Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-12-06
THE WID W MAJOR GENERAL.

The man wasn't drunk. anl he Gidn't
want to pick 4 quarrel. but one would have
Thought SO as he made his way into q
group of seven or eight men sitting in
front Of a Bismarck hotel just after sun
down. and called out:
lis thar !: man in this crowd says that
little Mrs. Weeks isn't the purtiest, BRAY
est. sweetest. incest. goOdest wi!;ler wO,n-
an in Amcr;ca:''
The crowd looked mp in surprise. but no
one answered
$50. t,ar hain't nobody here as wants to
say anything agin little Mrs. Weeks?" he
continued. "Wall. that good and al
right. and III Jog along and let the doctor
have another twist 1T this injun bullet il,
my leg"
Little Mrs. Weeks had ict Bismarck that
l.,s- far nn,nl,a nrd " df,,a.--st1,..,. .,.> -, -
around the hotel knew her story. She was
short of stature. had dark-brOwn eyes and
wavy brown hair. and weighed less than Il
hundred pounds.
She had three flesh wounds. but none of
them severe. and she told her story in that
hcsitating. halffrightcncd way that evil
dencc is given in court by child. Her
home is few miles ont from Omaha. Her
only child. son twenty years old. was
one of the founders Of DeadwooG One
tay word cane to the widowed mother
that her son was slowly dying. and that
she could be with him in his last hours II
she could reach that city of s',antics in the
f:,r-oft Indian country. She went. Alone
and unprotected, but yet cared for and re-
spected by all travellers. she one day rode
into DeadwOod and found her dying boy.
The hope that she would come had kept
life in his body after death stood beside
him. and within few hours after her :ri1V-
nj there wac need OF Il coffin.
The route from DeaIwood to Bismarck.
leading across Centennial Prairie. past Black
Point. Devils Woods. and through Crook
Civ, was not tl;lversed by stages last fall,
and none of the present ranches and posts
had been located. Well-guarued trains
could make the journey in safety. but tie
Indians attacked every squad and detac''-
ment. and the trail could be followed by
the remnants of burned wagons and the
skeletons of tie unfortunate gOli-seeNefs'
Within week after her arrival at Dead
wood Widow Weeks had Il chance TO re-
turn to Bismarck with a train coming out
As at first made up. the train consisted OF
ten wagons. thirty men. five or SIX women
and ciult or ten children. Owing to some
misunderstanding. the train divided. ano
fo,,r teams started off alone. This detacfi
ment numbered five men. hoy siNteer
years old. two women. and three children
over eight years Old. The widow VS. sol
hal a Henry rifle, Il revolver. watch an.
other personal property. a part OF w''ics
. WAS exchanged for horse tor Mrs. weeks
: 10 ride TO Bismarck. She was trained II
,he use of firearms and the sympatf'zin.
miners made her as comfortable as possio'
, in the matter OF a saddle.
The first day and night passed ava!
without unusual incident: but af cioc'
> on the morning of the second day, rs III
marty were hauling off the prairie. pam
of Indians numbering tlIirty-slx came ri''
;ny around Black Point. Il mile or SO ava.
and halted directly in the path OF the "hi'
men. Ff
The Indians could seeat a glance that III
train was small and is defenders few. III
. white men were thrown into the grc:'es
CONSERVATION. One suggested retre:,
another parley and a third was ready +
cut his horse loose and gallOp away. Tl'
little widow was the only one in the ban
having the GOODNESS to comprehend the si
. nation and make plan. Knowing ths
: the Indians would soon attack, she ais
realized that the few white men must hay
cover or they would be swept away at til
0 first attack. While the women and chilli
= = rcn were wailing. and the men calling {
each other. she unfoldel her plan.
d Three Of the men were mounted. lik
herself. and the other two and the bo
were ON foot. Forming in line ahead {
the wayons. she ordered an advance rigl
,spon the band Of Indians. meaning to ST
cure shelter for the wagons in the broke
: and timbered ground al the point.
The boil illness Of the plan was its saly;
ton. The awcd and mystified Inilian
moved back slowly as the seven advanced
and in a short time the little widow selec,
ef. Il position for the wagons. They weI
driven TO the left of the trail over the broL
en- ground, and to the crest of the highes
knoll for half mile around. There wcr