Democratic banner., 1845-03-01
i SceEEa S.
THRILLING
TIE LAST OF NIKE YINK.

II LhSI w MINI blNks
Fink i; appears, in 1922, entere,
the service Of the Mountain Flu
Company, under thelate Gen. w H
Ashley, ofSt. Louis and went to tn,
fort atIhe mouth Of the Yellow Stone
River where the occurrence nara
ted by the Reyeille. took place.
The whole story is SO interesting
that we give ii without abridgement:
Mike. with many generous quail.
lies. was always a reckless dare.dev-
ii; but at This time advancing in wears
and decayed in influence. above all
became a victim OF whiskev; he was
morose and desperate in the extreme.
There was a government regulation
which forbade the free use OF alcohol
at the trading ports Oh the Missouri
river, and this was a continual source
OF quarrel between the men and the
commandment, Major Henry, on the
part OF Fink, particularly. One of
his freaks vas TO march with his ii.
f1e INTO the fort, and demand a supply
OF spirit. Argument was fruitless,
force not to be thought of, AID when,
on being positively denied. Mike
drew up his rife and sen q ball
through The cast, deliberately walked
up and filed his can. while his partic-
ular ''boys' followed his examples;
al that could be done was to look np-
on the matter as one of his "queer
ways," and that was the end Of it
This state Of things continued for
some time. Mikes temper and exac.
tons growing more unbearable every
day, until finally, a split took place,
not only between himself and the
commandant, but many others in the
fort, and the unruly boatnan swore
he would not live among them. Fol-
lowed only by a youth named Car.
penteF, whom he had brought up, and
for whom lie felt a rude but strong
attachment, he prepared a sort of
ave III the rivers bank, furnished i,
with a supply of whiskey, and with
lis companion. turned in to pass the
winter, which was then closing upon
them. In this place he buried him
self, sometimes unseen for weeks his {
protege providing what was nccessa. s
~ Leyond the whiskey. At length I
ritemPts were used on the part of I
lose in the fort. 10 withdraw Car.
enter from Fink; foul insinuations
"ere made as TO the nature of their a
.naexlon; the youth was twitted 4
being a mere slave. &C., all
n Fink heard Of it in spite Of s
,uFeiuenO served to breed dis, y
/ between the two, and though I
I'D not separate, much of their b
atty ceased. The winter wore
10y n this sullen state of torpor. 6
: ca,ne with its reyiving infu-
.lnd to celebrate the season. a d
upply of alcohol was produced, and
number Of his acquaintencss from a
ne fort coming to rouse out Mike, Ii
desperate "frolic" of course ensued, e
here were river yarns, and boatman
and "nigger breakdown" in. n
.ersPersed with wrestling matches.
unping. laugh and yell. the can cir Ii
.uiating freely, until Mike became l.
omewhat modified. no
"l tell you what it is boys" he de
RED, the forts IA shunk-hole. and I'd h;
ather live with the bars than stay m
1t. Some n yes bin trying to
art me and my boy, that l love like st
~ own cub-but no matter. Nav III
e he's pisoaed against me; but, Car w
enter, Striking the youth heavily pt
n the shoulder,) took you by the
md when 1t had forgotten the touch III
4 fathers or mother's--you know nc
e TO DC a man, and you amt a going ST
turn out a dog"
Whether il was that the youth an
ncIed something insulting IN the he
amer of the appeal, or not, we tel
MT say: but it was not responded H
very warmly. and a reproach fol.
wed from Mike. However, thew
ank together and the froIic wen, GU
. until Mike filling his can walked no
some forty yards, placed it upon tire
head, and called to Carpenter 10 mi
ie his rifle. the
This wild feat of shooting cans off