New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-06-23

the Teton! turned my spoils over to
the smiling Indian woman who acted as
cook for Burr. The rest of the day /
spent on horseback, running antelope
with q number of half blood Indians.
At eight o'clock supper was served and
eaten. The sherry was brought out,
and scattered on the table handful,
my last, of Rosa Conchas, that had
never paid duty, and as we sat smok.
ing Burr told me this story:
lin the fall of 1868 thought it might
be profitable to start trading-post in
the Yellowstone Valley. Learning from
the Blackfeet that the Sioux were
camped on the south side of the river,
determined to ride over and see what
arrangements l could make with them.
crossed the Belt Mountains, and, rid
Ing down the valley, was soon at their
camp, l on the north side Of the river,
they on the south. I sat on my horse
and hailed the camp. No answer. I
could see plenty of Indians walking
about, and again hailed. No answer.
shouted myself hoarse, and the only
notice taken OF me was by an old buck:
who walked to the river bank, looked at
me, made an insulting gesture, and
slowly walked off. lwent there to trade.
and, having got angry at the treatment,
though I well knew that ! ought to
leave the valley at once, l, like fool,
resolved to cross the stream and brave
the danger. So I forded and rode into
the camp. I spoke to no one; no one
spoke to me-. The sulleh braves turned
their backs on me as I rode up the
street. The young girls looked curious
ly ct me. Riding slowly along, cooled
rapidly. saw that was not wanted,
and I at last fully realized that was in
danger. I did not dare to ride to the
south, out Of tho camp, nor did have
courage enough to attempt TO recross
the river.
"Bef0re me stood a great tent made
Of buffalo skins. It was the largest !
bad ever seen. halted, dismounted,
and stood silently at my horsc's head.
| No one noticed mo. Indians went past
mo, apparently not seeing me. At last
a young woman came and stood before
me. Looking right into my eyes she
her coldly in the face and made no re-
ply. Smiling, she asked: What brings
yoQ herep Steadily I gazed into her
eyes and was v0icelcss. She left me
and departed into the great lodge.
Soon an Indian warrior In full paint,
with bow and strung arrow in his hands,
came to me. Speaking Blackfoot, he
said: why are you in this camp?' TO
him replied: Il wish to trade with
YOU More men came. They took my
horse, and selling hold of my arm they
led me into the great lodge. Here I
was seated and council was held. I sat
and listened to them talk of what was
best to do with so presumptuous white
man. Some were in favor of trading.
The large majority of the Indians were
in favor of torturing me. It was soon
decided that l should be tortured; and
they sat and discussed the many
methods. After two days talk it was
decided to burn me. was in strange
condition mentally. 1 would listen to a
plan of torture, as though it were some
other man they were talking about; and
l would comment to myself on that
plan as giving the chap but little chance
for his life. But when the dusky
brave, who talked Blackfoot, told me
that was to die by fire the next day,
I understood perfectly that l was tho
man they had been talking about, and I
replied: Il know it, Clustering
around me they asked me if l had un-
derstood all the talk. Yes; I had
Then why not answer the maiden
when she spoke to you?' L came, not
to talk to squaws, but to trade with
men, No use; could do nothing by
soft talk, and having played my hand,
finally resigned myself to my fate.
Z" noticed that the girl who had
first spoken to me in front of the tent
was watching me. She would quickly
glance at me and then drop her eyes
on the buckskin shirt she was en-
broidering with Crow hair. Several
ZINES noticed this. and once replied
with smile. The lodge cmptied All
were gone except the girl. She quick
" came to my side, apparently to re-
fold some buffalo robes, and in a
whisper said: You arc to die to-mor-
row. Tonight l will have the best
horse in the camp saddled and standing
ON lae outside 81 the lodge. Twill have
the, tent cut from the outside. You
Jump through, mount and ride for your
life. You may escape. You will burn
if you stay Then, with smile: The
mare is mine. She is the fastest ami
NAL in the Valley of the Yellowstone.
give her to YOU She left me and
quickly resumed her work. As she
woye the ha--: of many Crow scalp
locks into the shirt, sat looking
thankfully at her. She never looked
at me again. AS I saw chance for
my life, my heart beat so loudly that
thought it would be heard. I Gained
my face and waited. l ate fairly of
supper. l smoked a pipe. All were
very kind and attentive to me. Night
was passing away, and still the 1ndi-
ans fingered, looking at the man they
were to burn on the morrow. leaned
back against the tent to rest myself,
when I felt hand gently pushing me
forward. Sitting whistling, felt the
uoint of a knife come through and
strike my neck. I did not finch; !
could feel the blood trickle down my
back; could feel the knife carefully
drawn down until 1t hit the ground.
Still whistling, I waited, my heart
humping, my blood on fre-waited' a
minute to give whoever cut the tent
time to escape. Then, quieting my
heart and nerves for an in
slant, gathered myself and
turned backward through tho
opening. Instantly. jumping to my
feet, vaulted into the saddle that was
HI Nh - x Al. 4
there, and, in the midst of yells, of rifle
shots, Of pack of bowling dogs, we
rushed out Of the camp. II seemed to
mo as though thousand horscmen
We're in pursuit Of me instantly. We
galloped up the river to, a bend l had
seen: Dashing in, we forded it under
fire that made the water boil around us,
and were out of water and on the level
land to the north of tho river before
any of the Sioux were half way across.