The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-24
A SCOUTS FATE.
A Brothers. Remains Discovered After
Four Months search.

Butte, passed through here on his way
to the Yellowstone country, his errand
being to discover, if possible, the re-
mains of his brother Joseph, who had
been killed by Nez Perce Indians in
1877. The brothers first came to
Montana in '67. Joseph left here for
Washington Territory in go, but re-
turned to this country in short time.
While in Helena, during the Nez Pcrce
raid, he heard that Silas had been
killed by Indians He determined to
avenge his death, and in August, 1877,
went to General Sturgis and offered
his services to that officer as a scout.
General Sturgis at once sent him
with two others-a man named Croft
and California Indian-to the Vel
lowstone Park to warn tourists of the
approach of the hostile Indians
While in the performance of this duty
the party was suddenly surrounded by
the Indians. The Indian scout was
killed, Croft was shot through the neck,
and Leonard's horse shot under him.
He at once secured the Indians horse
and attempted to escape, but the ami
NAL was also killed before he had gone
any distance. He then attempted to
make for canyon some distance away,
and Croft, who, in spite of his wounds,
had remained on his horse, coming up
Just then, Leonard mounted behind
him, and the two made their way into
the canyon, where they dismounted
and concealed themselves in the rocks
until the Indians left the vicinity.
They then started for For. Ellis, which
place they reached in about n week.
Croft was left there to be treated fol
his wounds.
On reaching the post leonard was
given dispatches by General Frost, to
to be conveyed by the scout to General
Stursis, who was supposed to be in
Clark's Fork canyon. The troops had
gone to Ruby valley, which fact was
unknown to the parties sending the
dispatches. Mr.. Leonard went i'm
mediately to the place where he sup
posed he would find the command, but
instead, was discovered by the Ncz
Pcrce spies, who undoubtedly saw his
approach, and lay in wait for him, and
he was killed by them.
On hearing of the disappearance of
his brother, Silas, who was in Port
land, Oregon, came to Montana and
started to search for his remains, not
doubling but that he had been killed.
He went to the Yellowstone country,
found that his brother was last seen
when leaving the post with dispatches
for Sturgis. He commenced his
search May 2Sth and continued it un-
til September lst, when his convic-
tions that his brother had been killed
were made positive by discovering his
skeleton. lie was able to recognize it
by the teeth, which were curiously
formed, and filed in a peculiar man
ner with gold. He had on his person
at the time between 500 and 5000 in
gold coin, which had been taken. His
skeleton was found near clump OF
willows near the river, and about sixty
miles from the Grow agency. The
flesh had evidently been eaten from
the bones by wild beasts and the skel-
eton dragged some distance from where
his clothes were found. The latter
were in good preservation after having
lain so long, and an examination OF
them showed three bullet holes one
in the leg, another through the hips,
and still another through the chest.
The skull also showed that the scout
had been shot through the head.
In pocket in the coat were found
the dispatches given him by Majo,
Frost for General Sturgis, and pri-
vate letter for the latter. The dis
patches were destroyed only where the
blood from the wound in his side had
reached them, and are somewhat faded
from having lain so long, but still can
be easily read. A check was found
torn to pieces near the spot. The
pieces were gathered up and sent to
Lieutenant Varnum, at Fort Lincoln,
Nebraska, who recognized it as being
one issued by him to Leonard. Dur
ing his long and wearisomc search Of