Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-07-25
miscellaneous.
How indians Track IA Trail.

A DR.. lanshendOn gives an interesting
account Of the extraordinary skill of Indian
traiers. The Indian or trapper that is II
Shire Nd trailer is Il man Oiclose observation,
quick perception and prompt acton. AS
lie goes along nothing escapes his Observa-
ton, and what he sees or hears he accounts
for Immediately. Often not another step is
taken until mystery, that may present it.
self in this line, is fairly solved. The In
dian trailer will stand still for hours in sue
cession to account for certain traces or cf-
tects in tracks and sometimes gives to the
matter unremltting attention for days and
weeks.
The trailer is not n graceful man. He
carries his head much inclined, his eye is
quick and restless, always on the watch, e,
and lie is practising his ant uncOnsciously,
hardly ever crossing the track of mar or
animal without seeing it. When he enters
a house he brings the habits he contracted
| in the practice This ar with him. | know
a trailer rs soon as he enters my room. He
comes in through the door softly, and with
an air of exceeding caution. Before he is
fairly in or ut least has sat down, he has
taken note Of every article or person,
! though there may be dozen vacant chairs
i'll the room. lie is not used to chairs,
and ike the Indian prefers more humble
rest.
When was employed by General IIar-
ney last summer to take charge temporarily
of the Indians that were gathered near
Fort Randall, Dakota, to form new reser-
vation, one day guide and trailer came to
the generals headquarters. told him to
be seated. lie sat down on the floor brac-
ing his back against the wall. The gcucr-
al saw this, and in veXation cried out
My God why don't you take n chair
when there are plenty here unoccupied ~
{ The man arose and seated himself III Il
chair, but in so awkward and uncOmtorta-
| bl. a manner that he looked as if he might
| slip from it any moment But when this
uncouth person came 10 transact his busl-
ness with the general he turned out TO be Il
man or no ordinary abilities. Ills dcs-
! cription of a route he took as guide and
| trailer for the Ogallalas, in bringing them
! from the Platte to the fort, was minute and
exceedingly interesting. Every war party
/ that crossed his trail he desert bed with
minutcness as to their number, the kind of
arm they had, and stated the tribes they
! belonged TO. In these strange revelations
! that he made there was neither importance
nor suppOstiOn, for he gave satisfactory
reasons for every assertion he made. l
have ridden several hundred miles with an
experienced guide and trailer, Hawk, whom
| interroggated upon many points in the
practice OF his art. Nearly all the tracks
| saw either old or new, as n novice in the
art, | questioned him about. In going to
! the Nlobrara river we crossed the track OF
an Indian pony. My guide followed the
track few miles, and then said "lt is a
stray black horse, with long, bushy tail,
nearly starved to death, has IA split hoof OF
the left foretoot, and goes very lame, and
he passed here early this morning" As
tonished and incredulous, L asked him the
reason for knowing these particulars by
the tracks of the animal when he replied ;
ut was a stray horse, because it did not go
- direct Aae his tai! was long iog be