The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-07-25
The Chronicles. Of the Yellowstone.
An Description Of the Country its Indians the Early
settless; Their Struggles with the Aborgnes and
Interesting "reminiscences Gathered from
itsf9' Yhf aa is#3 The Early Pioneers. s.t
rhe the "CHaon1 Yzlowros has been applied
fort ivisv svsntuany appear in book nrm]

. ovrHE YELLowsroxE" has been applied
form1
| he saw At about 3O0yards distance, large
party OF mounted Indians coming up the
creek bottom. They saw him at the
same time and three or four of them shot
At him. He fired in return and killed
one of their horses; then went into the
brush and worked his way to camp. He
saw Indians several times while on his
way, but preferred not to fight till the
three were together.
About the time that Cooke reached
camp (where he found Woody heavy
firing was heard up the creek that grad
ually came nearer and they knew that
Hubble was fighting his way in.
Hubble had heard the firing at Cooke
and had worked his way through the
brush to the upper end Of the open place
In which he saw large number of In
diana Running parallel with the creek
and 1t 400 yards distance from it was a
high ridge, the bottom being full Of little
coulies and hiding places, he concluded
to take this ridge and try for camp. As
he made the run across the bottom he
was fired at by probably 200 warriors.
The bullets cut the ground all around
him and whistled close to his ears, but
he was untouched. He gained the point
of the ridge and having good position,
rested. Hubble had not fred a cartridge
- yet, but now, as the Indians were get
ting too familiar and coming too near, he
fred twice in quick succession, each shot
taking effect; one killing horse and the
other breaking an Indians arm. This
showing of his skill as marksman prob
ably saved his life, for as he trotted down
the ridge towards camp, the Sioux would
ride up and fire at him. When they
came too near, he would drop on. one
knee and raise his gun and they would
scatter and retreat az fast as their horses
could carry them. After he had done so
. few times without shooting they must
have thought that he was out of ammu-
milton, for three made q charge and did
not stop when he raised his gun. This
time he fired and shot one through the
breast and he fell off Of his horse. The
others turned and ran. He shot again and
~ the two went over the brow of the hill
and out of sight, the one shot at was
leaning forward and holding to the sad
die with both hands. Hubble now re-
sumed his trot and turning down a sharp
ridge that led to the creek below the
open place, reached camp in safety. After
running the gauntlet of 500 rifles for
twenty minutes.
It is easy to imagine the feeling with
which Hubble was received by those in
camp, for beside the pleasure of knowing
Of his safety, each added man was host
in the struggle which they knew had to
come.
As soon as Woody had heard the firing
he had rushed to camp. Three of the
horses that were picketed near by he
brought in and tied to trees; before he
had time to get the others che Indians
dashed in and captured them. Woody
| exchanged few shots with them, but
when Hubble came in sight, the Indians
all paid their attentions to him, and
Woody and Cooke piled up their saddles,
blankets, provisions and everything in
camp to protect them while fighting, and
when Hubble came in they were a. well
fixed as possible.
The Indians ceased firing for . few
moments to develop plan of battle.
Then they posted themselves in the hills
on each side and poured into camp q hail
of bullets, which for half an hour came
60 thick that the boys dare not raise
their heads. The horses were riddled,
the saddles were shot to pieces, and -four
was scattered over the whole camp.
As abruptly as it began the firing
ceased and the Sioux prepared to try q
new plan. In the interval of quiet the
beselged drew into the barricade the
! body of the nearest horse.
Just after tins was done, party Of
about fifty Indians came charging in on
horseback. They were received by such
. lively and well directed fire, that they
soon weakened and retreated, taking with
them two Of their comsades dead and
leaving two dead horses ON the field.
This charging party was hardly out Of
sight behind the brush on one side before
another having about the same number
came from the other. These met with
the same reception and soon broke and
ran, leaving one oftheir number fasten.
ed under horse, that being hit had
fallen and caught his rider, who lay at the
mercy Of the trappers and was killed.
After = short interval the enemy
charged again . hundred strong; again
they began to break and straggle as they
came near; q few came on till quite close
but, when their leader fell, which he did
when but. about thirty feet away, all
retrea&ed and tried no more charges.
The firing from the hills and the
charges made quite hot work fqi
our trappers, but the worst was yet to
come. For now the Indians left their
horses and crawling into the brush, sent
bullets into the camp from all directions
and 1t close quarters. The boys fired
slowly and always for blood, and all three
being noted shots, they made most a
their bullets tell. There Ras q point Of
brush that came close to the barricade
ON the side at which Cooke was stationed
An Indian came to its edge and Cooke
and he shot at each other at the same
moment. The Indians bullet cut hole
through the hat of Cooke, whose bal
pierced the warriors heart. Cooke made
q jump and taking hold of the dead mar
put his body in the breastworks. soor
afterward the Sioux, utterly disheartensd