The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-03-06
ADVENTURES OF A SCOUT.

ADVENTURES OF A SCOUT.
Interesting Stories of Indian Adventure
by One of Clusters Scouts.
From the Chicago Times.l
After the adjournment of the Military
Court, yesterday, a Times reporter had
quite an interesting talk with Fred. F.
Girard, the scout, in regard to his ex-
perience among the Indians. Mr.. Cir
ard has spent 81 years among the North
American savages, and has been the
hero of many strange adventures. His
passion for hunting and the wonderful
stories he had heard in regard to the
Indians attracted him to their territory
when he was barely 16 years of age He
traded at Fort Clark Is years, and then
moved to Fort Berthold, where he acted
as agent for Charles P. Choteau, Jr., &
Co. Of late he has been in the employ
of the Government as Indian interpre-
ter and scout, and was acting in that
capacity with Gen. Clusters regiment at
the time of the disastrous battle on the
Little Big Horn. Mr.. Girard has
A FUND OF INDIAN STORIES
OF hair-raising character. In the
course OF the conversation, yesterday,
he related two or three which are wor-
thy of reproduction. One ran about as
follows:
SIN the year 1857, when / was in
Choteau's employ, started with four
other employees from St. Louis to Fort
Clark. When we reached what is
known as Square Buttes we came unex-
pectedly upon a large Indian camp of
about 1900 or 1900 lodges. Among
the chiefs were Sitting Bull, Black
Moon, Red Horn, Four Horns and Run
ming Antelope. Our presence was de-
tected before we had any time to get out
of the way, and knew it would be use
less to attempt to pass safely through
the camp. Our only hope was to get
among the most hostile tribe and be re-
garded in the light of guests. just as
we got inside the camp of Uncapapas,
Running Antelope came out and shook
hands with me. | knew him pretty
well, having met him at Fort Berthold,
and done him some little favors in the
way OF presents of tobacco, etc. He
recognized the danger we were in, and
he mounted our wagon and cried out in
loud tone, This is fine day to die
an Indian idiom meaning he was ready
to lay down his life for his friends.
Here are my friends he continued,
'and if they die die with them. Those
who are my friends let them rally round
me. want these whites to reach home
In safety In very short time from
700 to 1000 Indians had rallied round
RUNNING ANTELOPE,
and as soon as he considered himself
strong enough to protect us he gave the
order to move forward. We started off,
the women of the other tribes striving
to incite the braves to destroy us. For
while there was no hostile demonstra-
ton, but when we had proceeded about
three miles noticed an equal number
OF redskins behind US. They rode up
and mixed with Running Antelope's war
riors. heard the swapping of a flint
lock behind me, and on looking round
saw strengthening Indian trying to
shoot me. Before his piece went off
another Indian rode up and struck the
fellow across the face with his bow.
can scarcely describe my sensations
when l became aware that was being
made target of. think the hairs of
my head rose up like those quilts on the
fretful porcupine which Booth occa-
slonally talks about. The blow that
was dealt my immediate enemy decided
at once who were our friends and who
our foes. The Indians at once divided
into two bodies and commenced a lively
light. We whipped up and ratified over
the ground at lightning speed with an
escort OF 60 friendly Indians. When we
had travelled three or four miles our es-
cort began
ROBBING THE WAGON,
until every article, except the box on
which was sitting, had disappeared.
When we were within four miles of the
fort, -Four Horns rode up and ordered
us to stop and make some coffee. / told
him to look in the wagon and see if
there was any thing with which to make
coffee. SWELL" he growled, "stop
and let your horses Craze" At this
Running Antelope stepped up and urg-
ed that his brother and himself should
go back empty-handed in order that
their people might see they had not
saved the whites for the purpose of rob-
bling them. But Four Horns couldn't
see it. He dismounted and went to the
man who was riding my horse, caught
him by the left foot. and tumbled him
Oft on the opposite side, saying: "Here,
dog, my horse is good enough for you"
We were then allowed to continue to
the fort, and after shaking hands with
US Running Antelope returned home. l |
was told afterward that a large number
Of Indians were slain in the light, which
was gotten up On our account.
Mr.. Girard then told of
ANOTHER ADVENTURE
ne had on Dec. "a, 1868, when he was
n charge of Fort Berthold. The Indians