The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-06
GEN. CROOKS INDIAN ALLIES.
Revenge the Motive which Induces tn
Crows and Shoshones to Fight.

Reference to Gen. Crooks Indian al
lies reminds me, says correspondent
with the army, that few notes on their
history and peculiar traits may be of in
terest. Above all other considerations
which lead the allies to participate in
this var is that of revenge. Looking
back even beyond his childhood, the
able-bodied Shoshone, Ute or Grow
knows nothing of tradition or experience
which does not whisper "War TO the
knife with the Sioux !" And the Sioux
include the northern Cheyennes and
Arapahoes, because they sail under the
Same colors in time of war. In pushing
westward into this grand central posi-
ton the Sioux have in measure dis
placed and reduced in numbers each of
the friendly tribes named. The Grows
driven steadily northward, the Sho-
shones toward the setting sun, and the
Utes far southwark, have each in turn
had their savage pride humbled and
their wealth sadly diminished by the
ruthless incursions of this powerful COM
bination of the Yellowstone. During ell
these years no single tribe could think
to cope with that of Sitting Bull or his
southern chieftains, now sometimes
found at the agencies. They have, sin
gularly enough, submitted to annual
thrashings and the loss Of thousands OF
ponies, without ever forming combina-
tion to "wipe out the common heredi-
tary enemy,
The Utes have tradition in regard to
one of these contests, which occurred on
the shores of Grand lake, in Middle
Park, Colorado. The northern Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes-whose descend
ants are fghtingu us now-had marshalled
their hosts, and sought the Utes on their
own romantic hunting grounds. 4
pitched battle of greatfury ragedaround
tho shores of Grand lake for several
days, when finally the Utes were hurled,
beaten, to the waters edge, and retreat
cut off. A few RATS were hastily lashed
together, and the remnant of the defeat
ed band pushed out on the broad lake,
as the last alternative. A terrible storm
arose after the Utes were safely out of
reach of hostile bullets, and soon the en-
tire band was drowned. The Utes be-
lieve that the Great Spirit had hand in
the matter, and to this day they will not
60 within gunshot of Grand lake. Wa
shake, the great chief of the Shoshones,
besides having many old scores to settle
up on behalf of his tribe, had q son shot
recently by the Sioux. He is here, and
will personally lead his eager braves in
ensuing contests.
While writing these things, I should
not overlook q strange report which
comes from the north. It is to the ef-
feet that the Grows are trading ammu-
milton to the Sioux for ponies. In his
present time of great need the Sioux
would, of course, exchange anything
but his scalp for ammunition; but it is
rather severe strain on the average
credulity to believe that even an Indian
would hand missiles of death to his
hereditary enemy for grea pecuniary
gain one day, and then face him in bat
tie the next.
All modern equestrianism dwindles to
nothingness when compared to that ex-
hibited by the Shoshones and Grows.
Horse and rider seem grown together;
and, no matter whether it is up or down
an angle of forty-fve, or across the level
plain, tho average warrior is happiest
and most graceful when his pony runs
fastest and plunges widest. The rider
pays little attention to rein or bit, but,
by swaying his body to and fro quickly
and easily, turns his animal in any de-
sired direction. In parades around
camp in richest war attire their appear
ance is most striking, and 80 full of the
extravagant that we cannot but think
of some gorgeous panorama. Their ap-
pearanco is no less savagely aboriginal
than it lis original. This also often leads
us to think that an Indian is an Indian
the world over, and that their very allies
take as supreme delight in mangling
the body of q victim as the veriest
Sioux that ever committed o massacre.
They are all jolly souls, 100; but most
of their humor has very ghastly turn.
It generally hinges on triumph over an
enemy, the utter destruction Of that
enemy, and the capture Of his property.
They are merely species of human
bloodhound, taught to run down the
Sioux instead of tho white. But, at any
rate, their aid is invaluable to such war
fare as this, providing that they will do
what their strongest instinct, their most
ardent desire, and not little courage,
impel them to do.