The New York herald., 1868-06-19
ON THE PLAINS.
Military Post ON the FrOntier--nun.rx
Indians.

FORT HAYS Kansas, June H. 1885,
There are no indications Of Indian disturbances in
the vicinity Of this frontier post. Whatever hostility
there may be among the savages is confined TO theme
selves. Since the trouble between the Cheyennea
and Kaws near Council Grove last week we have
heard OF no further fghting but the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes are ON the path STILL party OF the
latter looking fery in war paint and heavily armed,
halted at this post on Tuesday. They wanted some.
thing to eat as they always do when they neaR
. military post, and when they are on their good
manners they generally get bite, as they did on
this occasion. The sub. chief or lieutenant OF the
party was Little Shield, warrior known in New
Mexico. He was dressed In military coat with the
shoulder straps OF a captain OF cavalry, and was
profusely decorated with silver ornaments-amOn0
them large cross, with his name and title scratched
on 1t. The Indian blanket partially covered his
uniform coat, and his head was protected by hat Of
a private cavalry soldier, with feather stuch
raklshly in the side of it. Little Shield is mild
looking fellow for brave, but no doubt fierce
enough when there are scaps in sight The chief
Yellow Bear ponderous fellow looking quite too
wore red handkerchief around his head cad which
stuck out from under his military hat behind, having
q most udicrous look Fhe Bear is benevORnr
looking chap, and II he had little more cunning iU
his face would resemble Barnum. The whole troop
were dressed with an evident view TO dying decentlys
Their long black hair was carefully plated, andy
being encased IN blue flannel hung over their backs
like the tails OF Cinnamon. Bows and arrows lanceS
and revolvers were their arms. They carried no
guns
Fort Hays is large and comfortably constructed
post standing on the verge OF the 6oundess prairie,
irregularities on the surface which can hardly b9
called eminences. creek, which fortunately is weN
supplied with water all the year round, winds through
the desert, II may so call 1t, showing upon ttS
margin intervals fringe of cotton wosd, the only
foliage within the range OF human vision for miles
around. This creek approaches within quarters
| Of mile OF the post and supplies 1t with waters
Yard, Tenth cavalry, gallant officer Of long expes
| renee in Indian countries, commands the pOsts
dred and fifty men. At two camps further west
about three hundred and twenty men are stationeds
belonging to the Seventh cavalry and Thirty eighth
infantry-the latter at the terminus Of the UniOQ
| Pacific Railway called Monument, lately known az
| Antelope, in charge Of Captain Olouse. The deec5
the fort 1t consists Of about hfty houses, cong
structed Of rough boards, and few dozen tents 10
contains two or three 'hotels and, of sourse, q
newspaper; for what would western city be with
out onea About rifle shot from Hays City is RomeA
pretentous title for six houses built Of sods and two
FUFFALo HUNT-PIRsT BLOOD.
This morning small herd OF bufialoes appeared on
| gallant hunt. One huge bull strayed from the
flock in the direction Of the fort Captain Graham,
OF the Tenth, fearless rider and unerrng hunter
started after him and ran him splenddy towards the
quarters, to the great delight OF the garrison, who
for the fort and had actually reached within few
feet of colored soldier, when.Capain Graham rode
| the doomed darky. A few well directed shots from
Grahams rifle brought the monster to the dusts
Result-buffalo hump for dinner to-day-a much de-
| sired and delicious luxury
THE LORDS AND LADIES OF THE FOREST
In the realms of romance as contrasted with the
materOffact OF reality there is perhaps nothing "a
striking as the Indian we read about and the Indian
we see. For example, stand on the steps OF the
Capital House In Topeka. The street runs out directly
to the prairie. Here comes 'Mnne-ha- ha"-laughinQ
| water-on the other side of the way. Let US mako
| photograph Of her. She Is squat figure and
| walks limpingy, with toes turned in. She wears q
peticOat OF soiled canvas, leggings OF dirty dra8
! ders and still coarser unkempt black hair faLna
over the blanket She leads mule by halter. Th0
Is Mo o
out on the. prairie. Further up the street stand4
the oe M red
stead Of chalked skin. II you would realize the exc
preston see seek it IN the G IDIOT ward OF Randan'4
| war; His scalp lock towers above his shaven skull
like the capillary knob Of the virtuous Pecksn. Hq
wears the inevitable greasy blanket which he keep4
| struggling about his shoulders In manner thai
brings unpleasant suggestions Of scratching post1
His legs, no thicker than broom handles are encased
in tight fitting yellow leggins. Attached to his belly
on the portion Of his person hangs dead rabbit
WITH e s It's
leaving the red sinews and the bones visible stanQ
appalled, as take in the ensemble Of the Chief The
| genius of Fennimore Cooper fades like an tOni4
rdt,ats In bitter disappointment and the poetry Of
Longfellow assumes rather "Humpty Dumpty 8
aspect. But there is trfng change In the scenes
| Here comes Uncas and his Prairie Flower-a bright
looking couple. Prairie Flower leads pony Of coal
black skin, shining like o Mirror II he had juse
| come out of Leonard Jerome's stables She holds
the bride until Uncas mounts his unsaddled back
then with bound that would shame q circus rider
| she straddes the pony behind him. They are both
| bareheaded and Uncas wears no scalp lock- Hi9
leggings are OF red flannel, abundantly provided
| with means Of ventilation. His blanket OF green
forms pleasant contrast with the extremities. The
young squaw takes a firm grip OF her cOmpanion'a
waist, and with merry smile-the fivt have seen
upon the lips of male or female Indian--they dash
l away. The Indian village Is twenty miles away
twenty miles out the prairie, and the red hot
Is going down with fiery aspect In bath OF clouds,
all crimson and orange. But then In an hour Venus
will be up with her serene eve looking down upon
the desert, and In hour after the moon so that
| with so gallant pony and SO fair an aboriginal
freight the village may be reached ere mflnigr.