Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-23

How Scout Cannon Rescued White Cap
tive from the Indians.

How Scout Cannon Rescued White Cap.
tive from the Indians.
"Uncle'' Jimmy Cannon. the noted
scout. recently gave to Denver News
reporter some interesting "reminiscences,
from which we extract the following;x
81 was at the Julesburg massacre, Jan.
10. 1865, when .66 soldiers and forty-two
citizens were made to bite the dust In ten
minutes. was wounded in three places
in this fight. being cut in the forehead,
shot in the side and through my leg:
was presented with gun after this night
that was made by gunsmith here In Den,
yer, the story having got out that L nao
worn my gun out in the fight. Captain
O'Brien. who is now in business at Lara
mic, and alone escaped. We got to the
ranch and fought the Indians of until
twenty weight women and children were
given time to reach the fort, and then,
while the Indians we're pillaging jules
burg. we crossed the river on the ice and
reached the fort, which was safely garri-
soned by eleven men. The Indians en-
gagged in the massacre were Sioux and
Chevennes under the command of Bad
Wound, Sioux, and Stone Calf, Chey-
enne. In some respects it was very
much like the Custer massacre, the In
dams rising right up all around the troops
on three sides and pouring dreadful
fire upon US at short range.
About two months after this the Indian
massacre occurred in the Black Hills at
Crazy Woman's Forks. By the way. a
wholly wrong story has been published by
an Omaha paper about how this name
came to be applied to these forks. The
real story of the case is that three white
women were captured by the Indians at
Plum Creek in Nebraska. Two of them
were killed aud the third went crazy.
Two Face and Big Crow brought this
crazy woman into camp. She could tell
nothing about herself. Both of these
chiefs were hanged on account of this
woman, and the massacre grew out of
this. There were 2.200 Indians came in
and asked to be removed to the neutral
ground. which was near Fort Kearney.
While they were being transported to this
ground, Two Faces son with $50 war
riors, stole upon the troops and massa-
cred 100 of the soldiers and So of the
teamsters. The fight lasted about an
hour, the wagons being used as breast
works until they we're all on fire. The
remainder of the troops retreated to Fort
Mitchell without further molestation from
the Indians, who were joined by the 1920
Indians. the whole move being intended
as trap about such as the Indians always
make.
An expedition was fitted up under Gen.
eral Connor, composed of California,
Colorado and Ohio troops, and pursued
this band of Indians to the Powder river,
where the Indians were in turn massa-
cred. The number Of Indians killed was
reckoned at 730 in this fight. This settled
the Sioux war for the time.
1t was in 1870 that | rescued Mary
Brand from the Indians. She is now liv-
ing in St. Louis and has herself written
accounts of the affair. as has also General
Runnels, who wanted to get pension for
me.
Creighton and Brand were the contrac.
tors for building telegraph line, and
Mary was the sister of Mr. Brand
The girl was brought out with them 10
where they were working and the party
was attacked by the Indians. Brand was
killed and his sister captured. Gen. Run
nels started in pursuit with me for guide.
We came we'll up with the Indians on the
Rawhide. and as | knew that captive
could be recovered from the Indians only
by purchase or stealing, asked General
Runnells to let NE steal into the camp and
try to get the girl away. He promised to
keep his troops on piece of high ground
and not to leave it until | returned, no
matter what happened. | stole into the
camp IN the dark and found the little girl
asleep in buffalo robe. | picked her up
quietly and threw her over nv shoulder
without waking her. and started to my
horse. When near the horse | met an
Indian warrior, who asked me in his ma
tive tongue. Who goes thereP' Ireplied
guard IN the same tongue. and he passed
on, going round one side of the hill, and
| with my load around the other. 1t was
not until | reached my horse that the child
fairly awoke and asked me hew size was
to ride. Any way you can till we get on,
of here replied, and sprang up to the
horse. The Indian, who had gone around
the top of the hill, heard me. and drawing
an arrow he sent it through nv body, go
| ing in at one side and starting out at the
other. AT once the whole party opened
fire upon me, and the bullets flew around
me as thick as rain | could not reach
General Runnell's and so | struck out tor
Fort Laramie, riding all the distance with
the arrow through my body"
Uncle Jimmy was the first to reach the
scene of the Custer massacre after the
battle. and describes the way in which the
bodies of the slaughtered troops were
mutilated as something terrible to behold
Not man in the lot was recognizable.
In answer to a question as to where the
Indians procure their arms, the scout said
that while among the Indians in Wyoming
he had seen fine rifle roll out of buffalo
robe, and he asked the squaw who had il
where she got it, and she told him that il
had been got lover there" pointing to &
Mormon settlement, AID that they coulc
get all of them there they wanted. ano
| So