When the grass began to spring up along the valley, and his ponies seemed +to be putting on some of the much needed flesh, Dull Knife felt the blood +pulsing through his heart with greater vigor, and he began to make +preparations for war. He made no secret of his intentions to depart at the +earliest opportunity from the restraining influences of the Reservation. +It was quite manifest to all the employees at the Agency, and to a great +many of the soldiers, that Dull Knife was making his arrangements to part +company with his surroundings. News of the intentions of Dull Knife was +brought to the Agent by an educated half-breed, George Bent. Any rumor +that he had of the matter previously was now sufficiently confirmed to +warrant his taking what precautionary measures he deemed proper to +restrain the war-like ardor of the distinguished guest within his gates. +He summoned Dull Knife to his presence and gave peremptory orders to +remove his camp from its present location down the river to a position +about eight miles east of where the present city of El Reno now stands. It +was a good location as there was plenty of water, timber, and grazing, and +should have satisfied the demands of Dull Knife for improved conditions, +but he immediately put forth all manner of objections to which the Agent +turned a deaf ear. Reluctantly Dull Knife agreed that the conditions in +the new location were much better than where he had been living, but he +did not see his way clear just then to make a change in his habitation. +The reason he gave for his unwillingness to comply with the wishes of the +agent was that there was sickness in his family and consequently it would +be extremely dangerous to expose them to the necessity of submitting +themselves to a change when it was not absolutely necessary. He promised, +however, that as soon as his family was restored to health, he would move +them to the new location down the river. The Agent permitted the delay +suggested by the wily Indian, but as a precautionary measure, had the +Commanding Officer at the fort send a troupe of the fourth cavalry to +where he was then camped, to stand guard over him until such time as he +would make up his mind to remove to the new site selected for his +encampment. The placing of a guard over him, gave Dull Knife another +opportunity to raise objections to the general scheme of things, and like +a spoiled child who cries because it cannot have the rainbow, he commenced +to whine once more. No sooner had the troops taken up their position to +guard his actions than he came to the Agent to have them removed entirely, +or if that was impossible, to have them removed to some distance from his +teepee. He asserted strongly that the presence of the soldiers so near to +him had a tendency to keep his squaws in a state of terror and that, as a +consequence, they would not be able to regain their health, at least, as +long as the soldiers remained in the neighborhood. The Agent, to put an +end to his continual whining, consented to remove the soldiers to a +position somewhat removed from Dull Knife's teepee, but still near enough +to keep some sort of guard over him if they were at all careful in the +fulfillment of their duty. The soldiers were rollicking, jolly good +fellows, not at all bloodthirsty, and whenever an opportunity presented +itself for merriment they entered into the spirit of the occasion with all +kinds of ardor. Needless to say, they found the task of acting as guard +over one redskin a rather tedious affair, and were compelled to break the +monotony of existence by means originating with themselves. They managed +to pass the time in running horses, playing cards, and with other +diversions. In the meantime the Indians passed back and forth among them +with as much freedom as if there had never existed anything like a guard. + +In the meantime the summer was passing away, and Dull Knife had not yet +changed his residence. The Agent was beginning to get somewhat nervous +over the matter. He even went so far as to declare that he would leave the +agency, but that was a matter that could not be attended to without +considerable red tape, and in the meantime he was receiving a good salary +where he was. He could not throw up his position without consulting Uncle +Sam, as Samuel is rather a harsh task-master when it comes to seeing that +his officials fulfill the duties of their position. It was quite evident +that Dull Knife was getting on his nerves. + +During all this time, Dull Knife was tearing around like a loose cyclone +that has recently broken away from its moorings, and his lieutenant, Wild +Hog, was not far behind him in activity. He made no secret of what he was +doing. Here and there, all over the Reservation the wily old villian was +meandering for the purpose of getting possession of fire-arms. Anything he +had in his possession he was willing to barter for anything in the shape +of the utensils of war. Cowboys and soldiers, all were requested to barter +something in the nature of guns or ammunition for whatever he could +produce. Anything he had was on the market. At times he succeeded in +trading a couple of ponies for an old, rusty, six-shooter, but in the +general run he was not very successful. As an instance of what he was +willing to do, I shall mention one case. James Smith, a teamster for the +government at the time, was hauling posts to erect a stockade at the fort. +In one of his trips he met Dull Knife. The latter immediately proposed a +swap. He saw Smith had his belt full of cartridges, and these seemed to +take his fancy. He made a trade with the teamster, giving him a new +government overcoat for ten cartridges. This penchant for trading became +an obsession with him, and there were times when he rendered himself a +nuisance to everyone in the neighborhood by his continual proposals to +make a trade. + +Finally, this state of things became very monotonous. They had long since +become aware of the fact that Dull Knife had no good intentions in his +desire to become possessed of firearms and ammunition. They began to be +fearful of him, as they did not know the time he would break out and take +the war-path and leave behind him a trail of smoking ruins, with a long +list of murdered victims. + +On the first of September, 1878, the Agent was called up by a family of +Indians who informed him that Dull Knife had gone. They said that they had +gone with him a short distance, but changed their minds and came back to +the reservation. The thing that all had been looking for had come to pass, +and they all became anxious for what the near future would make known to +them. Something had to be done without delay. The Agent immediately +summoned Johnny Murphy who had been Gen. Sheridan's confidential ambulance +driver during the campaign on the Washita, during the winter of 1868, +against the Kiowas, Comanches, and Arpahoes, and who was afterwards a +reliable despatch bearer between the different posts in that section of +the country. The Agent explained the situation to Mr. Murphy, and handed +him a despatch to forward immediately to the Commander at Ft. Reno, +telling him of the departure of Dull Knife. When the despatch was handed +to the Commander, he read it attentively, and asked Mr. Murphy, as a +special favor to take it up the river where the troops were still guarding +the Dull Knife camp. Murphy again mounted his faithful old steed, Pegasus, +and proceeded to bore a hole in the darkness until he arrived at the camp. +There he found every one of the soldiers sound asleep while the object of +their tender care was on his way to the hunting grounds in the North. It +is difficult to account for the somnolent tendencies of the soldiers on +this occasion. It does not seem possible that their amusements of the +preceding day would have the effect of producing such a lethargic +condition. In any case, even the sentinel, whose duty it was, at the +expiration of each hour, to shout at the top of his voice and proclaim to +the troops in particular and to the whole world in general that "All is +well," had surrendered to Morpheus, and was so tightly wrapped in his +embrace that Murphy was compelled to roll him out of his blankets and +inform him that the Commander at the fort, and his country was calling him +to duty, and it would be a better procedure to saddle up at once and go to +headquarters as soon as possible. + +To the average man, the escape of Dull Knife from under the very eyes of +his guards, may seem increditable, but this is a case where truth is +stranger than fiction. It seems as if Dull Knife's medicine had hypnotized +the guardians of Uncle Sam's peace and dignity. If such were the case, he +must have exercised the same powerful influence over the military until he +was killed close to the Wyoming line. I cannot blame the reader if he +shows a little hesitancy in accepting the statement as a fact, as I myself +would have an inclination to question the matter, and begin to look for +proof if I were in the same conditions as he, were it not that I am +writing this account within a few miles of the locality in which the drama +was enacted. I have been over the trail and visited the scenes of some of +his brutal massacres. + +When Dull Knife left the reservation, he had less than one hundred +warriors, but had his full complement of squaws and papooses, which, all +told, would raise the number of the departing contingent to about two +hundred and fifty. The fact that he took down his teepee, packed all his +belongings, and marched off undisturbed by the guard set to watch his +every move, would be enough to stagger the mind of any one except some +dime-novelist who has the happy faculty of accomplishing marvelous deeds +with little or no implements to produce such wonderful results. But, +nevertheless, that is what occurred. He had departed unmolested from the +midst of his guards, and was on his way to his far off land of promise. +When he left the reservation, he continued his march to the Cimmaron river +without much inconvenience from the military men who were supposed to +forestall any such movement on his part. Being that he was poorly provided +with munitions of war, or supplies to maintain his command on their +journey, he was compelled to seek subsistence by raiding ranches, or +killing what stock he met on his way. He did not have much trouble in +providing for his future wants, once he came into possession of some beef. +This he dried and "jerked," a very easy proceeding, for as soon as the +meat was salted and hung out in the sun, it readily cured, and would +remain fit for use for a year or more without any further attention. + +The day after the departure of Dull Knife and his followers, the soldiers +under the command of an old German officer, who had seen service in the +army of the Fatherland, Major Randerbrook, set out to arrest the fugitives +and bring them back to the reservation. It was manifest to the observer +that the Major did not relish coming in contact with the rough edges of +army life. Here I may pardonably make mention of the fact that this same +Major, and Captain Gunther, of whom I shall speak later on, were members +of the Slumber Squad who were supposed to keep a wakeful eye upon Dull +Knife's camp. The old Major, when notified by Johnnie Murphy that his +captive had vanished, became indignant to think that Murphy, a mere +messenger, would have the audacity to disturb his sweet repose. However, +realizing that the courier had not acted on his own volition, he summoned +up sufficient courage to leave his comfortable bed, and saddle up for the +purpose of making a journey to the fort. When he arrived there, he +received orders to take charge of the Fourth Cavalry, or that portion of +it that was then at the fort, and set out in pursuit. There were several +troops of the Fourth Cavalry in that section of the country at the time, +as they had been sent down from Fort Sill to keep an eye upon the Kiowas +and Comanches if they should show any disposition to foment disturbances. +Hence it happened that there was only one troop of the Fourth at the fort +at the time of the disappearance of Dull Knife and band. The Commander of +the fort also sent a courier to Fort Sill telling the Commander there +that Dull Knife had gone north, and asked him to intercept the Indians if +possible. + +The fugitive had gone northwards only a short distance when he went into +camp in the sand hills which lay north of Dutch Jake's ranch. From his +actions it was plainly evident that he was not at all uneasy about the +presence of the soldiers, nor did he manifest any fear of them. When he +was ready to proceed on his journey, he set out with the same nonchalance +as characterized his encamping so near to the scene of his late restraint. +He advanced on his route until he arrived at the Antelope Hills, north of +the Cimmaron river. There he made another encampment. The soldiers had not +yet overtaken him, a thing which he seemed anxious for them to do. In fact +he became so anxious that they should overtake him that he sent a small +band of warriors back to meet them to make inquiries as to the reason of +their following him. They were informed by Major Randerbrook that he had +been sent out to arrest them and restore them to the reservation. They +positively refused to return with the Major, and stated plainly that they +intended to return to their chief and lay the matter before him. Dull +Knife, as might be expected of him, positively refused to consider the +return to the reservation, in any light. In order that there might be no +mistake about his intentions he began to daub on the war paint in greater +abundance than he was decorated with before. He was simply living up to +his assertion made previously that he would return to the hunting grounds +of the northern territory if the conditions around the reservation did not +suit his fancy, and in his present attitude he was fulfilling up to his +declarations, and would continue to do so, come what might. + +The first evening of the march, Major Randerbrook made the startling +discovery that, in the haste and bustle of preparation consequent upon the +order to pursue the fleeing Indians, they had forgotten to pack up his +feather bed, his davenport, also his writing stand and wall tent. He felt +that he could not make a successful journey without these necessary +accessories to his personal comfort, and therefore, he detailed Peter F. +Weasel, a member of the 16th Infantry, who was acting as teamster at the +time, to return to the fort and bring all his belongings (the Major's) and +overtake the troops the next day. This solemn duty Peter set out to +fulfill with proper feelings of submission, but I have never found any +evidence to show that the said Peter ever appeared in the presence of the +Major, laden with his precious feather bed or any of his other belongings. + +Do not permit the idea to find lodgment in your head, my reader, that the +Major was a coward. Far from it, as his later actions showed. Later on, +when the Indians refused to surrender when he met them at the Antelope +Hills, he ordered the troops to charge upon them in the camp, which they +did. After a short skirmish with them, he found that he had lost three +soldiers who were killed, and among the injured was the company blacksmith +who was crippled by being shot through the hips. After this skirmish the +soldiers withdrew from the fray and went into camp. There they buried +their dead companions, but when they came to look for the injured +blacksmith he was no where to be found. In fact, they never saw him again. +The loss on the part of the Indians is unknown, but from what I can learn +about the fray, to use the language of the prize ring, that battle might +be considered a "draw." Some years afterwards, acting under orders from +the Department at Washington that all soldiers killed in battle with the +Indians on the plains, where their graves were known, their bodies should +be exhumed and given a military funeral. This order was complied with in +the case of the three soldiers killed in the Antelope Hill fight, and they +were later on removed to the fort where they belonged and properly +interred. The Major himself bore himself in a courageous manner, but he +was suffering from the handicap of age. Brave as any man that ever +straddled a horse, he wanted to be in the thickest of the fray, but owing +to his eyesight being greatly impaired it was not a safe move to permit +him to enter so ardently into an engagement, as he could not distinguish +friend from foe at even a short range, and the difference between an +Indian and any other object at a distance he could by no means make out. +The Major was thoroughly discouraged with the outcome of the affray, and +disgusted with the conduct of his troops on the occasion. He resolved to +give up his commission and turn over his command to a younger man. He +determined to make his resignation at Camp Supply, but before taking his +departure he placed Captain Gunther in charge of the command. This man +proved his unfitness for the position of trust confided to him later on at +Sand Creek where he displayed the cowardice and worthlessness of his +character, which stamped him as one of the most despicable characters who +ever disgraced the uniform of an officer since the days of Benedict +Arnold. The old Major in due time arrived at Camp Supply accompanied by an +escort, whilst Dull Knife after carrying off and secreting his dead +warriors, started northwards across the Cimmaron river, and began a series +of depredations on the ranches and cattle in Clarke county, Kansas. + +Once he had crossed the river, he did not confine his band to any definite +route of travel. In place of an orderly line of march, such as +characterizes the trained soldier, his followers scattered out each day in +different directions to perpetrate whatever devilment might offer, with +the purpose of meeting at night at some appointed rendezvous to plot and +plan further rascality to be put in operation on the following day. + +There were few stock ranches in the country at the time, and when they had +heard that the Indians were on the warpath, and were in the neighborhood, +they began to make preparations to protect themselves and their stock +against an expected incursion of the marauding band. They rounded up +their horses and kept them under close herd, but that was impossible as +regarded the cattle, as they were scattered far and wide, and consequently +would afford the Indians an opportunity for obtaining possession of what +meat they wanted for their journey. It would have been flying into the +teeth of danger to endeavor to round them up just then, as the ranchmen +would, in all likelihood, have encountered some of the roving bands of +cut-throats in their way, and the result would have been disastrous. +However, it was not the nature of the cowboys to remain supinely inactive +and permit the Indians to work havoc on the herds at will. They determined +to have a hand in the fray, and decided that it was time to give the +Indians their first lesson in civilization if they had not received it +before. They let the cattle take care of themselves, and set out to +deliver their instructions in the only manner that would appeal to the +natives of the plains. The cowboys from Doc Day's ranch, and those from +the Driskill ranch, with those of several other outfits, all turned out to +take a hand in the fray that was sure to come. They set to work with +enthusiasm, and continued it with so much zeal and ardor, that Dull Knife +began to fortify himself against their unremitting attention. He selected +for this purpose a location on what is called Gypsum Creek. The squaws set +to work to dig rifle pits upon the side of the bluffs that overlooks the +stream, where the warriors could fire down upon the persistent cowboys if +they should have the audacity to follow them into their hiding place. + +Everybody was, by this time, on the lookout for the invaders and prepared +to give them a warm reception should they appear in the neighborhood, +excepting one man named Sam Kiger. He lived on what is now known as Kiger +Creek, so named in his honor. Sam had a little ranch. He lived in a +dugout, and had a small herd of cattle, and was busy looking after his own +interests. He was so far removed from everybody else, that he did not +hear of the danger that was threatening the neighborhood. It is easy to +understand how he was unaware of the menace of the Indians when it is +stated that he seldom saw any one, seldom went abroad except when +necessity compelled him to do so, and then went to Dodge City which was 45 +miles distant, for supplies. He remained in ignorance of his danger until +two weeks after the Indians had left that part of the country. That was +one case where ignorance was bliss. But another man, Sam Williams, was not +so fortunate. He was a sheepman and maintained his flocks on another +creek, and had a very close call, in fact, just escaped being murdered by +the savages by the narrowest margin. He was herding his sheep all alone at +the time. Sam, among the other adornments of nature, was upholstered with +a luxuriant crop of whiskers. They were his pride and he spent his spare +time in combing them. Never did beauteous maiden bestow so much time and +attention upon her personal adornment as Sam spent upon his hirsute +appendage. In fact, the care and attention of those whiskers became a sort +of obsession with him. Well, the first notice that the aforesaid Sam had +of the presence of Indians was when a bullet came singing through the air +from behind a sand hill and ploughed a furrow through his highly +cultivated whiskers. It did not require any very rapid calculation on his +part to tell him that he was living in the midst of alarms, and that he +ought to seek the protection of his dugout so as to be secure from further +manifestations of hostility on the part of the invisible riflemen. To +think was to act, and Sam made the distance between where he was shot at +and the dug-out in record breaking time. In fact, he might have shattered +the record considerably, had he been timed, but there was no time to look +for an official timekeeper then, so his efforts in speed must go +unrecorded. Once inside the dug-out he felt comparatively safe, as an +Indian would be very careful about approaching it as it was virtually +impregnable. There was no mode of assaulting it except from in front, and +no wise Indian, with a view to saving his skin from being perforated, +would care to approach from that direction, as he would be compelled to +take that direction if he wished to create any impression on the occupant +of the dug-out. In the meantime, the proprietor of the place, acting on +the law of self-preservation, would likely be cutting the dust from around +the said Indian's moccasins, if not making a more successful effort to +convert his assailant into what is called a "good Indian." Usually, as the +besieging party came to realize that he could not set fire to the place, +nor make any success of shooting into it, he would abandon his undertaking +for some other more tractable victim. But, the fact that he could not kill +his victim, did not prevent his turning his attention to some other mode +of deviltry at which the Indian was usually adept. In this case, they +rounded up the sheep belonging to Williams and drove them into a +water-hole where six hundred of them were drowned. + +While prowling among the Sand Hills, the Indians chanced upon and, after a +running fight, killed a man, named La Force, a brother of Perry La Force +who was foreman on the Diamond F. ranch, owned by the Franklin Land and +Cattle Co., and managed by B. B. Groom, part owner of the stock. He was a +fine type of Kentucky gentleman, actuated by the highest ideals, and one +who ran true to the standard of the highest kind of hospitality. When the +ranchman became aware of the absence of La Force, as he had not returned +from his tour of inspection, or whatever duty took him away from the +remainder of the party for the day, they organized a search party to +discover his whereabouts. They probably had more than a suspicion that he +had met with something more than an accident, as they were aware of the +fact that the Indians were on the rampage, but it would not be according +to the ethics of their mode of life to abandon him unless they were +positive that he had met death. For weeks they maintained the search, but +with no success. Finally, in one of their excursions, they came across a +skeleton, or what was left of it, as the bones had been disjointed and +scattered in all directions. They were not yet positive that it was the +remains of their friend. However, they were not long left in their +uncertainty for they discovered La Force's six-shooter. Every chamber of +it was empty, which went to show that he had not yielded tamely to his +fate, but fought manfully against whatever odds he had encountered. How +many there were opposed to him, the searching party had no idea of +calculating, but there was no doubt in their minds that he had accounted +for more than one of his foes. The condition of his remains was due to the +fact that they had left his body where he had fallen, and the coyotes had +gnawed every particle of flesh from the bones. They gathered up what bones +they could find and bore them to the ranch and buried them with all the +tributes of respect that could be shown to one who had been not only a +friend, but who had held a very exalted place in their regard. They then +notified his brother Perry La Force, of the untimely death of his brother, +giving him what information they could of his tragic end. He came from the +Panhandle where he was living at the time and had the remains exhumed and +took them to Mobeetie, Texas, where he laid them in their last resting +place. + +Whilst these acts of thievery, murder, and other rascality were being +perpetrated on the Cimmaron, and Big, and Little Sand creeks, a small +contingent paid a visit to a personal friend of mine, named Charles Coe. +He, at the time, was holding a herd of beef cattle in the southwestern +part of Ford county, awaiting an opportunity to ship them from Dodge City. +The herd was owned by Tuttle and Chapman. In his employment he had a negro +who performed the duties of cook, as well as acting as chore boy around +the outfit. This same Charlie Coe was afterwards book-keeper for the +George S. Emerson Mercantile Co. in Dodge City, Kan. At the time I +mention he was what was termed a tenderfoot, and along with being +inexperienced in the ways of the west, had little or no knowledge of the +Indians mode of existence, especially on the warpath. Anything he happened +to know of them, he had gleaned from rumor and reading. His tent was +located not far from Crooked Creek. When the Indians came upon him, decked +out in their war regalia, he was in a quandry what to do. It would have +been useless for him to endeavor to seek shelter behind the bank of the +creek, as the distance was rather far just then, and his tent would offer +no protection from the bullets of the enemy. Plainly he was confronting a +proposition the like of which he had never encountered before. It did not +take him long to realize the danger of the situation, and he saw at a +glance that it was death or glory for him, no matter which horn of the +dilemma he chose to take. Instead of seeking safety in flight, he +preferred to break a long established precedent of running away, and faced +the danger unflinchingly. He seized his gun and stepped outside and waited +the coming of his foes. As soon as they came within range, he took careful +aim and fired. His first shot brought to earth the horse of the leader of +the band. Indications showed that he wrought some damage upon the rider +also, as he had to be assisted by his comrades in rascality. They picked +him off the ground where he lay, and placed him on a pony behind another +redskin. The bold front shown by the white man had the effect of halting +the marauders in their mad career, and at the same time had a stimulating +effect upon young Coe. He continued to fire at them as long as they +remained within range. The reception they had received was wholly +unexpected by the Indians, and after firing several random shots at him, +without inflicting any damage, turned their horses around and withdrew to +the Sand Hills about a mile distant. As soon as they had departed the +young tenderfoot entered his tent to take stock of his means of defense. A +brief glance at his small supply of ammunition showed him that he was not +in a position to stand much of the siege. In fact he had very few +cartridges left, and considering prudence the better part of valor decided +to make an improvement in his conditions by seeking safety in flight. He +gave orders to his stable attendant to hitch up the horses and they would +set out for Dodge, which was about thirty miles away. He told the negro +the condition of affairs and showed him that they would likely lose their +scalps and their lives if the Indians should make another descent upon +their camp. To the proposal to abandon the place, the negro made reply, +"No, sah, I ain't agwine to leave Marse Tuttle's mules heah for dem +pestificatin red debils to get. Ise agwine to take dem along." Having +delivered himself of this proclamation of loyalty, he started to hitch up. +Coe could not persuade him that he was exposing himself to unnecessary +danger, and while Mr. Tuttle would appreciate his feelings of loyalty to +his interests, at the same time he was not cruel enough to wish to expose +him to the danger of losing his life. This and all other arguments that +Coe could urge, were of no avail. He had determined to follow his own +course in the matter, and nothing could move him from that determination. +He had a strong liking for that team of mules, and a very strong affection +for Mr. Tuttle, and in less than an hour later he lost his life through +his fidelity to his master's interests. Reluctantly Coe started off for +Dodge City. Sharp eyes were watching every move he made. From the Sand +Hills they had noticed the preparations made at the tent, and saw the +paleface ride away in the direction of the city. They felt that it was +useless to follow him, as they knew he was well armed, and they remembered +too well the manner of reception he tendered them but an hour before, and +knew that he would be prompt to repeat it if they offered him another +opportunity. They had no desire to lose any members of their band, and +they felt that it would be a certainty that they would suffer some loss +if they pursued him, so they let him proceed on his way. Not so did they +show any consideration for the negro. When they saw him set out they +started in pursuit. They rode down from the Hills, gradually converging to +a point in which the darky and the team of mules was the center of +attraction. When the negro saw them coming with the evident intention of +intercepting him, he put the mules to a gallop, but it was impossible for +the team dragging the heavy wagon to outrun the war ponies of the Indians. +When they were drawing down upon him they began to shout and shoot at the +same time. The poor darkey was terrified. The mules were stampeded and ran +away. They overturned the wagon in their flight. In their mad career, the +driver had been shot in the back several times and was killed outright. +They overtook the mules and unhitching them, led them back to the Sand +Hills where Dull Knife had now established his temporary headquarters. +They did not scalp the negro, nor burn the wagon as was their custom. +Evidently they must have come to the conclusion that the team of mules and +the plunder of the tent was sufficient for one day. The darkey was later +found and buried by some cowmen, and his grave for a long time was used as +a landmark for travelers along the Jones and Plummer trail. Mr. Tuttle was +in Dodge City at the time his faithful attendant gave up his life for his +interests. Naturally he felt the loss of his servant rather keenly. When +the news was brought to him that his wagon was still out there along the +trail where it had been upset, he hired Hoodoo Brown, an old scout, to go +out and bring it into Dodge, for repairs. The old scout often told me of +his experience upon that dangerous journey. + +It was late in the afternoon when he had the wagon fixed up in such a +fashion that he could haul it into the city. He made the return trip the +same night as he did not care to expose himself to the danger of meeting +the same or worse fate than the negro. He said that he imagined he could +see an Indian hiding behind every sage brush, or cactus in the country. +But as it proved to be nothing more real than a fancy of the imagination, +he had no difficulty in making the journey, for which Mr. Tuttle paid him +handsomely. + +This band that had just perpetrated the deviltry, had returned to Sand +Creek just in time to avoid a possee of cowboys who were in pursuit of +them. They had but recently run the rest of the Dull Knife band into the +canyon which they had fortified, and it would have gone hard with the +battle contingent that had just come from murdering the negro if the +cowboys had a chance to meet them before they sought shelter in the rifle +pits the squaws had recently dug. + +By this time, the whole country was well aware that Captain Gunther and +Dull Knife had been playing a game of "hide and seek" for the past ten +days. The cowmen became weary of such dilatory tactics, and determined to +go into the canyon and fight it out with the Indians. At this time Captain +Gunther had arrived on the scene with the 4th Cavalry, and demanded that +the cowmen withdraw from the sight as he was going to take that matter +into his own hands. He said that the Indians were well fortified and that +he would have considerable trouble in dislodging them. He stated that he +intended to place sentinels around the canyon so that none of them could +escape, and intended to hold a conference with Dull Knife in the morning. +He assured the cowmen that he was well acquainted with the old warrior and +felt certain that he would have no difficulty in persuading him to return +to the reservation with all his followers. + +After the captain had arranged his guards around the canyon in such a +manner as he thought would preclude the possibility of the Indians making +their escape, he busied himself with preparations for encamping down the +creek. While he was thus engaged, he was approached by Ben Jackson, the +noted scout and buffalo hunter, who saluted him in military fashion, as +far as his knowledge of that accomplishment would permit, and proposed +that he, the captain, give him a despatch to be delivered to the commander +at Fort Dodge requesting him to send more troops to aid in capturing the +Indians. This despatch he promised to deliver within a few hours. The +captain, not knowing the resourcefulness of the man making the request, +replied that he could not spare an escort for the undertaking. To which +the scout replied that he did not need an escort as he was well acquainted +with the country and did not have any fears about the prompt delivery of +the message. The captain answered that such a course of proceedings was +unnecessary, as he was well acquainted with Dull Knife personally. He said +that he intended to hold the conference with him the next morning, and +that when matters were set before him in the proper light, there would be +no further trouble in the case, as he was positive the Indians would be +perfectly satisfied and return to the agency without any further +difficulty. When this short interview had been completed, the captain +proceeded down the creek and went into camp. In the meantime the pickets +were on duty around the canyon, or rather were supposed to be, but, in +some manner or other, Dull Knife's medicine hypnotized them as it did on +the former occasion when he escaped from the North Canadian. I am not +going to make any remarks about the private soldiers of this campaign, as +they were ever ready and willing to do their duty if they had a proper +officer to lead them; nor am I going to make any comments, nor pretend to +fix the blame where it belongs, but will state the facts and let the +reader judge for himself who was culpable in the matter; but it seems +incredible that 250 Indians could come out of that canyon, supposedly well +guarded, and pass through a cordon of pickets without a gun being fired. +Incredible it is, but, nevertheless, that is the unvarnished truth of the +matter. When dawn appeared the following morning, the Indians had +vanished, as if they had been swallowed up by the earth. Their trail +indicated that they had gone northward. They pursued their line of flight +to Crooked Creek, in Meade County, Kansas, and after crossing that stream +near what is called the "Three Bends," they came to a hay camp that was +conducted by G. S. Emerson. Here they did not give themselves up to their +usual depredations, but contented themselves with taking some provisions +and cutting up a pair of calf skin boots belonging to the proprietor. That +they did not commit any murders, was due to the fact that the men of the +outfit were absent. From there they proceeded to what was intended to be +the county seat of Meade county, which development did not extend further +than the erection of a story-and-a-half frame building, with an unfinished +well nearby, at which the city fathers were working when the Indians +arrived. They immediately set out to explore the contents of the house and +surroundings. Their efforts were not rewarded very highly, but one thing +attracted their attention, a grindstone standing near at hand. The sole +occupant of the dwelling, Captain French, was compelled to perform the +task of turning the grindstone while they were sharpening their knives. To +test the acuteness of the finish they had put on their weapons, they +contented themselves with drawing them across the captain's throat. To +show him further that they were not at all unselfish in their attentions +to him, the squaws lent a hand in pulling and hauling him around and +inflicting all manners of abuse upon him, but they did not attempt to kill +him. I asked the captain shortly afterwards why they did not take his +life, and he replied that they knew better than try that. He stated that +he had a picture of George Washington hanging on the wall of his dwelling, +and they knew that if they killed him the government would soon be in +pursuit of them. Poor old Cap! He did not know that the government was on +their trail at the time. + +Although there were four or five men working at the well at the time the +Indians devoted their attention to the captain. They did not molest them +but continued on their way northward. On their route they encountered a +man, Wash Connors, who had been to Dodge City to do some trading. He had +spent the previous night with a friend of mine, C. M. Rice, and set out +early in the morning so as to reach his destination in good time, as he +had some material for those who were digging the well at the new +town-site. Mr. Rice urged him to remain and have breakfast with him, but +he said that he was in a hurry and would attend to that duly when he +reached his destination. With a good team of mules hitched to his lumber +wagon, he started off in good spirits, little thinking he would never +reach the end of his journey. He was proceeding on his way in a brisk +fashion and had come in sight of the town-site when the members of Dull +Knife's band met him. They stopped him without any ceremony and attacked +him before he could get out of his wagon. They cut his throat, tore the +harness off his mules and went their way taking his team. The well-diggers +saw the whole proceedings, but were unable to render assistance as they +were not in a position to do so. + +Leaving the victim of their murderous assault dying in his wagon, they set +out toward the north again. Between the scene of their latest crime and +the Arkansas they committed no further depredation. They crossed the river +west of Dodge City, not far from where the present station of Cimmaron is +located on the Santa Fe railroad. Their depredations after crossing the +river were few, as there was little to attract their attention, excepting +some wild cattle and the accompanying cowboys. They did not molest the +latter as they had a wholesome respect for that individual by reason of +the fact that he was generally armed with a brace of six-shooters and a +Winchester rifle, and was an expert in the use of both. Meeting a +cow-puncher under such conditions was a hazardous thing, as the Indian +knew the cowboy would not trade even. They had no doubt about their +ability to eventually kill him, but the price to be paid was too great, +as he usually sent three or four of the wily redskins across the Great +Divide before succumbing to their prowess, and they did not usually care +to pay the price. + + +[Illustration] + + +By this time the whole country was aroused. The news was heralded abroad +on the wings of the wind. The newspapers, as is their custom, in glaring +headlines, magnified the extent of the depredations, and gave alarming +accounts of the atrocities committed by the Indians. Everybody was on the +lookout, those in the neighborhood fearing a visitation of the marauders, +and those far away living in expectation of the next savage depredation. +The excitement reached such a high degree of intensity that the department +ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis to take charge of the field of action, +which for some time had been a field of inaction as the gentleman who was +supposed to be at the head of the movement against the Indians was but a +poor apology for a successful military commander. It may be well to remark +that this man was soon relegated to the military scrap-heap in disgrace. + +When Lieut-Col. Lewis was notified of the appointment, he responded with +alacrity. He set out at once from Dodge City with his command. He soon was +on the trail of the Indians. A short journey westward brought him to the +point where the band had crossed the Arkansas on their way northward. + +In the meantime the Indians were pursuing their way with considerable +speed. They may have realized that another expedition would be organized +to follow on their trail, or another commander would be put in charge of +the one they had left so unceremoniously on the night of their escape, but +whatever their conclusions were, they did not stop to commit any more +outrages until they reached the North Beaver, or Sand Creek. On their +arrival there, they saw they were about to have a fight on their hands, as +the lieutenant-colonel had followed their trail with such speed that he +was almost upon them. Escape for the time being was out of the question, +and they resolved to fight. Lewis did not want to kill them, but +preferred to have them surrender and return to the reservation. Such idea +did not enter into Dull Knife's calculations, and he decided to fight +rather than return to the place of his recent abode. + +It was now getting late in the afternoon. Considerable sharp-shooting had +been done on both sides for some time, and then a skirmish took place. +Each party was doing what execution it could without exposing itself to +any more danger than was necessary. The Indians endeavored to make every +shot count as their ammunition was getting scarce, and the soldiers were +employing the same mode of warfare as their opponents, though it was not +the scarcity of powder, but rather the desire to preserve their anatomy +from the missiles of the enemy that induced them to seek shelter behind +every bush and hillock. The lieutenant-colonel was a busy man, directing +the operations of his troops, and looking after things in general. The +battle lagged along until evening, without much evidence of success for +either party. Towards evening Lewis rode out to the firing line to get a +closer view of things and to lend his men the encouragement of his +presence. When he reached the zone of fire, one of the Indian scouts +approached him and advised him to dismount from his horse as he would very +probably be shot if he remained exposed in such a manner to the fire of +the enemy. The lieutenant-colonel did not heed the advice so freely given +by his scout, and in less than ten minutes he received a bullet in the +thigh. The missile struck an artery, and as a result, the +lieutenant-colonel died a few hours later from loss of blood, (My +authority for the above statement is G. W. Brown, who was lying not twenty +feet away when the scout gave the warning of danger. This gentleman, is +now living at Cushion Oil Field). He piloted the ambulance bearing the +lieutenant colonel under the command of Lieutenant Gardner and escort to +Fort Wallace that same night, as he was familiar with that part of the +country owing to the fact that he had hunted buffalo all through that +section of the country in the early days. After the escort had proceeded +on its journey for about six miles, a rider returned to the lieutenant and +told him that the lieutenant-colonel had died. This sad news was a shock +to the company, as he was a man of the highest type of bravery, and his +demise was regretted by every man in the command. When the news was first +broken to the troops a look of grim determination settled upon the +countenance of every man, which meant that at the first opportunity they +would avenge the death of him who they loved so well. The fortunes of war +averted the blow for the present, for, during the night, Dull Knife and +his followers fled, leaving nothing behind but the embers of his camp +fires to show where he had taken his stand. The soldiers started in hot +pursuit, as they did not want their enemies to go unpunished. They had not +followed the trail very far when they learned that the Indians had divided +their forces and gone in different directions. Wild Hog, the chief adviser +of Dull Knife went towards the north-east, over to Sappa Creek, where he +and his followers murdered over forty persons, pillaged their stock and +burned what they could not conveniently carry off. Dull Knife with the +rest of the band headed due north. This division of the Indians compelled +the soldiers to adopt the same method of procedure. They were accordingly +organized into two divisions and set off in hot pursuit of their wily +foes. From this time onward the expedition assumed the character of a +running fight. This system of pillage, and plunder, on the part of the +Indians, with the pursuit on the part of the soldiers, was maintained +until the 7th Cavalry, under General Samuel D. Sturgis succeeded in +capturing both bands on the Niobrara River in the vicinity of the place in +which Camp Niobrara was built, and about 15 miles east of Camp Sheridan. +This event occured in the month of October, 1878, but I cannot give the +exact date of the occurrence. The captives were then taken as prisoners +of war to Fort Robinson, Neb., or, as it was then called, Camp Robinson. +They were placed in the guard house and held there until New Year's night, +1879, when they broke out, killed the guards and made their escape through +the sand hills until they had almost reached the Wyoming line. + +When the news was brought that Dull Knife had killed his guards and made +his escape, everything was in a flutter of excitement. Preparations were +immediately made for pursuit. At dawn, as soon as it was possible to +observe the direction of the trail, the bugle sounded and the Third +Cavalry mounted their horses and set out in pursuit of the wily old +villain who had so often eluded them. They followed hastily all forenoon +and the further they advanced, the clearer the signs manifested to them +the fact that they were close upon the fleeing Indians. In the afternoon +they overtook the band in the said hills close to the border line of +Wyoming. When Captain Wessels rode up to them, he immediately ordered them +to surrender. Dull Knife's reply to this was a rifle shot that killed an +Indian scout belonging to the cavalry. He repeated with another shot at +Captain Wessels. The bullet struck the captain but did not inflict a +mortal wound. The action of Dull Knife was a sufficient guarantee that he +did not intend to surrender, and immediately the troops poured a +succession of volleys into the foe. When the smoke of battle cleared away, +and the few who remained alive surrendered, it was discovered that Dull +Knife himself, his daughter who was present, and about two thirds of his +followers had all gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds together. After giving +the proper attention to the wounded, and burying the dead, the troops with +the prisoners returned to Camp Robinson. Among the number returning to the +fort were Wild Hog and many other leading spirits of the movement. They +were held there until the spring of 1879, when the leaders were sent to +Dodge City, Ford county, Kansas to be tried for murder and other crimes. + +I called upon those notable characters while they were supposed to be in +durance vile, and found them the most conspicuous and best entertained men +in prison. The representatives of different illustrated newspapers were +there, sketching their pictures, and treating them to cigars. It was +certainly a very novel sight to me, and I thought it strange that the +citizens of Dodge City had not formed a necktie party for the +entertainment of the whole party of savages, for they were well aware of +the characters of their guests and well acquainted with the amount of +crime and rascality they had perpetrated almost within view of the town +itself. However, everything seemed to be following along the even tenor of +its way, and I came to the conclusion that Dodge City was a very law +abiding city, and was a good town to live in (especially when one is +acquainted with the early history of the place). I cannot refrain from +remarking that, if a white man, or a body of white men, had been guilty of +one-tenth of the crimes perpetrated by the Indians who were then +sojourning in their town, they would have been hanged as high as they +could be raised on a lariat rope, or shot to pieces in the streets. +Strange are the dealings of man with man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Great Awakening of the West; Buffalo Hunters; Quakers' Influence; Indian +Disturbances; A Treaty Made and Broken, Etc. + + +When the first railroad construction train started West from the Missouri +River, with its gangs of graders, tie-slingers, and track layers, the +sound of the locomotive whistle proclaimed to the Indian more plainly than +any language could do, that the days of his activity over that vast +expanse of country were about to terminate, peaceably if possible, but +forcibly if necessary. The company kept in its employ one or more buffalo +hunters to supply the boarding car with fresh meat which was plentiful on +the prairie in those days. The engineers had staked out the right-of-way, +and established the different grades in advance, and everything was kept +in good shape for the speedy progress of the work. The Indian saw all +this. He also saw the graders, the tracklayers, the spike drivers, and +heard the locomotive whistle. He saw the engineers and the buffalo +hunters, but he failed to see the real cause of his trouble. He could not +see the promoters of that great undertaking and enterprise, because they +were beyond the reach of his limited vision. They were in their luxurious +offices figuring on the possibilities and probabilities of one day +declaring large dividends on that stupendous undertaking that was to reach +out to the gold mines of Colorado and on through the mountains to the +Pacific coast. The promoters could see at a glance that it was useless to +expect any great returns from the capital invested if they were to be +dependent on any freight or traffic from the Indian. They needed not to be +told that he was not an agriculturist. He was not a stockman and had no +use for agricultural implements such as threshers, sulky plows, fanning +mills or corn shellers. He made his living by hunting and fishing and was +to a certain extent self supporting and independent of all railroads. He +was not accustomed to take his squaw and papooses to any foreign watering +place to spend the summer. Whenever he felt like taking a few days' +recreation, he bundled his camp equipage and with his family started for +some creek where there were plenty of fish and there remained until his +visit was completed. Sometimes several families went together and had a +big time talking over Indian customs and the ways of the white man. This +had been their custom from time immemorial and any act performed by the +white man to disturb his equanimity or distract him, was looked upon as an +outrage and sacrilege, and any who did such things were served with +summary punishment. + +The capitalists could see at a glance that the Indians were not a class of +people to build up a profitable industry and felt it their duty to remove +them from that section of the country in order to induce stockmen and +farmers to occupy it. As a step in that direction they created a market +for buffalo hides, which seemed to have the desired effect, for it was but +a short time until many adventurous spirits who could gather together +enough money to buy a span of ponies, a wagon and ammunition for the +purpose, were engaged in the business, some as hunters, others as +skinners. As soon as they had a load of hide they shipped them to market +and with the proceeds prepared for another trip to the range again. Few +but the hardiest and bravest young men could stand the dangers, trials, +and exposure which they confronted in all kinds of weather. + +There was one young man that I feel a pardonable pride in mentioning as +engaged in that undertaking, namely W. F. Cody, who by his dexterity with +the rifle had acquired the title of "Buffalo Bill," and who had become +famous as an Indian scout and had established an international reputation +as the greatest marksman and horseback rider in the western plains. He +was also chief of scouts and confidential friend of General Phil Sheridan, +and at this writing is the owner and proprietor of Buffalo Bill's Wild +West Show. His was a plain case of 'survival of the fittest.' The Indian +looked upon his kind as trespassers and intruders and as he had no navy or +war department behind him other than the tribal medicine man who decided +the war movements of his tribe by incantations or by observation of the +way the smoke blew from his camp fire, after deliberating on the general +condition of the country, the signs of the moon, as well as the inroads +the hunters were making on the buffalo which he considered his private +property, decided to go on the warpath and kill off a few buffalo hunters +and discourage any future invasion of what he felt was his private right. +When he began his undertaking he soon learned that hunting the buffalo +hunter was entirely different from hunting the buffalo, and it was a work +that two could engage in from opposite angles, at the same time, with the +advantage greatly in favor of the buffalo hunter as he was always well +armed, and an expert marksman; and in this particular they soon learned to +have a high regard for Buffalo Bill. To such a degree did they come to +admire him that they looked upon him as a being of a higher order, and not +of the common clay. Things came to such a pass after some experience with +the buffalo hunter, that the Indian never took any chances with him, but +when the hunter pointed to a distant horizon, the aborigines usually +followed the direction without further parley. + +Prior to the time of which I write, the Quaker sect came into close touch +with the Indian Department in Washington, D. C., and formed what was +called the Indian Bureau. They urged the only sane and proper way to +civilize the Indian was to educate him and teach him agriculture. General +Hazen was placed at the head of the movement and a conference was called +at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, which the Comanches, Kiowas, Cheyennes, and +Arapahoes were invited to attend. General Harney presided, surrounded by +reporters, interpreters and such other attendants as were required to lend +dignity to a court of such magnitude. After several days of vexation and +worry, they succeeded in formulating a treaty which was supposed to be +signed by all the chiefs of those different tribes, by which they agreed, +for certain considerations made and provided, to vacate all that country +lying between the Platte and Arkansas Rivers and go southward to take up +their permanent abode in what was then known as Indian Territory. The +Comanches and Kiowas were located on Red River and in the vicinity of the +Wichita mountains. The Arapahoes were located south of the North Canadian. +The Cheyennes were allotted the country along Pond Creek, in what was +known as Cherokee strip. The Quakers were not slow to learn that they had +made a fatal mistake in locating the Cheyennes so close to the state line +of Kansas, as the State of Kansas at that time was not governed by +prohibition laws and the bootlegger was abroad in the land, and unless +some steps were taken very speedily it would be a question of only a short +time before the bootlegger would have all the Indians' portable +possessions over in the State of Kansas. I happen to be personally +acquainted with a man who was engaged in that business and he told me that +at one time he had traded a boot full of whiskey for nine head of ponies. +He had no jug and rather than lose the deal, he pulled off his boot and +filled it from his keg and then started off with his ponies for Kansas. +The agent left in charge readily saw that such conditions could not hold +out long. There were marshals who had been appointed to guard and protect +the interests of the Indians, but some of them were in secret collusion +with the bootlegger and received a share of the gain. As a consequence of +this condition the agent decided to remove the Cheyennes southward to the +North Canadian where a permanent agency was established and put under the +control and management of Mr. Darling and even to this day is known as +the Darlington Agency. A large portion of the Cheyenne tribe settled there +and adopted the white man's way of farming. After they drew their +allottments, the government employed white men to go among them and +instruct them in the management of their affairs, and how to sow and +cultivate their crops. Women were also sent as matrons among them to +instruct the squaws in the art of fulfilling household and social duties. +Schools were built and teachers employed, and the advance they have made +is really surprising. + +The treaty of Medicine Lodge, it was hoped, would put an end to all +hostilities between the Indians and the whites and bring about a settled +condition of affairs, but such was not to be the case, for a large percent +of the Cheyennes and a considerable portion of the Arapahoes became +disgruntled and claimed they had not signed the treaty, and others claimed +that the interpreters did not properly translate their wishes and said +they were not going south to the Territory and would not comply with any +of the requirements of the treaty, or, in other words, they were going to +stay where they were, and go and come as they pleased regardless of the +white man's feelings in the matter. The leaders of this discontented +branch of the different tribes were Roman Nose, Black Kettle, Turkey Leg, +and Dull Knife, with a few smaller chiefs. These bands of Indians kept +roaming back and forth between the Platte River on the north and the +Cimmaron River on the south and west to the Rocky Mountains, and at one +time went eastward as far as Council Grove, Kansas, where the Kaw Indians, +a peaceable tribe, were located. They raided them and after killing a few +of them, ran off their stock and returned to their favorite hunting +grounds. + +This was kept up continually for years. Robbing stage coaches, killing +freighters, raiding stock ranches, or murdering the frontier settlers +seemed to be a favorite pastime with them. Ever since the treaty of +Medicine Lodge, they kept growing bolder and more threatening. Brigadier +General Sully who was in command at Fort Larned at that time, called their +attention to the fact that there had to be a change in their attitude +toward the whites, or he would be compelled to take action against them. +When they received this notice a delegation of the leaders called on the +General for a conference. They reported that all the mischief had been +perpetrated by some young Indians that were dissatisfied with the treaty, +and had acted entirely contrary to the wishes of their leaders. They +begged him to supply them with ammunition and arms, and assured him that +there would be no more trouble along that line. The foxy old bucks knew +that they were lying and if the old general had been educated on the +plains instead of a military academy, he would have known it too but he +was one of those good-natured, easy-going old fogies who were much more +intended to take charge of a Sunday school class than of a branch of the +army. At all events, after a good deal of palavering and soft-soaping the +old general issued an order for the agent to turn over to them the +firearms with the understanding that they should return to the reservation +and behave themselves and commit no further depredations on any person; +all of which they meekly agreed to perform. It was not 24 hours after +receiving the arms until old Black Kettle with a few of his confederates +were making medicine on the Pawnee and Walnut Creeks. The band started +north to the Saline River and commenced the most atrocious murders, rapes, +and other acts too abominable to be placed in print. They did not stop +there to complete their work of plunder and pillage, but hastened on until +they reached the Solomon river where their villanous and blood-thirsty +designs were carried out in full force and effect. They murdered about +fifteen farmers and two women, and committed other depredations and +horrors too hideous to repeat here. They carried off all the stock they +could find, besides taking away two little girls who were never heard of +afterwards. On their return to the Saline River they started in to +complete the work of destruction they had only partly accomplished on +their way to the Solomon. By this time the farmers had congregated at a +farm house and were making ready to fight them when they should arrive. +They did not have long to wait, for they were hardly inside the farm house +when the Indians appeared and began their pow-wow and war cry and firing +into the dwelling. Just about the time they were getting under headway +with the work of pillage and plunder, Captain Benteen heard the firing and +came to the rescue of the settlers. He had heard at Fort Zarah that the +Indians were on the war-path and how they had treated two women who were +afterwards taken to the fort for care and protection after their bitter +experience with the noble red Man. He started out with a troop of cavalry +and reached the besieged just in time to save them from the horrors which +they would be compelled to face if captured. There were 200 Cheyennes on +that raid and when Captain Benteen appeared on the scene, they scattered +like a flock of quail. These Indians drifted back in the direction whence +they had come and remained a short while with the Black Kettle band on the +Walnut and finally crossed the Arkansas and went southward toward the +Cimmaron River. + +The old brigadier general had by this time awakened from his lethargy and +found that he had been out-generalled by the Indians. He decided to take +immediate steps to punish them for their treachery and deception. There +was a large body of Indians operating between the Arkansas and Cimmaron, +and Brigadier General Sully concluded to go out and give them a good +thrashing to settle accounts for their past treachery and misdeeds. These +Indians were a mixed body of different tribes and seemed as anxious to +meet the general as he was to meet them. After three different engagements +in which the general was defeated, he was compelled to return to Fort +Dodge to avoid being captured by them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +Sheridan's Arrival; Kansas Volunteers' Disasterous March; Sheridan's +Activity; Custer's Engagement With the Indians, Etc. + + +About this time General Phil. H. Sheridan made his appearance in the +Indian country, bringing some additional soldiers under the command of +General Custer. He also asked for a regiment of Kansas volunteers. His +request was granted and the recruits were placed under the command of +Colonel Crawford with orders to meet General Sheridan at the junction of +Wolf and Beaver Creeks, or what is now known as Camp Supply. + +When the regiment had been enrolled and the men were ready and anxious to +make the journey, General Sheridan, in order to facilitate matters and +avoid any disappointment, sent two guides to pilot the new recruits to +their destination. It was now getting late in the year and each day +brought its quota of snow, rain, or sleet, but in spite of such +unfavorable conditions, the boys made no complaint, but rode patiently +along their tedious journey. After they had been out a few days the +colonel seemed to grow impatient and irritable, and began to dictate to +the guides and volunteered his advice as to the direction they should +pursue. He wanted to turn to the left and cross the Cimmaron River and +insisted on his idea to such a degree that the guides, or scouts, withdrew +their services then and there and left him to select when and where he +would elect to ford the river. The weather being stormy the Colonel lost +his way and through his impatience finally lost his head and did not know +where he was. The brakes and canyons on the north side of the river were +filled with snow that had drifted in from the prairie. In his desperation +he started to cross the stream and spent several days floundering around +through the snowbanks and drifts. After he succeeded in crossing the river +he found it as hard to get out of the difficulty as it was to get into it. +To add to his misfortune, he had neglected to bring along sufficient food +for horses or men. However, he succeeded in getting out and up on the +flats south of the river at the expense of a great number of horses, but +was fortunate enough not to lose a single man. The situation was not +improved in any measure as he did not know where he was. He continued +southward until he reached the North Canadian River. Here his remaining +horses kept themselves alive by browsing in the timber while the men were +compelled to live on what hackberries they could find. + +As Colonel Crawford did not arrive at the expected time, nor for several +days afterward, General Sheridan became anxious for his safety and sent +out scouts to see if any trace of him could be found. With much risk and +effort they found the colonel and what was left of his cavalry about +twenty miles below the designated place of meeting. To say they were in a +deplorable condition, would be putting it mildly. The moment General +Sheridan received word of the disaster that had befallen Colonel +Crawford's command, he sent out men and teams to their relief with +instructions to bring them into camp. The relief party did not arrive any +too soon as the men and horses were in a very sorry plight, owing to their +lack of nourishing food. One thing alone was in their favor in their +present deplorable condition and that was the abundant supply of dead +timber at hand which afforded them an opportunity to keep warm, or rather +keep from freezing, a thing which was entirely lacking on the Cimmaron. I +may as well say that they were all afoot by this time, as the horses that +were still alive, were reduced to such a state of weakness that they were +unable to carry their riders. It took two days to get them into camp, +owing to their enfeebled condition. General Sheridan's headquarters was +then located on the north bank of the North Canadian river about four or +five miles south east of where the present city of Woodward, Okla., is +situated. On the departure of the command from Topeka the newspapers in +flaming headlines announced the affair to the world, but their great +expectations were converted into "Crawford's Calamity." + +In the face of all this vexatious delay, awaiting re-enforcements from +Colonel Crawford, General Sheridan did not relax his energy in the least. +He kept everybody at work fixing up a base of supplies that would be in +his reach until the termination of that campaign which he intended to +settle during the winter months whilst the Indian ponies were poor and +weak and unable to transport belongings any distance. He also knew that if +he delayed matters until warm weather when there would be plenty of grass, +he would have to fight those Indians from the British possessions to +Texas. He was down there to fight those Indians or make them return to +their reservations to remain there and behave themselves and stop prowling +all over the country committing depredations. He had no time to engage in +peace treaties and had no guns to turn over to them, and there was no +chance for any trickery or treachery with him. He did not want to smoke +the pipe of peace with them and then be shot in the back and killed as +Turkey Legs and his band did with his scouts Comstock and Glover. He was +there for permanent peace or a permanent fight and the choice rested with +them. There was no swapping of horses or palavering. He meant business. + +By this time General Sheridan's headquarters very much resembled a +Canadian North-west logging camp. Everybody was kept busy, some hauling +logs, others digging trenches for the stockades, others were bringing +poles and brush to cover rude pole sheds for the purpose of affording a +temporary shelter for the stock. If there was anybody idle, it was some +one who was too ill to work, or who had hidden in the brush to avoid work. +The scouts were kept busy scouring the country in search of some trail or +sign of the Indians and finally were rewarded by the discovery of a trail +leading southward, which showed a large body of Indians had gone in that +direction. On receiving that information General Custer asked permission +from General Sheridan to fit out an expedition to follow them. The request +was readily granted by General Sheridan, as he was anxious to bring the +campaign to a close as speedily as possible. As soon as Custer had his +troops in proper shape he set out in the direction indicated by the +scouts. After crossing Wolf Creek and getting well up on the divide he +discovered the trail, but found it very difficult to follow owing to the +snow having drifted and covered any marks they had left behind them. +Occasionally, where the wind had blown the snow from some high place he +found all evidence required to justify him in keeping up the pursuit. He +maintained his route until he reached the north brakes of the South +Canadian and went into camp for the night in the least protected place he +could find and made things as comfortable as circumstances would permit. +Next morning after taking a survey of the situation he found himself +confronted with a great and dangerous undertaking through having to ford +the river. As every man who has ever crossed it with a loaded wagon knows, +it is one of the most treacherous streams to ford, in the Southwest; and +to add to the miry condition of the river it was frozen over, but the ice +was not of sufficient thickness to bear the weight of the horses, much +less the heavy wagons that were to follow them. General Custer, a +persevering and an energetic man, was not daunted by this present +difficulty. He sloped down the bank of the river and set his men to work +cutting a channel across and clearing the ice from it, so that it would +not cut or injure the stock in crossing. After passing the cavalry back +and forth several times to settle the quicksand, he sent forward the +freight and supply wagons and with great difficulty succeeded in landing +on the south side. Here he stopped for dinner as it was after twelve +o'clock when the last wagon passed up the bank. After dinner they hooked +up and started on their perilous under taking of climbing and winding +their dangerous way through the canyons and sand hills until they reached +the flats that divide the South Canadian and Washita Rivers. The distance +traveled that afternoon was not very great but the difficulties and +obstacles to be overcome were very trying. The general decided to have an +early supper and after a consultation with his officers determined to make +a night drive as the moon shone brightly and the trail was now becoming so +plain that the scouts felt there would be no difficulty in following it. +Accordingly they hitched up after their slight rest and set out under the +leadership of two Osage Indian scouts together with California Joe, a +white man who had been on the frontier all his life and who understood the +language of the different tribes. Custer had learned from his scouts that +it was the intention of the Indians to go into winter quarters on the +Washita, but was not certain of the exact locality. Consequently he had to +use great caution in trying to discover their where abouts. He found some +smouldering campfires, which showed that they were not very far in +advance. The scouts did not proceed very much farther until one of them on +looking over a bluff discovered the main camp and then hastened back and +made the fact known to the general. Custer then and there stopped the +outfit and went into consultation with his officers. It was now past +twelve o'clock and he decided to make no attack until after daybreak. He +arranged to divide his force into four different sections, each squad to +be under the command of an officer, and at daylight, at the sound of the +bugle, they were to make a charge. All was carried out as planned, with +the precision of clockwork. At dawn the bugle sounded and the band struck +up the tune of "Garry Owen" and the troops dashed in on the gallop. When +they reached the camp from the different directions, the battle began. At +the first volley fired, the Indians tried to escape, and some of them, +succeeded in getting away, but the most of them, were shot down, either in +their teepees, or as they were fleeing to some place of safety; others +dropped behind trees or logs and fought like demons, but it was useless as +they were overmatched. When the smoke of battle cleared away there were +over one hundred dead Indians lying on the camp ground. + +It was General Sherman, I believe, who said "war is hell," a statement +which, proved to be absolutely correct in this instance for the wailing of +the squaws and the screaming of the papooses together with the groans of +the dying made a wierd accompaniment to the cracking of rifles and the +commands of the officers. After the flurry of the battle had somewhat +subsided, Custer ordered all that were alive, squaws and papooses, to be +taken prisoners and put in charge of a squad of soldiers, whilst the +remainder busied themselves burning the teepees, provisions, and other +camp equipage found there. When the work of destruction was completed he +ordered all their ponies, about two hundred in number, to be brought in +and shot. To the reader this may appear cruel and inhuman, but it was only +a just retribution for the deeds this same band had committed on the +Saline and Solomon Rivers in Kansas, where they spared neither age nor +sex, but perpetrated outrages on women that are too beastly for +publication, and this was a small installment on what was due them. On +roll call it was found that Major Elliot and fifteen men were missing. + +The Kiowas and the Comanche tribes were camped but three or four miles +below where the battle took place, and it did not take them very long to +make their appearance about five or six thousand strong. Here was a fresh +problem for Custer to solve. If he was looking for a fight with the +Indians, they were at hand. Why did he not attack them? Why did they not +attack him? Why did not Custer make an effort to find out what had become +of Major Elliot and the fifteen missing men who had been with him. I shall +explain that as I see it from my point of view. There is no doubt in my +mind that General Custer was afraid to attack those two tribes, and was +also afraid to make an attempt to find Major Elliot and his companions, as +his conduct that evening abundantly proves. He had sent his scout, +California Joe, with a dispatch telling Sheridan of his condition and +asking him to send re-enforcements at once. That afternoon he held a +consultation with his officers and decided to return to Camp Supply to +reorganize his men and get more forces to engage in battle with those two +tribes. Now the question might be asked, why did not the Indians attack +him? There was but one reason and that was that they were afraid. They had +force enough to defeat Custer, but there was something else to take into +consideration. They knew General Sheridan was someplace in the country and +was, perhaps, at that time waiting to catch them in a trap. They were not +afraid of Custer and his command, but they knew that if Sheridan ever got +them in a tight place, it would be good-bye, Mr. Indian, for there would +be nothing left of him. It was a plain case of where Custer was afraid and +the other 'dassent,' it averted, as a result, one of the worst slaughters +that ever occured in the Indian Territory. + +In looking over the dead, Chief Black Kettle was identified. He had been +instrumental in starting out the band that had committed all the +depredations in the Saline and Solomon valleys, and but a few months prior +to this time had defiantly refused, when asked by General Sheridan to come +into Fort Dodge with the promise that he would be properly cared for. He +declared that he was going on the warpath and made good his declaration as +the battle on the Washita will show. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Sheridan's Camp; Discovery of Elliot and Companions; A Truce; Capture of +Comanches and Kiowas Return to Camp. + + +The night of the battle, Custer started for Camp Supply and very nearly +overtook his scout, California Joe, as the latter had to hide so much on +the way to avoid being caught by the Indians; and I believe that Custer +made a record trip, as he was afraid of the same thing. When he returned +and Major Elliot's absence was not satisfactorily explained, General +Sheridan showed great dissatisfaction. He issued an order to get +everything in readiness at once and decided to take a hand in that +business himself to see if he could not discover what had become of +Elliot. The Kansas volunteers having lost most of their horses in the snow +banks on the Cimmaron River, with the remainder unfit for service, were +organized as infantry and taken along. In fact, every available man was +taken from Camp Supply except those who were required to guard the +provisions and look after the stock. Although Sheridan was a graduate of +West Point, he never encumbered himself with any West Point tactics in +fighting Indians. He just put on his fighting clothes and set out to whip +them into subjection regardless of any military parade, and usually +accomplished what he set out to do. There was one feature of all his +expeditions which he never neglected, and that was that he never failed to +keep in touch with the best and most reliable scouts and guides to be +found, and once he had secured them he never failed to be governed by +their instructions, as he was well aware that such men understood the +topography of the country much better than some titled professor of a +military academy. Such scouts he found on this occasion. He took along as +his guide and chief of scouts, one Ben Clark, because Ben was married into +the Cheyenne tribe and understood and spoke the tribal languages fluently. +He also took along California Joe, as he was a good scout and was familiar +with all the customs and habits of the Indians, having lived and dealt +with them all the way from California to Texas. He was invaluable as a +scout and guide, but had one fault, of which I shall speak later on, that +tried the patience of the general sorely at times, but still Sheridan +could not afford to part with him. Those two, with the addition to two +Osage Indian scouts, were all that he brought into service. When +everything was in readiness the general set out with the firm +determination to settle the Indian trouble for once and for all time to +come, if possible. He took General Custer with him, as he was familiar +with the route and also with the locality of the recent battle. He took as +his ambulance driver Johnny Murphy, a lad scarcely out of his teens and +who acted in that capacity until the close of the campaign. The first +night out they camped on the south bank of Wolf Creek where they found an +abundance of timber and living water, two essentials at that time as the +weather was hovering around the zero mark. The men were becoming +accustomed to the cold and stood up in it like Esquimaux. Next morning +they were up and away to cross the divide to the South Canadian. The snow +was still quite deep on the flats and the moisture had softened the soil +which had not frozen sufficiently to hold up the heavy freight wagons, +which made it a tedious and toilsome trip to reach the river. Clark being +acquainted with the country guided them down a canyon where they found +timber and a fair shelter. There they went into camp for the night. Next +morning one of the real trials of the journey confronted them. The river +had to be forded and they were forced to repeat the labors that Custer had +performed on the former occasion and as the ice was not thick enough to +bear a heavy weight. They had to cut a channel and remove the ice from it +and trample the quicksand with the cavalry to make it fordable for the +wagons. They accomplished the crossing with a great deal of difficulty and +hardships, as most of them were wet from trampeling through the stream or +assisting the lumbering wagons on their way. When the last team had +crossed they were glad to know that this difficulty had been overcome. +(The reader sitting on a balcony, viewing troops of cavalry prancing along +the paved streets seems to enjoy the spectacle and can easily come to +imagine that the cavalry man's life is one continual round of pleasure, +but let him change his location and go and sit with me on the south porch +of a snow bank and see those same soldiers fording a treacherous stream in +the winter season and his impressions of the gay and happy life will be +suddenly changed.) When out of the brakes and the canyons they were on the +last lap of their journey to the battle ground where Custer had wound up +the wild and turbulent career of Black Kettle and his band of Cheyenne +warriors. This day was but a repetition of the day before except that at +noon they camped long enough to feed the stock some grain, as the mules +were becoming tired and jaded from the bad condition of the prairie. After +dinner they resumed their journey and that evening went into camp about +two miles from the scene of Custer's fight with the Cheyennes a few days +previous. Next morning they set out and in a short time arrived at the +battle ground. They stopped to examine the place which gave every evidence +of a severe conflict. After Sheridan had examined the field he sent out +scouts and squads of soldiers to scour the surrounding country in search +of Major Elliott and the fifteen missing men. They were found about two +miles from the battle ground, dead, and stripped of their clothing and +mutilated in the most horrible manner. The mutilation was the work of the +squaws. They had not been scalped and their bodies lay not very far apart +and the number of empty shells lying near each body showed the desperate +defense they had made. It was learned afterward that Major Elliott had +followed a band of fugitives and captured them, and when returning was met +and overpowered by a large band of Kiowas and their dead bodies were left +there for the squaws to mutilate. When this discovery was made and the +news brought to Gen. Sheridan, he was in no frame of mind to adopt any +conciliatory measures towards the Indians, besides it had a strong +tendency to lessen his respect for Gen. Custer for not making some effort +to learn what had become of Major Elliot and his fifteen companions. +Sheridan was now in the right humor for a fight. He wanted to fight and +was going to have a fight or a footrace with the first Indians he met. He +started down the Washita, where the Kiowas and the Comanches had their +headquarters. His progress was closely watched by the Indians. They pulled +up everything and moved on in advance of him, but well out of his reach. +They were certainly in a predicament as they could not cover up their +trail by scattering out over the plain, as they would do in summer time, +as the snow on the prairie gave evidence of every move they made and +things were in such a shape that it was either fight or surrender. Gen. +Sheridan did not seem to care which. They continued to move down stream +with Sheridan in pursuit until the third day when they sent a messenger +back carrying a white flag and a letter from Gen. Hazen, chairman of the +peace committee, asking for a conference with the General. The reader can +readily see about how Sheridan felt on the subject. He sent back word to +them that there was but one way in which he would recognize Hazen's +request for a conference and that was that he would give them twenty-four +hours to surrender and come in as prisoners of war, or a fight would start +at the expiration of that time. He was compelled to acknowledge the flag +of truce and the Indians were well aware of that fact. Reluctantly he gave +them the 24 hours to surrender or prepare for battle, as the recent +outrages on the settlers on the Saline and Solomon Rivers, the barbarous +treatment of Major Elliot and his companions were fresh in the mind of +Sheridan. The Indian, aware of the value of the flag of truce used it +always to his advantage when in a tight place, though they had no respect +for it in their own dealings with others. Sheridan was waiting anxiously +for the expiration of the time of truce, but the Indians forestalled the +allotted time by about four hours. If the thing was to be done over again, +I do not believe that Sheridan would have paid any attention to the flag +of truce, as the first sight that met the General's eye after he had +marched into their camp and taken Chief Lone Wolf and Chief Satanta +prisoners, was the body of a white woman who had been kidnapped from near +Fort Lyon by Satanta and kept to gratify his savage lust. When he found +escape impossible, he shot her to avoid giving her up to her rescuers and +took her white child by the feet and dashed its brains out against a tree. +When the fiend shot the woman, whose name was Mrs. Blynn, he held the gun +so close to her that her face was powder-burned. In her death, I imagine +that there was relief brought to one poor tortured soul. + +During the armistice, which did not last twenty-four hours, the Indians +killed all their ponies rather than turn them over to their conquerors. +After the preliminaries of surrender were completed, they were ordered +back to Ft. Cobb and accordingly started back to fulfill their agreement. +Any one familiar with the lay of that country can begin to appreciate the +difficulty Gen. Sheridan had on hand. Moreover, the reluctance of the +Indians to return made the journey all the more difficult. They had a +thousand different excuses to delay the journey, but it availed them +nothing. They were kept on the move and closely watched. In spite of the +vigilance exercised by the troops, some of the Indians managed to escape. +At every opportunity some of them would dodge through the brush along the +way and make their escape. Satanta seeing the success of his companions, +made a dash for liberty also. He was immediately captured by the soldiers +and put in handcuffs. To show no partiality in the matter, Chief Lone Wolf +was also manacled. To give further proof of his intentions to compel them +to submit, he told Lone Wolf and Satanta that unless those Indians who had +made their escape did not return very soon, he would hang the two of them +without ceremony. That put a different complexion on things. The two +chiefs immediately communicated with their followers, who at once sent out +runners in different directions to bring back the escaped prisoners. They +succeeded in bringing in most of them in fact enough of them returned to +move Sheridan to defer the hanging of the two chiefs. + +It is my belief that Sheridan afterward regretted that he did not hang the +two of them, as they richly deserved it for their past atrocities. I had +the pleasure last year, 1912, of seeing old Chief Lone Wolf strutting +around the streets of Hobart, Okla., wearing a celluloid collar and derby +hat, breaking himself into the habits and customs of the white man. The +sight of him caused me to wonder if he ever stopped to consider how near +he came to having his neck cracked by Gen. Sheridan and how richly he +deserved it. + +After carefully looking over the situation in all its different aspects, +Sheridan concluded that Fort Cobb was not the proper place to establish +his headquarters. He decided to take all his prisoners over to Cache Creek +where he would have more and better material to construct a small fort for +the protection of the frontier of Texas. This part had been subjected to +the raids of the Indians very frequently in the past and they were likely +to make an incursion at any time. When he had brought most of the Indians +there, he set to work building temporary headquarters and gave the place +the name of Fort Sill, after one of his old schoolmates. He held Satanta, +Lone Wolf; Little Robe, and several other lesser chiefs as hostages for +the faithful performance of all the conditions of the surrender with the +explicit understanding that any violation of any of the terms of it would +mean the hanging of the whole party. This understanding had a very +salutary effect and a strong tendency to establish order and discipline. +These acts may seem to show Sheridan to be a cruel man, but I will say, +judging from his action in caring for the remains of Mrs. Blynn and her +child who had been so brutally murdered, in taking them to Fort Arbuckle +and giving them a Christian burial, he has shown that his heart was in the +right place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +California Joe's Weakness; A Trip to Camp Supply; Bringing in Renegade +Indians; Expedition to Panhandle, etc. + + +Previously to the time of which I am writing, the General had sent a bunch +of cavalry horses to Fort Arbuckle where he had made arrangements for +their keep. The Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians raised some crops and had +feed to spare and agreed to look after the horses. The General thought by +this time they would be sufficiently recuperated to be of service to him +in his present needs. Consequently he fitted up an escort and an ambulance +and took California Joe along as scout and guide to go and get them. (I +promised the reader to tell him of Joe's one fault and will take this +opportunity of doing so.) When they had arrived at Ft. Arbuckle, they +found everything in better shape than they had expected. The General began +making preparations for his return to Fort Sill. When everything was ready +he found to his surprise and amazement that California Joe was gloriously +drunk. As the prohibitory law in regard to the sale of intoxicants was in +full force, in the Indian Territory, he could not account for Joe's +condition. He thought he would remain over a day or so to give Joe a +chance to sleep off the effects of his overdose of liquid joy. The next +day found Joe as happy as a clam in high water and there was no indication +of a scarcity of liquor. The General was face to face with a difficulty. +He could not remain longer at Ft. Arbuckle, and he could not go on without +Joe, as he might need his services at any time. Patience ceased to be a +virtue and he bundled Joe into the ambulance, jumped in himself and +started off. They all reached Fort Sill the next day safe and sober. In +the meantime the General had not learned where his scout had obtained the +liquor to make him drunk. Joe himself told me years afterwards that he had +obtained access to the General's jug. + +Upon his arrival at the fort, he found everything in as good condition as +the circumstances might warrant. It was a city of soldiers and Indians. +The habitations consisted of teepees and tents, while dug-outs were in +course of construction in case of a storm. + +As it was one of Gen. Sheridan's principles to allow no guilty man to +escape, he ordered Gen. Custer to take a company of men, mounted on the +horses he had brought from Ft. Arbuckle, with some scouts among whom was +to be found California Joe, and proceed to the head of the Red river and +bring back those Indians who had escaped after the surrender when +returning to Ft. Cobb. + +After Gen. Custer had taken his departure, Gen. Sheridan made provision +for the policing and government of the camp, also for the distribution of +rations to the Indians during his absence. As soon as he had completed +these regulations in a satisfactory manner, he began his own preparations +for a trip to Camp Supply. All these things took time and caused him no +little vexation, but he was equal to the emergency, and as soon as the +work was done he took his escort and full camp equipage and set out. It +was now getting along toward the first of March and the soft soil made the +wheeling of all vehicles a slavish task for man and beast. In spite of +this difficulty, he proceeded on his way and crossed the Washita above Ft. +Cobb and continued in a northerly direction until he reached the South +Canadian where to his great surprise he found the water very low, and what +was more pleasing, he found that the ice was all gone. The season was not +far enough advanced to thaw the snow on the mountains and consequently, +the river being almost dry, was easily forded. It is unnecessary for me to +go into details of that journey as it was but a repetition of his former +trip to Fort Sill, except for the floundering around in the snow banks and +the cutting of a passage through the ice to make a crossing possible. +These latter difficulties he escaped, owing to the lateness of the season. +Difficult passages through bad canyons were also avoided owing to Ben +Clark's thorough knowledge of the country. At best, it was a tedious +journey and on the seventh day after leaving Fort Sill, he crossed the +North Canadian just below the junction where the Beaver and Wolf Creeks +form the headquarters of the North Canadian. From there he proceeded to +Camp Supply, which was only a short distance away. When Sheridan arrived +at the camp, he found a message awaiting him, which had been brought from +Fort Dodge, Kansas, by stage. The despatch contained the announcement of +his promotion to the position of Lieut. General of the army and requested +him to proceed at once to Washington, D. C. Sheridan did not seem much +surprised at his promotion, and continued to perform his usual duties of +looking after the Indians and ordering supplies. (He saw to it that those +old squaws who had mangled and mutilated his soldier-comrades should be +properly cared for as prisoners of war.) (In fact, he was about the +busiest man in camp.) + +Before Gen. Sheridan had left Camp Sill, Gen. Custer had returned from his +trip to the head of Red river, which he had made at his own request. He +reported that he had found nothing but a bleak waste. He stated that there +was no sign of animal or vegetable life to be seen and that he did not +think it possible for the Indians to subsist there. On hearing this report +Gen. Sheridan said nothing but took the matter into consideration and, +after revolving the affair in his own mind for some time, it was plain to +be seen that he was dissatisfied with the report. He ordered Gen. Custer +to increase his force by taking the Kansas volunteers and mounting them on +the horses he had brought from Fort Arbuckle, to refit and refurnish them +thirty days rations and return. He also ordered him to take a full +complement of scouts and scour the country until he did find the Indians +and bring them into Camp Supply, or whip them into subjection, with all of +which Custer was ready to cheerfully comply. The camp was now alive, each +soldier fitting up his belongings for a return trip. Gen. Sheridan told +Custer that he had to return to Supply and that he wanted the Indian +business closed up as soon as possible and for all time to come; that he +did not want the band left at liberty until the grass was green as they +would then be self-supporting and could prey upon the stockmen and the +settlers at will; that it was his duty to prevent this and he would, +regardless of consequences. + +It did not take long to make the proper preparations for the return trip, +and Custer took a sufficient number of men to overpower any ordinary band +of Indians, and on the following morning set out for the Panhandle +country. Gen. Sheridan intended to set out the same day, but as he said he +had neglected his correspondence, he thought it better to take another day +to devote to that matter and arrange everything of that nature before +leaving. + +On the second day afterwards he had his baggage and other effects packed +ready for the trip and went down to the corral to bid his old comrades and +teamsters good-bye. He made them a short talk, thanking them for their +faithful services they had always so readily rendered. He said that whilst +he did not ever expect to return to that post again, that he would be glad +to meet any of them, at any time or place. After shaking hands with all +the boys he started for the ambulance which was to take him away. When he +met Johnny Murphy, his tried and trusty teamster all through the campaign, +he said, "Well, Johnnie, I am going to leave you. Be a good boy, and if +you should ever come to Washington, call on me. I shall always be glad to +meet you." He shook hands with him and when he had gone a short distance, +he turned and shouted back, "Now, Johnnie, do not fail to call on me." At +his departure there could be seen on the cheeks of more than one of those +old battle-scarred veterans, a glistening tear, the true token of +deep-seated regret. It was a sorrowful parting as these men had followed +him through the din of battle for four years during the rebellion and +through the Indian campaigns and had come to look upon him as their +dearest friend for whom it was a pleasure to shed their blood in the +performance of duty. But such was life in the west. When he had gone, each +turned to his duty and tried to forget his sorrow. It was such little +traits as this that made Sheridan loved by his own men, revered by his +friends, and admired and respected by his enemies. + +The General had hoped to be able to reach Washington to lead his old +command in the Inaugural parade on March 4th, but such was not to be, as +his duties in the Territory delayed him, too long, as it was now March +2nd. He set out as soon as it was possible for him to leave his command. +If there was any bad weather, it seemed to be his luck to be out in it. It +sleeted and as scout and guide to go and get them. I promised the rained +all during the journey to Bluff Creek and continued to do the same all the +way to Dodge City. + +Gen. Custer, a very energetic man and strict disciplinarian, too strict in +fact to always retain the respect of his men, kept everybody and +everything on the move. The snow was now fast disappearing from the +Territory, but the mud and slush caused by the thawing snow, made +travelling a slavish task. Each day was a repetition of the preceding one +and such it continued to be until they reached the Panhandle country where +they found more snow and less protection from the winds. They still +advanced keeping the scouts well to the fore to escape any chance of being +taken by surprise. Each day brought the same routine of duties and the +same results until it became monotonous, so much so that the boys said +that they would like to have a little fight just for a change and to liven +things up a little. On and on they went across the dreary desolate plain, +with not even a buffalo to be seen as they had been driven from the flats +by the severe storms that swept that part of the country prior to the +trip. A gray wolf might be seen occasionally, or perhaps an antelope, but +that was about all as the wild horses or mustangs had sought shelter in +the canyons or brakes. Desolation reigned supreme and were it not for the +company they found in each other they wouldn't have been able to endure +the loneliness of the place. Duty urged them on, and forward they went +well out on the Staked Plains. One day the scouts returned with the +information that they had discovered an Indian village. Such news was +music to their ears and each and all began to prepare for the impending +conflict. Strange as it may seem, those Indians were aware of the approach +of the scouts and fully realized their danger. The scouts had scarcely +returned to camp when Custer saw through his field-glasses a lively +movement among the Indians. He knew that he had sufficient force to crush +them, but hesitated to do so as he had learned that they held two white +women as captives, and thought it best to parley with them, for if he +attacked them they might repeat the act of cruelty and cold-blooded murder +that was perpetrated by Satanta on the Washita rather than deliver her up +to her rescuers. They did not have to wait, for it was a short time until +the white flag which the Indian always kept within easy reach, was brought +forth. When well out from the village and not far distant from the train, +the general and his staff with an interpreter went out to meet them. It +did not take long to arrange the preliminaries as they were anxious to +surrender, or more so, than he was to capture them. Whilst the +negotiations were being conducted for their surrender and return to Camp +Supply, Chief Tall Bull made his escape with a few followers and was not +heard of until a year later when the report was made that General Parr +had made a final settlement with him and sent him "where the wicked cease +from troubling", and "the weary are at rest," up on the Republican river +in Colorado. + +About the first request made by these Indians was for chuckaway as they +were almost famished for want of something to eat. Custer readily acceded +to their demand and gave them a liberal supply of rations. Then they made +ready to move. They had no pianos, sewing machines, or bric-a-brac to pack +and crate, but they had a good quantity of buffalo robes, blankets, tanned +buckskin, pots, skillets, and other belongings of an Indian camp and it +took some time to get them in readiness for transportation. To a person +who has never witnessed such a thing, it is very interesting. The teepees +had to be taken down and put in shape to be packed on ponies. In fact, +everything had to be packed on ponies as a wagon was an unknown thing to +them. They had a substitute for the wagon which they made from a green cow +hide. This while soft and pliable they fastened by each corner to a post +and weighted down the center until it assumed the form of a large dish. +When it became dry and hard, they attached it to two long teepee poles +fastened one on each side of a pony. Into the hide they then put anything +they wished to transport and turned the pony loose with the rest of the +herd. I have seen them place papooses in this rude vehicle and the old +pony wandered at will over the prairie. The teepee poles were made of +cedar and were very light. Sometimes as many as a dozen poles would be +fastened to a pony with other luggage fastened on his back. The young +babies, or small papooses, were strapped to the squaws shoulders where she +usually carried it in all kinds of weather. The older children climbed on +the back of a pony, as that is about the first thing they learned, and +were ready for any kind of a journey. The Indian ponies are usually very +docile as they are broken to handle from colthood. It is a very rare thing +to see one of them bucking or running away, and consequently we seldom +hear of an accident to an Indian caused by a vicious horse. + +When everything was in readiness, the general gave orders to set out and +off they started on their return trip to Camp Supply. Their progress was +necessarily very slow owing to the starved condition of their ponies, but +Custer urged them on to the limit of their endurance as he had now a great +many new boarders on hand and he feared that he might run short of +supplies. Each day of the journey was like the other. One thing was +favorable, the weather was warmer and the ground was not so soft and muddy +as on their advance into that country. One day one of the soldiers shot a +buffalo and he and his comrades cut off the hump and one hind quarter to +divide among his companions. He told the Indians to help themselves to the +rest. The general called a halt to give the Indians a chance to attend to +the remnant of the buffalo and put the cook to work preparing some of the +hump for himself. They also fed the stock some grain and by the time the +General finished his slice of hump there was not enough of that buffalo +left to bait a mouse trap. There was nothing left but the horns, hooves, +and bones. Even the entrails did not escape their ravenous appetite. +Nevertheless, the buffalo saved the General's commissary the necessity of +providing one good meal and that was quite a consideration at that +particular time, as provisions were beginning to get low. Each day brought +its quota of petty annoyances. Sometimes a wagon would bog down in the +creek, or a whiffle-tree would break or a mule balk. But that is all the +part of a journey. On they went until they came to the South Canadian +river where they expected to meet the greatest difficulty of their trip, +but to the surprise of all parties, the water was very low and they +succeeded in crossing it with much less trouble than they had to contend +with in crossing some of the smaller streams. The quicksand was their +greatest obstacle to be encountered in the way. The Indian ponies, as I +have said, being very poor and weak, one of them would frequently fall and +flounder around in the quicksand throwing his burden, a squaw and her +papoose. There they struggled with the treacherous sands until a soldier +equal to the emergency would gallantly go to their rescue and bring them +back to safety on the opposite bank. The bucks faced the ordeal very +reluctantly, but seeing that it was a case of the 'devil take the +hindmost' they removed their moccasins, blankets, and in many cases +reduced themselves to a state of primitive simplicity, and made their way +across as best they could. Much to the relief of the commanding officer +the last of them, after a good deal of struggling and snorting, landed on +the north bank of the treacherous stream in safety. The general in his +eagerness to proceed, did not wait for them to arrange their toilets, but +pushed on through the brakes and canyons until he reached the flats where +he went into camp. He was eager to reach his destination to unload his +responsibility and one cannot blame him for that feeling after performing +such an arduous task. It took three more days to reach Camp Supply where +Gen. Custer turned over his charge to the Indian Department and in due +course of time discharged the regiment that had rendered such valuable +service. During that expedition Custer had brought back those renegades +and turned them over to the Department without firing a gun except at game +on the way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +Civilizing the Indian; A Period of Unrest; An Outbreak; Murder of a +Freighter. + + +At this time the Quakers were largely in control of the Indian Department +and were indorsed in their views by Pres. U. S. Grant. They believed the +Indian could be civilized and kept under control by moral suasion by the +erection of school houses for his children, and by imparting a knowledge +of the proper system of agriculture. Under their influence, rations were +issued and blankets distributed among them. They were also given wagons, +plows, and other farm implements which they knew nothing about. They would +not ride on a spring seat, nor sit in a wagon box, but for some reason +best known to themselves, they would remove the box and place teepee poles +on the wagon bolsters and all climb in when they were ready for a trip. +The plows and other implements which were sent out among them to encourage +them to farm, I have seen suspended from trees. I cannot understand why +they did so, unless it was to show contempt for the white man's way. It is +true, some of them raised small patches of corn, which with the rations +issued by the Agency and the game they killed, kept the wolf from the +door, or rather the flaps of their teepees. Occasionally a small band of +them would get a permit from the Fort Commander to go on a hunt, with the +understanding that they were to return at a stipulated time and behave +themselves during their absence and not commit any depredations. All this +they complied with. I have met these hunting parties up in No Man's Land +and other places and never heard of their perpetrating any mischief on +persons or stock whilst out under a permit. + +The squaws, when not busy in the corn patch or in their little garden, +were engaged in making ornaments or other fancy needlework at which they +were experts. These articles they afterwards sold to tourists from the +East, at the Agency, as souvenirs of their trip among the Indians. Some of +this kind of work had a real intrinsic value far above the ornamental part +of it. I knew one chief's daughter who had a blanket ornamented with elk's +teeth and shells, that was valued at $1500. She was taken ill and died, +and the blanket which she loved to wear at festivals was used as a shroud. +A few days afterwards, some person passing by noticed that the grave had +been disturbed. He notified her people and an investigation being made, +they found that some white man or men had been there and had stolen the +blanket or robe in which she was wrapped. If they were ever captured, I am +not aware of it. I said that white men did it, because a negro is too +superstitious to do it, and I do not believe there is an Indian in the +Territory who would stoop to such a ghoulish act; so I shall give some +white animal the credit for the deed. + +The government also built large corrals or cowpens where the cattle were +issued to the Indians. On the size of the family depended the size of the +cow or steer issued. The Agent had the name of each family and the number +of persons comprising it. When a steer was selected a cowpuncher rode +among the herd and cut out the desired animal and rushed him through the +gate of the corral where the Indians were waiting with bows and arrows to +kill him. They seldom killed him at the first or second shot. More +frequently a dozen shots were required before they struck a vital spot. +When the beast fell, the squaws, papooses and dogs came along to do the +skinning and oversee the division of the meat. Each one came in for a +share. After the killing, the lordly old buck would seek out the shelter +of some tree or other shady place to rest his manly form until the animal +was dressed and ready for consumption; then he would return and fill his +capacious stomach with wohaw. The Government shortly changed the arrow +shooting feat as it considered that such a practice had no civilizing +influence on the Indian and, besides, it wanted them to forget their old +habits as soon as possible. Thereafter, when on issuing day a beef was +selected, a man was there to shoot it in the corral and the Indian entered +with his ponies to drag away the carcass to dress it outside. + +After some time the Department decided to remove a large number of the +Indians at Camp Supply to the Darlington Agency which is located about 140 +miles south-east of Supply on the north bank of the North Canadian river, +and about two miles from Fort Reno. Here they settled down submissively +and appeared to be content with their existing condition. At times there +were some small complaints about the agent, which upon investigation +proved oftentimes to be correct. On the other hand there was a disturbing +element. This thing is not common to the Indian alone, but may be found +among civilized folks who are not at peace with themselves or the world at +large. Taking everything into consideration, they were doing about as well +as could be expected under the circumstances. + +The other band of Cheyennes who had located on Pond Creek, were also +brought down to the Darlington Agency. This left the Cherokee Strip +comparatively deserted, but it did not remain so long as the cowmen +entered there and built ranches and stocked them with cattle under leases +from the Indians. There were the Turkey Track, the Box T. R-S, Bull Foot +and other ranches too numerous to mention, all located in the Cherokee +Strip. + +Everything moved along smoothly with but little trouble from the Indians +until the year 1874, when the spirit of unrest seized them again and +extended to all the Indians over the western plains. Some had one +grievance and some had another. They began making medicine, which to a +man acquainted with the Indians meant trouble sooner or later. At that +time, supplies to Anadarko, Ft. Reno, and the Darlington Agency were +freighted from Wichita, Kansas, and distributed to the different bands at +these places. As there were no railroads in this country, it gave +employment to hundreds of men and teams on the trails to enable them to +keep up the supplies. The freighting business was a great boon to the +early settlers of Kansas as the grasshoppers had destroyed everything in +the form of vegetation and the settlers who had teams went to Wichita and +engaged in freighting for the government. Even the white folks at this +time were reduced to a great state of privation and had to depend on the +bounty of the outside world. The more fortunate in the older states +responded to their appeal and tided them over their distress until +prosperity placed them beyond the reach of want. + +About this time small bands of discontented Cheyennes began prowling +around over the country and occasionally went beyond the limit allowed +them by the Agent, and then returned to draw their rations with the other +Indians at the Agency. They continued to do this for some time and finally +began to make depredations on stock or anything else that came within +their reach. The Agent prone to avoid trouble with them, treated them +leniently, but the more leniency he showed, the bolder they became until a +small band under the leadership of Tall Meat, a petty chief, went north as +far as Buffalo Springs on the south line of the Cherokee Strip. There they +could see the freight wagons in the distance laden with government +supplies heading for Anadarko, and came to the immediate decision of +raiding the train. They withdrew into a canyon on the side of the trail so +as to be out of sight when the train arrived. They intended to murder the +teamsters and plunder their goods of whatever they wanted and then make +their escape. A man named Patrick Hennessey was driving the lead wagon of +one of the trains. He was trudging along on foot beside his team without +the slightest suspicion of any danger. As soon as he had passed where they +were hiding they shot him in the back. When the shooting took place the +team stampeded and dragged Hennessey in his dying condition along the +ground. The wagon upset and a bag of grain fell across Hennessey's lower +limbs and there he lay dead. In the meantime the drivers of the other +wagons together with a passenger who was working his way down the country, +abandoned their teams and wagons and fled. Next day the Indian Agent with +an escort happened to pass that way and discovered the work of destruction +of the day previous. They found the remnants of the wagon which had been +set on fire. Some of the oats which comprised part of the load were still +burning, and the sack that had fallen across poor Hennessey's limbs in +burning had charred his legs to a crisp. The agent, John D. Miles, and his +escort, Billy Mulally, dug a kind of temporary grave to protect the +remains from the coyotes and the buzzards and marked the place with a few +rocks. Every freighter that passed that way felt it his duty to see that +the grave was kept in as good condition as circumstances would permit. The +resting place of Pat Hennessey became a landmark for all travellers in +that section until the Rock Island railroad was built, when the remains +were removed to their present place of rest. The city of Hennessey, one of +the most prosperous little cities in the state is named in his honor. I +have since been told that the women of Hennessey have erected a monument +with suitable inscription at his grave. The other teamsters who fled when +the first shot was fired were overtaken and killed at some distance from +where Hennessey fell. + +This little band of highwaymen could not expect to be allowed to pursue +their murderous way with impunity. They had no following, as such acts +would be condemned by the best Indians of their tribe, and again they were +surrounded by forts. Supply on the north, Elliot on the west, Sill on the +south, and Reno at home. A small band of white men might escape under +such conditions as it would be possible for them to avoid detection, but +not for Indians of the kind, as their approach would be a signal to begin +shooting. It was a very short time until they were captured and brought +into the agency. Several others were rounded up at the same time. Then an +official investigation was made and after a great deal of red tape +ceremonies and other preliminaries, it was thought best for the interests +of the Indians, as well as for the safety of the white settlers, to +transport them to the Dry Tortugas. I have never visited that locality, +but from what I have learned from persons who did, it was not a very +desirable place to locate a people who might expect any great degree of +personal comfort. I had been told by a man who spent some time there, that +if the government sent those folks there to confine and punish them, it +had struck the exact spot where everything had a tendency to add to human +misery, and he believed it was located so close to the region of the lost +that he could hear old Cerberus barking across the dead line. + +To show the reader a fine sense of filial affection and brotherly +attachment is not a stranger to the savage breast, I must mention a little +circumstance that occurred. When all that were to be sent off were +standing around and their friends were giving their farewell greetings, +one young Indian stepped forward and asked the officer in command if he +were going to take his brother away where maybe so he not come back some +time. The officer replied that such was the present intention, but +modified his remark by saying that at some time in the future they might +regain their liberty if they were good Indians. The young Indian hesitated +a moment and then said, "Well, me go too. Me not want for stay here and my +brother he take away some place I not know and maybe so he not come back +at all sometime. Me go, too." The commanding officer granted his request +and gave him transportation along with his brother to the Dry Tortugas, +situated 175 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. + +When the Indians were removed, in a short time everything dropped back +into peaceful channels and ran along in a comparatively smoother fashion +until Chief Dull Knife became uneasy and wanted to return to the Black +Hill country. His outbreak will form the subject of another chapter. + +Since writing the above I have had occasion to visit one of the public +schools of El Reno, where I found a history of Oklahoma written by Joseph +B. Thoburn, former secretary of agriculture, and Isaac M. Holcomb, former +superintendent of Oklahoma City schools. On page 133 I found a brief +history of the tragic death of Pat. Hennessey on July 3rd, 1874, and what +a brave defense he made against such odds and when captured was bound to a +wagon wheel and burned alive. Also, there was a foot-note stating that it +was reported and generally believed that it was the deed of white men +disguised as Indians, in order to have it charged up to the Indians. Such +was not the case and the above statement is misleading and incorrect, and +for the benefit of the school children of the State of Oklahoma, as well +as in justice to the Indian I shall set down the correct statement of the +case. + +My authority for my version of the affair are the following gentlemen: +John Murphy of El Reno, and H. A. Todd of Calumet, brother-in-law of Billy +Mulally who assisted John D. Miles, Indian agent at Darlington, to bury +Pat. Hennessey, while on their way to Wichita, Kansas. Billy Mulally is +still living at Calumet and can be consulted in regard to the matter. +Their version of the affair is as follows: + +Patrick Hennessey in the lead of a wagon train was going from Wichita, +Kansas, to Anadarko, I. T. loaded with grain and other supplies for the +government. He had been warned at Buffalo Springs ranch, kept by a man +named Mosher, that the Cheyenne Indians were on the war-path, and was +advised to go no farther. He persisted in going and in like manner did the +two other teams of the train. With them was a passenger who was working +his way with them. When not far from where Hennessey, Okla. is now +located, a band a Cheyenne Indians, under the leadership of Bear Shield +and Tall Meat, came out of a draw and shot Hennessey in the back. The +commotion caused by them stampeded the mules Hennessey was driving. He in +his dying condition hung on to the lines and was dragged along the ground, +as he had been walking alongside the wagon. Presently the wagon upset and +a sack of oats fell across Hennessey's prostrate form and pinned him to +the ground. He was dead. The other drivers with their passenger leaped +from their wagons and ran north-east in the direction of Skeleton Creek +where they were followed by the Chyennes and killed, and were afterwards +buried by the cowboys and Mosher. This accounts for their not being buried +with Hennessey. The burning of Hennessey cannot be attributed to the +Cheyennes as the Osages happened along about this time and the Cheyennes +fled. The Osages after plundering the wagons of all they wanted, set fire +to what they could not carry away. The following forenoon, John D. Miles, +Indian Agent at Darlington, accompanied by Billy Mulally, a cowman on his +way to Kansas, came across the wreckage. The grain was still burning and +Pat Hennessey's body lay partly under a sack of grain which was still +smouldering, and not tied to the wagon wheel as the history has it. From, +there they removed him and buried him in a temporary grave. From this +resting place he was afterwards removed to what is now called Hennessey, +Okla., where there stands a splendid monument erected to his memory by the +women of Oklahoma. + +Note--This correction is only one of many that might be made in our +present day history which pretend to set forth a correct idea of the +early days of our state. For any further reference to such matters, living +witnesses are at hand to give a correct version of many erroneous +statements that have crept into our text books and other writings. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A Decade of Warfare; Custer's Massacre; Sheridan, etc. + + +For several years, I might say the whole decade from 1870 to 1880, the +Indians occupied the attention of the public. In the Northwest they were +very active. The Utes, Apaches, Cheyennes, and the Sioux were almost +continuously on the warpath, and their activities were so widespread and +far-reaching that, at times, they almost blocked the progress of the +wheels of commerce, and made trade and travel a very dangerous proceeding. +The movement on the part of the Indian developed a corresponding activity +on the part of the military department. Gen. P. H. Sheridan, Gen. Crook, +Gen. Custer, and Gen. Nelson A. Miles and many other men high up in +military affairs devoted their time and attention to the pressing +condition of affairs and took up their position in localities where they +would be able to suppress the movements of the Indians and bring about a +peaceable solution of their difficulties. + +The various bands of Indians adopted practically the same mode of +procedure in their warlike movements. Each spring and summer, when there +was plenty of green grass and abundance of water, usually found them +opening up a new campaign against the encroachments of the white +population. It was very galling for them to stand by and see the source of +their supplies, the buffalo, exterminated without making any contrary +movement. In fact, they did not propose to do so, but set out to +exterminate the hunters who were intent on making a desert of the plains +that teemed with millions of their favorite game. Their efforts were +sometimes crowned with success, and frequently they encountered disaster. +In spite of the reverses they suffered, as at the Chivington massacre on +Sand Creek, Colorado, they did not abandon their efforts to retain their +rights to the land they had so long retained as their lawful hunting +ground. The fact that he had practically no further means of gaining a +livelihood, made them all the more determined to fight to the finish with +those whom they considered usurpers of their ancestral kingdom. + +To add to his difficulties in the way of the encroachments of the whites, +an unexpected circumstances arose that made conditions much more difficult +to bear. Gold had been discovered in the Black Hills. There was a rush +made upon the gold-bearing district, which stirred the Indians to greater +excitement. Immigrant trains from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and as far +east as Ohio and Michigan, began to wind their long sinuous way across the +plains in the direction of the new gold fields. They were not entirely +unacquainted with the excited condition of the territory through which +they were compelled to travel, and consequently made preparations to meet +the difficulties and dangers of the way. They were well aware that the +Indians were on the warpath and ready to give them a warm reception on +their invasion on the Indians' domain. To meet the perils of such a +journey as they were compelled to make, each wagon train consisting of +numerous outfits, was under the guidance of some experienced plainsman. He +showed them the proper manner of procedure in the method of self-defense +in case they were subjected to an attack from the marauding bands of +red-men on the way. It was well, as far as their own safety was concerned, +that they learned how to corral their wagons and stock in the time of +danger, as more than one wagon train was attacked and completely destroyed +and the members of the party massacred on their way across the plains. In +justice to the Indians, I wish to remark that all the massacres and +plunderings of the early days were not wrought by the Indians. It is a +well-known fact that the Mormans in Utah played a part in such inhuman +affairs, as is evidenced by the actions of John D. Lee and his followers, +disguised as Indians, when they perpetrated the Mountain Meadow massacre. +To leave the impression that it was the work of the tribesmen they scalped +their victims, ran off their stock, and burned their wagons. There are +several other instances that might be mentioned, wherein the whiteman in +the guise of the Indian, performed deeds of deviltry and endeavored to +cast the blame upon the redman. While charging the Indian with his crimes, +let us not forget to give him credit for his virtues also, or as Theodore +Roosevelt would say, "let us give him a square deal." + +Time passed on, each year bringing its quota of trouble and disaster, +without any indication or improvement in the general condition of affairs. +All the frontier posts were supplied with soldiers who seemed anxious for +something to turn up to relieve the monotony of camp life. They finally +had their wishes fulfilled, for in the spring of 1876, Sitting Bull, the +Napoleon of the Sioux tribe, succeeded in concentrating his whole force in +the valley of the Little Big Horn. No opportunity was more desired by the +whites for putting an end to the activity of the Indians. Gen. Custer lost +not a moment in taking the field against him. His past successes in +fighting the savages seemed to guarantee him victory in his present +undertaking. In his impetuosity he set out flushed with the thought of the +success that was to perch upon his arms. In his ardour lay his crushing +defeat. Custer had about 700 men--only 256 with him in actual fight where +he fell, every man killed except Curley the Crow scout who escaped. Reno +and Benteen were already held in check on the hill they retreated to when +attacked before Custer engaged the Indians. The Indians had 3600 braves or +warriors. Sitting Bull was the Bismark of the Sioux and Gall the Von +Molkte. Custer and Terry had been informed by Indian agent at Standing +Rock that only 800 braves were to be engaged. Sitting Bull had defeated +General Crook a few days before he encountered Custer. Sitting Bull +fearing also General Gibbons and Crook at any minute to reinforce the +Seventh Cavalry hastened to make his escape to Canada, otherwise he would +have annihilated Reno and the balance of the Seventh Cavalry. These +Indians in 1881 returned to the United States and I helped put them on +steam boats at Fort Buford and Fort Keogh, or Miles City now, and sent +them to Standing Rock agency, Rain in the Face's band being at Keogh. +Sitting Bull, by strategy, succeeded in decoying General Custer, with his +entire command, into a position that was suicidal. The wily Indian chief, +with about nine thousand warriors, on the 25th of June, 1876, attacked him +and annihilated the whole command, carrying off all Custer's munitions of +war as trophies of victory. Acting on the principle that "to the victor +belong the spoils," Siting Bull, by the total annihilation of the enemy +was able to replenish his larder at the expense of Uncle Sam. It was a +veritable windfall for him, as the supplies of food, guns, ammunition, +horses, blankets, and everything that was needed for comfort and safety, +were very much in demand about that time, as the Indian's resources were +almost at the vanishing point at the time. It is not my purpose here to +offer any explanation of Custer's failure, but it was commonly reported +that General Reno had been expected to take part in the engagement, but +did not do so. Others lay the disaster to Custer's impetuosity, not +waiting for his auxiliaries to arrive. I am not prepared to say who was to +blame for the calamity. + +In the death of General Custer, the country lost one of the bravest men +that ever donned the uniform of the soldier. He had his faults but +cowardice was not one of them. He was true to his country and his flag and +his fall where the fight was thickest, was an indication of his military +character. + +I thought it proper to write this short sketch in order to show the +influence it exercised on succeeding events. It was several days before +the results of the day's disaster became known to the general public. +There were several reasons for the delay. First, those who were to join +Custer in his attack on the Indians did not arrive for some time after the +battle and as there was not a living soul left to tell the tale of the +deeds of heroism performed in that desperate encounter, nor give any +inkling as to the whereabouts of the dead bodies of the slain, it was more +by chance than design that their location was discovered as soon as it +was. Even to those who came upon them where they lay stiff and cold in +death, it did not seem possible that there could be such a complete +massacre that not a living man was left to relate what happened. Again, +the means of communication with the world at large were very meagre. There +was the pony express, a very slow method at its best. However, the news +was finally forwarded to the country at large, and as usual, the +newspapers went into glaring accounts of the disaster, calling upon +imagination for what they lacked from authorative sources. The whole +country was aroused. + +When the other Indian tribes had learned of Sitting Bull's successful +annihilation of the hated pale-face command, their enthusiasm knew no +bounds. They began to see at last the extermination of the white man. No +more would the buffalo hunter deprive them of their means of subsistence. +No more would the freighter and the settler occupy the lands that belonged +to the Indian long before the white man had set his foot on American soil. +The prophecy of the Messiah was coming true, and they were ready and +willing to have a share in hastening the day of their deliverance from the +white usurper. Naturally, they began to make their war medicine and +prepare themselves to aid in freeing their beloved plains from the +objectionable intruder. Herein, they reckoned without Uncle Sam. No sooner +had the news of Custer's defeat and annihilation been brought to him, than +he began to make preparations for another expedition against them, +determined to wipe out the stain of recent defeat. The purpose of the new +expedition was probable more comprehensive than the former efforts of a +like nature. The government began to realize that it was face to face with +no common danger. The forts were put in proper condition to resist any +attack that the Indian might contemplate making upon them. New forts were +established at different points of vantage and men enlisted for the +purpose of bringing the defense up to a proper footing, as well as to +afford protection for the trade and commerce of that disturbed region. + +The year of 1877 was but a repetition of the preceding years with very few +exceptions. The Indian was becoming accustomed to the ways of the white +man, especially in the art of making war. Whenever and wherever possible +he discarded his primitive weapons, the bow and arrow, for the more +up-to-date and efficient firearms. These they acquired, sometimes by +barter and frequently by successful engagements in battle, as in the case +of the Custer massacre where they obtained sufficient munitions of war to +make them feel rather bold in their dealings with the boys in blue. + +One thing noticeable about this time, was the change in the method of +conducting warfare by the organized forces of Uncle Sam. The old army +method of fighting was improved by adopting the strategy of the enemy +while fighting on his native heath. Heretofore they had followed the +tactics of civilized warfare acquired by experience in the years of the +Great Rebellion, but they were glad to adopt the latter and improved +method of bringing the battle to the Indians in the manner that was more +conductive to personal safety and at the same time offered opportunities +for personal initiative. The change seemed to be more agreeable to the men +in the ranks, for they seemed to enjoy mounting a horse and scurrying over +the plains in free-lance fashion. One great drawback to their success was +their ignorance of the topography of the country in which they were +operating. They were oftentimes compelled to rely upon the knowledge of +scouts who were frequently as ignorant as themselves. Since so much +depended on the accurate information given by the guide, one may imagine +the plight of a body of men guided by an unreliable scout in an expedition +through the mountains or over the plains. Happily, men of such character +were the exception and not the rule. The rank and file of the scouts were +composed of men whose knowledge of the plains seemed almost uncanny, whose +personal courage was on a par with that of the bravest of men, and who +could be relied upon to accomplish their undertakings with prudence and +despatch. Such men as Ben Clark, Buffalo Bill, Amos Chapman, W. F. +Brannan, Jack Stillwell, Billy Dixon, and others too numerous to mention +filled all the requirements for a successful scout, and rendered service +to the country that can not be properly estimated or fitly described +within the limits of a short narrative. Some of them I am acquainted with +personally, and I feel myself honored by it. They were the men that guided +the U. S. troops through the most difficult and dangerous campaigns, +blazing the highways for them, and making civilization possible on the +western plains. + +The summer of 1877 passed away in very much the same fashion as the +preceeding seasons of Indian warfare. The first snow fall was a harbinger +of peace, as the tribesmen do not favor the winter time as one fitted for +the activities of warfare. They preferred to sit around the camp fire in +their winter quarters and wait till the grass was green and the plains +free from snow before taking the warpath again. They were never known to +break the custom of generations, until General Phil. H. Sheridan arrived +at the conclusion that it was not advantageous to allow the Indians to go +into winter quarters to wait for another season of warfare. That looked +too much like allowing the enemy to say when, where, and how they would +fight, and that was contrary to the notions Sheridan had of conducting a +successful campaign. He it was who ordered the winter campaign against +the Kiowas, Comanches, and Cheyennes, which proved successful and paved +the way to permanent peace with those tribes. Nelson A. Miles adopted the +same plan and drove Sitting Bull through the snowbanks across the boundary +into the Dominion of Canada, where he was quite willing to promise to +behave himself in the future if permitted to return to the land of his +fathers. I know for a certainty that he lived up to his promises, though I +do not know how far he would have done so if he had not lost his power as +a medicine man with the Sioux. He was shortly after his return shot and +killed by the Indian police. His death removed one of the greatest leaders +and warriors that ever led the Sioux tribe into battle, and conduced to +the establishment of permanent peace with that nation. + + +CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE. + +The 7th U. S. Cavalry, 700 men and 28 officers, 2 companies of the 17th U. +S. Infantry, 1 company 6th U. S. Infantry--8 officers and 135 men; One +Platoon of Gatling guns, 2 officers and 32 men, of the 20th U. S. Infantry +and 40 Ree scouts, the 7th Cavalry being commanded by General Geo. A. +Custer, and the expeditionary forces under command of Brigadier General +Alfred H. Terry, at the sounding of the "general" at 5 o'clock in the +morning of may 17th, 1876 proceeded to march to the camp of Sitting Bull +in the Little Big Horn country, by 7 a. m. the 7th Cavalry was marching in +column of platoons through the post and around the parade ground, of Fort +A. Lincoln, the band mounted on white horses playing "Garry Owen" the +Seventh's battle tune, first used when this gallant regiment charged at +the battle of Washita. The column halted just outside of the garrison and +dismounted where their wives and members of the families came out and bid +their husbands and fathers good bye, many of whom they would see no more, +after the farewells, the signals "mount" and "forward" were sounded and +the command headed by the Gallant Seventh, marched away the band playing +"The Girl I Left Behind Me." + +The command proceeded until on the Rosebud, Indian trails were discovered +June 19th. The mouth of the Rosebud was reached June 21st, where +preparations were made for the battle that followed on the Little Big Horn +June 25th and 26th, 1876. + +The Indians attacked in this campaign were various Sioux tribes, also +Northern Cheyennes and Arapahoes, the leading chiefs being Sitting Bull, +Rain in the Face, Crow King, Low Dog, Big Road, Spotted Eagle and Little +Horse of the Northern Cheyennes--Gall, Crow King, and Crazy Horse were the +three ruling fighting chiefs; the total fighting strength of the combined +Indian forces was 3000. + +General Custer was ordered by General Terry to engage the Indians, reports +from the Indian agencies leading him to believe that there were only about +800 bucks in the field. + +General Crook had engaged Sitting Bull's command before on June 17th and +was badly defeated by the Indians, indeed glad to escape without total +annihilation. General Gibbons was near, but the three commands operated +independently of each other while had they co-operated together, attacking +as a whole, the Custer massacre as it is called would never have occured. + +On June 25th, 1876, the Indians were attacked by one battalion under Major +Reno, consisting of Troop "M"; Captain French, Troop "A"; Captain Moylan, +Troop "G", Lieutenant McIntosh, the Indian scouts under Lieutenants Varnum +and Hare and Interpreter Girard, Lieutenant Hodson acting adjutant, +Doctors DeWolf and Porter Medical officers, this battalion marched down a +valley that developed into a small tributary to the Little Big Horn, now +called Sundance or Benteen's Creek, where they reached the river, and +crossing were routed by the Indians in great force and retreated across +the river to the bluffs loosing three officers and 29 enlisted men killed, +seven enlisted men and one officer wounded, one officer and fourteen +enlisted men missing, the Ree scouts ran away and continued their flight +until outside of the danger zone. Some Crow scouts remained with the +troops. + +The battalion commanded by General Custer, consisted of Troop, "I", +Captain Keogh, Lieutenant Porter, Troop "F", Captain Yates, Lieutenant +Relly; Troop "C", Captain Tom Custer and Lieutenant Harrington; Troop "E", +Lieutenants Smith and Strugis, troop "L", Lieutenants Calhoun and +Crittenden; Lieutenant Cook was adjutant, Dr. G. E. Lord, Medical officer. + +The third battalion was under Captain Benteen, the ranking captain of the +Seventh Cavalry, consisted of Troop "H", Benteen, captain, Lieutenant +Gibson; Troop "D", Captain Weir and Lieutenant Edgerly; and Troop "K", +Lieutenant Godfrey. The pack train was in command of Lieutenant Mathey, +escorted by Troop "B", Captain McDougall, this battalion was to proceed to +the right and supposed to cut off Indians routed by Reno, but on coming +into view of the Little Big Horn Valley succeeded in joining Reno on the +hills where he was being engaged by the Indians; while Gall was leading +the attack against Reno, Iron Cedar, one of his warriors, announced that +more soldiers were coming, which was the battalion under General Custer, +the Indians withdrawing from attack on Reno concentrated on Custer, who +never forded the river but being attacked by overwhelming forces made his +stand on a ridge where he and every one of his command went down to +defeat, not one man escaped to tell the tale--212 bodies were buried on +the battle field, all stripped and mutilated except General Custer who was +shot in the temple and left side. The bodies of Dr. Lord and Lieutenant +Porter, Harrington and Sturgis were never found, at least not recognized, +the clothing of Lieutenant Porter and Sturgis was found in the debris, +and showed they had been killed. The total killed of the entire command +was 265, wounded 52. Little plots of wild sun flowers mark the graves of +those resting here who died on that memorable June 25th, 1876, no one will +ever know the heroic death they met or the terrible scenes enacted but +they attest the services of the Gallant Seventh Cavalry who did more to +clear the country in the early days from Mexico to Canada than almost all +the other regiments combined. "Garry Owen" can not awake them to glory +again, and the girls they left behind will mourn until death shall enable +them let us hope, to join their departed dead never seen after that fatal +parting, May 17, 1876, at old Fort Abraham Lincoln on the banks of the +historical Missouri River. + +GENERAL H. M. CREEL. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +Trouble With the Northern Cheyennes; Little Chief Conducted to the Agency +at Reno, I. T. + + +The year 1878 found the Northern Cheyennes up in arms and on the warpath, +as were the other tribes on the plains and in the mountains. Prominent +among the roving bands of warriors was the Little Chief band of Northern +Cheyennes. They were very active and indications seemed to point out that +they were likely to make things very disagreeable for the troops as well +as for the ranch man in that section. + +Little Chief and his band were brought to Fort A. Lincoln in December 1877 +and remained there until July 24th, 1878, when they left with the 7th +cavalry for the Black Hills to locate a fort, named later Meade. The +fortunes of war proved very unfavorable for him and he was forced to +surrender early in the season. His whole band consisting of 375 warriors, +with the Little Chief himself at their head, was taken to fort Abraham +Lincoln as prisoners of war and placed in charge of Major Tilford who was +in command of the place at that time. They remained there till the latter +part of July, when he selected Ben Clark, General Sheridan's chief of +scouts and indian interpreter, to take charge of them and take them under +military escort from thence to their destination at Fort Reno reservation, +in the Indian Territory. I herewith give Clark's commission in full. + + HEADQUARTERS + + Fort Abraham, Lincoln, Dakota, + July 20th, 1878. + + To Mr. Ben Clark, in charge of the Cheyenne Indians. + + Sir: I am directed by the commanding officer to inform you that it + is his intention to have the Cheyenne Indians, prisoners of war, leave + this post for their destination early next week, and that you will + make the necessary arrangements for their departure at that time. If + you need any assistance or information in this connection, you will + report to the commanding officer in person. Very respectfully, Your + Obedient Servant, + + F. M. GIBSON, + 1st Lieutenant 7th Cavalry, Post Adjutant. + + +[Illustration: GENERAL H. M. CREEL] + + +Ben Clark accepted the appointment and at once began to make the +preparations necessary for the removal of the indians to their destination +at Fort Reno, I. T. It was a perilous undertaking at that season of the +year as the plains were alive with hostile Indians. Another incident arose +about the time to make the journey more hazardous than usual, viz, the +report that Dull Knife had left the reservation at Fort Reno and was on +his way northward to his former hunting grounds. In other words, Dull +Knife was on the warpath and as explained in a former chapter, was +committing all kinds of depredations. It may be easily imagined what would +occur if the tribe that had just broken away from Reno reservation were to +join forces with the Little Chief band on their way to the place the other +had just quitted. Naturally the tensity of the situation exercised its +influence on the whole force accompanying the Little Chief band. At this +juncture Ben Clark received the following telegram: + + HEADQUARTERS + + Fort Abraham Lincoln, + July 24th, 1878. + + Special Order, No. 175. + + Companies H and L, 7th Cavalry, will move into camp on the hill in the + rear of the post at one o'clock, p. m., preparatory to taking the + field tomorrow, the 25th of July, 1878, to join troops operating from + Bear Buttes, Dakota, Ter. The Cheyenne Indian prisoners will leave + this post with this command enroute to Camp Robinson under the charge + of Ben Clark who will draw for these Indians thirty-two days Indian + rations, and will attend to the loading, hauling, and issuing of the + same during the march. By command, Major Tilford, + + F. M. GIBSON, + 1st Lieutenant, 7th Cavalry, Post Adjutant. + +When everything was in readiness, and there was considerable difficulty in +the task just accomplished, the expedition set out for Bear Buttes. +General Sam D. Sturgis, Colonel of the Seventh Cavalry, in command. +Captain Benteen, in command of the escort. The journey was rather tedious +as the distance to be traveled each day was limited by Ben Clark to 15 +miles. When they reached Bear Buttes they were met by Second Lieutenant H. +M. Creel, of K troop of the 7th Cavalry, and Captain Mathey, who took +charge of the escort from that place to Fort Robinson. Everything went +along as well as the trying conditions of the march would permit, and +through the watchfulness of Ben Clark the Indians had little cause to +murmur, as he looked after their interests and comfort in a manner that +reflects great credit upon him. When they reached Sidney Barracks farther +south, the following telegram was awaiting them. + + Omaha, Barracks, Neb., + Sept. 14th, 1878, 12:35 p. m. + + To Ben Clark, in charge of Cheyenne Indians, + In care of Commanding Officer, Sidney Barracks, Neb. + + As the Northern Cheyenne Indians who were at Fort Reno, I. T., have + left there and are trying to make their way back north, the Department + Commander desires to know if you think it advisable for the Indians + under your charge to continue their journey south at present. Is there + any liklihood of their trying to join those who have left Fort Reno? + Where do you think those who have left Fort Reno will try to cross the + Union Pacific Railroad? Telegraph reply to this and any other + information or opinion regarding movements of those from Fort Reno + which may be useful. By command, + + GEN. CROOK. + (Signed.) R. WILLIAMS, + Ass't Adjut. General. + +Major Mauck took charge of the escort under Ben Clark at Sidney Barracks. +Things went along according to the usual routine until they reached the +vicinity of the Red Cloud agency. The close proximity of that agency to +the present position of the prisoners of war, no doubt, had some influence +on the Little Chief band, as they used to belong to that section of the +territory. At this place, Iron Shirt and Black Wolf, chiefs of no mean +repute, decided that they would go no further. They declared that they +preferred to go to the Red Cloud agency and did not want to go any further +south. For a time it seemed as if there was going to be some difficulty in +getting the expedition under way again as Iron Shirt, in particular, who +was looked upon as a military genius by his followers, was quite +determined in his attitude against any further advance towards Reno. +However, the matter was promptly adjusted by the commanding officer, by +the use of a little diplomacy, as he explained matters to them through the +interpreter and put the affair in such a light that it seemed satisfactory +to all concerned. The Indians had been rather loathe to leave Fort Abraham +Lincoln and would in all probably openly resisted were it not for an +agreement made between them and General P. H. Sheridan wherein he promised +them good locations, plenty of rations, good hunting on the North +Canadian, and besides, gave them permission to retain their firearms as +there was an abundance of game in the land to which they were going. The +reader will discover later on how this agreement was respected by the war +department. + +The expedition journeyed along from Sidney Barracks under command of +Major Mauck, via Fort Wallace, Fort Dodge, and Camp Supply, without any +interruption of any importance, though it was a very tickelish situation +all the way as they knew not at what time or place they might encounter +the Dull Knife band. It took all the wariness of Ben Clark to keep the +band out of all possibility of meeting their kinsmen who were then on the +warpath. That he did it successfully, is to his credit, and for it he +deserves the highest commendation of not only those immediately concerned +with the expedition, but of the country at large, for if those two bands +of Cheyennes united, there would have ensued another massacre appaling in +its execution. + +Little Chief and his band escorted by four troops of the fourth cavalry +under Major Mauck arrived at Camp Supply, I. T., in December, 1878, after +a few days' rest started for Fort Reno, the first day's march brought them +to the junction of Wolf and Beaver Creek, forming the North Fork Canadian +River, where the command camped, the next morning in the midst of a heavy +snow storm Major Mauck came to Lieutenant Creel's tent about five o'clock +with a telegraphic order from General Pope commanding department of +Missouri directing him to disarm and dismount the Northern Cheyennes in +his charge and en route for Fort Reno, as the interior department at the +instigation of the Indian office refused to allow the Indians to enter the +Territory unless this was done--this was done to prevent a repetition of +the Dull Knife raid of that year. General Pope being entirely ignorant of +the promises made by General Sheridan to these Indians that they should +retain their arms and ammunition and he had called their attention to the +excellent hunting in the Indian Territory. Now on this morning the Indians +expected to start out on a great hunt and had asked Lieutenant Creel to go +with them, but immediately after reveille and breakfast were confronted +with the four troops of the Fourth Cavalry mounted and asked to deliver up +their arms and ponies. Lieutenant Creel told Major Mauck of the promises +made the Indians by General Sheridan and pointed to the interpretation +that would be placed upon such treatment and asked Major Mauck if he could +not defer action until they could get into communication with General +Sheridan, Division commander, but due to poor means of communication Major +Mauck was afraid to assume the responsibility. Later when General Sheridan +learned of this action on request of the Indian office, it is needless to +say he was much incensed and it was due to this fact that he in a short +time affected the transfer of all Northern Cheyennes in this band who +desired, to return to their old hunting grounds in Montana. + +On the arrival of the expedition at Camp Supply, they were confronted with +a dispatch from the war department through General Pope, demanding the +immediate disarmament of the Indians. When the order was made known to +Little Chief, he at once objected to its enforcement, and with his band, +stood with arms drawn and ready to rebel against such open violation of +their treaty with General Sheridan. + +The Indians when asked to surrender their arms and ponies refused, and +formed in battle line in semicircular formation, the women and children in +the center. Iron Shirt exhorting them to die fighting for their rights, +telling them that they had been lied to long enough, during this time had +one gun gone off, it would have been the commencement of a bloody massacre +of women and children. All the women and children that could crowd into +Lieutenant Creel's two tents, thinking that when the firing commenced they +would be immune. Until eleven o'clock the Indians maintained a bold and +relenting attitude, their guns in hand, they stood immovable not yielding +one inch; during this tense interval when any moment one shot would have +precipitated a bloody fight, Lieutenant Creel remained with the Indians in +their midst, walking quietly up and down their line urging carefulness and +pleading for the lives of their women and children until they finally +surrendered. The Northern Cheyennes as Little Wolf said at Washington in +the winter of 1913, had made him an adopted member of their tribe, and the +history of the Cheyenne nation or people would not be complete without his +name in it, that no white man, an officer in the gallant Seventh Cavalry +had when death was near, stood with the Indians in their midst, and on +their side as he had done, every other white man had left the Indian camp +including William Roland, a half-breed Cheyenne interpreter for these +Indians, saying there was going to be a massacre. + +It was certainly a very trying situation. There was not a man of the whole +command who did not admit the justice of the Indian Chief's refusal to +turn over the arms which he had been promised to be allowed to keep as he +would need them in his new location for the purpose of killing game. The +cavalry were ordered to mount and enforce the unjust order. At this point +there occured one of those little incidents that oftentimes raises a man +above his fellows and marks him for all time as one to whom the regard for +justice is paramount above all things, even life itself. + +The troops had mounted and were holding themselves in readiness for +further orders, when H. M. Creel, second lieutenant of K troop, indignant +at the injustice of the order, went to the Indians and urged them to +refrain from bringing on an engagement which would prove disasterous to +themselves and cause a massacre of their women and children. As the +lieutenant could speak the Cheyenne tongue fluently, and was familiar with +the customs and habits of the tribe, he received a hearing that was +respectful. He succeeded in bringing about a conciliation by becoming +personally responsible for their firearms and anything else which they +might have that was considered contraband of war. By his course of action +in the matter, he at once won the undying gratitude of the Cheyennes, +which endures to this day, and will continue to do so as long as the +traditions of the Cheyenne are handed down to posterity. + + +[Illustration: BEN CLARK + +Gen. P. H. Sheridan's Chief of Scouts] + + +The trouble being averted, the escort started on its way again, Ben Clark +guiding them down the river. But the danger was not yet past. General Pope +insisted on the order being carried out in spite of the fact that justice +and decency forbade it. However, he succeeded in having it fulfilled, but +when it was carried into effect there were not enough guns of any value to +arm a corporal's guard. I have always been under the impression that the +Indians during the march from where the trouble arose to the place where +they were disarmed, succeeded in secreting the best of their arms, which +was not very difficult as the soldiers were not too strict in trying to +prevent their doing so as they saw that an injustice was being done to +their charges. I do not know what General Sheridan thought or said when he +learned how his treaty of peace with the Indians had been observed by the +war department, but, I am under the impression, that if one could have +taken a kaleidoscopic view of his thoughts at the time, there would likely +have been a very lurid tint about them. + +Once the Indians were disarmed, the work trials of the expedition were +practically at an end. It was a very short march down the North Canadian +to the place of their future abode. Ben Clark saw to it that things were +carried out, as far as possible, to the satisfaction of all. + +Nor did Lieutenant Creel leave the wards of the government at once. In +fact he remained with them for a considerable length of time in the +capacity of agent, and the confidence they had in him is shown by the +results of his tenure of office among them. He came to be looked upon as a +father to all of them, to whom they might go to have all wrongs righted, +and their rights preserved. The result of such confidential relationship +between Lieutenant Creel and the Indians is manifest today in the +high-class of citizenship that exists among the wards of the government, +and their advancement in the various pursuits of life according to the +white man's ways. + +Creel was the man of the hour. He devoted his time, talents, and energy to +the elevation of the children of the plains. He set out to improve their +educational facilities. He wrote a grammar and a dictionary of the +Cheyenne tongue, of which he had a complete mastery. Also work on the sign +language of the North American Indians. His work in this regard was of +such a high order as to be preserved in the Smithsonian Institute in +Washington, D. C. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +Ben Clark; General Creel; Some Observation in Conclusion. + + +In concluding the little work, I deem it impossible to close without +paying tribute to two men who have done so much in the way of settling the +difficulties of the west, and making it possible for the white settlers to +live in peace and prosperity, freed entirely from the haunting spectre of +an Indian raid. Many have contributed their share to the important work, +and credit must be given them, nevertheless in any undertaking, there are +men who seem by nature to be better adapted to the work than others; so it +was in the closing days of the Indian troubles of the West, when the +Indian had good cause for looking on the white man with suspicion, and the +result as shown in those numerous raids upon the white settlements during +the decade of 1870 and 1880. + +In the long array of men who endeavored to bring the difficulties that +disturbed the West to a satisfactory close, we find two who played an +important part within the scope of their opportunities, and the results of +their work are manifest at this date. + +Ben Clark was a scout. The term to the ordinary man of affairs does not +mean much, but if one could ask General Sheridan's opinion of the man and +scout, he would place him in the very first rank of all scouts of the +West. He was a man particularly gifted by nature with the endowments +requisite to achieve success in his calling. He seemed to have an uncanny +knowledge of the plains. Like an open book he read her every mood. On his +knowledge of that vast trackless plain depended the success of many an +expedition, and there yet remains no failure to mar the brilliant record +of his achievements. Not only soldiers, but generals placed themselves +unreservedly in his hands and felt safe. He was not a soldier, but no +soldier ever showed greater qualities of generalship than he. Generals +commanded the armies, he commanded the generals and they gladly obeyed +him. Amid all the trials and vicissitudes of his life of hardship, he ever +maintained an evenness of temperament that carried him down to the present +day, to a ripe old age, after more than fifty years of service in the +Army, not a soldier, but as a scout, respected and retaining the +confidence of the men with whom he spent days and years of hardship on the +plains. + +Associated with Ben Clark in the later days was one who has risen by dint +of devotion to duty to a very high position in the sphere of military +affairs. I refer to General Creel, as he is now called. Among the many +positions that General Creel has held was that of adjutant general of his +state, North Dakota, where he raised the national guard of his state from +chaos to such a degree of efficiency that the war department after full +inspection and field maneuver of the guard with regulars declared ninety +per cent fit for duty in the field on a par with the regular army. General +Creel on his own request was highly complimented by the governor for his +distinguished services, and retired with the rank of major general as +provided by law. Of his soldierly qualities there is not much need of +making the record here, as it is open to all who wish to consult the +archives of the army. Fighting qualities are expected in a soldier, +otherwise he would be out of place in the ranks, but there are other +qualities that set a man apart from his fellows. Some men have +administrative ability, some diplomacy, others skill in various lines, but +a man must have a special adaptation by nature who can take the rough, +untamed spirits of the plains away from their native heaths, from all that +is dear to them, and at the same time make them love him. Some could do it +by force, but the result would not be lasting, as is instanced in the +case of Dull Knife; others could do it by love of justice and fair play +and convert the savage into a high-class citizen of the state. The latter +was the method used by General Creel, and to show that they have not +forgotten the spirit of fairness that characterized the man, one would but +have to visit the Darlington Agency, Oklahoma, when the general makes a +trip to the scene of his early efforts as an Indian pacifier, and see how +they gather around him and show marks not merely of respect, but of real +affection. To the work of his office he added occupations of his own +choice. He devoted himself to a thorough study of the Cheyenne tongue, and +his efforts resulted in a grammar and dictionary of that language. Not +only is the general an authority on the Cheyenne dialect, but his work on +the sign language is masterly. He is not only a man well versed in Indian +affairs, though that itself would be sufficient for most men, but is one +of the directors of the 1914 Chatauqua institute. One would be inclined to +think that with all the successes that attend his efforts, and the title +of general that he bears, that he would be inclined to be swelled with the +sense of his own importance, but not so. You will not find a more modest +man in the whole range of activity than the general. He is the last man +that you would take to be one of the great geniuses of the West if you +were to estimate him by his general behavior. + +In conclusion, much might be written about the complex nature of the +Indian and the trouble he created for the white man during the last half +century. But if the white man were to put himself in the place of the +Indian I doubt if he would act differently. One cannot see an intruder +come into one's domain and lay waste the very foundation of one's +existance without finding that trouble has originated that is likely to be +far reaching. That was the situation. The Indian had been master of the +plains from time immemorial, and like every possessor of territory; he +had no idea of yielding up his home, his life, without a struggle. He had +not admitted the sovereignty of the government when the white man came +among the tribes. Any territorial extension that had been made on the part +of the government was made by treaty, and any one conversant with history +well knows how faithlessly the truces and pacts with the Indians have been +kept. In fact, it is one of the standing disgraces to our country that so +many of the agreements with the original holders of the land have been +broken. It looks as if the principle that "might makes right" were the +only one in vogue when dealing with the Indian. He has not only been +deceived frequently in the past, and treaties with him violated, but he +has also been plundered in ruthless fashion by those whom the government +sent to look after his affairs. Scandal upon scandal has occured among the +agents in charge of the different reservations, with the result that the +Indians not only became disgusted with the treatment they received, but +broke away from their locations and went on the warpath. If the different +tribes that surrendered had been treated with the proper amount of +justice, half or more of the blood-curdling atrocities of the latter part +of the decade of 1870 would not have occured. What was wanted was more men +like General Sheridan, and General Creel, and less of the grafters and +boodlers who looked upon the Indian as lawful prey to be robbed and +pillaged with ruthless abandon. + +The government, I have no doubt was willing to do the right thing, but was +frequently unfortunate in the choice of the means adopted. The Quakers who +came upon the scene early in the management of Indian affairs, meant well, +but their peaceful measures were not adapted to the nature and character +of the tribes of the plains. They did not understand the nature of the +Indians who were wont to travel with unrestrained freedom over the vast +plains, living their lives according to their lights and traditions. The +Quaker method of curbing their dauntless spirit was about as effective as +trying to tame a wildcat by saying, "pussy." As I said, they meant well, +did their best, but their efforts caused the Indian to smile on more than +one occasion. + +The methods frequently used by the war office to bring the Indians into +subjection did not always meet with the success that the efforts exerted +would warrant. True, it was a novel kind of warfare for civilized men to +undertake, but I do not think that the utmost care was always exercised in +carrying out the different campaigns. There is much to show that there +must have been considerable laxity in different places, as is shown in the +ease with which Dull Knife marched, by, past, and around, different forts +in his way north, and with a mere handful of men set at naught the efforts +of several regiments. There is no question about the willingness of the +private soldier to do his duty, for he was usually found at his post and +fighting to the last ditch, but there were men wearing the garb of +officers who did not exercise the judgment of skilled fighters in handling +a difficult situation, or in following an efficient plan of campaign. All +this naturally tended to give the Indian an opportunity he was looking +for, and the blows he dealt in return were of considerable heft. + +The day is coming slowly but surely when the last red man will have +disappeared from the domain wherein he roamed a monarch. He does not seem +to be able to thrive on the white man's mode of life. It may be that the +veneer of civilization that he had acquired in recent years is more of a +restraint than a benefit to him. The vices of the white man have had their +effect upon him also. Whatever the causes, the race seems to be doomed to +extinction, the buffalo and the Indian seemed to be an essential part of +the plains. The buffalo is practically only a memory, and the red man is +following his trail toward the setting sun, soon to disappear over the +horizon of time. + + + + +AFTERWORD + + +Before taking leave of my readers, I cannot refrain from expressing the +appreciation I feel for the assistance I have received from numerous +reliable sources. The best authority for an account of any happening is +the chief actor in the drama, and this is undoubtedly true when the +authors themselves are men of integrity, reliability, modesty and truth. +Men of this type necessarily leave the impression of truthfulness and +reliability, on any narration of events they may make. Such men I have +consulted in my work to guarantee the authenticity and veracity of my +narrative. I take a great pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to +General H. M. Creel, Ben Clark and Mr. John Murphy. Others who have +assisted me in compiling the preceeding chapters, I have mentioned in +various parts of the book, but those I enumerate here, have assisted me in +a special manner and I feel it a duty to thank them abundantly for their +favor in directing me in setting down the correct narrative of events +described. As these gentlemen are still living, it is a very easy matter +for any one to consult them in regard to the historical events of the +preceeding chapters, but any one who knows the character of these +gentlemen will deem it sufficient that they have placed the stamp of their +approval on the pages of the preceeding work. + +To my wife, who so faithfully kept the light in the window as a beacon to +insure my safe return, this little volume is most respectfully dedicated. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INDIANS' LAST FIGHT*** + + +******* This file should be named 37922.txt or 37922.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/9/2/37922 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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