The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-08-15
TIE Chronicles aa;:ll 81 the Yellowstone.
An Accurate Description Of the Country s Indans the Early
Settlers; Their Struggles with the Aborgines and
stttipt interesting "reminiscences Gathered from
~ u = ~ THE Early Pioneers. 80

Pioneers.
or THE YELLOWSTONE" has been applied
orm1
Charley Cooke, Johnny Dolan, Topping
and four others went down the Yellow
stone for a few days trip, TO look at some
wolf bats and 10 put out others. Two
hours after their departure, Pat Sweeny,
Neil Gillis, Jim Dewings, BY Mutton and
Mnggins Taylor, saddled each a riding
horse and went up the coulie, on which
Edwards had been. killed to the table
lands. Here they found a band Of buffalo
and killing some fat cows, packed each
of the horses with choice meat and start
ed back to the stockade, each leading
honla They found ut the head of the
coulie which they had come up, the fresh
signs of horses going at full speed, that
had been made while they were packing
on the bufialo. There was way to the
fort, which. if taken, would have kept
them nom being caught in an ambush,
but they went back on the same trail by
which they bad come and ran directly
into the trap which had been set for
them. When they were about q mile
from the fort and where the trail wound
close to . sharp ridge, they were saluted
by volley from $50 Indians who were
posted behind the ridge not more than
100 yards away. The boys were un-
touched and ran to the centre Of the
gulch, where there ran a small dry water
course, Of about two feet in depth. The
horses crowded right behind the hunters
and probably saved them, for the Sioux
fired rapidly and all Of. the horses but
one were killed before reaching the water
course. This shallow cut made but
poor defense and in q moment after his
arrival there, ,Sweeny was hit in the breast
by 1 bullet, which penetrated his right
lung. As he was hit he cried out, boys
don't let the red devils get me and they,
though they could have slippeddownthe
little cut and escaped, stayed and fought
and saved him from their cruel hands
Buta few moments aAerward Neil Gillis
received . bullet in the thigh and at
nearly the same time By Mutton was
shot tAnoagh the calf Of the left leg. Two
bullets from the next voliey that came
also did execution, one going through
the muscle of Jim Dewings ann and the
other taking away q piece Of Muggins
Taylor's thumb and q chunk OF wood
from his gun stock.
Sweeny was lying helpless, but the
others were doing nice shooting and the
Indians, who were suffering from this
fire, drew off to longer range and Neil
Gillis concluded to make his way to the
post and stir up the men left there, 80 he
worked carefully down the gulch. When
near its mouth he ran into party of six
Sioux, who ran as soon as they discover
ed him. He fred his rifle rapidly and
killed two of their number before they
were out of his reach.
About this time those at Pease, there
were bat seven all told, and some Of these
were sick, rolled out the big gun and
were sending shells toward some Indians
that came in sight on the hills and when
Gillis was seen coming across the fiat
several Of them went out to meet him.
About the time that Gillis arrived at
the stocade, the Indians ceased firing and
disappeared. Gillis saddled the Last horse
in the fort and though crippled and weak
from loss of blood, took some water and
went out to Sweeny's assistance.
The three who had remained with
Sweeny fought steadily for half an hour,
till the report of Gillis' firing was heard,
when oil of the Indians left and they,
though all crippled, were carrying Swee-
ny when met by the party from the
stockade.
Those at the post went with field
glasses, up in the bastion when the report
of the rifles were first heard and though,
they could not see any of the combatants
they saw where the Sioux made their
hospital, and when the fight ceased they
saw them pack thirteen horses with dead
and wounded.
Two days after this event Hubble and
party came back to the fort. They had
found a great quantity OF frozen wolves
at the bats, and though they had seen
Indians had not been attacked.
About II p. m, Of the same day Nc
Cormick came in with q train and large
quantity of goods.
On the morning Of the second day after
this, just after the stock was turned Out
to feed, nine Indians, five from TIE hil''
and four from the river bottom made q
dash for the herd. There were two
herders; one of these John Barlow, KEEP
his presence of.mind and fired rapidlv al
the sdvancing Indians. The other ONT
wasa German and unused to frontier
life he became excited and pumped hi
Winchester rapidly in the air withou
aim. All of the well men in the stockad'
went out on the run, firing as they went
and the Indians gave up the scheme ant
retreated to the river bottom.
At IL p. M, that night, the train will
some Of the useless men from the stock
ade started on it's return trip up the rive
and arrived in safety at the settlements
After the leaving Of the train the tim
went ON as usual. Hunting and gamb
ling for cartridges were the orly amuse
ments.
Before he had left the Big Horn, Top
ping had killed and hung mp several ia
Whitehall deer; as meat was getting poo
Hubble, Topping, and two others con
cluded to go up and pack this to the post
, When coming back they found on Tul
lock creek, one of the horses that ha'
been in the sweeny fight. It belongs
to By Mutton and had been shot in sew
: erh places; it was able to walk and tn
, boys brought it to Pease, where it finall
, ,rscovered.s
> On the 10th of the month after eigh
3 teen days struggle with death, sween
, succumbed, and another great heart wa
\ .1A.~l IN tho ln,,e, l;a< NJ tho.a tI,ot hav