Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-06-14
The Shadow in tho Valley.

between the Princeton and the Elk River base
ball whackers. :. The bridge across Elk River
being repaired.
The Shadow in the Valley.
Up. and down that valley through
which Custer made his last charge
along that creek where so many of Reno's
men fell dead from their frantic and
struggling horses-in the thickets and
along the ravines, shadow turks day
and night. The last scalp had hardly
been torn from the head of the cavalry
man who had crept into the tall grass to
die, when this shadow skulked into that
valley of death and began dealing out
retribution.
The Chief, Dull Knife, had much to
say about it the other week when he
surrendered He spoke in whispers
when he referred to it, and he looked
suddenly around, as if fearful that it
was softly stealing upon him to stab him
in the back.
Crazy Horses men had something to
say about it when they surrendered, and
when white men asked them who or what
they thought the shadow was, they shook
ave killed 'em all, but yet there is
one left. 1t is white man. There is
blood on his face and clothing. He car
ries sabre and two revolvers, and the
night wind blows his long yellow curls
over his shoulders. It is spirit sent by
the Great Manitou to watch over the
graves of the white soldiers.
White men have seen the shadow.
Hunters, trappers and scouts who have
built their camp fires near that valley,
through which the big mountain wolf
skulks and prowls all night long, have
smclt the presence of the mysterious
shadow, or have seen it. They have fed
from their blankets ut its soft step, and
they have fired at it when only ten feet
away, and yet see it glide off unharmed.
It is not a shadow of sentiment, but be-
ing that demands vengeance for the awful
butchcry of that little band of heroes
for the brave brothers who grouped them
selves around the noble Custer and fought
to the death, each one lying within arms
length of him who fought fercest and
longest.
When the soldiers moved out Of the
valley, leaving nearly three hundred
graves behind them, the wolves rushed
out from canon and ravine and den to dig
| up the fresh earth and feast on the brave
dead. The shadow was there before them,
a solitary, mysterious and vigilant senti-
mel to guard those sacred mounds. It
screamed and gcstured at the fierce beasts
it fired upon them with rifle and revol-
vcr, and struck at them with bright,
! no ov16
there, from grave to grave, gnashing
their teeth in anger, but the shadow
closely pursued. They formed in groups
in the midnight darkness and waited for
the shadow to tire out and fall asleep or
90 away, but it paced up and down over
the graves, vigilapt and unwearicd, and
daylight came to hurry the wild beasts
to their lairs till another night. Hunters
and scouts have been there and seen the
sentinel-beat over the graves-scen it in
the light Of monday, when men could not
be mistaken. 1t is a well-bcaten path
which runs from grave to grave, curving
and winding to take in every one, and
now and then it comes in close enough to
the creek for the strange sentinel to hear
the babblc of the waters. Scouts say it
is a path beaten by human feet. The red
chiefs say that shadow or spirit could
alone remain there in that lonely spot,
having only the company of wild beasts
and the graves of butchered men.
Once, when Dull Knife and q trusty
few were scouting to learn the wherc-
abouts of their white foes, they encamp-
ed in the valley for the night. The shad-
ow stole among them as they slept and
when fierce scream aroused the band
from slumber five of the red men had
been murdered-each bronze throat
slashed across with keen knife. The
shadow stood little way off and jeered
the living, who huddled together like
frightened children. When they fled for
their lives it pursued them with drawn
sabre, and the chief has scar on the
shoulder to prove that he was struck by
the blade. Next day, when full band
Of Indians marched into tho valley to
solve the mystery and secure revenge
thcy saw not one living thing.'
The bodies of the dead warriors were cut
and hacked and gashed. Five of the poor
cavalrymcn whose brains had been beaten
out and limbs dismembered had betn
avenged.
Before the crown of a single grave had
sunk down, Crazy Horse started to cross
the valley at midnight with his lodges.
The shadow confronted his band and
mocked them, and as the red men hurried
along in the darkness, wildly recalling
the mad charge of the cavalry and tho
fierce desperation of the surprised VII
layers, the strange shadow skulked along
with the column and fired shot after shot
into the band. They fired at it rushed
out to capture it, but the shadow disap-
peared as shadows do. Two squaws, =
child or two, an old man and two war
riors fell by the bullets which the shadow
fired. From that time the red men
avoided the valley as white men avoid
pest houses. They would net cross it OF
skirt it even at high noon, when the sun
shine beat down upon the graves and on
waters of the historic creeks
IF this shadow was shadow mist,
| a nothing-it could not beat paths, nor
laugh and jeer, nor cut throats and fire
rifles; and yet, if it is not shadow how
does it live2 Is it some crazy hunter,
whose befogged mind drank in the story
of the awful massacre and conceived this
wild plan of vengeance? Perhaps one OF
that little band of cavalrymen escaped
death in some strange way, and recovered
his strength as he wandered about among
rocks and valleys and hills-recovered
strength of limb, but not of reason.
Believing himself called upon to aveoge
his comrades, he Turks in the valley living
the like wild beasts around him and miss
inn no chance to strike blow.