Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-09-22
A FAMOUS SCOUT.
Tho Man who Led Glbbsn late tho utdlns
Place Of tho Nex Pcrces.

Inc VIM Wwo bseO Htu0ou IWuo tuo uuuOsui
Place sf tho Nex Pcrces.
The dispatches from Helena, Montana
received last week report that among
Gibbons wounded was the famous scout
Beidler-X., for short-known far ant
wide az the most daring scout in tn.
mountains. 1t was he who piloted Con
ners in the freezing cold of q Utah win
ter up the Bear River valley to the en-
campment Of tho Snakes, and enabled
him to gain his remarkable victory Ovel
the savages. 1t was he who tracked the
Piegans into the Teton mountains and
marked ont the route which Bakers
column pursued when he surprised
Longhorse's band in the gray dawn Of q
winters morning and literally swept
thom from the face Of the earth. He
followed Gibbon last year to the Yellow.
stone, and tracked for him q pathway
across the Big Horn mountains up Ia
the scene Of the Custer massacre. When
the battle ground had been reached, and
scattered around it lay the bodies Of the
slain-when oil the particulars Of the
dreadful slaughter had been gathered
ESQ far, as they were to be obtained from
that savage waste Of desolation and muir.
der), messenger was sought to carry
the news to Fort Ellis. It must be
understood that this WINS a terrible
undertaking. The mountains literally
swarmed with hostile Sioux. There were
ninety-nine chances out of a hundred
that the messenger would never reach
his destination. It was an even chance
that he would be killed and scalped be-
fore he got out of sight Of the command.
But still, the necessity OF sending the
message was imperative. To order any
one to take it was like signing his death
warrant, and even the brave Gibbon
shrank from this. He called up half
dozen men and proposed to them the
undertaking. The bravest of them
shrank from the trial. "Boys," said
Gibbon, II can't order you on this DIES.
perate hazard, for I believe in my soul
it is almost certain death, and yet must
do my duty and send the message. If
none OF the scouts will go will send my
nephew" The person indicated was
brave young officer just from West
Point, aud this was his first experience
in warfare. What chance had he? Sit
ting few PAGES apart from the group
Of officers and men was Beidler, cleaning
his gun and polishing his equipments
. stout, heavy-built man of forty years
If age. Hard service had rendered rug
yed his set, determined face, and ex-
,osure had grizsled his beard and hair.
But there was frank and manly look in
he full, black eyes and about the finely
curved mouth touch of tenderness.
His voice was sweet as woman's. Even
he rugged nature Of this desperate ser.
ice had not destroyed the symmetry of
lis hands, which were clean and taper as
girls. But in the slender fingers dwelt
he strength of giant-a deadly hand
Or his foes, but cordial and kind as
harity for all upon whom he looked in
AS Gibbon ceased speaking
he frontiersman's voice rose clear and
istinct:
"Never mind, general, I'll carry your
Gibbon turned toward him in surprise.
"What, you, X-Why, man, I
ouldn't ask you to do such thing be-
des, you are our pilot"
eyes, I know, but don't mind the
enture. Anyway, I'll carry the mes
sge."
"You know better than I do, x, that
Is deadly venture. I wouldn't have
ared to ask you"
cts all right. general. Get your
tier ready and let me have it at dark"
Then, rising to his feet, he limped
way, for X. Beidler was lame. An In
ian bullet in one Of the wild forays of
le border had shattered his hip, and
though the wound had long since heal
it had left him lame for life. Two
ours later, when the shadows of
ountain twilight were falling thick and
lsky over the valley he cautiously rode
'wn the canyon Of the Little Horn and {
from view. About the Incl {
,nts of that desperate ride of 400 miles {
of his hair breadth escapes-of his {
'sperate adventures, it would be i'm t
,ssible in the limits of an article like
ia to give anything like an adequate
It will suffice to say that '
g message was carried, and when the t
liter saw him two weeks later preparing
r his return trip down the Yellowstone, b
seemed as careless and talked as un- t
ncernedly about it as one might speak a
trip to Boonville or st. Louis. And o
t he had just performed deed which v
g boldest frontiersman would have
runk from in dismay. When not on
ty as scout, he can generally be o
md around Helena at night invari- q
ly in newspaper Offices reading the ex- o
anges and listening eagerly to the j.
ws Of the great outside world, which @
has not seen for twenty years always t.
NAL and kindly, and taking faithful tt
crest in the "pilgrims," as the new al
mers are called in the mountains
daIi0 MO- Bazoo.
A Substitute for Gas.
There have been experiments NJ ade in r