The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-23


quite good time to have out their grudge
against rs Tho tribes had combined mora
than they had at any time since the Tecum-
sch coalition In 1861 the Indian war was
still raging. Wise ones saw the only way 10
put an end 20 this was to somehow manage to
treat with all Of tho tribes, But how to get
then together when they were all on the war
path; who would dare for the public veal to
trust himself in this den of raging wild
beastsl Some one suggested Matthewson.
They went to see him. he told them:
81 don't wish to die yet, life is sweet to
me yet know those Indians, and know
the man who goes TO them takes his life in
his hand" They went away, but again they
came TO him with entreaties, Offering him
$500.
THAT money is nothing to me. What is a
little S500against mans life"
Again they went away. But settlers were
being killed, Indians were being butchered,
, and they pleaded with him again.
"See the lives being lost on both sidesp
they say. Then they touched his Unborn
knighthood.
swell, my life is but one; pll try, but there
are hundred chances to one against my
ever coming back" Again will let him tell
the story in his own terse way:
u begin to lay my plans as draw in Bess'
lariat. I'll go to tho Kiowas first. know
them best and get them to send guard with
me to the Cheyennes I'll rido to-day in the
direction of the Kiowa camp. Afterwards
can only ride at night. must get into the
the Kiowa camp yes, into the head chiefs
lodge. Once there, Pm his guest and all right
l tell you, partner, that was ticklish ride
Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes and Kiowas
| all over tho country. ! Rugged the gulch
close all day; not once did / dare kindle a
| fire. One morning at daybreak knew was
close onto Kiowa camp | tied Bess in the
brush and, noiseless as a Kiowa himself,
pushed forward. In little ways l came to
a spring Two Indian girls were there. l
speak. Away they dash with yell Iknow
one of them 1t is the chiefs daughter.
call her name; she stops The other rushes
on yelling. Take me to your fathers lodge
quickF Away we DASH am swift of foot;
so is she, but the other girl is some PAGES
ahead. If the camp is alarmed before we
get there, tits good-by for me. Hear that
| Yell She is there. but we are, too The brave
girl dashes on, after her. Into her fathers
lodge, after her still. Brave as he is, I
startle him UGH What you here for I'll
bahp you protect me and I'll tell ugh
| I'll do it,
"He instantly puts Gordon of yonns
Kiowas about bis lodge. Already they are
| yelling like devils on the outside, but | have
the chiefs word l tell him my business
| show him the folly of war; he says tomorrow
we have council-seel Meanwhile the yell
| ing is not abated. All night long they keep
up that dismal howl | have heard wolves
snarl and howl around me many night on
the Arkansas. Stampede q buffalo herd and
| then an antelope herd and you have the two
1t was no senseless howl, could hear the
squaws who had lost sons, brothers, husbands,
lovers in the war urging the young braves
to take my life. was in amenagerie OF wild
beasts all that was between me and them was
this mans honor, but / knew this lariat was
strong enough to hold them, so slept-some.
| The next day we had a council. The chief
| spoke. | knew the Kiowa language quite
well and so spoke straightforward. Ora
tory among the Indians in times of peace
means about as much as u Fourth Of July
speech. In war the orators words have the
ring and hiss of an arrow, the swish Of
tomahawll's blow. We carried the Kiowas
| in favor Of the big council The neyt day
| they gave me an escort to the Cheyennes,
and quite gay ride we had OF two days
| yes, three days'-duration We carried tho
Cheyenes in favor Of the council. They
| took the business in hand of getting The
Sioux, the Arapahoes, Apaches and Conan
ches to como.
"After while they did all come together
and the treaty of the Big Bend of the Ar
kansas was made, and Indian affairs have
been little more eettled ever since"
CLAIBORNE ADDISON Young.