The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-13

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Times gives an Interesting account of a
SNOWFALL battle between a party of Chey-
ennc and Sioux boys, each numbering
about twenty-five, as witnessed from a
steamers deck on the Red River of the
North. In the opening skirmish, says the
writer, the opposing bands were twenty or
thirty yards apart-so far indeed, that few
of the boys were hit, because they evidently
knew how to dodge. 1t was like a game
of "corner-ball" at n country district school,
the playersducking their heads and bound
ing aside whenever a missile would whizz
past. But rs soon as the red lads had be-
come warmed to the sport the distance
quickly shortened. The snow disappeared
from the skirmish line as though melted
by the hot breath of the little sons of the
plain, and the battle ground was shifted
to a point almost under the side of the
steamer. The Sioux youths pressed hard
er and harder. They were led by a tall,
supple lad of 10 or Whereabouts, who hurl-
ed the balls with the force of n grown war
ror and the precision of an old artillery
man. His moccasins were in his way, and
so, tearing them from his feet, he wrapped
them in n hard packing of snow and sent
them whistling into the ranks of the ene-
my. This act kindled the fire on the Sioux
side, a dozen of the lads nj once stripping
to the waist and running forward with
wild cries.
1t was clear enough that the hand-to-
hand attack had been expected, for n num-
Der of the Cheycnnes who had kept
themselves in the rear of the party sprang
forward and grappled with the Sioux. One
of the passengers who stood on the cabin,
says he never saw n charge so completely
met. Every Sioux found his Cheyenne as
If the matter had been pre-arranged. No
blows were struck, but the wrestling was
fierce and savagely heroic. The wrestlers
were in a straight line, nor did the line
Fayer. The Sioux grip was. on the Chey-
enne, and the Cheyenne clutch was about
the shoulder of the Sioux. Some of the
spectators on the steamer were so excited
that they sprang ashore and ran toward the
wrestlers, but they as quickly ran back
again, those not wrestling, peppering them
with snow-balls rs n hint that there must
be no interference. The wrestlers stood
almost still for more than a quarter of an
hour, every nerve strained to its utmost
tension.
Meanwhile the boys who ere not in the
line ceased their volleys and waited for the
result. The tall leader of the Sioux had for
his opponent n boy of about ia strong,
why fellow, who once had wrestled with,
thrown and killed n %full-grown bear. Down
his chest was n long ugly scar that had
been cut by the bears claws, and in the
back of his neck was the imprint of the
bears teeth. Observation-Disclosures Bear
swayed back and forth, straining with his
utmost strength to weaken the Sioux lads
hold. Finding that this could not be done,
he slackened his hold and the Sioux in
stantly backed away This appeared to
be q signal TO all the wrestlers, for they
also let 90 and retired. After n short rest
a volley thrown by the C~heyennes again
brought on the battle. The lines now
were not more than ten yards apart, and
the thud and bursting of the balls indicat-
ed that the close work was telling.
The wild fusilade was succeeded by a
clinching all around, and such a rough-and-
tumble play the spectators never before
saw. The Sioux leader seized a Cheyenne
lad by the shoulders and sent him head
foremost into the river. Loud cries went
up from the Cheyennes, who plainly re-
garded the act MS one of foul play. Four
Cheyennes, including The-Boy-who-Killed-
the-Bear, pinioned the Sioux leaders
arms and rubbed his head in the snow,
filling his his mouth, nostrils and ears.
They then dragged him toward the river,
but, before they could give the toss that
would send him into the stream, they
were attacked harum-scarum md heller
SHELTER by the whole Sioux band. A trap
per who understood the Cheyenne tongue,
and who happend to be on the steamer,
said that the Cheyennes were shouting,
"Drown him drown him and that the
gesticulating grown warriors on the out
skirts of the battle field were yelling Fair
playm
Whatever they may lave been trying to
say, there certainly was a tremendous hub
bub, in the midst of which the Sioux lead
er broke from the grasp of his assailants
and threw himself painting and perspiring
in the arms of his fellows. At this turn
in the battle the men of both the Sioux
and the Cheyenne bands, who had been
attracted to the scene by the terrific yells,
interfered and both parties shook hands
and retired. The Cheyenne who had been
thrown into the river did not seem to mind
The ducking, for he walked slowly of with
tho others, laughing as he went. And SO
ended the battle of the snow-balls.
CHAs. DICKENS WILL.-The following
is nj extract from the last will and tesla
ment of Charles Dickens:
81 direct that my name De inscribed in
plain English letters on my tomb. / con-
lure my friends on no account to make me
the subject of any monument, memorial,
or testimonial whatever. l rest my claim
to the remembrance of my country upon
my published works, and to the remem-
brance of my friends upon their experience
of me, in addition thereto. l commit my
soul to the mercy of God, through our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, and l exhort my
dear children bravely to try TO guide them
selves by the teaching of the New Testa-
ment in its expressed spirit, and to put no
faith in any mans new construction of its
letter here or there"