The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-11-24

Ntting.BulPs Captve-A Story Told
e&s
4 writer in the Chicago Times says
Accompanying the Sitting Bull Com
mission when it made its journey north
was q young man named Baptiste, q
half-breed Crow Indian, who had been
scouting during the summer for Gen.
Miles. He was found to be very intelli-
gent for one who had lived on the plains
all his life, and during the journey to
Fort Walsh he gained the good opinion
Of every body, and especially of Gen.
Terry, who entertained a great liking
for him. It was found that he spoke
the language of the Sioux fuently, and
it was he that interpreted the speeches
made by Sitting Bnll and the other war.
riors at the council at Fort Walsh. He
returned to Fort Benton with the Com
mission, and accompanied the party as
far as Fort Buford, down the river in
the Mackinaw boats. Several times,
while seated around the camp fire after
nightfall, Baptiste was induced to speak
of his life among the Indians, and it was
at once pleasant and curious to hear the
young half-breed recount his expert
ences among the savage tribes of the
plains. Baptiste was scarcely 10 years
old, could read and write, speak the
Crow and Sioux languages, besides I'M
Outstanding the sign language used
among all the tribes; in addition
to which he possessed all the cum.
ming of an Indian. He was versed in
woodcraft, and was a daring rider.
Notwithstanding all his advantages, he
knew as little of the outside world as
the widest savage on the plains. He
had never visited city, had never seen
railroad train, and had only an indis-
tinct idea of sailing vessels, and the
heavy ordnance in use in a large army.
The civilized world was a dream-land
to him. Surrounded by the officers of
the Commission, he would relate his
tales of savage life, and, in turn, would
ask curious questions about the outside
world.
One evening Baptiste told of visit he
had made to the camp of Sitting-Bull
last summer. He was sent by Gen.
Miles to visit the camp of the outlawed
savage after he had crossed the Cana
dian border, and it is thought that he
performed the service in a creditable
manner. According to his own state
ment he visited the Indian village early
in the summer, and was permitted to do
so from his previous knowledge of the
tribe. Among other things Baptiste
related story to the effect that an
American soldier was being kept as a
prisoner in the camp of Sitting-Bull.
The story was given little credence at
the time, owing to its great improba-
bility, but it is related for what it is
worth. The half-breed stated that soon
after he entered the village he was ac-
costed by man in full savage costume,
who addressed him in English, and said
that he was an American, and had
been captured during the Custer
fight, and kept prisoner I'M
til that time. He stated that his
name was Ryan, and that he had been
a Sergeant in the eth Cavalry. Bap-
tiste asked him whv he did not escape,
to which he replied that he had made
the attempt several times, but was re-
captured. Sitting-Bull interrupted the
conversation, and carried Baptiste away,
and he did not have an opportunity to
converse with the man again. The sto-
~ came to the ears of Gen. Terry, who
promised to investigate the matter from
the information given him, and endeav-
er to learn whether any one answering
his description had been reported as
killed or missing with Custer's COM
mand. The Canadian officers at Fort
Walsh, who had frequently visited the
camp of Sitting Bull, failed to corrobo-
rate the story; and nothing has been
learned since to give it the slightest
probability. Those who heard it from
the scout, credited it to his desire to en-
terrain his hearers with sensational
story. Nothing could be more improb-
BILE than that Sitting-Bul intensely as
he is known to hate Americans, should
tolerate one of them in his camp. That
he permitted one of Custer's band to
live, is almost beyond belief. Never
theless, the story came back with the
Commission, and will doubtless go the
rounds of the papers. There will be as
many romances about Ryan, the white
chief of Sitting Bulls Sioux, as there
were month or two ago about Osman,
the American Turk.