Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-09-27
STEWARDS STORY.
Adventures and Escape Of John Ste ".
art AS Told to q Courier Reporter.

Among the tourists who were attacked
by Indians in the National Park in August
was John Stewart. who now lays at thu
Laclcde Hotel waiting for two wound;
tone in the leg little above the ankle. the
other in his hip to heal sufficient to allow
him to proceed to Helena. We called on
him when lie first arrived. but were too
busy to interview him. Thinking. how
ever, that his story would still be of inter
est to our readers, lit was to us) we called
on him last week and give below the result
of our interview.
We left Helena with Charles Kenck and
August FOller; was joined in Bozeman by
a small party and at Mammoth Hot Springs
by another. The party now numbered ten
persons, and proceeded on through the
Park. On the 25th of August IN alarm of
''Indians ahead'' was raised ard after con-
siderable excitement we cached ourselves
in little park surrounded by thick timber,
a small creek running near. Here we
camped for the night. Early the next
morning Wilkie and Wiekart. two of our
party, saddled up their horses and went
out to reconuoitrc the position of the In
dams and ascertain the way they were trav-
cling. Not having slept much the night
before, concluded to take a nap while the
boys were gone, and walked over to my
bed and laid down. Ipresume had been
sleeping nearly an hour when was sud-
denly awakened and alarmed by the firing
Of guns and whooping Of savages. raised
myself up in bed to see what was up and
saw the Indians within u or 20 feet Of me.
| looked around camp and saw that none
of the boys were there, all having left. l
arose in less time than l can say it, broke
for the brush, made my way through it
and crossed the small creek, where again
came into small open park, saw Charles
Kenck ahead Of me about IS or 100 feet.
had not passed the creek more than % or
30 feet when received the wound in my
leg; about the same time heard Charles
kenck exclaim, 30, my God!' ran
about so feet further when received the
wound in my hip which dropped me. In
a very few minutes two Indians ran past
me after Kenck; soon after, l heard two
shots fired and Kenck exclaim, I'm sa.,1-
Ilered." One of the Indians then came
back to me, keeping his gun pointed in my
ia, until he got within few feet of me.
iDstinctively threw up my hands and
begged for my life. Setting his gun dow-'
On its butt, he asked HE if l had anv
money. said, IL have little"
lie then put his hand in my left hand
pocket, but found nothing there, rolled me
,ver, put his hand in my right hand peck
It, where he found $263 and a silver watch.
By this time the other Indian had come
lOwn, (he having remained behind to plum
her the body of kenck l supposey and
hey opened my roll of money and had
leat laugh over it, seeming very much
lated at getting SO much. They then ex-
mined my wound which, at that time, was
aeeding pFoftlsely; told me they wouldn't
ill me, and walked of, leaving ME laying
q view of our camp, which | saw the In
ians plumber, but was careful to keep my ]
elf under brush where they could not see !
ne. laid here two and half or three .
ours, After they had plnnlered and left
ne camp, l tried to make my way up the ,
i'll to see whether kenck was dead or i,
live. was too weak and had to abandon :
Ne trip. then ealled him at the top Of
" voice, but could receive no answer. I
lrned around and slid down the hill on :
y hands and knees to the creek, where / -
ashed the wound in my side for about
! hour, at which time after taking several
inks of the water, felt so much revived .
at could stand. then made my way I
'er to the camp, walking part Of the y
~ and crawling the rest. Reaching camp o
Vas agreeably surprised to find that con-
ler.ble of our grub Lad not been carried
-ay or destroyed, but had been left by the ps
dams. Isat down on a log and eat some