The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-09-06
CROOKS INDIAN ALLIES.
Anothsr Chapter on Their PecuiisHties-
A Uk Lsgend--Spisndid Horse
msnShip.


Above all other considerations which
lead the allies to participate Ia this war
is that Of revenge Looking back even
beyond his childhood, the sblebodied
Shoshone, Ute, or Crow knows nothing
of tradition or experience which does
not whisper, "War to the knife with
the Siouxf,EAnd in speaking of the
Sioux, this includes the Northern Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes as well, because
they sail under the same eolors in times
of war. In passing westward into this
grand central position, the Sioux have,
IN a measure, displaced and reduced in
numbers each of the friendly tribes
named. The Crows driven steadily
northward, the Shoshones toward the
setting sun, and the Btes far south
ward, have each in turn had their saw
age pride humbled and their wealth
sadly diminished by the ruthless incur
sions of this powerful combination Of
the Yellowstone. During all these
years no single tribe could think to cope
with that of Sitting Bull or his southern
ehieftains, now sometimes found at the
Agencies. They have, ~singularly
enough, submitted to annual furnishings
and the loss of thousands Of ponies,
without yer forming a combination to
''wipe out'' the common hereditary en-
envy.
The Utes have a tradition in regard
to one of these contests which occurred
on the shores of Grand Lake, in Middle
Park, Colorado. Northern Cheyennes
and Arapahoes-whose descendants
are fighting us now-had marshaled
their hosts, and sought the Utes on their
own romantic hunting grounds. A
pitched battle of great fury ragged around
the shores of Grand Lake for several
days, when finally the Utes were hurled
bleeding and beaten, to the waters
edge, and retreat cut OF. A few RATS
were hastily dashed together, and the
remnant of the defeated band pushed
out on the broad lake, as the last altern-
alive. A terrible storm arose after the
Utes were safely out Of reach Of hostile
bullets, and soon the entire band was
drowned. The utes believe that the
Great Spirit had a hand in the maxter,
and to this day will not go within gun
shot of Grand Lake.SLTA : asA4s
All modern equestrianism dwindles
to nothingness when compared to that
exhibited by the Shoshones and Grows.
Horse and rider seem grown together;
and, no matter whether it Is up or down
an angle Of 45, or across the level plain,
the average warriori is happiest and most
graceful when his pony run fastest
and plunges widest. The rider pays
little attention to- rein or bit, but by
swayfng his body to and fro quickly and
easily, turns his animal in any desired
direction. In parades around. camp, il
richest war-attire, their appearance il
most striking, and so full of the. extrav
agant that we cannot but think Of som'
gorgeous panorama. Their appear
ance is no less savagely aboriginal thai
it is original. This also often leads u
to think that an Indian is an Indian al
the world over, and that their allie,
take as supreme delight in manglini
the body of a victim as the veries
Sioux that ever committed a massacre
They are all jolly souls, too; but mos
OF their humor has a very CHASTITY turn
1t generally hinges on triumph over al
enemy, the utter destruction Of tina
enemy, and the capture of his property
They are merely a species of human
bloodhound, taught to II down tn
Sioux instead Of the whites. But, a
any rate, their aid is invaluable to sucl
warfare as this, providing they do wha
their instinct, their most ardent desire
and not a little courage, impel Them t
do.
Prayer meeting and Bible reading a
the Presbyterian church this evening a