The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-09
ON THE PLAINSIN IS.

| Three Of us are Sent ON u kcOutiuE tx
| petition, and CarIureR Dead "Ingun'
we Dlshcct Him mnd Find that lie
Died OF ID Er0kea Heart. -
s, BY SERGEANT HOLIDAY.
20 II. -f.l. ..a.
(t:nternd according 10 the act Of Congress In the
lIOraEiAnA ONCE at Washington, u. C., uy the au
thor, George L. Holiday, Of lUnton, Ohio, III tht
y0ar ls0j.
Alter the weather had become somewhat
warmer, and the snow had packed and set.
tied, volunteer force was called to 60
80 down the North Platte below Deer Greek
Station to look after some Indians who had
been stealing the stock from the post.
About fifty OF US offered at once to go,
glad to get away from this lonely place
and were anxious for some diversion, even
II we had TO fight u hoard Of redskins to
lind ii.
We had been providing ourselves with
the customary winter outfit Of clothing,
which consisted OF woli.skin or buffalo
cap, buffalo skin overshoes with leggins
attached which reached 10 the knees and
then fastened by long buckskin string4 was
allowed to hang down the side OF the legs.
Buffalo mittenS, and the customary Cavalry
Uniform, completed tho costume. These
"exlras" had to. BIZ furnished by ourselves,
and cost considerable. .-r....
Wrapped in the above described outfit,
we sat out one cold CleBr morning, over an
unbroken road through snow dnits, and
after hard days march we reached Deer
Greek Station. The post was held by some
If the 18th Ohio Cavalry boys, under q
Lieutenant, aud small squad OF United
States Infantry. Aud here We found twenty
five Pawnee Indian soldiers VIII ohad como
over from the Missouri River under awhile
officer, after tho mail. The route along the
| Missouri from Yankton had become block.
ed with snow, and was impossible and no
mails had gone through for some time, 80
the mail was sent over the North Platte
route. z 7-'H'I. ..
After our supper was devoured; as usual,
everybody settled down to game Of poker,
in which all the Indians took hand.
All Indians play poker. How they learn
and where they get their cards has been q
mystery. You may tame wild Indian,
cuuCatg him, convert him 10 christianity
l1hho-d iuipclvuuIy vi Llhl, anu beuu ulu
back to his brethren, and before the sun
coca down he will stake bis last broncho on
game Of poker. q
| here are but few tricks known to the
professional gamblers which the redskin il
not perlecty familiar with and which he will
not resort to when opportunity affords
But trick was played by one OF the officers
here which lai9 everything in the shade
these Indians had ever seen.
-Four men set down to q rough table for q
game. A Lieutenant,a private, and two
Pawnee Indians. A previous arrangement
had been made 10 raise cold deck" on
these fellows, which was successfully done
and raised more excitement at that little
remote block house than an attack by
Indians would have caused.
The game was a so cent "ante" game,
with no limit TO the bets. Everything was
been allowed 10 win largely, quite crowd
OF boys had gathered around and were
watching with intense interest. Finally
the time came for action. 1t was the Lieu.
tenants deal, the cards were dealt out, and
4 close observer could detect q twinkle oil
satisfaction in the eyes OF each OF the In
diang as they picked up their hands. Of
course all came in.
The buck on the left had four Jacks, Iu.
gun No. had four Queens, the private
lour Kings, aud the Lieutenant four aces.
All discarded one and drew one, except
the Lieutenant. Then the betting COM
menCed. First ten, then doubled, and
soon ran up 10 one hundred dollars and
over sized one Indians pile, but he was not
not to be blulIed. He had winning hand
and he meant to stake all be possessed on
it. Two OF the men had lain down their
hands, and the tght was between the Lieu,
tenant and the Indian OF the four Jacks.
He lacked $50 to see the last raise. He
pondered long, looked puzzled, then said:
$40 Jim got no money. Put up good
pony-tiity dollars"
The kind officer agreed 10 the pony, and
tho two hands were shown. The Lieu,
tenant had won over hundred dollars and
pony, ard the poor red man was busted
This wound up the game, and as the un-
fortunate man arose be said: d.. ...
40 Jim, all broke-no mohey-no pony
all gone"
But before we left the next morning the
money was all returned and the pony re-
stored TO the rightlul owner, aud l suppose
there was never happier Indian than 10
Jim, especially when the Lieutenant taught
him the trick it was done with.
Several miles below Deer Creek we were
surprised at finding fresh trail in the
snow leading from the North Platte in the
direction OF Laramie Peak. Wedecided al
once to follow this trail. A close examina.
ton revealed the fact that the Indians had
passed through tue night previous and
could not be many miles in the advance.
Following as rapidly as the nature of the
country and the frequent SNOW drifts would
psTmit we iourneyed on until Atternoop
when n severe snow storm set in and VIC
were compelled to give up the chase, and
make our way across the plain for In
lBopta, Wo reach it late that night, almost
exhausted and several men badly frozen
That night the Indians attacked small
force OF Cavalry and some FrenChmen at Z
saw mill near Laramie Peak, killing every
man there, and burning the mill to tht
ground.
We returned the next day 10 Deer Creel
but must relate an adventure which thret
OF us had on the way, and in doing so
don't want 10 place my comrades and my
sell in the light Of grave robbers for In tina
country, and at that time no auOh thiuI
was known. or at least 1t was not know
BY that name. 1t WAS n common thing to
Surgeons to take up the bodies OF soldier
and Transfers who HE'D and we're buried il
shallow graves along the road, and disco
them as there was no law to interfere. Blu
our case Is somewhat different, inasmuCl
/ rs we were not doctors in search OF scien
tliic knowledge, but scouts, in search o