The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-12-29


my journey to mouth of Musselshell,
where found Mr.. Bradbury and deliver
ed my dispatch.
/ had no intention of returning to Hele-
ma for some time, but few men were go
ing to Milk river and / was induced to
lend my Henry rifle to one Of the party,
who promised faithfully to return 1T in
ten days; instead, I heard the scoundrel
had continued on to Benton and was go
ing from thence to Helena. This and
other inducements determined me to re-
turn with Mr.. Bradbury to Helena. We
started-Al. Bradbury, Pomp Dennis,
Martin and a man whom we called Seven
up and myself. The afternoon of the
third day we came to water and camped.
After we had eaten we resolved TO push
on as far as we could and make day
camp. Next morning as soon as we &C uld
see we saddIed up and resumed our jour-
ney About nine a. M, Pomp Dennis
and myself were riding some distance
ahead. when we noticed about three miles
It started to run, and was soon out OF
sight, as we were in broken ground. we
were then convinced it must be an Indian
living down on his horse. Wecalled to our
party to come up, and while we were de-
liberating what 60 do, we heard the thun-
der of the horses hoofs. We were close to
small hill and had hardly gained it when
war party of over fifty mounted Indians
dashed on our startled view. No discip-
lined cavalry ever presented better line.
Their well conditioned horses, gay trap
pings. varied brilliant colored blankets,
and cleaning ornamented lances, present.
ed terribly picturesque scene of savage
war.
could speak some Sioux and Grow and
was a fair sign talker. When about two
hundred yards off threw up my hand
and made the sign to halt. They stopped
as one man. asked them in Sioux, 'Who
are you?'' The chief answered in Crow,
ssAbsaraka," (Crow name for Crow. |
then asked them in Crow what they want
ed and where were their lodges, but they
could not reply. They had not supposed
any Of us could speak Grow. They wish
ed Us to think they were Grows (wno were
friendly but they knew but the one word.
The chief, when he perceived they could
not pass for Grows, said:s ''We are Sioux,
but we love the whites, we will come and
smoke together The Indian | was
speaking to was slightly ia advance OF his
party. stood on the brow Of the hill.
slightly apart from my companions, hold
ing my horse with my arm passed through
the bride. I noticed the Indians appear.
ed to be gathering for rush. | calico
out: ssDismount or we will fire." hao
4 barely said it, when three Indians, who
had unknown to my companions, Whe
were intently watching the one ! was
speaking to, craWled up a coulee to within
thirty steps of me and fired directly at me
The position of my head was about the
middle of my horses neck; one bullet hl
his neck each side of me, the other in the
saddle. We answered with Volley. Th'
Indians took shelter and shot down ou]
horses. AT the first lull in the firing W
= commenced to form breastWorks with oul
dead horses and dug holes with our knlYe
and cups in the soft ground behind then
to lie in. But now, a horrible discovery
was made. All our ammunition was II
one sack and it was left in our last night
camp. Surrounded by the most hostile
, Indians in the world, without the hope o
escape. all our horses killed and not drol
Of water since the day before burning
sun and disarmed. 1t was horrible! III
Indians soon discovered our Woeful plight
They did everything to draw our ire
Young warriors dashed by us in full ca
reer. Sometimes with only foot, han'
and lance visible; sometimes in scor1
with the whole body. @, for some ammu
, nitioni Had we been armed as we shoul
have been, and they armed as they were
! with few revolvers, bows and arrow
j 4 and lances, we could have slaughtere
I them.
OUR DublG Hdu d sAiSilt CiCsaaio14 ssooo
+ thirty steps behind US. In the afternoo
/ three Indians craWled around behind Il
d rand without exposing themselves rice
! chetted arrows OH us from the rear. Mar
: tin, Seven and myself charged them an
took possession Of the hill, which Marti
\ and Seven held and fortified with breas
work Of earth and rock. Bradbury
i Pomp and myself held the face Of the ii
the Indians were attacking; the two 9th
ers with their breastWorks held the real
Metius never aggravated Titus Manlil
] more than those Indians did us to drs'
our fire. towards evening young b,lel
|, who had Geen very conspicuous. mace
! most aggrayafinglg close run By us an
/ Ponp, although IL left him but one MOI
: shot, fired and killed him, but lle was tie