Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-28
GENERAL CROOKS SCOUT.


An Adopted Son OF Sitting Bull
Guides the Expeditions against
Him.
Kansas City Times, July 9th.
"Have you seen Frank Gruard"
inquired General Bradley, the post
commandant at Fort Laramie, as
the Times reporter was about to re-
tire from the interview.
" Who is Frank Gruard?" in
quired the news seeker.
"Why, he is the leader of Gene
raj Crooks scouts in the coming ex-
pedition. He can tell you more in
an hour than | can in a day." said
the General. "He has been raised
by the Northern Sioux, speaks their
language and claims to be the
adopted son of Sitting Bull him
self. We will walk down to the
suffers store, where you can talk
with him."
"There heis," said General Brad
ley, pointing to a tall, well-built
fellow, who stood with his back to
a high desk, leaning backwards
upon his projected elbows. At first
glance he might be taken for one Of
the half-breed hay-cutters, ox-driv-
ers and woodscutters who swarm
about old Fort Laramie. He waS
conversing with Louis Reichau, q
famous Indian scout, we'll known
to the reporter. An introduction
by General Bradley, supplemented
by recognition and a cordial hand.
shaking on the part of Reichau,
broke down all barriers Of inter.
course, and in a few minutes after
ward Gruard was seated at a tablt
in friendly chat with the inter
viewer.
Frank Gruard would pass for &
full-blooded Sioux Indian. He il
tall, road-shouldered, long-limbeC
and as dark as a cOpper-colored full
blood. He has the characteristic
square chin, low forehead, broa(
face and high cheek bones of the
Sioux, and eight or nine years res
idence among them has imbued hin
with many of the peculiarities o
that noted tribe. Gruard had jus
received notice of his engagement
rs a special scout for General Crook
who was then at Cheyenne. II,
felt very proud Of the position
which insured him ten dollars pc
day, and after few "smiles" began
to talk quite freely. His histor,
condensed is as follows
He is a native of Honolulu, tn
principal city Of the Sandwich
Islands, and prior to his arrival il
San Francisco in the spring Of 1856
had been sailor on board yariou
small coasters and traders on tn,
Pacific coast.
In 1865 he was engaged to assis
in driving a lot of stage stock fror
California to Montana, and afte
his trip procured job to carry tn
pony express mail between Boze
! ! man and Gallatin. On one of hi
regular trips, which was made sol
tary and alone along the valley c
the Gallatin river, be was waylai
by a band Of vagabond Grows, an
himself and the mail he carrie
I were captured. He was taken b
his captors several days iourne
from Che mail route, and literall
L stripped and abandoned, hell
: less and naked, on Clark's fork {
the Yellowstone. Here he wal
dered about, half starved, for man
days, bis only covering a piece Of
ragged, rotten blanket, and livin
upon frogs, berries and c9ctu
His suffering he describes as terr
BILE in the extreme. When utter
/. exhausted and in despair, hopele
of ever again reaching clyilizatic
= or succor, one morning he was di
covered by a rowing band of I'm
: papa Indians, some fifty or sixty
! number. His emaciated, helple
condition won even the sympathi
of these sayages, who at once f
and clothed him and conveyed hi
to their village, which was then
the Mussel Shell river, Here
y first saw Sitting Bull, who at on
r took a fancy to the captive be
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