The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-09-26
timbered mountain overlooking the camp
and saw them, the next morning, take
the trail to the geysers.

| anu SAW tncIl, tne next uioIHIIIS, taAe
the trail to the geysen.
During the evening of the same day on
which the scouts arrived at Henry's
Lake, eight men from the mining camp
of Pony, came up and stated that they
had come up to capture some horses from
the Nes Perces. When the Indians came
up they weakened and started back
down the Madison with the scouts.
When about ten miles down they camped
while the scouts went on and reported.
A military party that was going up the
Madison two days afterward, met the
eight coming down afoot; some Of the
| Nez Perce scouts had stolen their horses.
They had gone out to shear and came
| back shorn.
The Nez Perces left Henry's Lake and
going up the Madison, came to the lower
geyser basin on the evening Of the 23d.
A party of tourists from Radersburg
and Helena, Montana, were camped in
the lower geyser BASIN Their names
were Mr.. George F. Cowan and wlfe,
Frank and Ida Carpenter, who were
brother and sister to Mrs. Cowan, Albert
Oldham, Meyers. William Dingee and
Charles Mann. They had been in the
Park tor several days and had the inten-
ton of starting on their homeward trip
in the morning. Before sunrise of the
oath, just as the party were getting up,
some of the Nez Perces rode into camp
and were quite friendly, but more COM
ing up the feeling appeared to change
and finally the party was forced to go
with the Indians on their way to the
Yellowstone. After few miles travel
up the east fork of the Fire Hole river
was made. the wagons had to be left, and
the ladies' were mounted on the team
horses.
The Indians who had lost friends in
the fights with the soldiers were desirous
of killing all of the captives. The lead
ing chefs and a minority Of the warriors
wished to protect them, and if Chief
Joseph had been with the party that
held the captives, they no doubt, would
have been given their liberty; but he was
ahead and White Bird was powerless to
protect them.
At the foot Of the long hill that leads
to the Yellowstone divide, an Indian
suddenly fired and sent bullet through
Cowan's leg: his wife ran to him but was
held back Dy an Indian, and another
shot took effect in his head and he fell
unconscious. Carpenter stayed with his
sisters, but all of the others ran for the
brush. Oldham was hit in the mouth
by ball which cut piece from his
tongue. When hit he dropped behind
log. The Indians paid no further atten-
ton to him and he laid there till the
Indians LETT, then walked down till he
met the soldiers. All of the Others
escaped unhurt and after hard trip and
when nearly starving they struggled into
Howarl's command.
The two ladies and Carpenter were
taken on and Cowan was left for dead.
The bullet in the head had not penetrat-
ed the skull and he soon recovered con-
sciousness. While trying to get up he
was again shot by struggling Indian
and again left for dead. The last bullet
passed through his thigh.
After lying long time unconscious he
again revived and commenced crawling
down the trail toward the geyser basin.
An hour afterward he heard party COM
ing and hid behind log till they passed
by. This was party of white and Ban
mack Indian scouts. Had Mr.. Cowan
known who they were he would have
been saved much suffering, for he drag
ged himself. twelve miles after this and
was finally found by some of Howard's
scouts in his old camp at the lower geyser
basin: having been four days without
food and exposed to the bitter cold of the
nights.
The three prisoners were taken to and
across the Yellowstone near the Mud
geyser. Here the Indians went into
camp. In the afternoon of the next day
the prisoners were given their liberty.
The ladies were each given poor pony,
while Carpenter had to walk, and escort
ed by White Bird, they crossed the river
and started down the Yellowstone.
About a mile away from camp, White
Bird, after giving them directions which
way to go, went back. The refugees
went ON and camped in the woods that
night, hungry and cold. The. next day
| they or ossed over Mount Washburn and
near Baronett's bridge met Lieut.. Scho-
| field with party of scouts and were
thenceforward safe.
Seven days afterward, Mrs: Cowan had
happy meeting with her husband in
Bozeman. He having been sent to that
place in travois, by Howard,
Mr.. Cowan fully recovered and with
his wife, took another trip through the
National Park, during the summer OF
1883.
ro Rr CONTINUED