The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-24
A FRONTIER REMINISCENE- HOW
GEORGEBODINELOSTHLSSCALP
Attic BASE or MEDICINE BOIE.

GE0RGEBODINE LOST HISSCALP
Attic BASE or MEDICINE BOW
The recent arrival OF Ex-Vicc Presi-
dent COliax in Denver recalls TO mind a
hall-forgO.ten but never published incl
dent, grpwiug out of his famous trip
across The plains iu 1864 or 1850. At
that time Capt. HunphreWllo's Compa-
NY X, OF the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry Vol
unteers, was stationed ia garrison ut Fort
halleck, q small long fortress ON the
Overland Stage Line, near the base of
Medicine Bow Mountain. This tort has
long since been abandoned as a military
post, the Pacific Railroad having render
ed military protection to stage coaches
unnecessary. When Coliax and his Con-
gressional party passed through Fort
Halleck, the writer happened to be one
ol the detail Of four soldiers ordered ont
as a special escort or scout TO follow the
illustrious party 10 Bridger Pass, after
which we were instructed to return. Our
mission was performed faithfully. We
saw the coach with its load Of notables
go dashing down the other side of the
voices turned our horses for a gallop back
to the fort. As we moved rapidly along
through the sage brush and greasewood
in the valley between Medicine Bow and
the Elk mountains, drove of sage hens
attracted our attention and separated our
party. Fatal temptation
We little thoughtof the danger then
80 near us, and the terrible fate awaiting
the bravest and boldest of the party
poor George Bodine He had Just emp
tied his carbine at a sage hen, or grouse,
when, with a chorus of horrible whOops
and yells, a party of Sioux rode up out of
a ravine, which, with the sage brush, had
concealed them from observation, and
after discharging cloud of arrows, min
gled with slugs and bullets, at us ut long
range, galloped toward Bodine, who was
by this maneuvre completely cut off
teen Of the blood-thirsty devils, and
opened fire upon them from friendly
clump of brush in which we sought shell
ter. Poor George He realized his dan
ger in moment his only hope Of safe-
ty WAS in fight. His horse, though tired
from its long gallop after the stage-COach,
was still able to distance the scrubby po-
nies of the Sioux, and if he could reach
the ferry at North Plate, he would be
safe. Alas, for the bavest Of comrades,
the pride of a proud mother and father,
who to this day mourn his horrible fate.
His horse, frightened by the yells of the
red demons in pursuit, and evidently
maddened by an arrow or twowhich had
struck it, became unmanageable, and in
q fatal moment the bridle-rein broke
from one side of the bit. The terrified
and now unrestrained brute turned to-
ward us. To reach us it must come in
contact with the Sioux. Itwas an excit-
ing race, but hopeless one for the poor
young soldier. We dashed out to meet
him in his fatal race. He came closer to
his cirCling foes. His carbine he threw
away and drew his Remington revolver.
This he emptied at the Sioux ut close
range, and two fell headlong from their
saddles. We observed him crouch down
forward upon his saddle as if to avoid
the coming blows. But it was not for
that he crouched. 1t was the fatal coils
Of the lariat, or lasso, which the next in
stant dropped over him, and we heard
his heart piercing shrek as he was drag
ged backward from his horse, which gall
loped past US in safety. How poor George
suffered while being hacked to pieces by
the fifteen red fiends, none can tell. AS
we galloped away VIC heard his horrible
cries for mercy while the scalp was being
torn from his head, and to this day when
thinking of that horrid incident, those
screams Of agony ring upon the air
Colorado Democrat.