The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-09

from that party when they began their
 homeward march to their surprise, they
 were unmoiested. We learned alter
 ward that the mounted Indians went to the camp of 1.-Two Bears" to urge the young braves there to combine with them
 in the recapture of Rain-in- the-F Face.
 Two Bears had long been friendly to
 the white mar; he was too old to fight
 and prevented his young men from ioin- ing in the contemplated rescue.
 After the command had returned and
 the officers reported Gen. Custer sent for
 Rain-in-the-Face. He was tall, straight
 and young. His face was quiet imper-
 turbable. In subsequent interview the
 general locked himself in his room with
 him. Through an interpreter and with
 every clever question and infinite patience
 he spent hours trying to induce the In-
 dian to acknowledge his crime. The
 cuipries face finally. lost its impervious
 look and he showed some agitation.
 He gave brief account of the murder
 and the next day made full confession
 before all the officers. He said neither
 of the white men were armed when at- tackled. He had shot the old man but
 he did not die instantly, riding short
 distance before falling from his horse
 He then went to him and with his stone
 mallet beat out the last breath left Be
 fore leaving him he shot his body full of arrows. The younger man signaled to them from among the bushes and they knew that the manner in which he held
 up his hand was an overture of peace When he reached him the white man gave him his hat as another and further petition for mercy. But he shot him at once, first with his gun and then with ar- rows. One of the latter entering his back the dying man struggled to pull it through. Neither man was scalped, as the older was bald and the younger had closely cropped hair. Two Indians, one of them Iron Horse, had followed the cavalry from the agency and asked to see their comrade. The general sent for Rain-in-the-Face. He came into the room with clankiag chair s and with guard at his heels. He was dressed in mourning. His leggings were black, and his sable blanket was belted by band of white beads. One black feather stood erect on his head. | Iron Horse supposed that he was to be hung at once, and that this would be the | han nk iheCAViVWs AC GlOCk UTOtuGI OG~ l lieving there was no hope, was very sol emn. He removed his heavily beaded | and embroidered buffalo robe and re- placed it with the plain one that Rain in-the Face wore. He exchanged pipes | also, giving him his highly ornamented | one that he might afterwards present it | to the general. The pipes were valuable as the material of which the bowls were made has to be brought from Kansas Then, finding that there was a prospect of Rain.in. the-Face having his trial at Washington, he took off the medal that had been given his father by a former president, whose likeness was in the me. dalion, and placed it over the neck of his | brother, that it might be a silent argu. ment in his favor when he confronted the "great father"
 It was an impressive and melancholy scene. Iron Horse charged his brother not to attempt to escape, saying that if he did get back to the reservation he would surely Dc rscsptuied. He be lieved that he would be kindly treated while captive, and perhaps the white chief would intercede for him to obtain his pardon. After asking him not to lose courage they smoked again and silently withdrew. In about ten days Iron Horse returned, bringing portion of his tribe with him.
 The Indians with iron Horse came di- rectly to headquarters and asked for a council. AS many as could get into the generals room entered. There was time while they were preparing, to send for the ladies, and few of us were tucked away on the lounge with instructions not to move or whisper, for my husband treated these Indians with as much considera- ton as if they had been crowned heads The Indians turned a surprised, rather scornful glance into the ladies gallery" for their women are all kept in the back ground. In return for this we did not hesitate to criticise their toilets. They were gorgeous in full dress. Iron Horse wore an elaborately beaded and painted buckskin shirt, with masses of solid em. broidery of porcupine quills. The sleeves and shoulders were ornamented with a fringe of scalp locks.
 Some of the hair we saw with shud- der as light and wavy. could not but picture the little head "running over with curls from which it had been taken, for all the Indian locks have ever seen were straight and black.
 The chief wore on his shoulders sort of cape, trimmed with a fringe of snowy ermine. His leggings were a mass of bead work. He wore cap of otter with out crown, though, for it is their cus- tom to leave the top of their head uncov- cred. Three eagle feathers that denote the number of warriors killed, were so fastened in that they stood erect. There were several perforations in each ear from which depended bead earrings. He had armlets of burnished brass; thrown around him was beaded blaukct. The red clay pipe had the wooden stem inlaid with silver, and was embellished with the breast feathers of brilliantly plumaged birds. The tobacco bag about two feet long, had not an inch that was not decorated. The costume =. n. |