Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-01-19
A TRUE STORY OF THE PLAINS.

A TRUE STORY OF THE PLAINS.
THE following narrative is from the lips
ofan eye witness, and the account in all its
details is strictly true. The actors below
named were frontiersmen, among whom
cards are the universal pastime, and upon
the turn of which these hardy men of the
plains and mountains will stake the entire
products of a hard winters trapping, or
wager their ponies, and other property,
sometimes their arms, the trusty rifles they
would never part with, in way of sale or
trade. Such is the fascination which cards
exert over bordermen
In the winter of 1869, lust a couple of
weeks before Christmas. Lieutenant Zack
Taylor, of the Second United States Cav
airy, and George Belden, at that time an
officer of the same regiment both stationed
at Fort d. A. Russell, Wyoming, deter
mined to go south along the base of the
Black Hills, on the Cheyenne & Denver
Road, and hunt for deer along the lands of
the Cacha la Poudre, Big Thompson
and Box Alder Greeks, which run from
the hills and empty into the South Platte
River, not far east from Denver Colorado
Obtaining permission from Major Van
Voast, they outftted and started. Upon
arriving at Box Alder, the two men met
an old Fort Phil. Kearney acquaintance,
Raphael Gallegos, Mexican, who was
living with his Sioux Indian wife and four
children, in teepee on the creek bottom
near the wagon road Taylor and Belden
dismounted and entered the teepee, when
Raphael welcomed them heartily.
It might be as well to state here that
Raphael had daughter, the Oldest of his
children, a little girl of twelve years, who
could speak the Sioux, Crow, Mexican,
and sign languages f1uently. She was a
perfect little beauty: long raven locks,
sure evidence of her Indian origin, not to
mention, as an additional proof, the large,
brilliant black eyes and olive complexion
which, in Belden's estimation, rendered
her veritable Minnehaha. Belden had
often asked Raphael to let little Mary
come and live with his wife, but no in
ducements could gain the fathers consent
to part with his daughter.
Belden carried Winchester rifle, re-
peater of sixteen shots, and Raphael had a
similar weapon. Raphael's brother was
at the teepee, visiting, when Taylor and
Belden arrived at the Box Alder and Joe
Gallegos, seeing Belden's rifle, wanted to
exchange a mule for it, which Belden
would not agree to. After consultation
between the two brothers, Raphael said to
Belden calling him by his Indian nancy /:
"E-tan-cha Sea, what do you say to
little game of cards?"
"I am agreeable; what will we play? {"
1--WE will play seven-up," said Es-pi-o (or
Raphael-we will use his Indian name).
The cards, an old greasy pack, were
produced; and spreading out robe on the
teepee floor, laying a few more sticks of
wood on the fire that burned in the centre
OF the teepee, with Taylor and Jose Gale
gos, the squaw and children grouped
around, the gamesters took seats upon the
corners of the robe.
.",Well, what are we going to play for ?"
said Es-pio
"pm sure don't know" replied E-tan-
cha Sea. You say what it's to be.''
What do you say to playing your rifle
eff you will allow me to use it during
my hunt here, in case lose it, will.'
All right" said Es-pi-o seizing the
cards and shutting them slowly, adding,
They cut for the deal, and Raphael won
it; then the cards were dealt, and the game
commenced
E-tan-cha Sea won the first seven points,
lost the second, and won the third, thereby
winning Es-pio's rifle. This was unex-
pected by Es-pi-o, who, failing to win
Etan-cha Seas rifle, had lost his own.
Matters were perplexing
Noao what will We play for?" said the
white man.;
II will play one ofmy mules against
the rifle you have just won, said Esp-i-o.
"He- che -wash-ta, n4-cha-chep (good, I
guess) said E-tan-cha Sea, and the game
proceeded, Es-pi-o was more fortunate in
this game, winning back his rifle. The
game now went on as it first commenced,
lille against rifle, 13ulting as in the first
game. The rifle was lost, then his mule
then the wagon and harness, when there
was few moments lull in the game, both
E-tan-cha Sea and Es-pi-o looked into
each others eyes ina inquiring, undecided
manner. No one in the teepee spoke q
word; all was breathless expectation
awaiting Es-pi-o's next remark After q
moments study he said:
will play my teepee, squaw, and two
youngest children againstthe mule, wagon
and rifle! What do you say-shall it be ?'
E-tan-cha Sea realized the ludicrousness
OF the proposition, and, to keep from look.
ing at Es-pi-o lin which case he might
have been guilty of ill-timed lauphter)
his eyes caught those of Taylor, who sal
near him. Zach nodded for his companion
to accept the proposition, and E-tan-chs
Sca, turning to Es-pi-o, said II will de
It,; we will play. the first seven pointsl'
He seized the cards and began shuffline
them rapidly, and while doing SO turned
to the squaw, an impassive spectator an(
said
Wash-ta-tse, Es-pi-o wants to bet yor
Tom and the baby against what I have
now won from him. Shall play the game p
He owns me-he is my masterl What
he does is his own affair, and he knows
what he is doing. am content
"Cut the cards." said E-tan-cha Sea-
pushing them over to Es-pi-o
He did SO, his hand trembling pereepti
bly, all the while
All gathered closer around the players
scarcely breathing. Click, click, click
Three cards ito Es- pi-o. Click, click, click
the same number to E. tan cha Sea. Click
click, click! Es-pi-o has the uncertain ar
biters of his fate within his trembling
hands, and Etan-cha Sea, running off thu
last three for himself, allows the cards tt
lie face downward on the robe before him
awaiting Es-pi-o's action.
"Reg!" said Es-pi o.
Slowly, one by one, his opponent tool
up his cards.s With imperturbable compos
ure he cast his eye over them, then quietl,
said:
"Wa-zhe- la-na-coo" q give you one.
The hand was played out, and E tan-ch
Sea made high, low, Jack and the game
counting four to Es-pi-o's one. Es-pi'
took up the cards in a hurried, excitet
manner, and began to shuttle them. E
tan-cha Sea looked at Taylor, then a
Joe Gallegos, then at the squaw, who's
face betrayed not the least emotion
Es-pi-o pushed the cards to his oppo
nent to cut, and then dealt them. On thi
deal depended all! Would the Mexical
continue in bad luck, and with his ow1
hand deal out the instruments that mus
rob him of all he possessed in the world
Click, click, click!'' How the greas
cards rattle. Click, click, click!' Wha
metallic sound they gave forth, soundin
like coffin plates or the cold, glitterin
screws that might soon close the lid upo
oil the Mexican's earthly hopes. " Cyicl
click, click" Did any one ever hear sue
devilish sounds before? "CL1cK, oLIcI
CLICK" The deal is over.
Carelessly, indiferently, E-tan-sha Sc
scanned the cards he held In his hand