The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-08-10
AMONG TIE cHEYENNEs.
An EmporIa hey Accompanies them
ON = Grand liant.
DARLINGTON, Ind, Teri


DARLINGTON, Ind, TeF.t
July 18th, 1877
EDITORS News IL was detailed by
the agent on the 9th nltimo, to accom-
pany about ninety Cheyenne and
Arapahoe men with their women and
children TO the buffalo country for the
purpose OF securing meat and hides,
and some notes OF the trip may not
be uninteresting to your readers.
Leaving the Agency about ten
o'clock, and proceeding to Fort Reno,
l was Joined by detail "f troops,
whom the law requires to accompany
these Indians when away from the
Agency, and together We were ssoH
vending our way up the North Fork
of the Canadian, to Little Robes
camp, where the Indians were partak-
ing of lunch and awaiting our arrival.
After counting them to see that only
those who had permission of the agent
were in the party, we moved on alb out
ten miles to a small Indian village
and camped fer the night. Early next
morning the Indians packed their
ponies and started out across the di-
vide toward the main Canadian, which
we reached about noon. By this time
1 began to thirst for blood, and select
ing a young chief from the party, l
suggested that we ride away from the
trail few miles and kill some kind of
game. He readily consented, and
our lunch over, we started ahead of
the party.
After . few minutes ride through a
grove of beautiful cedar trees, we
reached the top of the hill west of the
river, and what was our surprise on
looking ahead about 500 yards to see
q large black bear slowly walking
across the ridge. We rode as fast as
We could, but before getting near
enough to shoot, he had entered .
rocky canon, and it being impossible
to ride after him we concluded to
allow some one else the pleasure OF
killing the bear.
My escort now pointed to q large
hill near which he said antelope
could be found. Squirting our hors es
We rode in the direction indicated, ana
about four o'clock reached the-ground,
where, sure enough, a herd of fifteen
or twenty went bounding across the
plain, having seen US first. Three of
the number had not noticed our ap-
prOach, however, and my friend
'Little Bear" suggested that we wait
few minutes to watch their move
ments. They soon started directly
towards US, and dismounting, we lay
down in the grass, when they APP
preached within fifty yards uncon-
scious of any danger. We both fired,
and my ball took effect, but the other
two antelope bounded off little ways
and stopped. / shot again and again
Notwithstanding 1 had slight attack of
the chuck ague," succeeded in killing
the other two. Little Bear was scarce
of ammunition and preferred to save it
for buffalo.
We were very thirsty. and my saw
age friend was soon quenching his
thirst by eating the liver and inner
coating of the stOmache, raw. The
blood on his face and lips caused can't
balism and kindred thoughts TO pass
through my mind, but he smacked his
lips and sud "pOw-wah" lie. good land
was only intent on gratifying his
appetite. Packing the game on our
Nrz0 Ia 70 Il
where the party had camped for the
night. It is the duty OF the squaws
in Indian life to take care of the
ponies when the men return from the
hunt, and when rode to Little Robes
tent with one of the antelopes, hardly
had time to dismount before two or
three squaws were unpacking and I'M
saddling my horse. am sure they
had not been so glad to see me since
leaving the Agency.
From this point nothing of special
interest: occurs. Following the dim
trail to the Washita river and passing
along its banks forty or fifty miles to
the noted battle ground where Black
Kettle and other CheYennes were killed,
our hearts were gladdened by the
sight of several herds OF buffalo graz
ing in the distance. The country
passed over is comparatively worth
less for farming, but affords excellent
grazing, and If Openeu up, lumber
and stone of great value could be OBJ
tanned. The canons along the Cana
dian river grow many very beautiful
cedars large enough t. savior lumber,
ETC., and farther west 1 noticed kind
of white rock which resembles mar
BILE and would make excellent build
ing stone.
After reaching the Washita we have
no good water, as this stream and its
tributaries taste strongly of alkili.
The soil Is very red and the last TWEEN
ty-five miles of the route is over
very billy country. In every direc-
ton little mounds may be seen from
twenty to fifty feet in height. Indians
are not generally noted for system,
but when chasing buffalo in search of
food they appoint captains whose
duty 1t ID to keep every man in ranks,
and if any one charges the herd be-
fore the order is given, his ponies are
killed and his tent cut in pieces. Not
withstanding these strict regulations
there is now and then a man whe sac
rifices his property In this way. Only
last winter one of the Cheyenes had
seven good ponies killed.
When we came In sigh of game the
men were not long in mounting their
best horses and preparing for the
chase. This was my first opportunity
for chasing buffalo and having often
heard Of the danger connected with it,
hardly knew whether or NOT to VEN
tnre among q band of savages, who 9
few years ago would have greatly pre-
ferred my scalp to q buffalo hide.
The Indians insisted that should GO,
gave me q trained pony to ride, and
In n few uinuk0a xwa uaarod a hond ofI