The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-06-08


the river was lined with ln,lians ever on tho
alert, and who undoubtedly possessed a
general knowledge Of the Whereabouts Of
the party, On account Of the
vigilance Of the ''Mhabi,an,s"
Major Pcasc and his companions were
Obliged 10 rropel their frail bark, with the
assis,spce orth swim current, over the
bosom OF the Yellowstone, during tho
hours of the night aud lay by during the
day under the shcltcring willows unJ cot.
tonwood trees which linod lis banks.
Taking into consideration tho fact tia,
none OF the voyagcrs had ever travelled tho
river before, Il will bc seen that the under.
taking was pcrilous IN tho extreme.
One never to bc forgotten night, these men
passed through Sitting Bulls camp and
village which stretched along tho Yellow.
stone ut what Is known rs tho Fort Hcouh
reservation, for u distance of 8 miles,
Several Indian dogs arpriscl Of their prcs.
encc' gave loud mouthed warnings 10 tho
Indians, but, owing 10 the darkness, the
adventures were not molcstetl. On tho
18th day of July, 1879, the fort was almost
completed, and the bsstion on one end
finished. A la pound common was put into
lis upper story and nh arn,ory arranged IN
tho lower part. Two men were kcp, on
guard dny and night.
Ono evcntfll night tho guard, e..
pied two Indians coming across the bot.
toms, and as soon as they were within
hailing distance, yelled at them with all
the force Of a fog whistle. No answer be.
ing returned to their sslutation, they
opened fire OH them forthwith. The dis.
charge of those two rifles settled the trading
business for that season.
Capt. Mccormick, who at that time was
novice in Indian warfare, arming himself
with brace ofpistols, rife and numer. |
Gus cartridges, sailed forth on his horse
across the bottom, accompanied by ono of
his men, Uames Edwards.) While they,
unconcious of the imminent danger which I
threatened them, were talking about the
peculiar appearance of the sage BRUSH they
discovered that one or two hundred Indians
that had been sheltered in the brush had
stealthily got between them and the fort and
apparently cut off their retreat in that
direction. When they became cognizant of
the condition of affairs The foremost of the
trcacherous Sioux were not over
80 feet distant from them.
Inc Indian nearest them
raised his rifle as soon as he was discovered
and Immediately discharged it point blank
at Edwards. The poor fellow reeled in his
saddle and exclaimed: MY God! I'm shot"
His horse. wild with excitement, dashed
hither and thither unmindful of either the
weak hold Of his master upon the bride or
Of the proximity of the Indians. As soon :
as the first shot had sounded forth the I
whole troop of Indians opened fire upon
but such were the cratic move
ments of his steed as to make their aim i'm :
perfect, and for time at least he was unin-
ured. With the horde yelling and shoot
ng close behind him he dashed of, as the
only means of safety, in the direction of the
cooley which was distant about half a mile.
As he neared what he thought were the
friendly borders of this shelter, 80 or more
mounted reds rode savagely out of it and
headed him off, at the same time opening ri
;olley on him that, as it seemed to his CON-
,anions in the fort. must have riddled him
With bullets. One of the shots took effect :,
n the bowels of his horse and so crazed C
he animal that he turned short about and q
'lthough about 40 Indians were in his di. v
ect path to the. fort he dashed through :, =
hem and up to within 80 or 40 feet of the h
astone, where he dropped and died shortly c,
fter. Strange to relate Capt. Mccormick Al
'as not even scratched by bullet and
limbed into the fort in as good bodily con- =
ition as when he left but few minutes r.
eforc. His mental sufferings during the Il
rying ordeal can be better imagined than 7
escribed. W
[Note.-Many instances have been given Il,
, history of o persons hair turning white is
, consequence offright but except In the Of
use of Capt. Mccormick has never been
roved so far as we know. Within twelve
ours after the terrible and exciting adven- NJ
Ire through which be passed his hair had :,
,rned greyish white and so remains to this
ay. During the past year or two, how.
'er, II mas begun to assume Its original
'lor which is very light brown.l
Edwards horse carried him to within q
lort distance of the fort where he dropped
ON the saddle and was immediately
ounced upon by the savages who scalped
i'm and then departed.
After the fight Capt. Mccormick asked
r volunteers who would carry . mail
rough to Bozeman apprising the people
ere of the imminent danger which threat.
led the small band in the fort. Three men
% of whom were named respectively
lively and Weaver started, but never
ncho11 thar 1oo%ir n%sc,, Cl,S~,olXr ,,o.I r