The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-27
NANCY's BAD BREAK.
Story of Clusters Campaisn-"The Snakes
Experience and Apology for Delay.
Nauy or Gu,

Story of Clusters Campaisn-'sThe Snakes"
Experience and Apology for Delay.
New York Sun.
The nerve, hardihood and daring of the genu-
inc frontier scout was illustrated time after time
during General Clusters Indian campaign by a
favorite scout named Tom Reynolds. He had
been in the Indian country for ten or twelve
years before Custer attached him to his COM
mand and he bore twenty-five scars of wounds
received from red men. He was known to them
as The Snake" aud they both hatsd and re-
sI'ected him. In one of his raids among the
strongholds to the south Custer sent
Reynolds back to Fort Laramie with dispatches.
The scout preferred to 60 alone, and the fact
that the country was alive with Indians was
taken by him as matter OF course. lie left
camp one night soon after dark mounted on a
swift mule, and having a ride before him of
about sixty five or seventy miles. That was the
last seen of him for week. when he rode into
Laramie one day and made his apologies for be-
ing detained on the way Reynolds made only
about fifteen miles the first night, where he mad
occasions he narrowly escaped riding
into bodies Of Indians who seemed to
be scouting all over the country and
up to midnight he had to very
slowly. just after that hour his mule was bit
ten by rattlesnake, and the scout turned into
grove of cottonwoods on a little creek to care
for him. He had small package Of the Indian
weed used tn extract the poison, and by daylight
the mule was better. 1t would be impossible to
move for several days. however. and he settled
down to pass the time in the grove. There were
Indian signs all about him. and the chances wero
that he would not be left undisturbed many days
1t was small but dense grove and the scout and
his mule were we'll hidden from any one skrting
the timber. On the fifth day nine Indians were
seen approaching the grove. They watered
their ponies at the edge Of it and then turned
them loose, built Ere and made preparations
for dinner Reynolds had made his mule lie
down and then covered her with brush, while he
retreated to the other side of the grove. The
redskins We're loafng around for over an hour
before anything occurred. They were then
joined by twelve Others, but as the new corners
did not dismount, the scout was in hopes the
whole band would soon leave the locality. They
were evidently about to do so when Reynolds
mule got up and brayed, a thing which she was
never known to do before or after in the face
OF danger. 1t was accounted for in this instance
by the fact that one of the Indians was mounted
on horse which had been stolen from the cav
airy and the mule evidently recognized its pres
ence. The Indians at once raised an alarm and
rushed into the grove. The mule was speedily
discovered and led out, and five minutes later
the scout quietly surrendered, and walked
among his captives with smiling face. He might
have held them at bay for a time, but the odds
were too great to hope for anything turning in
his favor. Several of the Indians recoe
nized Reynolds THE Snake" and
capture. An ordinary prisoner would have been
insulted and maltreated in the first excitement,
but no indgnity was offered tho scout. He was
disarmed ordered to mount his mule, and the
whole body moved to the east After travel
ing all the afternoon they reached the North
fork of the Platte and went into camp. The
scout could speak the Sioux dialect As well as
member of the tribe, and during tie Journey he
kept up running conversation with the two
sub chiefs. leading them to believe that he
had q personal quarrel with Custar and rac
no longer in his service. He claimed that he
was on his way to purchase a trappers
outfit and return to the mountains. While the
Indians no doubt kept sharp eye on him. no
one seemed to do so. 1t was coming on dark as
the band reached the creek and REYNOLDS was in
the midst of them as they dismounted He
swung himself down and seemed to be engaged
in removing the saddle, at the Same time asking
one of the chiefs why they did not cross over
and get better Grass. Like a fash he Suddenly
S rrE himself into the saddle and like an arrow
the mule darted away. Reynolds had TO pass
Six Indians and their ponies before he was clear
OF the camp, but such were his movements that
he was pistol shot away before shout was uttered
or shot fired. Every Indian then mounted in
pursuit and the foremost kept up running fire
until they were out OF ammunition. The mule
seemed inclined to make up for his bad break in
the grove, and drew ahead so fast that at the end
of quarter of an hour Reynolds turned sharply
to the right. rode about half-mile, and then
man and mule Rugged the earth and let the In
dams gallop ahead into the darkness. The scout
then returned to the stream, crossed it, and took
a bee-line for Fort Laramie, where he arrived
next morning Two arrows struck his sac lie
and six bullets clipped his clothing without draw
ing blood. When he handed his dispatches to
the commandant he humby exclaimed: Ought
to hev been here sooner but snake bit Nancy
and band of reds gobblsd me. Hope the delay
won't make any trouble"