The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-06

! long to Sitting Bulls outfit, but came
from the Poplar klver agency on a horse
stealing expedition into the Musselsheil
valley. They were lanktOnais, under
the lead OF yellow Eagle" One OF
them, big Foot,u was killed by kisl-
inquiry III the attack, and his body is
still tied to a tree near the spot where
he fell. There were some fifty OF them,
and, as they to,1 ne themselves later IN
h winter, W not AVE attacked but
| Tor the pres il the Grow scouts,
| their heredl. nemies. | had met
Lieut.. Kislsi ry casually twice be-
lore, but the not know him init
mately. l learned to love and
| admire him lis
GENIAL N SOLDIERLY QUALITIES.
After partaklng of a large supply of
stew, consisting OF deer meat, bacon, po-
tatoes and haro bread, the evening was
spent in KisIingbury's tent discussing
the situation. OF course we all then
believed the attaching party To belong to
Sitting Bulls camp, and further bellev-
ed that renowned warrior was not very
far off and would probably soon return
with sufficient strength to gobble up the
small party and the supplies. kisiing-
bury was 1ull OF fight. After the young
~lieutenants had fallen asleep upon the
ground he talked to lie tor several hours,
urging an active campaign upon the
enemy's camp across the Missouri. His
plan was feasible and himself sanguine
of success. Indeed, did he talk SO often
and earnestly thereafter in the same
strain, that | began to seek for informa-
ton as to the whereabouts of Sitting
Bull, and making some preparation for
the move, although | possessed 40 u
thority to engage i'll an active campaign,
but had simply come to believe him.
All this was, however, abandoned upon
the final receipt OF orders to return to
u respective posts and to let Sitting
Bull alone for the time being.
One night late an Indian courier ar
rived with the Fort Custer mail. 1t was
early in December. K~islingbury came
to NE with tears in his eyes, stating that
he had received information OF the
serious illness of his wife, whose death
was daily expected. There came no
order from the district commander au-
thoriZing me to allow X. to return to
Custer. The poor fellow wanted SO
much to go, and yet his high sense of
duty forbid him to ask me for this in
diligence. He was responsible for all
the government property there and, in
fact, only the action Of the department
commander could properly relieve him.
But | did assume the responsibility
under the circumstances, and a few
hours afterWard found him on his way to
Fort Custer, accompanied by a sergeant
and a few Indians. The distance was
nearly $50 miles and over an almost inn
passable country at that time of the
year. | believe he reached his destina-
ton in four days, just a few hours before
his Wife's death. Lieut.. K%islingbury
was at hat time about 40 years of age,
of middle stature but Of powerful frame.
He was very fond Of wearing moccasins
and other Indian trinkets such as belt
and tobacco pouch. His gait was hat
of a natural-born sailor. His features
were remarkably impressive-a strong,
massive forehead, dark blue or gray
eyes, a large aquiline nose, a handsome,
firm-set mouth, and ruddy complexion.
He was of usual intellect, of vivid inn
agination, and of mercurial as we'll as
highly sanguine temperament. He was
a good talker, and loved to sit for hours
relating incidents of the late war and
camp life since. But above all, warm
heartedness and kindly acts to every one
brother officers, soldiers and Indians
alike-will never be forgotten by those
who had the good fortune of his personal
acquaintance. The Crow Indians fairly
worshiped him and called him
THE DANCING CHIEF,
because he had, [ belieye, upon one
occasion participated in a few steps at a
W%ar-dance. He was one of the most
accomplished and graceful sign takers
[ have ever seen, and of him it was said
that he could make an Indian ashamed
OF himself in that language. He almost
equaled Capt. CLARK, of the I'd cavalry,
therein. ~~~a-%
~sE---~~ s--
An Old-Tlmer Visits Fort Benton.
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