McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-03-20
A BORDER "REMINISCENCES.

Indian Raid on Montana Ranchmen in
1870 and the Punishment of
the Redskins.
The following story of frontier life
was written by United States army
officer now on duty in Montana, and is
a recital of the facts as given by ranch
men who took part in the encounter:
Three trappers, named Hall, Locke
and West, left the settlement of Wolf
Point in June. 1870, with the intention
of hunting and trapping On the Mussel-
shell river. This beautiful stream is
one of the tributaries of the Missouri,
which flows through the northern por-
ton of Montana. Unfortunately, in
the days of 30, every creek, river and
stream in the territory was overrun by
either the warlike Sioux, bloody Pie
gans or treacherous Assinabolnes. Our
three friends had provisions to last
ninety days, for they expected to make
season of it, and bring back suffi-
Gent pelts and skins to repay them for
the dangers and hardships of the un-
dertaking.
They took six horses for pack or sad
die animals, as the occasion might re-
quire, and rifles, ammunition, tents,
etc. in fact, complete camping out
fit.
The second day out, when about
sixty miles up the Musselshell, they
struck an inviting spot in the brush,
where they pitched their tents for the
night. Had they been aware of the
fact that at the other end of the brush
were encamped about $50 Sioux it is
to be presumed they would not have
made their preparations with the in
tention of remaining any length of
time, for scarcely had the trappers I'M
saddled their animals when the Indians
swooped down upon them, opened fire
right and left, and in fifteen minutes
had killed five of their horses. Hall
and Locke were made prisoners, but
West, who was yet free, seeing he could
be of no help to his companions, sprang
on the remaining horse, drew his re-
volver, dashed in the midst of his foes
and ran the gauntlet, dealing death
with every crack of his pistol. He was
pursued for while, but managed to
escape in the darkness; and, riding all
that night, finally reached Wolf Point,
where he he gave an account of the
disaster which had befallen his two
companions. A meeting was imme-
diately called in the town and volun-
teers were asked for. These were not
long in responding to the call, and in
less than two hours thirty determined
men, mounted on swift horses, were hot
on the trail of the Indians. Arriving
on the spot of the recent fight nothing
could be done until daylight, when the
trail was taken up and followed to the
Missouri river. There it was ascer-
tanned from half-breed named Buck
man, who afterward joined the party,
increasing it to thirty-one, that the In
dians had first taken from the bushes,
where they ''cached" them, number
of bull boats of their own manufacture
and had gone down the river.
This afterward proved to be ruse
ON their part, for the savages had mere
ly crossed the stream for the purpose OF
jumping mail ranch, as the sequel
viii show. The pursuers halted long
enough to build two skiffs and a large
boat, and about dusk an embarkatior
was effected without much trouble
The horses were first ferried across tt
the opposite side in the following man
ner: Four or five of them were tieG
together, and long rope attached t.
each bunch. These lariats were hello
by a manner in the stern of each boat
and three trips landed men and animals
on the north bank, the horses swim
ming. Here the party was divided
One-half remained in the boats ant
floated them down with the current
the other half conducted the horse
along the shore in parallel course
and both bands were to keep a shar]
lookout for Indians. AS the boat
neared spot known as Bakers Battl
Ground one of the party called out t.
the lookout in the leading skiff to kee]
his eyes wide open, as something wa
coming down the river which woul'
encounter the boats in mid-stream.
jeff Sage, who received the warning
turned his gaze in the direction indica
ted. and discovered black object al
most on top of the boats, which bore
strong resemblance to man on horse
back swimming the river. A littl
nearer it came, then it turned out to b
a big redskin astride of a horse, maxim
every effort in his power to escape To
collision which medinevitable. III
rascal thought the boats contained b
own friends, and sunk from his stee
ont of sieht, lust as 8 dozen rifle