The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-09

it was repeated it read: "Come at once
with prescription. Case Of cerebro-
spinal meningitis. "-Galary.
The Black Mills Expedition Bears Ears
Story.
ANXIOUS to learn as much as possible
of the country we are to enter, by the
kindness of Gen. Custer / was afforded
an opportunity to meet and converse
with Bears Ears, before mentioned as
the best authority ON the river concern
ing the Black Hills. Through the me-
diation of Mr.. F. F. Gerard, an accom-
plished interpreter, who has spent
twenty-six years in this country,
and has an intimate knowledge
of the Rec language, was easily
enabled to get the Indians story in
good English. Bears Ears Indian name,
Coon-ough-et-ca-ta-wa) is an Arickaree
Indian, coming from point high up the
Missouri River. As the Black Hills are
far down in Dakota, in the Sioux coun-
try, and the Sioux and Rces are tradi-
tional enemies, it was q matter of curl
osity to learn how Bears Ears had come
to spend five years in Southern Dakota
among the Sioux. found that the man
had personal history which well ac-
counted for his change of latitude. The
loss of two of his fingers, which readily
discovered on shaking hands with him,
was perpetual reminder to the Indian
of an early feud, the disgrace, the long
nursed revenge, the retaliation, and the
self Punishment which cnsued from it.
Dressed up in an ample suit of United
States blue, devoid of ornament and war
paint, Bears Ears seemed friendly
enough in appearance; but there was
something in the piercing eye, the broad,
heavy, rather Gothic features, the strong
base to the brain, covered by the long
black hair, which did not contradict
tragic history.
The Rees, like all other tribes of In
dams, are divided into bands. Bears
Ears was a leader of one Of these bands.
Quarrels among different bands and their
members are frequent, and Bears Ears
was not an exception to the rule. He him
self became involved in quarrel. His
antagonist, pushing words to blows, took
up piece of wood from the fire and beat
him over the body. Bears Ears did not
return the blows His wrath was bitter,
but discreet and patient. Had he been
well supported by friends and relatives,
he would have taken his knife and cut of,
not the scalp, but the top-knot of his foe
one form of Indian recompense. But
he was not strong enough in friends to
meet the consequences. Then he waited
to see if his insulter would make repara
ton by sending him horse, which, as a
peace offering to an injured Indian,
covers multitude of sins. But no
horse came bearing the olive branch,
and Bears Ears took silent VOW of ven
geance. He prayed to the gods. Every
days for nine months he rose at day
break, went off three miles, and there
did pcnance and made offering to his
favorite deity, praying not that he might
love his enemy, but that he might hate
him more and more. In his terrible
earnestness he cut off two of his fingers
and gave them to the Great Spirit as a
sacrifice. The following winter his tribe
| went on buffalo hunt. Bears Ears
! and his foe were both in the
party. They went a long distance from
home. The main party resolved to camp
away from their village. Bears Ears de-
termined to return to it. Unknown to
him his enemy made the same resolution,
and being better mounted overlook him
on the way. He was travelling in mar
row PAIN, wnen suddenly ne recognized
the voice Of his enemy calling to him to
get out Of the way. 1t was adding insult
to injury. He turned aside as the other
attempted to pass by, raised his gun and
shot him dead Cutting out the dead
mans heart, he himself mounted in the
vacant saddle and rode to his lodge
Telling his mother to pack up what
things she wanted, he busted himself in
preparing vengeful meal. He cut open
his enemys heart, boiled it and ate it.
He had hungered for this meal for many
days. The two fingers he had given to
the gods were cheap in comparison with
the reward they had secured. Before
daylight he was refugee on his way to
the Sioux camp. He was received as a
friend and ally, and for eight years he
was foe to his own household. During
this time it was that he encamped and
hunted in the Indians paradise, the
Black Hills. Once more reinstated in
his own tribe, he was with many of them
enlisted as the scout of the Long haired
Chief-as the Indians call Gen Custer
and has promised faithfully to lead him
to his old haunts.
Taking little stick in his hands,
Bears Ears, when he had learned what /
came for, sat down and made map in
the sand. Carefully tracing out the
streams and rivers, he placed his
fingers on the Big Cheyenne and its fork,
the Belle Fourche. "This," said he, sis
the only way to the Black Hills. 1t is
walled around on every side; here only
is the gateway Within this wall there
is large and fertile park. The Little
Missouri River heads in close to the
Black Hills, but there is no bad land,
such as SO vexed the Yellowstone expe-
dition, to be encountered. The bluffs on
the streams, however, are very high, and
may give some difficulty to wagons The
country is heavily wooded. Ash, oak
and pine are found, in addition to cotton
wood, which abounds on the Cheyenne.
Game is plentiful, especially elk, black
and white tail deer. Bears are numerous
Trout abound in the streams" The ami
NAL most feared by the Indians is the
panther, of which Bears Ears claims
there are four kinds. The Indians know
very little about minerals, but say there
is iron there. There is story that on
one occasion squaw brought q large
piece Of gold from the hills to one Of the
agencies.
This region may be said to be the In
dams fable-land. It is invested with
legends and superstitions. Somewhere
near the CENTER" says Bears Ears,
"there is great nest, like the nest Of
the eagle; this is the nest of the thunder"
This spot even the Indians themselves do
not visit because of fear. Perhaps the
invincible Indians that Bears Ears saw