The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-04-08

ueIIul shot had made that dav IT hal
missed an elk at twenty yards), the tail
became biographical, then grew cont;
Dental. Ed was telling me of a vale,
ne knew, where he believed there ws
plenIy OF placer-gold, when 1 broke il
on MS mining speculations with: &C
SGs you nave had the smallpox. How
aio Wv; you get that diseaseP" The cues
tlon brought him into sitting posture
ana then rising to his feet he rebuilt tn,
nre and answered. "I will tell Won
story." Without other introduction h,
began: ~
IN 1869 was prospecting for golt
In the streams that flow down the ives
side OF the Rocky Mountains and empty
into the Flathead River. l had no snc
cess, and became discouraged. re
solved to cross the range by one of tn,
many passes, and prospect in the val
leys on the eastern slope of the NOM
talns, l knew this land was secured by
ihe blackfeet war parties, as the war O.
1869 was then raging, though the rag,
ing was all on the Blackfeet side. the
settlers fleeing to the military posts and
the towns for protection. I had de-
scended into the valley of the Marias
ana lad panned out plenty of ground
without getting a color. 1 resolved tc
60 further down the stream; SO, leay
ing the valley, l rose up to the plains
and rode to the eastward. Cutting off
q big bend of the little river, came tc
the edge OF bluff. Ca, efully, looked
over. Below me was little glen. The
nigh bluffs receding from the river bank
and describing circle inclosed some
thirty acres of meadow and a little
grove of poplar trees. Cautiously
looked and made out the tops of several
lodges standing in the grove. This was
peasant discovery. Then I noticed
that there were no horses to be seen; so
dlsmounted, and. lying down behind
some rocks, watched the camp. After
an hour of watchfulness was convinced
that there were no Indians in the vii
lage. Not sign of life could see; no
smoke no -blackening of the leaves of
the trees. A careful examination of the
bunch grass with my field glass showed
me that it was in seed, and that it had
not been grazed on. Still afraid that
there was some trap, l hesitated, when
L saw seven white-tailed deer walk out
OF the woods, stand an instant, then
slowly feed back into cover. Knowing
that they would not stay near an Indian
village, | at once mounted and rode
down trail into the valley. / struck a
heavy trail leading into the grove. It
had not been used lately, as saw spi-
ders' webs stretched across it. rode
into the woods and soon came on the
camp. There were twenty lodges, the
tents in two rows. 1 sat on my horse
and looked carefully at the deserted vii
lage. The birds fitted from tree to tree.
Some sat on the lodge poles and sang.
Spiders webs stretched from bunch to
bunch of the grass. thought all the
spiders in Montana had spun their webs
there. Every lodge had its door sewn
up. I say every lodge, but there were two
or three open. I was awe-stricken and
strongly inclined to ride away without
further investigation, but decided to
look into this strange condition. dis
mounted, and cut slit into the first
lodge. Looking into the gloom of the
tent, was startled to see many Indians
sitting around the walls all blanketed,
all motionless. Enlarging the slit by
cross slash so as to admit the light,
was shocked to find that these were dead
Indians. The flesh had dropped from
their skulls. The circle of dead men
seemed to be gripning welcome to me-
Their stony, white teeth glistened bright
ly. The empty sockets of their eyes all
seemed to be turned on me. I would
not have been surprised to have had
bony arm and feshless hand come forth
from under the rotted blankets and
beckon me to enter. The arms of the
dead warriors lay before them or at
their sides. There were bows, and quiv-
ers filed with long war-arrows, and
flint-lock muskets. Hanging above them
on the lodge-poles were lunches
of worm-eaten, jerked meat. ]
looked into several of the lodges.
ALI were the same.
"One tent, the largest, had but sim
gle occupant. His hair was decked
with feathers. Hanging around the
deshless neck bone was a great neck
lace of the claws of the grizzly bear, the
points of the claws hidden between the
ribs Above him, fastened to a lodge
pole, dangled bunch of Indian scalps;
D Aul1 USAt Va CoAtfluSCS was DuChICu
around him. His blanket was thrown |
across his legs, and lying on his lap,
with the f1eshless hands grasping it, was
= breecn-loading rifle. There sat a war
chief with bow and full quiver to his |
back, ready to engage in fight the min
lte the soul should again be breathed
nto him. Leaving him to await the
went to the tents that were
opened. These found had been plum
Tered. The. dead had been thrown
lown, their skulls apparently kicked
put, as they were not to be seen, and
he smaller bones had been scattered
over the ground. Saddles were gone,
blankets were missing. Indignant at
he outrage that had been offered to the
lead of a brave people, was about to
inter the lodge, when it seemed as
hough heard voice speaking, so dis
inctIy was the idea conveyed to my
,rain. l said: you ass! This is the
-iIlage of the Blackfeet dead;' then
lower, as if the words dropped into my
ars one by one. sThey-died-of =
mall-pox.' Instantly comprehending
ny danger, I ran to my horse, mounted,
nd roda nuioRIv auav / was afraid