Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-03-30
APACHE MATT, THE SCOUT.
A Famous Frsmtisrsmsa's Rsssss sbs Wssis,
Wss upoa ths ladisas.

\ Famous FseRtiersmsa's Rssses sbs Wasiss
Wss upea ths isdisss.
Matthew johnson reached Denver City
from Fort Hualapai, and will leave for
his old home in New York state, there
to spend his remaining days. Several
years ago he was living with his wife and
several children near Hualapai. One
early morning, while the father was ab-
sent at the military post, the band OF
Mojave Indians, Of which Delshay was
chief, attacked the ranch, outraged the
mother and tortured her and the three
children to death. When johnson re-
turned his cabin was in flames and the
blood Of his dying family yet warm.
Almost crazed, he went back 10 the fort
without even waiting to inter the remains
of his wife and children and briefly told
the awful tragedy. Within fifteen min
utes Q detachment of Company X OF the
fifth cavalry were mounted, under the
command Of Col. Mason, and on the
trail of the copperskinned devils, john
son going along.
On the morning of the third day the
cavalry entered the Black Hills, at the
headwaters Of the Verdi River, the home
Of the wild Apache Mojaves. That
evening the camp was made near the
Verdi aud scouting party further fol-
lowed the trail, which appeared 10 be
only few hours old. In q small clump
Of cotton-woods and near marshy por-
ton Of the river the smoke Of tho Indians
was discovered. 1t was too late to at
tack the Indians, as the darkness would
afford them an escape. The had ap-
parently located with the intention OF
remaining q few days and hunting, 80
the assault was deferred until the morn
ing, the cavalry coming up, however.
and putting out sentinels. On one Of
the posts Sohnson stood keeping vigil
through the night. In the morning the
cavalry swooped down upon them. Sur-
prised in their stronghold, and with their
arms scattered carelessly about, the In.
diaDs could do DoihiLg better than fly;
and fly they did toward the river, the
soldiers picking them off one by one in
the chase. Delshay was more cunning
AID self-possessed than his followers,
making up the river through the thick
cottonwood. The six Indians were killed
before one OF them had reached the
stream, but Delshay, the seventh, had
such start that the cavalry almost gave
up all hope of overtaking him. They
spread out, however, and made a ski
mish through the cottonwood forest.
When they brought up in little glade
up the stream couple Of miles, they
were sstonished to find johnson leaning
over the dead body of an Indian chief,
hacking and cutting il with a huge
hn, tynifa ,v Tha
body lay upon the river bank as il it had
been pulled out after the infliction OF
the death-wound. The head was nearly
severed by a stroke of the knife, and
johnson had scalped it. 1t was many
minutes before his fury had spent itself,
the soldiers never interfering with the
horrible satisfaction which the widowed
husband and childless father was taking
for bis wrongs. Finally, when he had
grown calm enough to explain, he told
how he had seen the Indian making up
the river, and, resolved that none should
escape, he followed as best he might.
When he got through the timber he
found the trail, and although 1t was done
with much difficulty, he succeeded IN
tracing 1t to the river bank. There il
became lost, and, knowing the Indian
could not have crossed the stream with
ont having been seen on the opposite
side. which was open and denuded OF
trees and underbrush, he concluded that
the Indian was secretei in the bank.
While walking down the bank head
was protruded from pool near the shore.
II was Dalshay taking air. Stealthily
johnson approached, aud before the In
dian could realize that the avepger was
nigh, he was grasped by the hair and his
throat was slit from ear TO ear.
When the fort was reached. johnson
requested to be employed in the scouting
service, and was engaged. He became
the bloodiest and most relentless Of the
border scouts, and figured prominently
in all the campaigns against the Apaches
up TO the recent one, which Gen. Cari
led, earning the title of "Apache Matt